"Boss, can you see it?"
The White Rose Mansion in District 2.
"It was sent by the Prince Regent. A banquet was held at the royal palace to commemorate the Princess's recovery."
Gallo picked up a stiff card. It was the top of the pile of invitations on the table.
"Boss, look at this. It's paper sprinkled with ground gold. The royal family is suffering from lack of money right now, so where does the Prince Regent get the money to sprinkle gold dust on even just one of these invitations?"
He held the card to his face as if observing it.
"Anyway, he invited you too. Clear your schedule. You have to go with me that day."
"It's okay."
There was a flat rejection as if such a trivial thing was not worth considering.
However, Gallo did not give in, as if he was used to being ignored by Cesare.
"If we are to continue to stay in Valdina, we cannot completely ignore the Prince Regent. You promised to show your face to the public. You have to attend."
"Then just go."
"Look here, in front of mercenary Acares. The boss said to come too."
Gallo rolled the dice on the table.
Acares.
The pieces with the alphabet engraved on each side changed their arrangement as if dancing with a single gesture of Gallo's hand.
Cesare.
"He probably doesn't know the boss's notoriety, but looks at him pointing it out without fear and asking me to come with you."
"..."
"So, are you really not going? After all, he is the King of this country and the one and only Prince Regent. There is no harm in knowing this."
Prince Regent.
Cesare rolled the words around in his mouth without thinking. The corners of his mouth quirked up.
"You gave an idiot an undeserved name."
"Boss, come with me. I'm going to go even if it's just because I'm curious to see the Princess's face."
There was once again a hint of playfulness in the joyful eyes.
"Look, it's a banquet celebrating the Princess's recovery. Aren't you curious about the sinister intentions from the title?"
Gallo actually thought that the Regent Claudio was very interesting.
The Princess cut off her maid, cut off her right arm, and cut off her money chain. What are he planning this time?
Even the Prince Regent still didn't realize that the real mastermind who drove out the former head maid was his niece.
"How are you still breathing if you're so stupid?"
"So you said it was too much."
Finally, the answer comes.
Huh, Cesare was listening to everything while pretending not to hear it. Gallo said with his snort.
"But I don't think the Princess will just be defeated this time. Not long ago she sent an errand out of the palace. I secretly looked into what she was looking for and found several rare plants."
"So? I guess they're going to make a potion."
When Cesare spoke as if he was making a fuss about something insignificant, Gallo shouted.
"There was one of those herbs that, when used together, caused impotence!"
The arm holding the glass stopped in midair.
Gallo was so curious that he stretched out his cheeks as if he was going crazy.
"Who on earth is the Princess planning to use it for?"
"Seeing as you're curious about such useless things, I guess you still have a lot of free time."
"No! I took a break! Look, I'm going back to work!"
As Cesare twirled the dagger in his fingertips, Gallo ran away, losing his wit as the dagger flew again.
The room became quiet, and Cesare turned his back.
"Come in, Terence."
A tall young man walked from a connected passageway holding a steaming glass.
He was an impressive young man with a slightly thin body and long limbs wiggling around.
The glasses and long light brown hair added to his calm atmosphere.
"Gallo that bastard is still noisy."
"If you arrive early, you can come in."
"Your ears must have been tired from all the useless talk, so what?"
Terence lifts his glasses. His bloodshot eyes showed his fatigue.
Since accompanying Cesare, he has been going through the archives every night, looking for a cure for the curse.
"How do you feel?"
"Good. Thanks to..."
Cesare answered briefly while holding the glass.
The dark green medicine inside was as bitter as sourdough, but he didn't even blink.
It's been 3 years since he was sentenced to life-limited life.
Even though he was well past the time limit given by the first military doctor, it was all thanks to Terence that he was still able to move despite the seizures that were toggled between torticollis.
This was because he was well versed in magic and medicine and was using all his knowledge to artificially delay the onset of the curse. The man, who was examining his forearm with bulging blue veins, narrowed his expression.
"You had another seizure. Why didn't you tell me?"
Instead of answering, Cesare only twirled his dagger.
"Cesare, we don't have much time left. The cycle is getting faster."
More frequent seizures. He never knew when he might not wake up again.
"...I know."
"Even if we find the shaman, can you guarantee that he will lift the curse? What if he doesn't know? What are you going to do then?"
"That's why you're by my side."
"That's what I meant... Is there a joke now?"
Terence explores at Cesare's joke.
“Cesar.”
The smile gradually disappeared from his face as he looked at his friend, and seriousness took over.
"It's already been three years. Death is closer to you than removing the curse."
Terence followed Cesare more as a close friend than as a retainer.
The 1st Prince of Kazen.
The youngest commander-in-chief, Duke of Romagna. The owner of the Duchy of Venafro. Ruler of Alphanon. And even the mercenary leader on the Facade.
These were too many and heavy modifiers to be given to one person.
But if you knew Cesare, there was nothing missing. Because he did it all with his own hands.
'He who jumps into the most dangerous path first.'
His incredibly bold decisions and willingness to take risks fascinated people.
Terence was also one of those who were fascinated by him.
"Look, Terence. People like that don't know how to give up. Achievement is faster than giving up. Because he won't stop until he gets what I want."
His teacher saw Cesare one day and spoke in passing.
"So be careful. When they encounter an obstacle like that, instead of avoiding it, they destroy it."
But Terence didn't know that Cesare wouldn't give up, even to death.
Is it brave or reckless to be a human who stands up against something from the beginning?
"Let's go to the magic tower. If it's a teacher, he can delay the onset of the curse as much as possible. Even if we can't eliminate the darkness from the beginning, the speed is-"
"So all I have to do is wait to die slowly?"
Terence was speechless at the cold question.
"You know, that's not me."
"..."
Terence saw many patients.
"If it continues like this... It won't be easy to hold on. Can you really afford It?"
Was there anyone who did not break down from the fear and despair that surged from time to time? Some outstanding ones, some high ones. There were no exceptions in the face of death...
"Do I have to answer?"
When asked if he knew the answer and expected to hear it, Terence let out a sigh that was a mixture of adoration and sighing.
"Aren't you afraid? You never know when a curse might swallow you up in an instant, so how can you be so calm?"
"Terence, can't you hear the exclamation that will be heard the day I remove this curse?"
The one who pushed away the darkness of the beginning.
A conqueror who swallowed even death.
It will be engraved on the entire continent beyond Kazen.
"Is there hope even in this situation?"
"There was nothing in my life that wasn't a gamble."
Cesare placed his hand on his chest.
A dull beating sound from a hardening heart. As time passes, he feels death getting closer. But he has no intention of sitting back and helplessly waiting for the curse to overtake him.
He will somehow seize the fate that is slipping out of his grasp. Until the moment before the end of his life, he will not give up.
Because his victories were always achieved that way.
"I make the beginning and the end. Even if there is only a handful of possibilities. I will struggle."
"You really..."
A flame lit up in his golden eyes. It flashed dangerously as if it was going to burn everything down.
"There is no need for a comfortable death."
***
On a sunny afternoon, Gylipos's message was delivered to the Princess's palace.
"Your Highness. Master has sent a message."
The military camp that Medea had ordered her to build was successfully completed.
A small village was created for retired soldiers to live in, and it was named Casey Aid Center after Medea's middle name.
He added that more than half of the retired soldiers from outside the castle have moved in, and the number of residents is expected to increase in the future.
'I apologize, but there was no soldier named 'Theo' whom Your Highness had separately ordered.'
However, as a result of not giving up and searching inside and outside the castle, It is said that a retired soldier who passed away a long time ago had a twin brother named Theo.
Medea was able to achieve what she wanted.
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