He’s asking for something? What could he possibly want from her? Raphael’s offer seemed easy but was very dangerous.

“It seems like an unfair offer to me.”

Allowing her to use a space only the head could enter was certainly a special privilege. But without knowing what he wants, it was hard to answer if it was really good.

“I have nothing to offer Your Grace.”

“Do you think I want money from you, wife?”

“…Then… what do you want?”

Agreeing blindly to grant him whatever he wants later… was a perfect condition for being caught in a trap.

“Well, I don’t have anything right now.”

The scariest thing was him saying he doesn’t have anything right now. Because who knows what he might say later. Should she just refuse…? She had a new alternative called Master. However, she felt that even the Master wouldn’t tell her about this matter. If he could have, he would have told her long ago.

“Are you worried I might make a wish that would make you unfavorable?”

“……”

“You think so.”

Amelia deliberately looked away, pretending not to care. It was only natural to think that way, honestly.

“I’m curious about my image in my wife’s mind.”

“……It might be better not to know.”

She looked up, surprised by his laugh. Raphael Lloyd Siegfried laughing out loud? It was as if the world had turned upside down.

“I promise.”

She panicked at Raphael’s face coming closer again, wondering what he was promising. She couldn’t help but be surprised by his unusually bright smile. It was hard to control her heart beating foolishly on its own.

“There will never be harm coming to you, wife.”

By the time she came to her senses, she found herself nodding at him. It was too late to take it back.

“It’s really a safe book… right?”

“It’s sad. That my wife has so little faith in me.”

He was completely teasing her. Amelia pouted her lips at his actions, speaking shamelessly with an expression that wasn’t sad at all. How could he be so annoying?

“Alright. I’ll read it.”

Thud. She snatched the book from his hand like she was stealing it away and began to read. She thought the banned book would be difficult, but it was easier than expected. It was true what they said about it being safe for her to read. It briefly mentioned how this country was established and why only the imperial family has silver hair and purple eyes.

“…….”

“Can you stop looking at me…….”

Had she read about half of the book? She couldn’t concentrate anymore because of Raphael right in front of her. There were other seats, but he sat right in front of her, resting his chin on his hands and staring. He was staring so intensely that he even followed her fingers as she turned the pages.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t concentrate.”

“I’m not saying anything and just sitting here.”

Not speaking wasn’t the issue. Few could ignore such a burdensome stare.

“I get nervous when someone stares at me. Could you please move to another seat?”

“There are no seats available.”

Amelia looked around in disbelief at his claim that there were no seats available. There were so many seats.

“And I can’t leave, can I?”

“…….”

Was he always like this? She was at a loss for words because of his shameless attitude.

“Then, it looks like I’ve almost finished reading. I’ll leave now.”

“Not yet.”

She had gotten what she wanted anyway. Just as she was about to close the book and leave, she was stopped by an arm blocking her way.

“The part coming up is important. You should read more.”

Wasn’t it over once she found out why the imperial family had such appearances? The Khalid Empire was established by the goddess of peace, Elaina, because her blood flows through the imperial family, resembling the goddess’s appearance.

“The part coming up?”

“Books are meant to be read till the end.”

“Isn’t it because of the blessing of goddess Elaina?”

For her, who didn’t believe in gods, it was hard to understand. But in a world where magic exists, it’s not impossible for gods to exist too. Moreover, she had received healing from priests. All they did was wave their hands in the air with an unknown light.

“See for yourself if it’s really a blessing from a god.”

Would a goddess known for peace harbor such malevolent feelings to curse others? The name of peace wasn’t given for nothing.

“…….”

There couldn’t be a curse. Pressured by Raphael, Amelia reluctantly continued to turn the pages. The more pages she turned, the more speechless she became. The unbelievable truth kept her turning pages, but nothing changed.

“The Khalid Empire… wasn’t established by goddess Elaina.”

The Khalid Empire wasn’t established by the goddess of peace, Elaina. It was something she had stolen from someone else.

***

Raphael was right that she should read it until the end. The latter part contained things incomparable to the first part, shockingly questionable on whether it was safe for her to read.

Probably, the content of the first part is what all citizens of the empire know. The imperial family are descendants of the goddess, and under her protection, the empire is maintained.

But the reality was not so. The goddess of peace, Elaina, was not as peaceful as her name suggested; she was a terrifying god.

“Can it be true…….”

The original inhabitants of the Khalid Empire were demons. Under the pretext of purification, Elaina drove them out and cursed them. It seemed fine at a glance, but it was contradictory for a goddess of peace to issue curses, especially when she forcibly took over land that others were living on peacefully.

Demons are evil beings. It might have been right for Elaina to drive them out. But why doesn’t she feel that way? Maybe because she has a husband and a son who command demons.

‘If they are demons… Are they in the western forest boundary?’

‘Demons and demonic beasts are different. Demonic beasts lack reason, but demons are just like humans.’

At first, she thought the cursed demons were the demonic beasts in the western forest boundary. That’s why Siegfried is here protecting the Khalid Empire.

‘If they are just like humans…’

‘You can’t tell them apart from the outside.’

It was indeed strange. She couldn’t understand why a goddess of peace would curse others, especially by forcibly taking their land.

“…….”

Amelia bit her nails anxiously. Since she saw the word ‘curse,’ one person came to mind. One side received a god’s blessing, and the other side received a god’s curse. Isn’t it quite bizarre?

“Elaina……”

Why hadn’t she heard this name in the original story? Because it had nothing to do with Leonel? But it should be related to Sierra, the female protagonist.

“Your Highness?”

Why Raphael showed her such a book wasn’t important anymore since she seemed to know who that cursed person was.

“Where are you going?”

Shaking off the maids holding her back, Amelia quickened her pace. This wasn’t the time to be here.

“Your Highness…!”

She had someone she needed to meet right away.

“Haah, Chester… Go to the Chester Merchantry!”

“What? Yes, understood.”

She was breathless from running so fast that even the coachman hurriedly drove the carriage faster than usual, yet it felt slow due to her urgency.

“Your Highness?”

As soon as the carriage barely stopped and she saw Chester Merchantry, she jumped out of the carriage door without paying any mind to Howard who came out to greet her in surprise.

“We need to hurry……”

All she could think about was rushing to Master’s room to meet Master.

“You can’t go in now!”

Despite Howard’s shout that she couldn’t go in, she flung the door open.

“Your Highness? Shouldn’t you be at the party?”

“Sigh, ha… Master.”

“…Why are you here?”

Could it be because he rushed over too quickly? She didn’t notice that the Master’s expression was hardening.

“That’s right. The races blessed by the gods.”

“…….”

“Then, there are also those who are cursed… right?”

As soon as she heard the word ‘cursed’, the Master was the first thing that came to her mind. The unknown patterns that covered his skin. His pupils resembled those of a beast.

“Did you come here in this state?”

If it wasn’t for the curse, it wouldn’t make sense.