The Elven Duke Reluctantly Marries The Cursed Lady - Chapter 22
As a noblewoman, she could not have asked for a better marriage arrangement.
“That… may be the case… But I…”
“Did you want to get married to someone you loved? You know such a union is impossible in noble society.”
“Th-that’s not what I meant!”
Violette’s face turned red as she refuted Hydrangea’s statement.
She looked just like a 19-year-old girl as she bared her emotions.
“Then what are you dissatisfied with?”
“I mean, you basically kidnapped me and brought me here. On top of that, why would I even think of marrying someone who cast a terrible spell on my brother…?”
“The reason I forcefully took you here was because I had a bad premonition at that time. However, I could not quite explain it because it was just a hunch. Also, I only cast that spell on Count Northpole because he wouldn’t answer my question.”
“So that was Confession Magic?”
“You know quite a lot.”
“What exactly were you trying to get out of my brother anyway?”
He asked Violette another question instead of answering. Why had the House of Count Norpole become so poor that they could not buy any firewood?
“Th-that’s… In order to protect our late father’s honor, my brother had no choice but to give money to a vile merchant… At least that’s what I overheard.”
“No, that’s not the reason at all. I wanted to know where the money went. What do you think it was for?”
“Eh?”
“Weren’t they doing it to protect you?”
“Me?”
The mysterious behavior of the late Syran who violently assaulted the vile merchant probably had something to do with Violette’s curse. But it’s hard to tell how it’s connected. All the dots and lines connect to nowhere. It’s just mystery after mystery.
“Let me change the question. I heard that you were cursed 10 years ago. Do you remember anything from that time?”
“…Nothing.”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t remember anything.”
10 years ago, she suddenly found herself turned into a cat and she spent half a year without being able to turn back into a human.
“I was in despair, thinking that I would stay as a cat for the rest of my life.”
But one day, Violette suddenly turned back into her human form.
“Then after that, my father and brother spoiled me more than ever.”
Violette spent her girlhood spoiled like a princess.
“But that was at the price of my freedom.”
In order to hide her curse, Violette was not permitted to go outside. She was not even permitted to invite her friends to their house.
“But even so, I still enjoyed my life—”
But it was only after Syran’s death that everything began to fall apart.
The corrupt merchant demanded more money, and the wealth of the Count Northpole Household dwindled fast.
After 5 years, they were so poor that they did not even have enough money to buy firewood.
The servants quit in droves because they could no longer afford to pay their salaries, and Violette, unable to afford a new dress, had to alter their mother’s old clothes.
“I’ve caused so much trouble for my brother and sister-in-law because of my curse—”
Violette was bewildered and frustrated.
“My marriage to you came out of the blue too.”
Hydrangea could only feel sorry for Violette who was suddenly brought into a new environment without being able to sort her feelings.
“What should I do now?”
“Learn magic. In doing so, perhaps you can suppress the curse.”
“Suppress the curse?”
“Indeed. Even if it’s difficult to break it, perhaps it would be possible to suppress it.”
Breaking an unprecedented curse is as difficult as catching a star in the sky.
However, no matter the curse, there are always means to suppress its activation.
If we could control the curse, then I could allow her to go out.
“Will you… teach me magic?”
“Of course. But in exchange for teaching you magic, you will pretend to be my wife. Let this be the pretext… to our marriage.”
Violette’s face fell. In the meantime, Hydrangea declared,
“Let me tell you one thing; I am not your enemy.”
He wasn’t quite her ally, but he could assure her that he was not her enemy.
After hearing his declaration, Violette’s shoulders shook. Hydrangea thought she was crying, but he was mistaken.
As she raised her head again, her eyes carried a hint of determination as she looked at Hydrangea.
“So, what shall it be?”
“I shall learn magic and suppress this curse!”
Hydrangea was dazzled by Violette’s strength.
At the same time, he wondered if he would be able to stand beside such a strong-willed wife.
But Hydrangea decided. There was no turning back.
With a wry smile, he raised his wine glass to Violette and said,
“Now then, let us celebrate. To our marriage. Cheers.”
Violette threw a challenging look at Hydrangea and raised her wine glass in return.
