Chapter 12

Did the curse activate!?

“Lord Albert! Please, stay with me!”

I rushed over in a panic. What should I do? Think! Right—if I hold him, it should help ease the curse. Then—

“Excuse me, Lord Albert!”

I lifted his upper body and wrapped my arms around him. Please… let this work!

“Lady Yuuka! Just like that, please hold him!”

Lil-chan shouted. As she approached Albert, she held out both her hands and then—

“Heal him!”

A soft light radiated from Lil-chan’s palms, enveloping Lord Albert. That light…

“Lil-chan, what was that?”

“Healing magic! It’s not much, but I think the pain will fade a little!”

Healing magic—so that’s what it is! Lil-chan might look like a child, but she can use some impressive spells.

“…Ugh… Y-Yuka…?”

“Lord Albert! Are you alright!?”

“…I want to say I’m fine… but please… just… keep holding me…”

His words came out weak and broken. His face was drenched in sweat, and he was breathing heavily. His body trembled in pain as he curled up, clinging to my clothes for dear life. I’d heard about the curse, but I never imagined it would be this bad…

“Of course! I’ll stay right here until you feel better, Lord Albert.”

“Th-thank… you… ngh…”

I was too naive. This curse is far too dangerous.

Maybe it was just a few seconds. As I held him, I felt the tension slowly leave his body. His expression, once contorted in agony, gradually relaxed. Did it work…?

“Lord Albert…?”

“I’m alright now.”

Thank goodness. It seems the curse has passed—for today. Just for today. This has been going on… and it’ll keep going, won’t it? Just imagining it is painful. Lord Albert must have endured that suffering many times over.

“Lord Albert.”

“…What is it?”

“How are you feeling now?”

“……”

“…?”

He didn’t move. He wasn’t trying to let go either. Is he still in pain? Too weak to move?

“…I feel drained. Stay with me a little longer.”

“…Of course.”

So the aftereffects really are that harsh. Though… he hesitated for a second just now. Why? Oh right, this curse messes with magic flow—what was it called again? Magic Circulation Disorder? A condition where magic doesn’t circulate properly in the body. Combine that with a curse that drains magic, and you get the worst-case scenario.

Magic is like blood for demons. In other words, this curse is like having your blood constantly siphoned out. And if you’re already prone to anemia, it’s even worse—your actual blood is being stolen away.

Blood carries oxygen through red blood cells, so losing blood means losing red blood cells. And that means less oxygen gets delivered throughout the body. You start suffocating—not just struggling to breathe, but experiencing dizziness, blackouts… in the worst case, even death.

Which means Lord Albert is constantly living on the edge of death.

I don’t know how a demon’s body differs from a human’s, but it’s clear that he’s always at risk. This curse isn’t meant to kill—it’s meant to make him suffer. But that doesn’t mean death isn’t still a possibility.

Life is unpredictable. Just like what happened with my parents… anything could happen.

“…Yuka, you’re holding me a little too tight.”

“Ah—sorry!”

Before I knew it, I’d started hugging him harder than I meant to.