“So, that’s why they said Basilinte’s curse can never be broken.”
The blood of the first Herta had been spread throughout the imperial family. Consistently, continuously, over 300 years.
They married and had children, and those children drank the blood again, had children…
Eliminating all the Herta imperial family members wouldn’t work.
Over the past 300 years, they hadn’t married only within the Empire, and how could anyone possibly identify all the numerous illegitimate children that must have existed during that time?
Fundamentally, the only ways to end a curse were either for the mage who cast it to die or for that mage to personally withdraw their curse.
The first Emperor of Herta died about 300 years ago, so he couldn’t withdraw the curse himself.
But the first Emperor’s blood had already spread so widely that the ‘curse’ didn’t recognize its caster as dead and continued to grow in power.
Leticia felt her breath catch.
The curse would only grow stronger in the future.
While she might somehow be weakening the curse with her magical power now, what about after she dies?
The imperial family would continue to have children, and the first Emperor’s blood would only spread further across the continent.
How could that be stopped?
Leticia closed her eyes, not knowing what to do.
She knew it would be good to get even a little sleep, but tonight, sleep seemed impossible.

***

The people of Basilinte were also unable to sleep that night.
But they were all still maintaining their sanity. Though precarious, they hadn’t completely lost their minds.
It would have been different if Leticia hadn’t traveled while leaving her whereabouts completely exposed, if she hadn’t left a note before departing.
[I’ll be back in three days. Don’t worry too much. I’m fine.]
“…If it’s just a trip to clear his head, why is he moving so quickly toward the border?”
Astrid, who was receiving real-time reports of Leticia’s movements, muttered anxiously.
Hilda tried to comfort her.
“He might have enjoyed horseback riding. He purchased horses at the horse market and smartly put them on Basilinte’s tab. He’s definitely not running away.”
“You think so?”
“Of course. You might be worried because His Highness is moving with just one maid, but Chamuka will soon join His Highness.”
Strictly speaking, that was more like a pursuit rather than joining.
However, no one used such words because it would make it seem like the prince was really running away.
Especially from Basilinte’s perspective, as they were pursuing despite the note saying he’d return in three days.
“Where is Chamuka now? When do you think he’ll meet our baby?”
“He said he’s almost caught up. He said he’s around here and will meet soon…”
Hilda’s finger moved across the unfolded map.
“Here. The city of Radanta.”

***

Radanta wasn’t a bustling city.
Perhaps because there was a city closer to the border just a few more days south, Leticia frowned as she looked at the mountain Aina pointed to while surveying the somewhat quiet city.
“You want me to climb that?”
“Yes. They told me to lure Your Highness there.”
It was a rocky mountain that no one in their right mind would climb.
When there were perfectly good roads on flat ground, why would people bother crossing a mountain?
“You must actually be highly trusted, Aina. They consider you such an exceptional spy that you could lure me to that barren rocky mountain.”
“That can’t be true. They’re just testing to see if it works or not. If it fails, they just cut off one clueless low-level spy, and that’s the end of it.”
Aina handed Leticia leather shoes for climbing the mountain and said.
“If this fails, they’ll probably approach Your Highness more realistically next time… Hmm.”
She looked Leticia up and down as she changed her shoes, then shrugged.
“It’s probably not dangerous for Your Highness. Besides, the Basilinte people, who must be quite agitated by now, probably won’t leave Your Highness alone anymore.”
“Now you’re just calling them whatever since you won’t see them again.”
“All they ever gave me were jealousy-filled glances.”
“Where do you think your salary for the past 10 years came from?”
“Butler Hallik’s pocket.”
It was an obvious statement since the Grand Duke didn’t personally hand out salaries to the castle servants.
“But you still call Hallik ‘Butler.'”
“He’s one of the few sane people in that castle. Except for when he got caught spinning fantasies about Your Highness and me as the main characters. I suffered so much because of that.”
Leticia agreed with Aina’s words, remembering how Astrid had questioned her, “What’s your relationship with that maid?” thanks to Hallik’s fantasies scribbled in the handover journal.
Aina grumbled and added.
“The other maids interrogated me about whether it was true. They all said they were joking, but still.”
“I guess no one seriously suspected.”
“Of course not. Everyone knew that if Your Highness had looked at me even slightly specially, Chamuka would have buried me in a sweet potato field.”
“Chamuka isn’t that kind of person-“
“-Yes, he is. It’s time you admitted it. Chamuka is just pretending in front of Your Highness. Look at his true inner self.”
Why did this suddenly remind her of her mentor, who claimed to have been trapped by choosing a lover based solely on looks in his youth?
…But he still looks happy when he sees Your Grace’s face, so it must be fine.
At least he doesn’t seem to regret it when they’re face-to-face.
“Since I’m not going to become Chamuka’s lover, do I really need to know his inner self…?”
At those words, Aina’s mouth fell open.
She stared at Leticia in shock, then shook her head.
“…Looking at Your Highness, I understand the saying that indifference is scarier than hatred. For a moment, I felt sorry for Chamuka.”
“Really?”
“For about 5 seconds. My reason won’t allow any more sympathy than that. And isn’t it Your Highness and I who should be pitied now, having to climb that rocky mountain and fight assassins?”
“That’s true…”
Leticia looked up at the rocky mountain, doubtful whether there was even a proper path, and gave Aina more money.
Who was worrying about whom?
“I’ll be fine, but Aina, go buy some armor for yourself.”
Aina didn’t refuse and armed herself. Even if she couldn’t help with combat, she shouldn’t be a hindrance.
It was just as the fully armed maid and the fake prince with dazzling beauty began climbing the rocky mountain.
Chamuka had just arrived at the entrance to the city of Radanta.
It was the result of changing to the most enduring horse at each city, never resting for a moment, and pushing at the maximum speed no human should be capable of.
He gradually regained his lost sanity as he questioned people around him.
“…Ah, that beautiful boy went that way.”
“Are you sure it’s the person I’m looking for?”
“…? If there were two people who looked like that in this world, this place would be heaven.”
Leticia was too conspicuous, so her whereabouts were revealed wherever she went.
“About two hours ago? A fairy-like angel flew that way.”
“Ah, an angel smiled from over there about an hour ago. Perhaps it was a divine revelation. Let us pray, brother.”
“I’ve fallen in love! That boy I saw 30 minutes ago has shaken my life- Ugh!”
It was confirmed that he had been in this city just 30 minutes ago.
Chamuka calmly dealt with the last witness who had fallen for Leticia, then began climbing the rocky mountain after her.
Alone, of course.
The knights couldn’t follow because Chamuka was too fast.