Sunlight shone down. On a summer day, I walked carrying a parasol and bag. Beside me were Liliet and Caslan.

Sunlight seemed to shine with every step we took.

“What are you doing this summer break, Louelle?”

Liliet asked curiously.

“I heard there’s a place with pretty stationery, so I’m going there.”

I spoke with a bright smile. Liliet nodded. Her eyes held pity, but it was fine.

She must have known I was going to buy stationery to send letters to Fazel. I looked at Liliet and Caslan. The two had become the Academy’s representative couple and were doing well. 

Following the original story’s flow, Caslan treated Liliet well, and Liliet only looked at him.

My existence had changed from the original. Fazel didn’t love Liliet.

What he loved was me. Me, Louelle Asnel.

Fazel quit the Academy right after becoming Duke. Since Aegis had taken his life for unknown reasons, he suddenly became Duke. Because of that, he had to learn the Duke’s duties and could no longer attend the Academy.

High society turned upside down when our engagement was called off. Our family spread rumors that Fazel had stepped back for my sake, since my political position became awkward after he became Duke.

Because this rumor was the best option. I didn’t want to go around talking about the ducal family’s curse.

Why didn’t the original tell me how to break the curse? I sighed.

“Are you going to the library again today, Louelle?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded.

“I need to study.”

During the time without Fazel, I studied.

“Then I’ll get going.”

I walked slowly carrying an armful of books. Liliet and Caslan gave me worried looks.

Arriving at the library, I placed the books on the desk. I’d already returned the books I’d read before to the library.

[History of the Zieten Ducal Family]

What I studied wasn’t Academy subjects, but the history of the Zieten ducal family that had continued since before the Empire was founded. I thoroughly searched and read everything from recent ducal family stories to records written in ancient language.

Originally only professors could read books in ancient language, but I received permission to read them after becoming Academy valedictorian.

Fazel. To find a solution, I needed to know about the Zieten ducal family. There had to be stories related to the curse here.

I sighed while thoroughly searching ancient texts. I desperately hoped this book would have a clue.

* * *

Marlene waited for Louelle. Today was a day when Louelle would come home a bit late searching for information in ancient texts. So even though it was past 6 o’clock, she wasn’t worried.

The front door opened and Louelle entered.

“You’re a bit late.”

“I know.”

Louelle shook her head. Even though she’d traveled by parasol and carriage, sweat beaded on her forehead, showing it had been hot.

“Another dead end today.”

Louelle folded her parasol and gave it to Marlene. Marlene asked her question while receiving Louelle’s things.

“Nothing in the ancient texts either?”

“Always the same story.”

The first Duke Zieten defeated a demon dragon. So he became a hero, and in return, the Dragon Lord gave him power that humans couldn’t possess. That power passed down to the Zieten ducal family’s head through generations.

The curse’s contents were completely missing.

It’s a curse that wasn’t even in the original! Louelle found the curse placed on Fazel absurd. A curse against loving—how did that make sense?

In the original, Fazel became Duke and despaired at his fate. So he ultimately gave up on Liliet. 

Even though he became Duke, even if he brought Liliet, he had to take women other than her. Even if a child was born, the child died if they weren’t suitable vessels.

Life was horrible enough with just this, but another curse activated when he got close to someone he loved! What on earth had happened to the Zieten ducal family for this to occur?

“Miss, there’s good news.”

“Really?”

Louelle smiled brightly with joy. Marlene felt sorry for her with her flushed cheeks.

“The letter is in your room.”

“I should wash up and read it quickly.”

Wasn’t this the young lady who’d been counting the days waiting for Fazel’s letter! 

Louelle quickly entered the bathroom. Humming sounds reached all the way here.

Miss. To think they can’t be together when they like each other so much.

Since Louelle and Esran didn’t say, she didn’t know what happened, but Fazel and Louelle had to separate. Everyone said it was because of Louelle’s political position, but Marlene knew.

No, everyone who knew Louelle and Fazel all knew. That the reason these two separated wasn’t a political problem.

That it was a reason they couldn’t tell others, and Louelle was working hard to resolve it.

* * *

Trean and Fazel glared at each other holding swords. Fazel swung his sword first. Trean faced Fazel’s sword and stepped back. After several exchanges, Fazel cut off Trean’s wooden sword.

“Incredible.”

Trean smiled brightly and declared surrender. Having a wooden sword cut during sparring was uncommon. It was possible because Fazel had entered the beginning stages of Sword Master.

“How does it feel to become a Sword Master?”

At Trean’s question, Fazel shrugged.

“I was happy I could send a letter to Louelle.”

He’d written her a letter proudly saying he’d become a Sword Master. After that, he sent letters to Trean and Suran. As soon as he received this letter, Trean rushed over to confirm the truth.

“My disciple is a Sword Master!”

The Zieten ducal family had possessed outstanding swordsmanship skills for generations. But even among them, Sword Masters were rare. Yet Fazel had become a Sword Master.

Fazel’s face heated up while talking about Louelle.

“How is Asnel territory these days?”

Trean told him about recent events.

“Lady Louelle’s coming-of-age ceremony is soon. The castle is a bit busy with that.”

“But Louelle should still be at the Academy?”

“Even so, Count Asnel is already preparing.”

She was his only daughter and heir. He said they’d throw a big party this time.

“I can’t go.”

Fazel smiled bitterly.

“Hang in there.”

Only Esran and Louelle knew about the curse, but Trean and Suran knew something bad had happened to Fazel. They only hoped Fazel and Louelle would grow close again.

Fazel looked at Trean and smiled brightly.

“How’s my sibling?”

“Of course well. They already turned one! I’ll show you their face next time.”

“Understood.”

While Fazel couldn’t come to Asnel territory, his sibling grew steadily. Fazel smiled brightly thinking of the sibling he’d only seen in portraits.

“Someday I want to marry Louelle and have children. I want to raise those children and live happily.”

After saying that, Fazel made sad eyes.

“That was all I wanted.”

I never even wanted the Duke’s position. Fazel closed his eyes, feeling emotions surge. Trean hugged him.

“I miss when I was in Asnel territory.”

“Right?”

“Yes, because the people I love are there. Louelle, Father and Mother, and my sibling too.”

Fazel clenched his fists tightly. Someday I want to return.

To make that happen, I need to work hard now. Louelle said he should train in swordsmanship and follow fate’s flow. Then a solution might emerge.

He didn’t know what she knew to say such things, but Fazel diligently trained and practiced as Louelle instructed. Occasionally Loctaron came and helped with magic.

Living like that, time passed before he knew it. Because it was time he could only endure like this, Fazel hoped this moment would pass quickly.

After receiving Louelle’s letter, he endured until there were results. This time, he hoped Louelle would be happy seeing his letter.

If she was the her he knew, she’d be happy seeing he’d become a Sword Master.

* * *

After finishing my shower, I spoke to Marlene who was drying my hair.

“What could it say?”

“Isn’t it good news?”

Fazel and I didn’t exchange letters often. Since we didn’t know how the curse might manifest, we wrote once every two months. But this time he sent a letter after three months.

I unfolded the letter. Seeing the contents written calmly in neat handwriting, I was shocked.

“Sword Master?”

It said Fazel seemed to have become a Sword Master.

“Sword Master?”

Marlene was also very surprised. Unable to believe it, I read the letter several times.

“Fazel became a Sword Master.”

“My goodness?”

“Even though the Zieten ducal family is good at swordsmanship, Sword Masters appearing is rare!”

The letter contained his longing for me and his joy at being able to write because he’d become a Sword Master.

[My beloved Louelle, your coming-of-age ceremony is soon. Congratulations in advance.]

At the very end was a message about my coming-of-age ceremony. Fazel.

He remembered my coming-of-age ceremony. Originally, after Fazel’s coming-of-age ceremony ended, I would have said I’d marry him.

Now it was an unattainable dream. But who knew what the future held?

Recalling the original’s flow, I wrote a reply to Fazel. What he needed to do was simple.

Go monster hunting following the original’s flow. Since he’d become a Sword Master, he’d hunt monsters more easily than before.

And the last words, of course—

[To my beloved Fazel]

These words absolutely had to be included. I’d express these feelings I’d cultivated since childhood.

The curse can’t block letters! I folded the letter.

“Send this letter to Fazel.”

I hoped he’d be happy seeing my reply. Thinking that, I slowly stroked the letter Fazel sent with my hand.

* * *

The Academy also welcomed summer and vacation began. Liliet and Caslan decided to participate in the summer camp the school operated, so they stayed at school.

I didn’t participate in camp and returned straight to the territory. There was territory work, and since I had my coming-of-age ceremony this year, I couldn’t participate in summer camp.

Liliet and Caslan said they’d attend too. I should invite friends to the territory.

I dozed off while riding the carriage to the territory. It was quiet, boring time.

If Fazel were here, we’d talk while laughing. I felt his absence every moment.

After traveling about two days, I arrived at Count Asnel’s estate. As soon as the carriage stopped, I quickly opened the door and got out.

Father had come out to meet me.

“I’m back!”

I ran and hugged Father. When I was young, I grabbed Father’s waist, but now my face reached his chest.

“My daughter’s here!”

Father looked at me with wonder.

“You seem bigger than before you left for the Academy.”

“That’s right. My clothes don’t fit!”

“We’ll have to get new clothes made.”

Father sent me a strange look, seemingly moved.

“Is something on my face?”

“It’s like seeing Roselia.”

Father smiled brightly.

“I met your mother around this time.”

Father smiled and took my hand, entering the castle.

“When I entered the Academy, I was surprised the salutatorian was so beautiful.”

“Did you fall for Mother at first sight?”

“I had some interest.”

I smiled slightly at Father’s words. I also had interest in Fazel from the start.

I opened the door and looked at my room. Writing instruments and objects were there like I’d used them yesterday. It was cleanly tidied too.

Familiarly, I took out the box where I collected letters from the bookshelf. Fazel’s letters were preciously stored here. At first, we both wrote letters while crying.

As time passed, emotions somewhat calmed and we wrote calmly. But looking at letters collected like this, that sadness rushed back.

“Father, I miss Fazel.”

Father stroked my head.

“I know that feeling.”

If it was Father who’d longed for Mother his whole life, he’d understand my heart better than anyone. I leaned my head on Father’s shoulder.

Time without Fazel flowed like this.