The words I had waited so long for sounded anything but welcome. It felt as if our time together had suddenly grown shorter.

“Is that truly so?”

“Yes, Mother. In truth, Father has been suffering so much that I’ve tried lifting the curse—and little by little, it’s been fading.”

Sikar Blake stared at Kian Blake as if chilled to the bone.

“Fading? What exactly do you mean?”

Kian Blake began explaining while scratching his nose.

“Hmm… it’s invisible to Father’s eyes, but I can see the curse on his body.”

Kian pointed to Sikar’s left chest.

“The curse is engraved right here.”

Ah, of course. Since in the original story Kian never treated Sikar at all, this was completely unheard-of news to us.

When we stared at him with shocked expressions, Kian scratched his nose slightly, seemingly embarrassed.

When I heard Kian’s next words, I felt cold sweat trickle down my spine.

“Every time I treated the curse, the engraving grew fainter. Now it’s almost completely faded. But I thought the curse’s power would weaken as the engraving faded—it doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Kian looked regretful, but Sikar seemed not to hear him at all, his expression blank—then, as if struck by shock, he stared at Kian with goosebumps rising.

“So… what you’re saying is…”

“If I do just a little more, the curse’s engraving will vanish completely. Father will become a free man.”

Kian spoke proudly, but Sikar showed no joy at all.

I, too, wanted to rejoice wholeheartedly—but I couldn’t. The realization that our remaining time was running out hit me like a blow.

Quick-witted Kian immediately sensed something strange and studied our expressions.

“I thought you’d be happy, but your faces look troubled… Why? Why is that, Mother? Is there some problem?”

“No, no problem at all, Your Majesty…”

“Mother, please tell me everything. Why are you like this? Is it wrong to lift the curse?”

What could I possibly say to Kian, who asked so innocently?

Even Sikar, usually so eloquent, simply stared blankly ahead, his eyes unfocused as if his mind had gone blank.

Suddenly, only one person came to mind—Vika Lamberst.

“It’s because of Lord Vika! It’s all because of him!”

Kian tilted his head, still confused.

“Lord Vika?”

“We promised to break the pact with Lord Vika once the Duke’s curse was lifted. That’s why we’re so shocked.”

Fortunately, Kian quickly understood and smiled.

“Oh… I see. If the pact breaks, we must say farewell to Lord Vika. I’m already feeling regretful at the thought of parting with him.”

Kian glanced briefly at Sikar, who still wore a dazed expression, then turned back to me and whispered,

“Father seems deeply shocked.”

I followed Kian’s faint smile with one of my own, pretending ignorance.

“It does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Neither of us could have imagined that Kian had been gradually erasing his own curse. I certainly hadn’t.

Sikar abruptly stood up from his seat. Lately, due to his busy schedule, it was common for him to rise mid-meal.

So Kian continued eating nonchalantly and asked,

“Are you going out again today with the Chancellor to search for medicine?”

Kian asked about searching for medicine because when Reidox took leave, they had used the excuse that Seo Yeon was ill and needed medicine.

Sikar replied with a half-dazed expression.

“Yes, I’ll probably be busy again today.”

“Are you feeling alright? Should I lift some of it for you?”

Normally, when Kian asked, “Shall I lift some of the curse?” Sikar would sit back down even if he’d stood up, exclaiming “Ah, that’s refreshing!” as he received treatment. But today, he stared at Kian as if the words sent chills down his spine.

“No! That’s enough!”

As Sikar left his seat with a horrified expression, Kian scratched his cheek, looking flustered.

“Mother… did I make a mistake?”

“A mistake?”

“I didn’t consider that Father would have to part with Lord Vika. I spoke too abruptly, without giving him time to prepare emotionally.”

Emotional preparation. I hadn’t thought of that either.

Kian would surely be shocked if I suddenly left… I should have given him time to prepare…

If I’d known this farewell would come so abruptly, could I have prepared my heart better?

Would it have made leaving any easier?

I, too, should have given Kian time to prepare emotionally before I left. But I didn’t know how to prepare for a farewell.

It saddened me that Kian would have to endure another unannounced farewell—but I trusted Sikar would explain it well. He was calmer than I was, after all; he’d find the right words.

“Would you like to take a walk after lunch?”

At my carefully offered suggestion, Kian beamed as if he’d been waiting for it and turned to his attendant.

“Cancel the ministerial meeting scheduled after lunch—I plan to enjoy a walk with my mother today. Reschedule it for tomorrow.”

Right after Kian became king, he’d been busy dealing with Gillian’s remnants. But lately, the kingdom had known no major upheavals—not even the usual summer droughts. Everything flowed peacefully.

At least in this regard, just like in the original story, Kian’s reign over Lecador had ushered in a peaceful, tranquil golden age without trouble.

So we were finally able to leisurely enjoy a walk together.

During our stroll, I called Kian by his name for the first time in a long while.

“Kian. Today, I feel like calling you by your name again. May I?”

“Of course, Mother. Call me that whenever you feel comfortable. I still prefer it much more.”

“Kian. Hypothetically speaking…”

“Yes, Mother?”

“If I were to go far away someday… I’d still want you to get along with the Duke just as you do now.”

Kian, who had been walking quietly beside me, suddenly stopped.

“What do you mean, Mother? Go far away?”

“Seo Yeon fell ill and returned to her hometown. I might go visit her briefly.”

“Oh. If that’s the case, don’t worry. With Father… I can get along well with Father now. I know how much he’s sacrificed for me.”

Just thinking about parting with Kian made my nose sting.

During our walk, Vika Lamberst approached us to pay his respects.

“The Duke has annulled the pact. So I’ve come to bid farewell to both of you. I’ll be leaving now.”

Even amidst his mental turmoil, Sikar had already annulled the pact with Vika.

He hadn’t shown it outwardly, but the thought that he was already preparing to say goodbye to me made my heart ache slightly.

“Lord Vika, may I ask where you’re going?”

“I must go to a quiet forest without humans. Not that I dislike everything humans do—their food is the tastiest, after all. I plan to settle in a peaceful countryside near a human-run market.”

Knowing Vika’s personality, I extended my hand for a handshake instead of attempting a hug—he’d be horrified otherwise.

At least if he accepted this handshake, it would be fortunate.

“Lord Vika. I’ll miss you.”

Given that Vika had always been aloof toward me, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he refused my handshake.

But this time, Vika took my hand.

“Well, I’ll occasionally come by to drink the milk tea you make. Yours is the best. So make sure you’re still here until then. Understood?”

Ah. Vika knew too. Of course—he couldn’t have missed it with those sharp ears. His tone was cold, but that was simply Vika’s way of showing affection toward me.

Either way, saying farewell even to Vika, with whom I’d spent so much time, made me realize more keenly that my time to leave was drawing near.

And I made a promise I couldn’t possibly keep.

“Yes. I’ll definitely be here. Please come back, Lord Vika.”

Kian also looked regretful as he watched Vika, wearing a sullen expression.

“See you again, Lord Vika.”

“I look forward to Your Majesty becoming an even stronger sovereign.”

“I won’t disappoint your expectations—please watch over me.”

It felt like just yesterday that Kian had popped candy into Vika’s mouth.

After bidding a reluctant farewell to Vika, Kian and I spent half a day together.

We drank tea, hugged, and shared many conversations.

Perhaps Sikar had stepped aside deliberately to give me time alone with Kian.

Sikar spoke to Kian and granted the ministers a few days’ vacation—Kian’s first holiday since becoming king.

During those days, we fished together, painted together, and truly returned—for the first time in ages—to the image of a warm, ordinary family.

Kian fished, Sikar grilled the fish, and we chatted as we dipped the grilled fish in salt.

“Kian. Dipping so much salt isn’t good for your health.”

“The nutritionist said this amount is fine—as long as I drink plenty of water and eat lots of vegetables.”

“Your body already needs extra water to flush out sodium. And all the water you consume must be filtered through your organs—your body will already feel overloaded…”

Kian stopped eating fish and glared at Sikar with pouting eyes.

“You used to say only shellfish needed caution. Why are you like this today?”

Sikar sighed.

“That’s why I’m saying it’s better to get into the habit of eating blandly from the start.”

The King of the realm had vanished—only young Kian, scolded by his father, remained visible.

Thinking I’d never see this adorable father-son pair again made my chest ache slightly.

Sikar and I prepared for our farewell quietly, gradually, without forcing words.

On the final day of Kian’s vacation,

Sikar’s curse had manifested, but he endured it without receiving treatment.

“We’ve had enough time these past days to say goodbye. So tomorrow, stop treating me.”

Sikar spoke in a bitter tone.

“So you plan to leave tomorrow…”

“If you keep delaying treatment, Kian will grow suspicious. We can’t keep postponing like this. Maybe the situation we feared won’t even happen.”

The bold, confident Sikar I once knew was nowhere to be seen.

Sikar stared silently into the air, then ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply.

“Then give me just one more day. I’ll definitely receive treatment tomorrow.”

“Alright. No matter what happens tomorrow, you must receive it. Understood?”

“I will. I’ll do as you say.”

My heart ached at the utterly lifeless tone of Sikar’s voice.

He must feel conflicted at the thought of letting me go.

That night, I burrowed into his arms as he held me tightly, as if to comfort me.

Sikar stroked my hair and kissed my forehead.

“If you were to vanish from this world…”

“Even if we say our goodbyes, let’s wait until tomorrow, alright?”

Sikar held me tightly and answered softly.

“Alright…”

I, too, had intuition. Judging from everything so far, if Sikar received treatment tomorrow, I’d likely vanish—just like Seo Yeon.

So tonight, I didn’t want to spend crying over farewells.

I wanted to postpone the sad goodbye until tomorrow. I desperately wished tomorrow would never come…

When I opened my eyes the next day, Sikar was not beside me.

Until now, even if Sikar had to leave mid-meal due to business, he always shared breakfast with me.

So even though I didn’t see him in the bedroom, I assumed he’d be waiting at the dining table.

But strangely, Hersia was nowhere to be seen—instead, Durion, dressed in white ceremonial robes, guided me.

“Please follow me.”

The atmosphere felt off. Where Durion led me was before the shrine inside the palace.

Before the shrine stood a single white coffin—and even Kian stood before it, dressed in white ceremonial robes.

When Kian saw me, he walked over and grasped my hand.

“Mother…”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kian suddenly began shedding tears uncontrollably.

“Mother… huuuh…”

Kian rarely cried openly in front of me, so I was startled.

What could have happened to make him weep so bitterly?

“Please speak. What has happened to make you show tears you’ve never shown before?”

Kian hesitated, biting his lip, then looked at me.

“Mother… don’t be shocked.”

I nodded slowly toward Kian.

“I won’t be shocked. Please tell me.”

Kian studied my expression as if struggling to speak, then said,

“Father has passed away…”