Chapter 7
Her mind went blank.
What on earth was happening all of a sudden?
She couldn’t wrap her head around the situation at all.
“No, this can’t happen.”
It was then that Damian, who had been observing the situation, stepped forward.
Was this the bad feeling he had?
“Your Highness, I apologize, but Katrina is scheduled to leave for the convent today.”
“……”
“Please, don’t cause trouble for House Abiche.”
The Crown Prince tilted his head slightly, still without a word.
“Damian, what are you saying to His Highness?”
Duke Abiche immediately scolded Damian.
“It’s cold. Everyone, escort His Highness inside!”
“Yes, sir.”
“…And bring Katrina.”
Things were beginning to go strangely.
*
Raymond had come.
Just as Katrina had planned.
“Young Lady, the Duke is calling for you.”
How long had she been in her room?
Katrina was summoned by Duke Abiche.
“Katrina Abiche, the Crown Prince is here to see you.”
“……”
“Why would he come to see you?”
He clearly looked like he couldn’t make sense of it.
But Katrina had no intention of telling him anything.
“His Highness came to see me?”
Instead, she looked at him with a surprised face.
“Is that true, Father?”
“……”
Acting as if she was still infatuated with the Crown Prince, Duke Abiche frowned.
“His Highness is in the drawing room. Go see him.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Report everything you talk about inside.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Katrina answered obediently and headed to the drawing room.
To meet Raymond.
That bastard…
Katrina stood outside the drawing room and called out.
“Your Highness, it’s me.”
“Come in, Katrina.”
A familiar voice.
Hearing that voice brought back old memories.
“No matter what I do, you still love me, right, Katrina?”
The face that used to mock her with a smile as if nothing mattered.
Raymond was the most arrogant man Katrina had ever met.
“Isn’t that right, Katrina?”
She had wanted to punch him.
Katrina shook off the memories and opened the door.
Raymond, seemingly bored of waiting, was inside smoking a cigar.
His green eyes lit up with interest when he spotted her.
“So you really did survive.”
Katrina didn’t enjoy hearing those words.
Because in this world, everyone had probably wanted her dead.
Those words pierced her like thorns.
“Yes, I survived.”
Katrina calmly sat down across from Raymond.
His green eyes followed her like they were analyzing her.
“And you were almost dragged to the convent as soon as you woke up.”
So he already knew everything.
“Today was the day, right? The day you were supposed to go.”
“……”
“Oh dear, you must have been terribly worried.”
It wasn’t hard to understand what Raymond meant.
If it weren’t for me, you’d be on your way to the convent by now.
He was reminding her of her position.
‘Well, he’s not wrong.’
If Raymond hadn’t shown up, she would’ve already been in the carriage headed there.
So Katrina decided to say something equally accurate.
“You sent me a letter.”
“I’m glad to see you received it safely.”
No way you wouldn’t come after reading that.
“Seeing how quickly you came, I guess I was right?”
A cold gaze was directed at Katrina.
She smiled brightly.
“You’re cursed, aren’t you?”
“……”
Raymond didn’t answer.
He simply looked at her with an expressionless face.
Arrogant Raymond.
He had thoroughly used Katrina in the past.
In the game, Katrina had loved Raymond.
And whether in the game or real life, he had always taken advantage of that love.
Katrina’s divine power had made her useful in many ways.
But the moment her power disappeared, he threw her away.
“I suppose you need me now?”
Raymond’s expression stiffened.
He must have been wondering about it ever since receiving the letter.
How does she know about his secret?
Raymond had kept his curse tightly hidden.
If people found out the Crown Prince was cursed, it would bring great unease.
Not to mention, Raymond had many rivals eyeing the throne.
‘Well, I was the player, after all.’
She had played the role of the female lead who lifted Raymond’s curse.
So she knew how to break it.
“I’m a divine power user. I’ve sensed something strange around you for a while.”
“……”
“So I guessed.”
Raymond’s lips curved slightly.
His golden eyelashes lowered as he stared into his teacup.
“You still haven’t found a way to lift the curse, have you?”
Of course not.
On the surface, there was only one known way to lift the curse.
A curse means someone placed it.
So, to break it, you have to catch the sorcerer and personally kill them.
But in the game, Raymond never found the culprit until the end.
“I know how to break it, Your Highness.”
“You know how?”
Raymond asked with interest.
But his faint smile soon turned into a sneer.
“You don’t even have divine power anymore.”
…What a thing to say.
You really haven’t changed either.
“Lifting the curse has nothing to do with divine power.”
If it could be done with divine power, Raymond would’ve hired all the best priests by now.
The curse simply couldn’t be broken that way.
“I know how to make a potion that suppresses the curse.”
Katrina looked at Raymond’s hand. Between his index and middle fingers was a cigar.
“One more effective than the tranquilizer you’re holding.”
“……”
Raymond stared silently at the cigar in his hand.
Then, after a few seconds of silence, he looked back at Katrina.
“You must want something from me.”
Correct.
Katrina smiled faintly.
“Please help me.”
Raymond tilted his head. He still wore a soft smile.
“You don’t want to go to the convent?”
“That’s right. Please help me.”
Raymond asked casually,
“With just a word from me?”
“Yes. Just one word from you is enough.”
“That’s true.”
He acknowledged it plainly.
Raymond did have that power.
That’s why, despite how much she despised him, Katrina had chosen him.
“So… mutual aid?”
“You’re suffering, aren’t you?”
The curse sometimes brought painful seizures to Raymond.
“You must want to be free from it.”
Raymond still wore a faint smile, but his eyes never laughed.
So work with me, Raymond.
Katrina was genuinely willing to help him.
She kept her promises.
“I’ll do my best for you, Your Highness.”
She meant it.
‘The heroine will lift your curse anyway…’
Maybe in about three years?
But Raymond didn’t know that, and probably didn’t want to suffer for another three years.
“But Katrina, what should I do?”
Raymond stopped playing with his teacup and looked at her.
“I’m not cursed.”
