ISTV 28

The youngest son of the Queibek family, Hamyun, became incredibly curious.

‘What happened between the adults?’

He didn’t know the details, but ever since Sayla Dvernon, the youngest daughter of the Dvernon family, arrived at their estate, something had felt off.

He had seen the adults whispering “Sayla this, Sayla that” more than once.

Hamyun decided to interpret things in a way that suited him.

‘Maybe Sayla is way stronger than I thought.’

He had heard rumors that the Dvernon daughter trained in swordsmanship.

There were even whispers that her skills were extraordinary—maybe the rumors hadn’t exaggerated after all.

“I’ll have to see for myself.”

Hamyun headed to the lodging where Sayla was staying.

His steps quickened.

“I’m going to challenge her to a duel.”

Before he knew it, he was sprinting and pounding on Sayla’s door with a loud bang! bang!

“Sayla! I heard you’re really strong, huh?”

The door opened, revealing a maid with orange hair and a face full of freckles.

“P-please help!”

“Help with what?”

Hamyun tilted his head in confusion.

Then he noticed a girl sleeping under a large white towel.

“That’s a weird way to sleep. Why is she sleeping there?”

She looked like she had just finished bathing, and now she was asleep under a towel?

“I want to try that too.”

“Please, I beg you—call a physician!”

“A physician? Why?”

Hamyun assumed the maid didn’t know what she was talking about.

“She’s just sleeping peacefully. Why would we call a doctor?”

“She fainted! P-please, quickly—get the physician…!”

“I’ve seen tons of people faint before.”

In fact, he had fainted countless times himself during training.

“When someone faints, their mana flow gets tangled up in a specific way. But she looks totally relaxed and at peace.”

“No! She collapsed, I swear!”

“I’m telling you, she’s fine.”

Hamyun stepped closer to Sayla.

Meanwhile, the maid, Mary, was running down the hall, banging on doors and shouting for a physician.

“Uh…?”

Hamyun hesitated. He was about to poke Sayla’s shoulder with his finger but paused, unsure if it would be rude. Then he noticed something strange.

“She’s not… actually sleeping?”

He quickly placed a hand under her nose—and that’s when Hamyun realized how serious the situation was.

‘She’s not breathing!’

His understanding of the world shattered.

How could someone who fainted look so serene, like they had the right to die beautifully?

It was terrifying.

Hamyun hurriedly slung Sayla over his back.

“Move, move, move!”

He was careful not to let the white towel covering her body fall off as he dashed down the hallway.

Thump-thump-thump!

He even passed by the head steward.

“Young master, it is improper to use lightfoot techniques indoors…”

“Move, move, move!”

Hamyun bit his lip.

He couldn’t feel even a wisp of breath from the girl on his back.

‘You’re not allowed to die!’

He was gripped by the desperate mission to save a powerful rival his own age.

Wow. What a bullshit trait.

The constant brushes with death and this so-called “right to die beautifully” were the worst possible combo.

Danger crept in without warning or signs.

I let my guard down just a little, and it got me again.

‘If it weren’t for Hamyun, I’d be dead.’

They said even a delay of 30 seconds would’ve been fatal.

Oh, and for the record, I think I’m still unconscious. I can hear everything, but I can’t move my body.

I heard the voice of Lord Temanon.

“A curse, you say?”

“Yes. Though it’s more like a disease, some physicians refer to it as the ‘Curse of Winter.’”

The Curse of Winter?

No one in the development team—including me—had ever created such a setting.

“As the family head knows, humans possess nine major mana circuits. Countless smaller strands branch out from them, forming the full mana network throughout the body.”

“No need for explanations. Just get to the point.”

“It is a curse where excessive innate cold freezes all nine mana circuits. That is the Curse of Winter.”

“And what happens if one is afflicted with it?”

“In females, it typically results in death before the age of thirty.”

It felt like I’d been punched in the head.

‘So even if I survive everything else, I’ll die before I’m thirty?’

I never approved anything like this in the story! What the hell kind of tragic setting is that?

This is insane.

“Is there a cure?”

“As of now, none. There are records of only two individuals overcoming it, but the cases are so rare—and the accounts so mythologized—that even the physicians regard them as legends. It is said, however, that the two women who overcame it grew into unparalleled beauties and powerful warriors.”

The physician glanced around cautiously before continuing.

“One of them is rumored to be the first family head of Queibek…”

Temanon let out a long sigh.

“How is she now?”

“For now, I’ve prescribed a medicine that suppresses the winter energy and protects her mana circuits. She should regain consciousness in a few days.”

“You’ve done well. You may go.”

After the physician left, I felt Temanon take my hand.

“Your hand is freezing cold.”

Then, warmth slowly spread into my body.

It felt like a spring sunbeam had enveloped me—so gentle and cozy.

“You’ve inherited the Nine Strands of Winter… You are…”

Temanon seemed to know something.

‘I… I should hear this…’

But drowsiness swept over me.

In the end, I didn’t hear a single word of what Temanon said.

How much time had passed?

A voice spoke.

“As the lady of Queibek, I cannot agree with your decision. As the world knows, this child is cursed. Though her situation is tragic, strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with us.”

It was Rachel’s voice.

For some reason, she sounded furious.

“Fine. Let’s say you proceed. Let’s say you use secret techniques of the family, and train her in Queibek’s hidden martial arts, and save her life. Then what?”

“…”

“Lady Hera, the first family head—whom even you couldn’t surpass—is known to have overcome the Nine Strands of Winter. That is what it means to survive the Curse in Queibek.”

“But isn’t this girl the savior of Queibek? Perhaps it was fate that she pulled out Caliburn.”

“In the end, she is still a Dvernon. Who’s to say she won’t betray us one day? Dvernon and Queibek have long been rivals, locked in a cycle of war and peace.”

Everything Rachel said was true.

The only reason peace had lasted for decades was the friendship between Temanon and Depelto.

In truth, conflict had been far more frequent than peace.

“But is all of that worth more than one child’s life?”

“To me, Queibek is more valuable than this child’s life.”

“We are the only ones who can save her.”

“And she may one day become the one who destroys us.”

They both fell silent.

“As Lady of Queibek, I find you pathetic.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“…But as Rachel, I support your decision.”

Rachel’s footsteps faded into the distance.

“I pray that your choice turns out to be the right one.”

Temanon felt he needed some fresh air.

Temanon came to visit the infirmary where I lay every day at noon.

Honestly, I looked forward to it.

Because the warmth in his voice reminded me of Dad.

He would always hold my hand and send warmth into me, and whenever he did, my mind grew clearer.

He wasn’t just holding my hand—he was definitely doing something.

A voice full of worry spoke:

“My child… please, wake up.”

Temanon visited me like this every day at noon, and I was drawn into his quiet kindness each time.

Not knowing that I was conscious, Temanon would talk to me constantly.

“I’m not sure what the right decision is. No, that’s not true. I do know what’s right. I just… can’t bring myself to choose it. I’m sorry.”

He was clearly struggling.

But I knew.

‘Temanon will do the right thing. He always does.’

For a moment, I thought the character of Temanon was incredibly cool.

Then, several more days passed.

“…—n.”

Temanon suddenly stood up.

“You’ve come to!”

“Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you!”

He began pacing around, clearly overwhelmed with joy.

He looked like he wanted to hug me but was afraid he’d break me.

“Why do you worry about me so much?”

“What kind of question is that?! You collapsed! You’re my guest and my benefactor—of course I worry!”

I smiled softly.

“It felt unfamiliar, but I didn’t hate it. That’s why I asked.”

“…What?”

“While I was unconscious, I could feel warmth sometimes. I was very grateful for that.”

“…”

“If I had been your real daughter, Lord Temanon… how would things have been?”

They said Queibek held the secret to saving me.

And I wanted to live, no matter what.

I was already overwhelmed fighting the constant brushes with death—I didn’t want to live cursed on top of it all.

“If that were the case… would I still have been resented?”