Changing the Horse’s Head Direction

It was quite a while before Persis regained consciousness.

Supported by Vermilion, he barely managed to sit up. He sat on a chair, coughing dryly for a long time, then slowly felt his unfocused gaze return as he looked across.

There, he saw his son watching him with eyes full of worry.

Only then did Persis realize what had happened. With a bitter smile, he cautiously opened his mouth.

,…This was a sight I never wanted to show you, it’s become unfortunate.”

“Is this the time to be saying that? Father, what on earth….”

“If you’re as perceptive as I think you are, you’ve already figured it out. Don’t bother asking more.”

“…….”

Persis spoke, sensing the familiar magical residue around his body.

It must be the residue left behind when Vermilion used healing magic when he collapsed.

But it wouldn’t have been very effective.

In the first place, healing magic eliminates the source of the injury, not the pain itself.

That is to say, healing magic doesn’t work unless the pain is caused by an external injury.

And there were only a handful of spells that could inflict that much pain on a human without causing any external injuries.

Vermilion, who had long been certain of what it was and what the symbol etched on his father’s shoulder was, bit his lip and asked again.

“Is it a curse?”

“…Yes, it is.”

As Persis replied in a bitter tone, Vermilion felt a string of consciousness snap.

Curse.

It’s generally known as a branch that spreads out from the massive trunk of black magic, but in reality, it’s a terrifying type of magic that differs even within black magic.

In fact, if you express it as a curse, you’re bound to imagine a shady voodoo practitioner hammering nails into a straw doll in the corner of a collapsing room, but when that is combined with the word magic, it leads to even more terrible results.

To put it simply, most spells that take away control of another person’s body are called curse magic.

However, the biggest difference from simple body manipulation magic is that this ‘control’ doesn’t mean manipulating the body.

To be precise, it’s more appropriate to see it as forcibly taking control of another person through continuous pain and discipline.

As the saying goes, there’s no education as thorough and frightening as that caused by pain, curse magic can be seen as embodying that.

A magic that allows the caster to inflict pain on the victim’s body whenever and wherever they want.

It’s even a heinous sorcery that can take the target’s life at will, depending on the power of the curse.

“How could Father be subjected to curse magic….”

But Vermilion had questions.

It’s true that curse magic is quite powerful, but there’s a reason why not all black magicians use it easily.

Basically, the usage is so difficult, and curse magic always has two preconditions attached.

First, it doesn’t work if the victim’s magic resistance is high.

Second, unlike the heinous name of curse, this magic always requires the acceptance of the other party as a prerequisite.

In other words, it’s actually closer to contract magic.

In the first place, it’s a natural thing to consider.

Most powerful magic requires a corresponding price, and among them, curse magic boasts a powerful effect that is second to none if it succeeds.

Then, a penalty must be imposed.

That penalty is the ‘other party’s permission’.

To be more precise, it requires the process of implanting the caster’s magic power into the body through a medium, not verbal acceptance.

But not just anyone, the head of the Drake family, called the prestigious family of magic, was subjected to curse magic despite these preconditions?

Then Vermilion guessed that there must have been circumstances to match.

“A sin, or should I say retribution. It was something that I had to bear as the son of the most unprecedented sinner in the family’s history.”

“If it’s retribution…. Are you talking about joining hands with the Eyes of Dawn?”

“You could express it that way. But it’s a little different.”

“Please tell me in detail, Father! I came here to find out everything!”

As Vermilion slammed the desk and demanded an answer, Persis felt a mix of emotions.

It felt like only yesterday that he was playing in his arms, in his wife’s skirt.

When did he become able to show such strong eyes?

‘Is hiding everything not the answer?’

In fact, Persis was still worried at this moment.

Should he reveal this ugly truth and confuse his precious son?

Or should he pretend to be dead and shut his mouth, taking the family and the truth into his heart and disappearing into the backwaters of history?

But as he looked into his son’s eyes, which exuded a strong will, his mind began to change.

Maybe this son will give him a new answer, not the one he chose.

With that flimsy hope, he gently parted his lips.

“Did you happen to see it? Son. The symbol etched on my shoulder.”

“I saw it. So that was the source of the curse?”

“You could say that. But it wasn’t the woman who was here earlier who left that curse on me.”

“…Yes? What do you mean?”

Vermilion, who naturally thought that the symbol was etched by that woman’s scheme, looked at his father as if his soul had left his body.

Persis also looked at his son’s shocked face and, as if he knew it would happen, continued with a sad smile.

“That’s actually…. What your grandfather left me.”

Vermilion’s face turned as white as if he had seen a ghost.

＊＊＊

The next day, morning dawned.

Kyle and his party finished their preparations early and left the castle.

A carriage that had been waiting since early morning was waiting for them at the entrance.

“Sylvia, do you really have to go?”

Perhaps thinking that this might be their last farewell, Marian couldn’t let go of her daughter’s hand and threw out words that seemed to linger.

Although she had heard the detailed circumstances, to a mother, her daughter’s life was more precious than the fate of the world.

Even her husband, whom she had vowed to love for the rest of her life, had become like that, and if Sylvia were to have an accident and leave her side, she didn’t have the confidence to get back up.

Wouldn’t it be possible to ignore the world’s affairs as they are and live happily as a family in the castle, closing their ears and eyes?

She knew it was a truly selfish thing to say, but she couldn’t help but say it.

Feeling her mother’s touch endlessly caressing her hand, Sylvia replied with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, Mother. But don’t worry. I always have Kyle by my side to protect me, and Anis, a precious friend I just made. I’m not alone anymore.”

“…That’s right. I’m sorry, Sylvia. I’m a mother who can’t even encourage her daughter, and I’m throwing out these words.”

Not alone.

It was a common and ordinary expression, but when Marian heard those words from Sylvia’s mouth, she felt truly moved.

At one time, she thought that this child would never escape the cage and would rot here for the rest of her life.

She thought that she would live her whole life with her younger sister as her only friend, and with her mother as her only support.

But now, is it that an environment has been created where she can move forward without the help of her family?

She was happy about that fact, but she was also sad that she couldn’t hold on to her daughter because of it.

It’s truly a contradictory feeling.

“Kyle, please take care of this child. Please do your best to help her return here, even if it means looking at her incompetent mother.”

“Don’t worry, Madam Marian. I will protect her even if it costs me my life.”

When the last request she made to Kyle came back with an answer full of strong will, Marian was finally able to smile with satisfaction.

“Sister! You have to come back safely! You have to have a wedding with Kyle *Oppa*!”

“Ri, Rienne! What are you saying…!”

“Oh my, this mother is in favor. It would be nice to have the ceremony as soon as you come back.”

“There hasn’t been any talk about that yet, Mother!”

After that, a warm and cheerful atmosphere unfolded for a while thanks to Rienne’s heartfelt encouragement.

After a short chat, Kyle and his party began to board the carriage one by one, and watching their backs, Marian hugged Rienne from behind and waved her hand.

May everything go well and return safely, and may a future where she can dream of happiness with the person she loves unfold before that child.

“Come back safe, Sylvia. Kyle and Anis too.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll be back.”

“Thank you for taking care of us until the end.”

“See you later, *Ajeossi*!”

It was the first time in her life as the mistress of a noble family to be called *Ajeossi*, but Marian smiled, feeling that it wasn’t a bad feeling.

*Kureureung*.

The carriage kicked off and moved forward, raising a cloud of dust.

Soon, the cloud of dust thinned, and as the vigorously advancing carriage turned into a small dot and disappeared, Marian took Rienne and returned to the castle.

Meanwhile, at the same time, a pointless conversation was going on between the three people inside the carriage.

“Hya, it’s finally starting. The time has finally come for me to be of help to you two.”

“Hehe, I’m also curious about Anis’s house-building skills.”

“You don’t have to build it too luxuriously.”

“Hey, it’s a house to serve nobles! I have to put some effort into building it.”

“Anyway, you’re really something…. Hmm?”

At that time, something interfered with Kyle’s head, and he let out a small groan.

Sylvia and Anis looked at him at the same time, wondering if something was wrong, but Kyle didn’t pay any attention to their gazes and nodded his head repeatedly.

And soon.

“…Sorry Anis, but maybe you won’t be able to see your house-building skills.”

With meaningful words, he hurriedly told the coachman to urgently change the destination of the carriage.