Chapter 3.7

“Turns out you’re from a collateral line, right? Acting all high and mighty as the heir to the Earldom, but in reality, you were nothing special.”

During his academy days, Donovan did not tolerate insults. However, the Earl couldn’t overlook it. He even interfered with Donovan’s relationships at the academy.  

「I heard you had an argument with the young lord of Earl Kelsion’s family? Stop doing pointless things and make up with him. Get along well.」  

Donovan crumpled the letter. How had they found out about the argument? Surely, the bodyguard assigned by his family had reported every little detail of his actions.  

Feeling nauseous, he began to breathe heavily. Overwhelmed, he escaped his room at the academy and fled outside. Entering a secluded path, Donovan leaned against a tree and roughly ran his hands over his face.  

‘This is suffocating.’  

He was sick of the family that tried to control even his friendships. He had known from the start that the bodyguard was there to monitor his every move. 

Should I get rid of him?  

‘If I get rid of him, they’ll just send another tail.’  

For now, at least he was aware and could take precautions, but there was no telling what cunning tactics the family might use next.  

‘They could bribe academy students or continue surveillance through other means. It’ll only get harder to manage.’  

Donovan roughly loosened the tie around his neck. His vision darkened, and his sight blurred. Sometimes this happened when his nerves were overly strained. He didn’t want to face anyone.  

Casting a spell, he flew up into the tree. From there, he could see the entire academy at a glance. The blocked feeling in his chest eased slightly.  

After resting there for a while, he watched the leaves falling from the tree. Suddenly, an impulse seized him. He wanted to let himself be carried by the wind and enjoy a moment of freedom.  

‘Before hitting the ground, I just need to cast a simple spell to land safely.’  

He acted on the thought. Since he controlled the speed artificially, it wasn’t particularly dangerous. The sensation of falling with the wind was strange. Even though he could use magic anytime, it gave him a peculiar sense of liberation.  

“Hey, are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”  

When he landed in Evelyn’s arms, his floating sense of reality returned to the present.  

Originally, he had intended to use magic, but unexpectedly, a girl who had rushed over saved him. He had been standing on the edge of a bottomless darkness… but someone had been waiting for him.  

Donovan took a deep breath.  

“Is this the first time you’ve seen someone fall from a tree?”  

“What?”  

“What are you staring at? Stop gawking.”  

Seeing the girl staring at him with wide eyes, he deliberately spoke in a cold voice.  

“Why were you up in the tree?”  

“Do I have to answer that?”  

Relying on someone. The sense of security that came from having someone to support him was unfamiliar, leaving him at a loss.  

“Have you had enough of staring at my face? How long are you going to stay like this? Put me down.”  

The words that came out of his mouth were terrible. To hide his true feelings, he deliberately lowered his gaze.  

* * *  

Several seasons passed.  

“What will you do after graduation?”  

As the semester drew to a close, Donovan suppressed his pounding heart and asked the question as if in passing.  

Sitting under the tree reading a book, Donovan tried to make his voice sound as casual as possible. His gaze was fixed on the book, but every hair on his body stood on end.  

Not even during the academy entrance exam had he felt this way. Waiting for Evelyn’s answer made every second feel like a year.  

“I’ll probably go back to my hometown.”  

“What? Why?”  

Donovan reacted sharply, like a cat falling from a tree. Who gave her permission to return to her hometown?  

“You said you wanted to make a lot of money. Where else could you earn more than in the capital?”  

“Well, at first, I thought I’d become a government official, but apparently, you need to be smart for that.”  

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders and gave a weak laugh. She looked oddly lonely.  

“I’m terrible at memorization. They say even the most brilliant people fail, so how could I possibly pass?”  

Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, Donovan pressed his hand against it. He forced himself to speak casually, his voice steady.  

“Why are you so lacking in confidence?”  

“Someone told me I’m only good enough to teach kids in my hometown.”  

“Whoever said that has terrible judgment. Don’t believe them. Who said such nonsense?”  

“Well… my father did.”  

Donovan, who had intended to tell her not to worry about it, found himself at a loss for words. For a moment, his mind went blank. He was someone hailed as a genius at the Academy.  

“Thinking about it, I guess my father was right. I thought I was a genius, but I was just a frog in a well.”  

Donovan reached out to grab Evelyn’s shoulder but stopped midway. He couldn’t muster the courage to extend his hand.  

“There are plenty of talented people out there. I don’t even measure up to being average.”  

“You’re good. Don’t sell yourself short.”  

Evelyn smiled silently and lowered her head. Seeing her like that, Donovan’s heart felt like it was plummeting.  

“Genius… is a word reserved for someone like you, Senior.”  

At that moment, Donovan felt as though his throat was completely blocked, and he couldn’t breathe.  

Because of me, you… felt despair?  

When did I ever do such a thing to you? I never wanted you to feel that way, Evelyn. 

“No. You’re doing well. Never give up. Don’t go back to your hometown, and make sure you join the Royal Knight Order.”  

“Thank you for the encouragement.”  

Encouragement? No, this wasn’t encouragement. 

It was a wish he thought he’d never have again in his lifetime.  

“Swear that you’ll never give up. You’re going to join the Royal Knight Order.”  

Donovan Yerenst wanted Evelyn Stina to become a Royal Knight. That way, every time he attended meetings at the palace, every time there was a ball at the palace, every time he entered the palace for an audience, he would be able to see Evelyn.  

Even if it was like drawing a silhouette beyond a glass wall, even if he couldn’t get close within a certain distance, it didn’t matter. At least they could be in the same space.  

“Promise me right now.”  

He acted childishly. Even though he knew it would trouble her, he insisted. He harbored a futile wish despite not believing in God.  

“Don’t leave. Stay in the capital. Become a Royal Knight.”  

“Are you asking me this as a favor?”  

“Yes. Let’s call it a favor.”  

At that moment, he thought the title of Earl didn’t matter at all. The glory of the Earldom could turn to ashes for all he cared.  

“If you become a Royal Knight, I’ll stay too.”  

“You won’t go to the Magic Tower? Until now, all the outstanding mages have gone to the Magic Tower.”  

He had planned to go to the Magic Tower to escape the shackles placed by the Earl. However, if he went to the Magic Tower, if he entered that closed-off group, he wouldn’t be able to see Evelyn easily.  

“…It doesn’t matter. So promise me.”  

“Since you’re speaking so earnestly, I guess I can’t refuse.”  

Hesitating, Evelyn extended her hand. Their warmth touched. Evelyn’s pinky finger wrapped around his finger.  

Please, don’t fly too far away. Stay where I can reach you. So that one day, I can…  

“Stay here with me.”  

So that I can reach you.  

“I won’t go to the Magic Tower. I’ll pledge my loyalty to the Royal Palace. I’ll become the Earl of Yerenst.”  

Evelyn didn’t know, but those words were a vow to her. He had never forgotten it.  

And so, several seasons passed once again. In the meantime, Donovan had steadily been preparing to become the Earl. He thought that with just a little more patience, he could succeed.  

However, there was an unexpected variable. Evelyn being cursed, attempting to escape from him, and even having the audacity to think about meeting a new man—none of these were things he had anticipated.  

If the Earl had overlooked something, it was that fate was on Donovan’s side. The curse Evelyn suffered brought him not only crisis but also opportunity. An opportunity to bind Evelyn to him completely.  

“Wow, mages are really something. I guess sticking close to a mage has its perks.”  

Evelyn murmured innocently. If she had known what was in Donovan’s mind, she wouldn’t have said such a thing.  

For Donovan, unrequited love had long been both a curse and a blessing. He had no intention of letting go of the hard-won opportunity. He planned to cling to it like a mad dog in the future.  

“Feel free to use me as much as you want from now on.”  

“From now on… you say?”  

“Or were you planning to use me and then discard me?”  

And so, after a long journey, he finally cast off his shackles and achieved what he had longed for.  

<Does a Curse Make Unrequited Love Come True?> END