The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

43

“Ah… I hope calling you here was the right choice.”

Alarune reluctantly gave up and simply observed Erze.

As Erze said, sending a letter to the Northern Duke and persuading him would take a lot of time.

Perhaps Erze couldn’t bear to leave Yuriel’s son alone, so he recklessly went ahead with his own plan.

“It has to be the right choice. Who else but me could have come this far?”

“You’ve always been arrogant since your youth. Yuriel and I recognized your talent… but isn’t that why you were hated by those around you?”

“Whether they hate me or not, what do I care? I live my life my way.”

Erze murmured composedly, yet her eyes never left Alter.

The ritual was proceeding smoothly, and there were no issues with the magic circle or the ancient script.

However, Alter had to endure the pain, and in the worst case, his heart could stop beating.

“You see him in that state and still think we need to discuss this?”

“Hmm…”

Allaune scanned Alter’s condition but couldn’t bring himself to answer.

To the naked eye, it seemed like vomiting blood, but in reality, it was more akin to expelling rotten clumps from the body.

Having harbored such filth, it was inevitable that the body’s vitality would decline.

“He’s been enduring in that state, which is remarkable. We need to act now, what’s there to discuss?”

“It’s undeniable that it was a critical situation. At best, he would have lasted two or three years.”

“Isn’t that a bit too optimistic? At most, he had a year left.”

“Without Uriel’s protective magic, that might have been the case. Magic that activates at the brink of death is bound to be filled with tenacity. Wasn’t it that tenacity that saved his child?”

“…”

Erze hesitated for a moment but then accepted the words.

Allaune knew about Uriel just as well as she did.

In fact, only Allaune had shown the dignity befitting a magician, while she had been obsessed with the curse.

Uriel had forsaken magic out of emotional attachment, yet Allaune still respected his will.

“It’s regrettable about Uriel’s choice… but where is the right answer in human life? It was that choice that led me to encounter Alter Radiant.”

Therefore, Allaune did not try to superimpose Uriel’s illusion onto Alter.

Uriel had fulfilled her role as a former colleague and Alter’s mother.

For those living in the present, only the future should shine forth, so the remnants of the past must inevitably be shaken off.

“This too must be fate, and I shall fulfill my duty here. If I can raise Alter Radiant correctly, wouldn’t it console Uriel’s spirit?”

“You… saw up to there?”

“I, unlike you, have not disregarded the principles of the world. If a magician were to delve only into magic, it would lead to a biased view… To truly master magic, one must first learn the principles of the world.”

“Here comes the nagging again. Aren’t you tired of it yet?”

“Uriel didn’t leave you alone, so why would I be any different?”

“Sounds just like something a grand magician would say.”

Erze sneered nonchalantly while also observing Alter’s reaction.

A considerable amount of blood had been spilled, but fortunately, Alter’s life had not yet faded.

Instead, he was instinctively releasing magical power, adjusting the balance within his body.

“We’re almost there. The curse is weakening…”

Unlike before, only a small amount of blood was now pouring out.

Moreover, the red entangled in the straw doll had faded slightly.

If things continue to go smoothly, the curse should be completely erased.

“You won’t die from this. Once it disappears, your condition should improve somewhat.”

Having lived to 18 with the curse, it means you’ve built up a resistance to it.

Plus, with protective magic inherent, it’s unlikely you’ll suffer a fatal wound.

As the clots are removed and the magical circulation is activated, even the vulnerable parts will soon be compensated.

“If it’s not completely undone… things will get complicated.”

The curse was already atrocious, and the target had been altered.

The more variables added to a curse, the trickier it becomes to undo, and the connection to the caster deepens.

If such a bizarre curse was cast, the caster must bear a significant burden.

“Malice towards others comes back to oneself. That’s the very truth and paradox of a curse.”

A curse is a vile emotion transformed into magic and applied to the target.

The greater the longing, the greater the cost, and being a curse, it will inevitably lead to the caster’s own misfortune.

In other words, the more the target suffers, the more damage is inflicted upon the caster.

“The caster aimed for Uriel, but… the curse was transferred to the child. Then the cost increases.”

Whether intentional or not, the effects of the curse applied to both.

Therefore, the caster must pay the price for the curse on both individuals.

If the Frost Witch is the caster, she must be entangled in a grave situation.

“We need to investigate further but…”

“Ugh… Cough… Heave… Sigh…”

Alter expelled all the blood and finally regained consciousness.

There was still heat inside, but not enough to feel pain.

Above all, his body felt lighter, and his mind seemed clearer.

“Hmm… Stay as you are. I’m going to start backtracking now.”

“Sigh… Heave…”

Unable to utter a word, Alter slowly nodded his head.

It was an entirely unforeseen situation, but if there was even a slight improvement, it was satisfactory.

The curse should be extinguished as it is, but why won’t Erze give a definite answer?

“During the trace-back, you might see the caster. Don’t be too surprised.”

Erze engraved magic into the straw doll, reversing the curse’s effects.

Since the curse originated from the caster, reversing it would naturally lead to its source.

As a result, the caster’s form could momentarily become visible, and if a marking spell is quickly inscribed, one could continue to glimpse their location.

“Ah!”

“…”

Erze and Alter reacted simultaneously, locking eyes with each other.

An ominous and eerie magic, a twisted figure resembling a human, a distinct chill, and the frozen earth.

It seemed that both had become aware of the Frost Witch’s presence during the trace-back.

“Did you mark it?”

“… I did. It’s definitely in the northern region.”

“Are you certain that the Frost Witch is the caster of the curse?”

“I think we can be sure. It was a figure worthy of being called the Frost Witch. What about you?”

Erze responded calmly and looked at Alter.

Alter took a moment to catch his breath, then wiped the blood from his mouth.

He slowly rose and murmured softly.

“… If that direction is north, then it must be the northern region. It was filled with snow and cold, and there was a woman with hands and feet made of ice. Grand Sorcerer, was what I saw the Frost Witch?”

“If Lord Alter’s statement is accurate, then it would indeed be the Frost Witch.”

“Then, can I assume that the Frost Witch has cursed me?”

“That’s correct.”

Alter seemed to ponder for a while, then his eyes twisted in realization.

It wasn’t particularly surprising, as it was already a confirmed fact.

It was just that the hollow outcome brought a delayed sense of fatigue.

“Has the curse been lifted now?”

“That… It hasn’t been completely undone. The curse seems to have been deeply ingrained due to many complications.”

“But… my body feels warmer?”

Alter touched his own face, aware of a faint warmth.

Unlike before, a gentle sensation was flowing through him.

Moreover, his arms and legs moved flexibly, and even breathing seemed easier now.

“The curse has weakened, so you should feel much better. We can consider it a partial success.”

Erze looked down at the straw doll with dissatisfaction.

The red of the straw doll had faded significantly, yet it remained in place.

She had intended to annihilate the curse, but in the end, it lingered in an ambiguous form.

“Lord Alter, I hope you’re not too disappointed. Curses are inherently imperfect structures, so the dispelling is bound to be incomplete. Still, the curse has weakened, so your range of movement should have expanded.”

“… Can I learn magic now?”

“Hmm… You can learn, but you must not overdo it.”

“It’s different from the promise… but will you take me as your apprentice now?”

“Are you serious?”

“I don’t want to waste any more time. Even if I can’t become the successor to the Archmage, I must learn magic.”

“Ha… It seems Lord Alter has had some realization.”

Allaune was pleased with the answer, yet she was conscious of the Frost Witch’s curse.

Since the dispelling was incomplete, it proved that the Frost Witch was the foundation of the curse.

In other words, to completely erase the curse, the answer had to be found from the Frost Witch herself.

‘So it has come to this…’

Allaune lamented, yet she did not reject her fate.

Alter had volunteered to become an apprentice, but she could not abandon her pride as an Archmage.

She had promised to extinguish Alter’s curse, so it must be fulfilled.

‘I’ll have to observe the situation for a while before leaving.’

The curse had weakened, but she could not be complacent.

Alter’s curse was still etched in his heart, and there might be aftereffects.

Therefore, for a while, she would have to teach Alter the basics of magic while preparing for the journey to the northern territories.

‘If it’s true that you killed Uriel… I will not forgive you, Frost Witch.’

***

Brillie immediately noticed the change in Alter.

His pale skin had gained color, and the gloomy atmosphere was almost gone.

Above all, his expression seemed much fresher, making his appearance seem even more noble.

“Would you hold my hand?”

“What? Oh, yes…”

Alter, who had been quietly walking, suddenly spoke up.

Brillie hesitated for a moment, then took Alter’s hand in hers.

But contrary to expectations, there was no chill, only a faint warmth being transmitted.

“Do you feel a bit warmer?”

“Yes. It’s much warmer now. It’s really nice.”

“The curse hasn’t disappeared, but… since it’s weakened, things must have improved a bit.”

Alter continued to speak calmly as he looked at Brillié.

The justification for breaking off the engagement had become blurred.

But his mind was made up, and there was no certainty about what would happen next.

Perhaps it was time to let Brillié know his true intentions.

“Miss Brillié, you said you were prepared, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. I did say that.”

“I think I’m prepared now too. So, I’ll ask you once more. Will you marry me?”