Chapter 94
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Dear, I believe you may be misunderstanding.
Episode 94
The oath-witnessing ceremony proceeded swiftly, as there were other scheduled events to follow.
By that afternoon, when the remaining three of the Seven Great Houses arrived—all except Contana—they hastily joined the oath ceremony.
Ironically, the slight delay in the schedule had allowed them to participate by the narrowest of margins.
The King and the Six Cursed Families were proclaimed as witnesses to Grace and Lucas's marriage.
The marriage was bound by the force of contract and declared sealed by compulsory oath.
Lucas and Grace exchanged rings with one another.
As the two gazed at each other with warm eyes while exchanging their rings, six pairs of eyes watching them sparkled with distinctly different lights.
* * *
"Miss, I've brought you something to drink."
Julie and Elia offered Grace, who was resting in the Waiting Room, a glass of lukewarm water.
Mercifully, the perfectly tempered water slid smoothly down my throat.
"Phew, thank you."
"You haven't eaten anything. Shall I bring you something to eat?"
"No, I think I'd get indigestion if I ate now. I'd rather just rest for a bit."
After sending Elia and Julie out, Grace leaned back against the chair.
My naturally weak constitution meant that even a slightly packed schedule left me exhausted.
While staying at the Black Family Estate, I had felt much healthier....
But returning to Oellin House and living in constant tension had inevitably worn my body down.
And on top of that, what had happened in the King's Private Chamber just moments ago.
"...."
Grace lifted her hand and removed her glove.
A small hand and delicate wrist were revealed.
The only difference from another's hand was the shimmering curse marks etched upon it.
'It wasn't just limited to him.'
That meant I could control all six remaining families with my touch as well.
Without relying on primordial objects born of pain, with my hands alone, I could bring them to heel.
'The problem is... I have to strike them.'
She sighed in frustration and put her glove back on.
Why, exactly, did I have to strike them?
They said it was because pain was the foundation, but how much pain could I possibly inflict with these hands? Why was it necessary to strike at all?
Grace took a deep breath and rested her head against the chair.
For now, after the ceremony ended and I heard the details about this curse, I would need to learn more about this phenomenon.
Knock, knock—
But contrary to her leisurely thoughts, those for whom every second was urgent came seeking her out.
* * *
"...Mm."
"Ahem."
"Over there...."
I thought it was just one person, but as they kept arriving one by one, soon there were several of them.
The first to enter were Trisha Onium and Rowen Ganash.
"I apologize for the commotion just now. This should be a day filled with only good things.... I'm truly sorry."
Rowen Ganash bowed respectfully first, offering his apology.
Trisha, who had been watching him, approached Grace and spoke.
"I'm sorry. I lost my temper just now. I shouldn't have, no matter how upset I was.... I thought Rowen had changed because of that rumor, and I just snapped."
"Trisha, did you really think I would believe such gossip?"
"But you did seem angry."
"I was angry at whoever spread that rumor in the first place."
Trisha whispered soothingly, mediating between Rowen, whose tone had grown rough, and the situation.
"Oh, Rowen. Apparently that person is from this family."
"Ah...."
An apologetic expression crossed Rowen's face as he realized he'd just cursed a family member to their face.
Grace, who had been listening quietly, smiled gracefully and spoke.
"It's quite alright. I'm not close with that person you mentioned.... Siblings can have poor relationships, can't they? Don't you think...?"
As Grace drew a sharp line with her gentle voice and impeccable grace, laughter erupted from a distance.
"My goodness, hearing such language from the lips of my wise and dignified wife!"
"Your Majesty! When did you arrive?"
He strode toward her and unhesitatingly brought the back of her hand to his lips.
"Just now. You have quite the tough side to you, don't you? And you know how to say amusing things too."
Grace simply laughed and shrugged at his teasing remark.
She had no desire to maintain propriety and courtesy for Norman.
Especially when he had spread such sordid rumors about a bride-to-be.
A sigh escaped her involuntarily.
"His Majesty is not feeling well, so he won't be able to attend the banquet. He'll likely just make a brief appearance and then retire. I hope you won't mind too much, Grace."
"Mind? Is he feeling quite unwell?"
"Not exactly. It seems he simply needs some time to think."
Lucas Black caressed the back of her hand, which he held, to reassure her.
Grace looked down at her right hand, which he was touching.
Trisha was also gazing at Grace's hand.
"...Is it because of this?"
Grace lifted her small hand, wiggling her fingers slightly.
Trisha, observing Grace's hand, asked Rowen if he could step away for a moment.
Rowen willingly vacated his place, and others appeared to take his spot.
"Oh, everyone's already gathered?"
"Hello! I couldn't help myself and came!"
Fresia, Bianie, Kisis, and even Hiss had come to find her.
Lucas clicked his tongue in disapproval, but since he understood why they had rushed over in such agitation, he said nothing.
He simply pulled Grace closer to his side.
"Sister, is it really true that you turned Trisha into a human in one blow?"
A boy with red hair and deep navy blue eyes rushed toward her at breakneck speed.
With his rough-hewn features and innocent smile, he looked just like a baby.
Though he was quite tall, there was something oddly childlike about him.
"Whoa!"
Without hesitation, he leaped onto the large decorative cabinet directly in front of Grace and plopped down on it.
Swinging his legs carelessly as he gazed at her, he looked exactly like a sixteen-year-old boy.
"I wish I'd come a little earlier! I should have seen that!"
"I'm sorry, Grace. I was trying to slip in alone, but these young gentlemen had already set up camp right here."
Fresia sat down in a chair beside Grace with an apologetic smile.
"Ah yes, I didn't introduce you properly earlier. This is Duke Kisis Ruber of the Red Monkey, and this is Duchess Bianie Ginesh of the Roaring Half-Moon. Bianie doesn't talk much—she's quite shy."
Bianie Ginesh offered a nod in greeting.
She was an exceptionally tall lady with hair the color of a blazing sunset—a brilliant orange that burned with warmth.
Fresia added that Bianie was the only one among them who was not a family head.
When Fresia mentioned this, everyone seemed to regard her with envy.
Their eyes conveyed the unspoken thought: 'How enviable. A carefree noble life without responsibilities... Damn these family headships...'
"Now! There's a reason we've all gathered in this room without letting the bride rest, isn't there?"
"We came to discuss what happened just moments ago."
Hiss explained leisurely.
Grace straightened her posture, sitting with some tension.
A large, warm hand covered the back of her hand.
Lucas reassured her with a gentle touch.
How could something like this make her heart feel so secure?
She took a deep breath and looked around at the gathered members of the Seven Great Houses—or rather, six of them.
"I find it difficult to explain why what just happened occurred. All I can show you is this one thing."
She withdrew her hand from beneath the lace glove and revealed it.
Twilight was descending beyond the window.
She extended the back of her hand into the transparent sunlight streaming through.
"I found a letter at His Excellency's Estate. And I read the ancient script written on it."
"Could it be that it was there then...?"
"Yes. The moment I read that ancient script, it seeped into my forearm."
Everyone present fixed their gaze upon her.
Their expressions were bewildered.
But Grace was equally confused.
In fact, she had even less information about this curse than the people gathered here.
"How strange. Originally, the magical artifacts that restore our curses to their original state are limited to specific objects for each family."
Hiss, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
"The Black Family is a horse's bridle, Onium is a muzzle, and I am this stone. Yet... how is it that you can reverse both the Black Family and Onium? And the effect is instantaneous, no less."
"The eagle is a birdcage. It must break its wings inside the cage and endure for half a day before it can become human again. Not just the eagle—the monkey and the bear also require half a day."
Fresia added her explanation.
Grace found herself wondering if what had happened to her might be far stranger than she had initially believed.
Five pairs of eyes glimmered with colors of their own.
Hope, suspicion, and fear rippled across their gazes like watercolors bleeding into one another.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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