Chapter 106

FELIX

I spent most of my days in my study, trying to devote the little energy I had towards running the kingdom.

My coronation had only been a few days ago, but there was still much to do. I tried to shove my personal problems away to focus on my people, but it was proving to be more difficult than I originally thought.

Truthfully, the effects of the curse had been much harsher than I had let on to my parents and Mila. I felt a strange sort of exhaustion all the time, as if my body was spending all its strength on simply keeping me upright. I was frequently in pain, a sort of stabbing sensation that typically rolled up my left arm. I dreaded waking up every morning, afraid of what shape my body would be in.

Fresonia was a bit of a mess at the moment. The battle had decimated not only Barlow, but also several farmlands and fields in the surrounding area. Several hundred citizens were displaced, their belongings and lives destroyed in one afternoon.

On top of that, there was now a deep national mistrust over our southern neighbors, particularly the Kingdom of Abernathy. It would be on me to organize a diplomatic mission in the coming days to meet with the King of Abernathy and discuss a treaty or some other way to move forward.

I still blamed him for Albert’s death. The sight of my dear friend and his younger brother, dead on the battlefield, having slain each other, haunted my dreams. Even though Albert had given his life to protect all the kingdoms from Charles’ reign of terror, I felt as though I had failed him.

Speaking of Albert, I was also determined to provide as much comfort to his grieving parents in the coming days. They had no obvious heir now, so the South Smyth Islands were in shambles.

As King, it was now my responsibility. My cross to bear.

As long as this damned curse didn’t kill me first.

I was looking through the kingdom’s ledgers for room in the budget to start a relief fund for the people of Barlow when I was interrupted by a pounding on the door.

I sighed and, with great effort, rose to my feet.

“Yes?” I asked, slightly annoyed, as I opened the door. My breath caught in my throat when I saw Esmeralda in the hallway, her eyes bright and glittering and her cheeks flushed.

“We must have a meeting with your parents straightaway,” she said. “I have information. Information that changes everything.”

I followed her quickly to my parents’ living quarters.

“Shouldn’t we grab Mila?” I breathlessly asked as I trailed the old woman up the stairs.

Esmeralda shot an odd glance at me, her face an expression I could not quite place. “Not at this time.”

I shook my head, ignoring her strange words.

Once we were all gathered, though, I slowly began to understand why Esmeralda did not want Mila here.

“Have you found a cure?” my mother demanded to know, her swollen eyes surveying the witch. I knew how difficult the last few weeks had been for her, and I was afraid that Esmeralda’s answer might break her heart.

“Of sorts,” Esmeralda responded.

My father sank to his knees as relief washed over his face. He murmured a prayer in Fresonian under his breath. My mother, meanwhile, burst into tears.

“You found a cure?!” My voice shook as I spoke.

“It is not that easy,” Esmeralda said. “There is a catch.”

I exchanged glances with my father. We knew better than anyone that with magic, there was always a price. Esmeralda had shielded us from the darker, more unruly aspects of magic, as was part of her job as Great Witch, but we knew to be wary.

“What is the catch?” I asked slowly. “And why can’t Mila be here?”

Esmeralda sighed. For a moment, she looked as ancient as she surely was. “Mila is the catch.”

I looked at her, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I have traveled to the Library of Magic,” she explained, “and pored over the volumes there. I am not sure if I found what specific book Charles was mentioning, but I found a chapter on curses in an older tome that might help us out quite a bit.”

“What does Mila have to do with any of this?” I was desperate to know.

Esmeralda was quiet for a long moment. I felt like I could not breathe–like the walls were closing in around me.

“There is a spell,” she said finally. “An ancient spell. I could bind the curse to a ring, preferably one with an emerald, trapping the dark magic there instead of in your blood. It would temporarily halt all effects of the curse on your body, including the paralysis and pain.”

My mother finally spoke up. “That sounds like a positive thing.”

“All physical effects of the curse, including Mila’s pain?” I clarified.

Esmeralda nodded. “Your body would no longer be linked to your wife’s in that way. Her pain would no longer be your own. There would not be any concern over her injuries affecting you.”

My father raised a singular eyebrow. “How temporary would this be?”

Esmeralda swallowed. “That, unfortunately, is the catch.”

My heart sank. Of course. It was foolish of me to hope for a permanent fix. Likely, this ring solution would only buy me a few months, maybe years. Certainly nothing long-term.

“The ring by itself will only buy you another week’s time, at most,” Esmeralda said softly. “It would not significantly extend your lifespan, however, your last few days could be free of pain.”

There it was. Another week, at best. This whole thing was hopeless.

It was high time I started making peace with my impending death. There was no point in pretending it wasn’t going to happen. It would be the best thing for the kingdom if I started putting together a plan for my succession, started figuring out how to move forward once I was gone.

My mother let out a heart-wrenching sob, burying her face in her hands once more. If the Great Witch could only buy me a week longer of time, what hope was there that I could ever break this curse?

“It would be nice to spend my last few days without any pain or issue,” I said numbly. “That way I could really enjoy what time I had left.”

“There is another option,” Esmeralda continued. “If Your Majesty would allow it.”

I blinked out of my haze. “Anything.”

“There is a way to break the curse permanently,” Esmeralda said. “If we trap it in this ring, it is out of your body. That means we could free you from its grip forever, with a small sacrifice.”

“What sacrifice?” I had to know. “I will give over all the jewels in the kingdom if we must.”

Esmeralda finally brought herself to look me directly in the eye. When she spoke, her voice was eerily calm and controlled. Her words, however, were a dagger to my heart.

“The only way to permanently break the curse is to kill your Destined Bride. Mila would have to die in order to save your life.”