“Ouch.”

Just when I thought the dance was somehow continuing, my body unexpectedly swayed, as if it were a lie.

Reflexively, I closed my eyes and felt myself lift into the air as if I were soaring.

When I opened my eyes in surprise, I found myself safely perched on the Duke’s arm.

“What if you fall again? Why do you keep doing this?” he sighed and murmured softly. Through his glasses, his long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

What was this? How did he know I almost fell? Did he see everything?

I swallowed nervously, fearing the Duke might point out my inability to dance and revoke my status as heir.

However, without further comment, the Duke simply held me on his arm and spun around the ballroom in time with the Viscountess’s music.

The Viscountess widened her eyes in surprise but continued playing.

The Duke no longer bothered with proper steps; he simply spun around in a large circle, making it seem as if he were a decorative figure on a music box.

‘It’s warm.’

As I rested my hand on the Duke’s shoulder, I suddenly realized this and fidgeted my fingers.

I could hear the rustling of clothes and feel the warmth of a human being seeping through.

Not the cold body of a ghost.

But the warm presence of a living ‘person.’

‘A curse…’

A ghost and a person.

Thinking about the gap between them naturally brought the Mortia clan’s curse to mind.

I furrowed my brow slightly, lost in thought.

The curse that had been cast upon the Duke the moment the head of the Mortia clan died came to mind.

‘Everdeen, I curse you!

You will pay for obstructing the divine mission bestowed by the heavens!

Your honor, once high as the crimson sky, will be cast down to the ground,

The golden treasures that surrounded you will crumble to dust,

And in the end, the admiring gazes will be filled only with fear and contempt.

You sinners shall writhe in eternal agony, neither living nor dead!’

I pondered the curse anew, considering each word.

When I thought about it, all the misfortunes of the Duke of Everdeen stemmed from the Mortia clan’s curse.

They had lost their honor, their wealth, and even their status as ‘humans.’

‘Terry, curses aren’t as complicated as you might think.’

I suddenly remembered something my mother had once said.

One day, I was sulking because Viscount Oblene had disappeared due to urgent matters, breaking his promise to read me a fairy tale during a family picnic.

My mother, who was reading me the story of a cursed king while sitting in the sunlight, smiled softly.

‘A curse is like putting a lock and key on someone at the same time. If you can find the key, you can easily unlock the lock. You’re smart, so you’ll understand quickly.’

She said this and gave me a brief kiss on the forehead.

Back then, I was just happy to be praised and giggled it away.

After my mother passed away, and Viscount Oblene began to reveal his true nature, looking at me with disdainful eyes, I had almost erased those memories from my mind.

Anyway, right in front of me now were the Duke of Everdeen and the people of the Everdeen household, cursed for something that wasn’t their fault.

I had already received too much from these people to simply stand by and watch.

‘…I want to help.’

At first, the thought was as small as a whisper.

‘I want to help.’

Then, it grew clear and bright like the midday sun, moving my heart.

It was my sincere wish that these kind people wouldn’t suffer or be in pain.

‘If a curse is like locking and keying someone at the same time, does that mean the lock and the key can’t be separated?’

If that’s the case, maybe…

Could it be that the curse itself held the solution?

That thought flashed through my mind like lightning. I seized the moment and quickly pondered.

‘As for dying as a human… I didn’t know how to handle that, but when it came to money and honor, perhaps I could restore them.’

I planned to revive the Duke of Everdeen and purchase the Oblene Viscountcy.

The revival I envisioned for the Duke’s house was to restore its former status both socially and financially.

If I could prevent the curse from being fulfilled, wouldn’t the ‘curse’ itself become nonexistent?

‘Great, I can do it!’

Though I wasn’t entirely certain, I felt good as if I had found a clue.

I patted the Duke’s shoulder to signal that I wanted to be let down.

The Duke promptly set me down. The Viscountess of Lavadié, who had been watching us intently, gracefully concluded her performance.

“Duke.”

Standing on the floor, I looked up at the Duke and spoke to him.

He immediately bent down on one knee to meet my gaze.

“Why, Terry?”

He looked at me kindly, his eyes clear, and smiled broadly. Then he said,

“I want to make friends!”

“…Huh?”

The Duke’s eyes widened in surprise. He blinked a few times, as if trying to comprehend what I had just said.

Oh, no immediate response.

I quickly grabbed his sleeve and gave it a gentle shake.

“I want to make friends my age too. Mina and Sebastian both said they have friends, but I don’t have any…”

“Ah.”

The Duke let out a short sigh at my words. He softened his eyebrows and moved his pen.

“I hadn’t thought about that. I’m sorry, Terry.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. I just meant it would be nice to have friends.”

Enough with the self-blame already!

Watching the Duke apologize for everything made me feel uneasy.

I was afraid he might blame himself for the ‘curse’ too, so I firmly reassured him that it wasn’t his fault.

After a brief silence, the Duke smiled faintly and asked, “Alright. What should I do? We could host a tea party…”

“I actually have someone I want to be friends with!”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Both the Duke and Sebastian exclaimed in unison. Their voices were loud enough to make my eyes widen unconsciously.

The Duke, who had been momentarily stunned, quickly regained his composure and scribbled with his pen.

“Who are you talking about, Terry?”

This was the moment I had been waiting for. I smiled brightly and enunciated the name clearly.

“Jervis Amethris! I like him!”

“Cough.”

The Duke let out a dry cough, clearly startled.

Well, that’s understandable. Even I hadn’t thought about it until half a day ago.

But after hearing Sebastian’s explanation earlier and checking the library, I found that the Amethris Marquisate bordered the Everdeen Dukedom to the south.

The southern region, adjacent to the sea, was particularly active in trading seafood, spices, and other specialties.

In short, the Amethris Marquisate was practically the gateway to a trading hub!

It wouldn’t hurt to befriend the child who would one day own such a place.

In fact, I should seize the opportunity to become friends with all my might.

Heaven is helping me!

I chuckled to myself, imagining the main road of the Everdeen Dukedom paved with gold.

Meanwhile, the Duke, who had been looking somewhat bewildered, seemed to make a decision.

“Terry. But the young marquis is not in good health right now.”

“That’s why! I need to tell him to get well soon so we can play together every day. Mom said we should be friendly with our neighbors.”

“…Alright, I understand. But let’s go together. I can’t send you to the neighboring estate alone. You understand, right, Terry?”

“Yes!”

I was excited!

Watch out, Haures or whatever demon you are! We’re going to take you down soon! Not me, but Selena!

* * *

After Teresia’s dance lesson ended, Valerian, following Mina’s suggestion to freshen up the child, escorted her to her room.

Teresia waved cutely and followed Mina into the room.

Clack.

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, Master.”

Valerian had been waving to the child, but as soon as the door closed, his expression turned serious.

Sebastian, standing behind him, wore a similar expression.

Valerian asked with an unusually grave face.

“Does Terry have any acquaintance with the young Marquis of Amethris?”

“Not at all. Judging by the fact that she asked me about the Amethris Marquisate earlier, it’s certain they haven’t had any prior contact.”

“Yes, that must be the case…”