"Such blatant laxity..." As Fox observed the jubilant commoners outside the window, a look of revulsion contorted his features."Once I assume the mantle of master of the Rose Castle, I shall make them truly comprehend the meaning of majesty. Can such undisciplined subjects even be deemed worthy of the title? They possess not the slightest inkling of the fealty expected of noble vassals. Guinevere is far too indulgent towards her people."

  "Master, once you ascend to the rank of earl, all these individuals shall be under your dominion. With your exceptional acumen, governing these benighted and lowly commoners will be a task of effortless ease," Lisa cooed in his ear, showering Fox with effusive praise while her other hand engaged in some subtle maneuvering below.

  A rush of excitement coursed through Fox's veins, but he promptly shook his head. Having already arrived at the Rose Castle, he recognized the need to exercise restraint.

  Throughout the journey, his dalliances with Lisa had begun to pall, and he now yearned to explore new conquests among the other maids. Only the allure of novelty could stoke the flames of his excitement.

  Just then, a fleeting white figure in the street caught his attention like a magnet. However, with the carriage still in motion, he could only watch helplessly as the figure vanished from his sight.

  "Blast it! Who is that woman? Could it be Her Highness Guinevere? No, that cannot be. Guinevere resides in the heart of the castle. It is inconceivable that she would deign to visit this lowly commoner district." Aware that he was now within the Rose Castle, where Guinevere's influence pervaded, he knew he must bide his time until he had secured Guinevere's favor.

  It must be said that despite his lascivious nature, Fox possessed a modicum of sense when it mattered most.

  "Very well. I shall proceed to the main keep for now. I can seek out that woman at a later time. Once I have successfully fulfilled my father's mission, what could possibly elude my grasp? Women? Merely playthings for my amusement," Fox sneered, his face twisting into a malevolent grin.

  ...

  "Your Highness, His Highness Fox has arrived at the reception hall of the main keep," announced a steward, bowing deferentially.

  "I am aware. Proceed as is customary," Guinevere dismissed the steward with a wave of her hand.

  "His Highness Fox? The second son of Duke Kurze, is he not?" Kenley, seated across from Guinevere on the sofa, inquired.

  "Precisely. Fox's visit to the Rose Castle this time is with the express purpose of proposing marriage to me," Guinevere stated flatly, her hands folded primly on her lap, as if discussing a matter of no consequence.

  Kenley's brow furrowed slightly."Is this related to the curse of Farantukus?"

  "You are acquainted with it?" Guinevere exclaimed in surprise, casting a quick glance at Daina, whose eyes mirrored her own shock.

  "Mr. Kenley, you continue to astound me with your unexpected knowledge," Guinevere's eyes sparkled with an inscrutable light.

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  Kenley suddenly closed his eyes and declared,"Your Highness Guinevere, I fear I am unable to offer my assistance in this matter."

  "Why?!" Guinevere's eyes widened in disbelief as she rose to her feet, her eyes betraying a palpable sense of frustration.

  "I have not even had the opportunity to speak, yet you are already certain you cannot aid me? Mr. Kenley," Guinevere's expression was etched with an unprecedented level of tension.

  "Or is it that you possess more knowledge of this matter than I?" Guinevere's words hung in the air, a challenge that Kenley could not ignore.

  A silent sigh escaped Kenley's lips. He knew all too well the inexorable force of history at play...

  In the game, after Guinevere's marriage to Fox, she had spiraled into a deep depression. If his memory served him correctly, Guinevere had been compelled into a political marriage with the Duchy of Kurze due to the curse of the Archdemon Farantukus.

  The curse of Farantukus was a divine curse of the eleventh order. Its origin was rooted in a momentous event from the past: long ago, an Arch Magus from the Christophon family had vanquished the malevolent god Farantukus in the Founding War.

  Subsequently, Farantukus descended into darkness, becoming a demon lord, and unleashed a venomous curse upon the Christophon family:"Every drop of blood that courses through your veins shall bear the weight of my curse. On every starry night you spend in this world, the offspring of your bloodline shall be transformed into my servants, enslaved to the darkness!"

  Thereafter, the Arch Magus was plagued by uncontrollable fits of violence each night. Yet, all understood that this was a consequence of the curse, and not a soul laid blame upon him. Instead, they rallied to help quell his murderous impulses. Finally, with the aid of numerous saints, a special eleventh-order forbidden spell was employed to temporarily seal the torment wrought by the blood curse.

  Five hundred years had passed, and the seal of the forbidden spell had begun to weaken, struggling to contain the curse's resurgence. The curse, once again, began to manifest, and by the time it reached Guinevere's generation, the eleventh-order curse had already started to break free.

  Prince Christophon had quickly detected the anomaly, which was one of the reasons for Guinevere's confinement. Desperate to find a solution to save his daughter and the family, Prince Christophon had scoured the lands, seeking out over a dozen living saints, yet none possessed the means to lift the curse from Guinevere's body.

  Over the past five centuries, the Christophon family had made numerous attempts to eradicate the curse once and for all, but each had proven fruitless.

  "At this juncture, Duke Kurze discovered a sacred relic in the overseas realm of the fae, claiming that it could extend the suppression of the curse for another decade. Father was immediately tempted. In return, Duke Kurze demanded a marriage alliance between our families, with his second son, Fox, as the bridegroom," Guinevere recounted softly.

  Indeed, with the wealth and power of the Christophon family, they lacked for little. While not omnipotent, they were a dominant force in the region. Had it not been for the curse coursing through their veins, they would never have been reduced to the necessity of a marriage alliance with the Duchy of Kurze.

  Despite their equal status as dukedoms, the Christophon family's need for the sacred relic placed Guinevere in a vulnerable position, making her susceptible to the influence of the Grand Duke of Kurze. A political marriage between dukedoms was a double-edged sword, capable of bringing either mutual benefit or subjugation.

  In the best-case scenario, both parties would reap the rewards, but in the worst, one would dominate the other. As a duke, Guinevere possessed her own pride and was loath to be subjugated.

  "Has the sacred relic been presented to you yet?" Kenley inquired.

  Guinevere shook her head."Not as yet. I have been informed that he will present it to me personally as a wedding gift on our nuptial day."

  "Sister currently relies on the Emerald Stone Bracelet, crafted by the First Alchemist of the Gray Empire at Father's behest, to suppress the curse. Although Guinevere appears unaffected for now, each night, she is beset by an overwhelming urge to kill. Thus, every midnight, she seals herself with magic, forcing herself into a state of dormancy," Daina's voice trembled with emotion, her eyes glistening with tears.