You know what I mean, right? That cliché where the original storyline changes because of the actions of a possessed person or someone who reincarnated.
‘Of course, it’s not like I did it on purpose knowing Titi was the male lead…’
But it was true that his condition had worsened faster than in the original story. It seemed like Titi had been following her around too much and overexerting himself with outdoor activities. At least, that’s what Miela thought.
‘Mom said something about this… called it the butterfly effect.’
Her memory of it was a bit fuzzy, but anyway.
‘I have to take responsibility.’
Miela, who had been holding Istin’s hand for a long while, suddenly approached Regina when everyone else had left the room.
Her expression was heavy, as if she had made some kind of decision.
“Lady Regina, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
The Duchess’s voice was slightly sharp. Given the situation, it was understandable that she’d be irritable. But Miela didn’t back down.
“It’s something very important. It’s about Titi’s curse. Him collapsing like that… it’s all because of the curse, right?”
“…Who told you that Istin is cursed?”
The Duchess’s expression turned grave. The fact that Istin was cursed was a secret known only to a select few within the Baluar Ducal family.
Could the butler or the head maid have let it slip to Miela? But those two had been loyal to the family for decades. They wouldn’t dare break their oath to protect the family secrets. Then could it be…?
‘Don’t tell me… Istin told her himself?’
Regina’s expression grew more suspicious. Miela hesitated and answered awkwardly.
“Well… no one told me.”
“Then how did you find out? Only the people of this household know about Istin’s curse.”
Miela flinched slightly. The Duchess’s cold appearance was intimidating enough on its own, and now being interrogated with such a hardened expression… it was scary. But she couldn’t back down now.
“Actually… my late mother told me. About things related to the Baluar family.”
“Huh?”
“Istin said it himself, remember? That maybe I was born with the gift of prophecy.”
Regina’s green eyes deepened as she listened carefully to her words. Miela paused for a second, then added,
“It’s true. Well, to be exact, not me, but my late mother was the one with the prophetic ability.”
A lie. A complete lie. A prophet? Her mother had just been someone who was possessed by the knowledge of the original book.
Miela’s conscience prickled.
‘No, this is a good lie. It’s for helping everyone.’
Miela recalled something her mother had told her long ago.
‘There are such things as good lies, you know.’
‘But… lying is bad…’
‘Yes, it is. But… sometimes, just sometimes, you have to lie for the right reasons.’
At the time, young Miela hadn’t understood what Stephanie meant. A good lie? It sounded like cold soup freshly served.
But now… she finally understood why her mother had said that.
‘Yes… If it’s to help Istin… then it’s okay for me to become a liar.’
Miela’s eyes grew more determined. Her always timid light brown eyes now held a resolute glimmer.
“A prophet, huh… Still hard to believe, but let’s say I accept it for now. More importantly, what’s this story about the curse?”
Regina’s voice was no longer as composed as before. With the curse worsening, she couldn’t afford to be picky about hope.
“I can lift Istin’s curse. Well… more like, I know how to.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
The Duchess couldn’t believe her ears. Her expression froze before she could even manage it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.”
Miela bowed her head deeply in apology. Regina, trembling, asked in disbelief,
“Do you even realize… the meaning of what you’re saying right now?”
Biting her lip for a moment, she slowly continued.
“…Even renowned mages and the most skilled doctors couldn’t find a way to resolve this curse.”
Yes… as if the Baluar family hadn’t tried. They were more desperate than anyone to break the curse. But they had all failed.
In fact, this curse hadn’t started with Istin. It first appeared with his grandfather—the former Duke of Baluar.
‘Why… why did such a thing happen to His Grace?’
Even in middle age, the former Duke of Baluar displayed prowess that rivaled his younger days. And yet, the shadow of the curse fell upon his body overnight.
‘You could collapse at any moment, Your Grace. Please, you must rest…’
‘No. I have to endure until the end. Those who cursed me want to see me fall.’
The Duke struggled to protect his family. But perhaps because he pushed himself too hard, the curse’s mark grew day by day… and eventually, it brought him down.
‘It seems to be a curse created by an ancient shaman. I’m afraid it’s beyond my abilities to undo.’
They searched far and wide, even among the near-extinct shamans, but it was no use. They never found out who cursed him. They could only assume it was one of the noble families hostile toward the Baluars.
What kind of family was the Baluars? Second to none in the empire in terms of power and wealth. And of course, that meant many others envied and hated them.
They’d been caught up in countless conspiracies and schemes, even accused of treason at one point. After barely surviving all those crises, the Baluar family had only grown stronger.
Maybe that’s why their enemies resorted to something like this—something truly wicked—to wipe them out at the roots. The former Duke, whose body deteriorated rapidly from the curse, didn’t last long before passing away.
‘I will find those vile culprits and avenge you, Father.’
The current Duke had vowed at his father’s funeral. Fortunately, the curse mark did not appear on him. Typically, a curse lingers until its rooted target disappears.
At the time, everyone thought the former Duke’s body had been the curse’s source.
‘M-My Lord… there’s… something black on the young master’s back!’
Not long after his birth, the young Lord of Baluar—that is, Istin—developed a sinister mark on his back.
The curse had skipped a generation and appeared again? The family was thrown into deep shock.
They searched desperately for a way to break the horrible chain, but all efforts were in vain… and now they had reached this point.
“So… what exactly is this method you’re talking about?”
Forcing herself to ignore the painful memories rushing through her head, Regina asked. For the first time, she saw a sliver of hope. Normally, she would’ve dismissed this as absurd nonsense. But strangely… this time, she wanted to believe Miela.
“You know that big room in the basement of the Duke’s mansion that’s used as a storage area, right?”
“…Yes.”
The Duchess paused for a moment, then nodded. Surprisingly, it was true. She was just taken aback that such information came from a girl who’d supposedly spent her whole life in this village.
Then again, anyone who had even visited the mansion once would know that much. The really important information was something else.
“And… if you move the old bookshelf at the far end of that room… a hidden chamber appears, right?”
“…!”
She knew that too?
Regina was visibly shocked.
‘Only a handful of people in this household even know about that.’
