As Lisal was lost in various thoughts, the queen suddenly staggered. It seemed as though she had been lost in her own thoughts and failed to notice the stone step in front of her. Everyone simultaneously emitted a mixture of concerned and shocked sounds. No one had ever displayed such affectionate concern for the queen before.
How has the palace changed in my absence?
Perplexed, Lisal reached out and steadied the queen, preventing her from falling by regaining her balance.
“Thank you, Duchess,” the queen giggled. Lisal became genuinely anxious.
Could it be that she’s gone mad, after all the insults I’ve hurled at her? Is she truly insane?
Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at Margaret’s situation. It was not at all favorable.
On the first day, Margaret lost a significant chunk of her hair, and the same amount fell out on the second day. However, on the second day, it wasn’t just hair that she lost. She looked down at two white pebble-like objects in her hands. They were her teeth.
On the third day, as soon as Margaret woke up, she checked her surroundings. More hair had fallen out, but thankfully, her teeth remained intact. However, as soon as she looked in the mirror, she realized something. Wrinkles were appearing on her face.
She was aging. And at a remarkably rapid pace!
She remembered the magician she had encountered on the first day—Vivian Raphin. When Margaret encountered problems on the first day, she rushed to the palace and met the court physician, who happened to be acquainted with Vivian. Despite Vivian’s somewhat awkward and uncomfortable demeanor, upon witnessing Margaret’s condition, she wore an incredibly intrigued expression and instructed her to lie down on the examination table. After thoroughly examining her for a while, Vivian spoke firmly.
“It’s a curse.”
Those words struck Margaret with despair.
“I cannot undo it.”
Despite attempting to coax Vivian, Margaret remained resolute. This curse couldn’t be undone. She didn’t even know what the curse entailed or who was behind it. It was undoubtedly a conditional curse, and it would be wise to think about the conditions and the person who cast it. Vivian warned her.
“I may give you the name of the curse’s caster, but it should not be disclosed. So, we’ll proceed with a contract.”
Vivian said this and made a contract with Margaret. If Margaret were to utter Vivian’s name, her tongue would be severed. Margaret was infuriated by the idea that she had to endure such a curse. “What’s so great about your name that I have to go through all this nonsense?!” Nevertheless, she reluctantly agreed to the contract as she had to deal with the current situation.
On the fourth day, her skin lost its overall luster.
If she didn’t resolve this issue quickly, her life would truly come to an end. Margaret would have screamed in frustration about her appearance, but she remembered Vivian’s chilling words.
“To age quickly means to die quickly. You have angered someone. It would be best to find that person as soon as possible, Lady Surah.”
Vivian had provided her with just four names.
(Lostalid da Lossa, Esmelda Lind, Krynd Minsle, Elaine Rossi, Iri)
Who could be the last name? Vivian almost wrote it down but hesitated.
“Oh, right. That name doesn’t exist anymore.”
She said it with a lonely tone and erased the name.
“So, these are the four names. As far as I know, they are all prominent figures in the world of magic.”
Margaret snatched the paper from Vivian and held her breath as she confirmed the four names.
“This curse is significant. There is likely a high price for the caster who inflicts curses. However, this curse is cunning and clever. Undoubtedly, the conditions to minimize the price were set. In other words, if you eliminate those conditions, your curse will be lifted, Lady Surah. But no one knows what those conditions are. It may seem easy to cast a curse this way, but it is a very challenging curse. It requires mastery of magical manipulation and the use of complex formulas. It can’t be accomplished with ordinary abilities. Only so-called geniuses can do it. You have offended an extraordinary individual.”
As Vivian left the examination room, she offered one last piece of advice.
“If I were you, I would apologize,” she said, her words filled with genuine concern for the pitiful Margaret.
But advice has a way of pricking at a person’s pride. The moment Margaret heard those words, she felt an overwhelming urge to scream.
Don’t mock me!
She wanted to grab Vivian by the hair and slam her against the wall. No, she wanted to kill her!
What have I done? What have I done besides working hard? I was born into nobility and had to marry a merchant! Even now, I’m living my life diligently, receiving nothing but disdain from that useless Duke! Why should I be subjected to this humiliation? Me, born into nobility, living as if I were one of those lowly peasants! It makes me furious that I’m following the principles I must adhere to, and now I’m expected to apologize? I won’t apologize to anyone!
Margaret clenched the paper that Vivian had given her. It crinkled in her hand.
On the fifth day, Margaret made a startling discovery. Her receding hairline, which had once been a fiery chestnut, was no longer tinged with red but a dull, lifeless brown. It was clear that it wasn’t the hair of a twenty-six-year-old woman.
Margaret checked the first name written on the paper.
Rosalyde de Lohsa.
They say that curses end when the one who casts them dies. Once they’re all dead, it’s over.
A gleam of madness appeared in her eyes.
As Lisal was lost in various thoughts, the queen suddenly staggered. It seemed as though she had been lost in her own thoughts and failed to notice the stone step in front of her. Everyone simultaneously emitted a mixture of concerned and shocked sounds. No one had ever displayed such affectionate concern for the queen before.
How has the palace changed in my absence?
Perplexed, Lisal reached out and steadied the queen, preventing her from falling by regaining her balance.
“Thank you, Duchess,” the queen giggled. Lisal became genuinely anxious.
Could it be that she’s gone mad, after all the insults I’ve hurled at her? Is she truly insane?
Meanwhile, let’s take a closer look at Margaret’s situation. It was not at all favorable.
On the first day, Margaret lost a significant chunk of her hair, and the same amount fell out on the second day. However, on the second day, it wasn’t just hair that she lost. She looked down at two white pebble-like objects in her hands. They were her teeth.
On the third day, as soon as Margaret woke up, she checked her surroundings. More hair had fallen out, but thankfully, her teeth remained intact. However, as soon as she looked in the mirror, she realized something. Wrinkles were appearing on her face.
She was aging. And at a remarkably rapid pace!
She remembered the magician she had encountered on the first day—Vivian Raphin. When Margaret encountered problems on the first day, she rushed to the palace and met the court physician, who happened to be acquainted with Vivian. Despite Vivian’s somewhat awkward and uncomfortable demeanor, upon witnessing Margaret’s condition, she wore an incredibly intrigued expression and instructed her to lie down on the examination table. After thoroughly examining her for a while, Vivian spoke firmly.
“It’s a curse.”
Those words struck Margaret with despair.
“I cannot undo it.”
Despite attempting to coax Vivian, Margaret remained resolute. This curse couldn’t be undone. She didn’t even know what the curse entailed or who was behind it. It was undoubtedly a conditional curse, and it would be wise to think about the conditions and the person who cast it. Vivian warned her.
“I may give you the name of the curse’s caster, but it should not be disclosed. So, we’ll proceed with a contract.”
Vivian said this and made a contract with Margaret. If Margaret were to utter Vivian’s name, her tongue would be severed. Margaret was infuriated by the idea that she had to endure such a curse. “What’s so great about your name that I have to go through all this nonsense?!” Nevertheless, she reluctantly agreed to the contract as she had to deal with the current situation.
On the fourth day, her skin lost its overall luster.
If she didn’t resolve this issue quickly, her life would truly come to an end. Margaret would have screamed in frustration about her appearance, but she remembered Vivian’s chilling words.
“To age quickly means to die quickly. You have angered someone. It would be best to find that person as soon as possible, Lady Surah.”
Vivian had provided her with just four names.
(Lostalid da Lossa, Esmelda Lind, Krynd Minsle, Elaine Rossi, Iri)
Who could be the last name? Vivian almost wrote it down but hesitated.
“Oh, right. That name doesn’t exist anymore.”
She said it with a lonely tone and erased the name.
“So, these are the four names. As far as I know, they are all prominent figures in the world of magic.”
Margaret snatched the paper from Vivian and held her breath as she confirmed the four names.
“This curse is significant. There is likely a high price for the caster who inflicts curses. However, this curse is cunning and clever. Undoubtedly, the conditions to minimize the price were set. In other words, if you eliminate those conditions, your curse will be lifted, Lady Surah. But no one knows what those conditions are. It may seem easy to cast a curse this way, but it is a very challenging curse. It requires mastery of magical manipulation and the use of complex formulas. It can’t be accomplished with ordinary abilities. Only so-called geniuses can do it. You have offended an extraordinary individual.”
As Vivian left the examination room, she offered one last piece of advice.
“If I were you, I would apologize,” she said, her words filled with genuine concern for the pitiful Margaret.
But advice has a way of pricking at a person’s pride. The moment Margaret heard those words, she felt an overwhelming urge to scream.
Don’t mock me!
She wanted to grab Vivian by the hair and slam her against the wall. No, she wanted to kill her!
What have I done? What have I done besides working hard? I was born into nobility and had to marry a merchant! Even now, I’m living my life diligently, receiving nothing but disdain from that useless Duke! Why should I be subjected to this humiliation? Me, born into nobility, living as if I were one of those lowly peasants! It makes me furious that I’m following the principles I must adhere to, and now I’m expected to apologize? I won’t apologize to anyone!
Margaret clenched the paper that Vivian had given her. It crinkled in her hand.
On the fifth day, Margaret made a startling discovery. Her receding hairline, which had once been a fiery chestnut, was no longer tinged with red but a dull, lifeless brown. It was clear that it wasn’t the hair of a twenty-six-year-old woman.
Margaret checked the first name written on the paper.
Rosalyde de Lohsa.
They say that curses end when the one who casts them dies. Once they’re all dead, it’s over.
A gleam of madness appeared in her eyes.
