I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince

The morning had been spent leading the knights’ training, and by the time Lucas returned to his chambers, exhaustion was etched into his face.

A bundle of white fur greeted him.

“Meow!”

It was Lulu, the cat that roamed the Lion Castle freely.

Tired of playing alone, Lulu leaped onto the desk and settled directly on top of the documents. Its tail thumped against the surface, a clear display of displeasure.

“Lulu, are you bored?”

“Meow!”

“Just wait a little longer. Let me finish this first, and I’ll play with you.”

Animals, fortunately, were unaffected by his curse. Ever since its manifestation, Lulu had been the only living creature whose warmth he could feel. He allowed a brief smile at the sight of the cat comfortably settled before turning back to his work.

At last, he set down his pen after finishing the final document. Pressing a hand against his tired eyes, he was just about to stretch when a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a man stepped inside. Sion, his aide and secretary.

Sion came from a long line of vassals who had served the Lion family for generations. From the moment Lucas had become the Grand Duke at a young age, Sion had been by his side in nearly every battle.

There was a bond forged through years of war, a loyalty akin to brotherhood.

But even he was unable to stand too close. Because of the curse that ran through Lucas’s veins, even Sion could only ever report to him from a distance—just beyond the threshold of his study.

“Reports indicate that soldiers from the Theian Empire were spotted scouting the eastern region,” Sion stated.

“Scouting? That’s nothing new,” Lucas replied without much reaction.

“This time, it’s different. It wasn’t just ordinary soldiers—knights were among them. From what we’ve gathered, they appeared to be from the Imperial Order.”

Lucas’s hand froze mid-movement.

In the original novel, tensions between the Empire and the Grand Duchy had always been high, the kind that could ignite into war at any moment. But until now, things had remained strangely calm.

Now, the Imperial Order had been caught scouting their lands?

Of course, this wasn’t entirely unheard of. The Lion Grand Duchy and the Theian Empire had been at odds since their founding. Centuries of animosity had resulted in zero formal interactions between the two nations.

Yet, according to the spies he had placed within the Empire, the current Emperor, Frederick Theian, had no desire for war.

His policies had focused on national security, but not open aggression. There had been trade restrictions and tightened border patrols, but never a direct provocation.

So why had the Imperial knights been seen near Betax’s eastern border?

Was this the moment the original novel’s fate would begin to unfold?

“Are you certain?” he asked, his voice edged with tension.

“As I said, a small elite reconnaissance unit crossed the border briefly before retreating,” Sion confirmed.

“And our defense forces followed my orders?”

“Yes. They remained in position and did not attack first.”

Only then did Lucas allow a small measure of relief.

Their military had grown stronger, but it would still be reckless to provoke Theian forces without fully understanding their capabilities.

A war with the Theian Empire before they were prepared would mean his death, his sister being dragged off in chains, and his people starving under the Empire’s rule.

That outcome could not be allowed.

“Increase border security and have the patrol units report any irregularities in the area where they were spotted,” he ordered. “Send word to our spies—I want updates on the Imperial court’s movements immediately.”

“Understood.”

“Have the knights prepare for a deployment tomorrow. We need to hasten the search for my sister’s medicine.”

“It will be done.”

Once Sion departed, Lucas remained seated, unable to shake the unease settling deep in his chest.

The original events were beginning to unfold.

Fingertips drumming lightly against the desk, he fell into thought.

“If the Imperial knights have made their move, something will follow—whether it’s for better or worse.”

Yet something felt off.

The timing didn’t match.

In the novel, Prince Vilter Theian—the second prince and the catalyst for war—was only eight years old at this point in time.

The war didn’t begin until after he had come of age.

Just then, a crucial line from the novel surfaced in his memory.

The first prince was born frail and had been sickly since childhood. According to the original story, he was destined to die at the age of ten.

If Vilter was currently eight, then the first prince, Leon, would be ten this year. If the story followed its original path, this would be the year of his death.

“…Has his condition worsened?”

If the first prince was truly beyond recovery, it would explain why the second prince’s faction had begun to gain influence. That alone wasn’t strange.

But he hadn’t even been formally named crown prince yet. Would they really go so far as to mobilize the Imperial Order? Emperor Frederick Theian was still very much alive. No matter how promising of a successor Vilter might be, the Imperial Knights would never move without the emperor’s command.

“…What is happening now?”

A deep fatigue settled into his bones as he leaned back against his chair, tilting his head toward the ceiling.

From the moment he had been reborn, many things had already deviated from the original story.

There had been no mention of his sister, Michelle Lion, injuring her leg at fifteen during a battle against monsters. In the novel, she had been perfectly fine, walking on two strong legs even as the Grand Duchy fell and she was dragged away to the Empire.

If the war had been pushed forward, there wouldn’t even be time for a moment’s rest. Straightening his posture, he picked up the documents on his desk once more.

“How long must I continue living like this?”

Shaking his head, he forced the thought aside. It didn’t matter.

So long as he could save his sister, he would endure a lifetime of war without hesitation.

As Lucas spent the night buried in work, the cold northern sky darkened, another lonely day coming to an end.

The Imperial Palace of the Theian Empire, located in the southeastern part of the Kivania continent, was bustling with preparations for Leon Theian’s birthday banquet the next day.

Despite the frantic work, the servants whispered among themselves, their eyes darting around nervously.

“I just hope the day passes peacefully.”

“Exactly. If Lady Layla causes trouble again by comparing the second prince’s banquet to this one, it’ll be us who suffer.”

“Would she really? This time, His Majesty is personally hosting the first prince’s celebration.”

It was customary for a prince’s birthday to be arranged by the empress or consorts before their official recognition as the heir. But this year, Leon’s birthday was unlike any before.

For centuries, the imperial bloodline had suffered from a mysterious affliction.

The disease typically manifested between the ages of seven and eight. While the details remained a closely guarded imperial secret, whispers of a terrifying rumor circulated through the palace.

A prince afflicted with the disease would begin shifting between human and beast form until they ultimately lost their sanity, permanently becoming a monster.

Even if they were first in line for the throne, once the disease took hold, they could never inherit the crown.

Leon had reached his tenth year without showing any symptoms.

As the only legitimate son of the empress, it was now undeniable that he would become the next emperor.

Seeing this as a divine blessing, Emperor Frederick had declared that he would personally oversee Leon’s birthday celebration. The significance of this event could not be understated.

Inside the imperial couple’s bedchamber, Frederick held Empress Asili’s hand, his gaze warm.

“We were worried, but he’s made it to his tenth birthday safely. You’ve endured much.”

“It is all thanks to Your Majesty,” Asili replied, her voice steady.

Her expression, however, shifted through a spectrum of emotions.

Born as the eldest daughter of a weak noble house, she had risen to the position of empress purely through the emperor’s love. But that had also made her the target of countless noble factions.

Leon’s birth had alleviated some of that pressure. Not only was he a trueborn prince, but he was also a dominant alpha, securing her position as empress.

Yet, bearing him had taken everything from her.

After giving birth, her body had become incapable of conceiving again.

Because of the imperial family’s cursed disease, the law mandated that an emperor must have at least two heirs. But with her inability to bear another child, the nobles had seized the opportunity.

At their insistence, Duke Keaton’s daughter, Layla Keaton, had been taken in as a royal consort.

From that moment on, Asili had been forced to share her husband—not just his love, but also her political influence.

Yet, when Layla gave birth to Vilter Theian the following year, she had genuinely rejoiced.

With two princes, the empire’s future was secure.

But perhaps because Vilter was only a dominant alpha, not an extreme alpha like Leon, Layla had constantly compared their sons.

Using the noble faction backing her, she had spent years placing Asili in humiliating situations.

Now, after enduring everything, her son had finally reached this crucial milestone.

Frederick, watching the emotions flicker across her face, spoke with concern.

“Why do you look as though you’re about to cry on such a joyous day?”

“Not because I am sad,” she murmured. “I am just… so happy that I could weep.”

A quiet sigh escaped the emperor’s lips.

She rarely spoke of her hardships, but he knew.

Taking Layla as a consort had been a political necessity. But in his heart, there was only Asili.

Squeezing her hand firmly, he reassured her,

“You know what I worry about. No matter what happens, I will protect Leon—our son, and the future emperor of this nation. You have nothing to fear.”

“Your Majesty…”

Asili pressed her face against Frederick’s chest, swallowing her tears.