Chapter 3.4

“Sir Stina has not come to the knight order. She is likely at home on sick leave, but it seems she is not there either.”  

“Was there no other contact at all?”  

“No. But why are you looking for Sir Stina?”  

The knight’s curious gaze fell on the well-known mage, Young Earl Donovan Yerenst. Donovan did not respond and turned away from the knight order without hesitation.  

Evelyn was indeed an outstanding knight. Not only was she skilled in tracking, but she also had a talent for concealment, which allowed her to evade Donovan’s pursuit.  

– It’s a bit awkward to say this after spending the night together… but I have some things to sort out. Could you wait for a moment?  

That was what Evelyn had said, but she had yet to return. Even after spending the night together, the bitterness of being ultimately abandoned filled Donovan’s heart.  

Upon returning to the mansion, the Earl summoned him. Curious about what nonsense the Earl might spout, Donovan went to meet him.  

“A knight you’re close to has taken sick leave, hasn’t she?”  

“Are you interfering in the affairs of the Royal Knight order now?”  

“You look absolutely dreadful.”  

The Earl clicked his tongue in disapproval, his expression far from pleased. Instead of rambling on, he spoke bluntly.  

“Give up on the person you’re looking for.”  

“You’re saying the same thing as when I was a child. You haven’t changed at all.”  

Donovan responded coldly to the Earl’s words.  

As soon as it was discovered that he reacted to magic stones, the family had taken him away from his mother and adopted him into the direct lineage.  

– Where is my mother?  

– You will no longer see your mother. I am your father, and my wife is your mother now.  

Shocked, Donovan refused to eat. The Earl left him unattended for days, as if taming a wild animal. After three days, the Earl visited Donovan’s room, acting as though he were doing him a favor.  

– How long do you plan to starve?  

– Let me see my mother.  

– Hah. Considering your mother is a commoner, shouldn’t you behave better?  

Donovan’s mother was a powerless commoner. The Earl coldly pointed out his harsh reality.  

“I gave your mother plenty of money. I paid more than enough for your worth, so you must repay it.”  

“I’ve already repaid that debt more than enough.”  

Originally, Donovan had planned to proceed with things carefully, step by step.  

“I’ve elevated the name of the Earldom as you wished, so now it’s time for you to repay me.”  

“What insolent words are these?”  

Donovan’s patience had reached its limit. He had long since recruited the Earl’s spies one by one. He had gathered evidence of the Earl accepting bribes and confirmed where the embezzled wealth hidden from His Majesty was located.  

‘Was he planning to use a curse to eliminate his rivals?’  

Recently, Donovan had found traces of the Earl contacting a dark mage and was secretly tracking him.  

“How long did you think I would tolerate you meddling with the people I care about?”  

“You ungrateful brat…!”  

The Earl’s face turned bright red with anger. He grabbed a vase from his office and hurled it. Donovan easily dodged the flying object with a slight movement.  

“You must have noticed by now that all your hands and feet have been severed. Sparing your life is the last mercy I’ll grant you.”  

Donovan had nearly completed preparations to accuse the Earl by uncovering the traces of the vanished dark mage. His Majesty had promised to reward him with the title of Earl as recognition for his efforts.  

“How impressive! I raised a wolf cub!”  

The Earl’s eyes glinted fiercely as he panted heavily. Whatever he had thought of, a sly grin spread across his face.  

“It’s amusing how you don’t know that the knight you care so much about has been cursed and is on the brink of death.”  

The Earl seemed triumphant, believing he had found a weapon to use against Donovan.  

Donovan’s expression hardened terrifyingly. He could barely breathe, his eyes wide open.  

“What did you just say? A curse?”  

Donovan’s head throbbed with rage, as if it would split open. The overflowing magic rampaged uncontrollably within him. His eyes turned a vivid blue. As his magic intensified, the objects in the room began to tremble violently.  

It was like the prelude to an earthquake. The glass ornaments displayed in the cabinet all crashed to the floor.  

“What are you doing…!”  

Instinctively seeking survival, the Earl crouched down, shielding his head with his arms. The floor was a mess of shattered glass. Beneath the Earl’s knees, the glass cracked and splintered further.  

“What kind of curse is it?”  

“Do you think I’ll tell you… Aagh!”  

Ice-cold water poured over the Earl’s head. Soaked to the bone, he shivered uncontrollably, wrapping his arms around himself.  

“Next time, it won’t just be cold water. So… think carefully before you answer. I’ve heard that those who faced my retribution still suffer from nightmares.”  

During their academy days, those who envied and resented Evelyn had all been personally dealt with by Donovan. Among them, the one who tried to meddle with Evelyn’s scholarship had been given special treatment.  

The Earl looked up at his adopted son with an expression of disbelief. Donovan, without changing his expression, asked,

“I will ask again. What kind of curse is it?”