As she watched Luria drinking breast milk in her sleep, her mother, Amalia, smiled gently.
โโฆPlease, take care of her.โ
โWait, Amalia! Donโt go!โ
โIโm justโฆ a little tired, thatโs all.โ
With those words, Amalia let out a deep breath and closed her eyes.
โMmghโฆ (So, Motherโs name is Amalia?)โ
Thinking it was a beautiful name, Luria , now full, also drifted off to sleep.
โโโโ
After both Luria and her mother had fallen asleep, Luria was carried by her nursemaid to a crib meant for infants.
Meanwhile, her father, overcome by the belief that his beloved wife had passed away, collapsed to the floor, supporting himself with both hands as he cried out in anguish.
โWhyโฆ Why, God, spiritsโฆ Why must you take Amalia away from me?โ
โYour Highnessโฆโ
โAmaliaaaaaa!โ
Even as the doctor called out to him, he didnโt respond.
The doctor, a kind-looking woman who appeared to be in her forties, tried to regain his attention.
โYour Highness! Get a hold of yourself, Your Highness!โ
โAmaliaaa!โ
โYour Highness! Your wifeโฆ she is merely asleep.โ
โSheโsโฆ what?โ
Hearing this, the father raised his tear-streaked face and hurriedly turned to look at Amalia.
โYour Highness, the curse on your wife has been lifted.โ
โWhatโฆ What do you mean?โ
His confusion evident, he turned to the doctor for an explanation.
โThe illness that afflicted Amalia during her pregnancy was caused by a curse, wasnโt it?โ
โYes, thatโs what we determined.โ
โYou diagnosed that the curse was beyond your ability to break, didnโt you?โ
โYes, that is correct.โ
โThen how could a curse so powerful, one that even the kingdomโs greatest healer could not dispel, suddenly be lifted?โ
During her pregnancy, Amalia had been suddenly cursed.
The doctor was unable to break the curse, and even healing magic had no effect.
The doctor had warned that giving birth was far too dangerous.
Both mother and child would likely lose their lives. Even if, by some miracle, the child could be born safely, Amalia herself would surely not survive.
The father begged again and again for her to give up on the birth.
But Amalia would not listen; she insisted that she would give birth, even if it meant dying.
โHow is Amaliaโs condition?โ
โThe worst is over. For now, she should be fine. Sheโs no longer in a state where death is imminent.โ
โShe wonโt die?โ
โOf course, her strength has been greatly reduced, so we must be careful.โ
The doctor, who had also experienced childbirth, emphasized this with a serious tone.
โChildbirth is very taxing, even under healthy conditions. Your wife was cursed. Even though the curse has been lifted, we must still be cautious.โ
โI understand.โ
The father nodded obediently.
โโฆGod, spiritsโฆ Thank you.โ
The doctor, having finished her prayer, approached the father and whispered in his ear.
โYour Highness.โ
โโฆWhat is it?โ
โFor a moment, I felt as if the young lady had used healing magic.โ
The father looked at Luria , who was peacefully sleeping in her crib.
โImpossibleโฆ could that be? Sheโs just a baby.โ
โNormally, it would be impossible. But when I gave birth to my son and fed him his first milk, I sensed the presence of spirit magic from him. Of course, it didnโt fully manifest.โ
In other words, the doctor was subtly suggesting that it might be possible for a newborn to use spirit magic.
โHmm. Your sonโฆโ
โYes. He has been appointed as a court magician this year.โ
โI know. He broke the record for being the youngest court magician by far, becoming one at the age of ten. A genius.โ
โI am honored.โ
โSo even your genius son couldnโt activate itโฆโ
A curse is different from an injury or illness.
Curses are brought about by malevolent beings known as โcursers.โ
Cursers are sometimes called the natural enemies of spirits, as they prey on weaker spirits.
And the curse cast by a curser can only be broken by a spirit magic stronger than the curse itself.
โโฆPlease, keep this secret.โ
The father asked the doctor to keep it quiet.
A newborn royal who lifted a curse that even the kingdomโs greatest healer couldnโt breakโsuch a thing has too much political significance. It could lead to the child being killed before they grow up.
โI understand.โ
The doctor nodded deeply.
Then, the father lowered his voice even further.
โPlease, keep this a secret.โ
โI have already responded that I understand.โ
โTo my father, and of course, to my brother as well.โ
โTo His Majesty and the Crown Prince as well?โ
โYes. I do not want them informed.โ
โโฆUnderstood.โ
The doctor took a brief breath before bowing deeply.
Afterward, the father made sure that everyone present in the room was sworn to secrecy.