The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce - The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce chapter 35

35

Even in the original work, there was hardly any description of Alter Radiant’s mother.

It was only known that she was a magician with ice attributes, and a noble lady from a count’s family.

There was a brief mention of her acquaintance with the emperor, but even that seemed to be treated as a mere side setting.

“It can’t be significant. The story progresses after my death, doesn’t it?”

After all, the value of Alter Radiant is proven through death.

Therefore, characters related to Alter Radiant are bound to fade into obscurity.

In the current situation, one must make appropriate conjectures based on fragments of information.

“There are many secrets about Mother. Is the curse intertwined with them?”

The Northern Grand Duke would likely know much about Mother.

For a marriage, one must even reveal secrets to each other.

However, there may be secrets one does not wish to disclose even in death, so certainty cannot be assumed.

“Such a form of curse would be more troublesome.”

If the curse’s target was designated as oneself, it could be approached simply.

But if the curse was activated through Mother, identifying the cause would not be easy.

Perhaps the curse directed at Mother underwent a specific process before being transferred.

“That’s why the curse could be engraved on the heart. It wasn’t done by ordinary means.”

Alter continued his conjecture, then suddenly displayed a peculiar expression.

It’s important to break the curse, but it’s also crucial to identify the caster.

If the caster is still alive, they may attempt harm again.

“Could it be that the curser is hiding in the northern territories? I might need to learn more about Mother…”

Zaier was considerably shocked after verifying Alter’s letter.

Could it have been known that it wasn’t merely a frail body, but one oppressed by a curse?

Above all, he couldn’t believe that such an accident had occurred within the inner sanctum he resided in, and yet, he had been unaware until now.

‘Who could have done such a thing? If I think about it now…’

Zaier, reflecting on the past, quickly identified a suspect.

Two wives, a knight closest to him, and advisors, a butler or maid stationed in the inner sanctum.

Of course, over the span of many years, the personnel coming and going from the inner sanctum would have inevitably changed.

‘So… is that why she said those words…’

Zaier recalled the last words of his legal wife with a bitter look in his eyes.

Even as she neared death, she refused to let go of the baby.

There wasn’t much time, so she couldn’t convey many words.

Perhaps that’s why she left, entrusting him to protect Alter.

‘What happened to you, Uriel…’

Uriel Astille.

The woman he loved for the first and last time, and his only legal wife.

She swept through the battlefield with her delicate body, and was also a hero who brought peace to the northern territories.

He had promised to spend a lifetime with her, but in the end, she passed away first, leaving behind only one child.

‘You could have told me… why…’

Uriel, being a skilled magician, must have fully grasped the caster of the curse.

However, Uriel did not reveal their identity until the very end.

Perhaps, she prioritized protecting Alter over avenging the caster.

‘Did you hope I wouldn’t regret it?’

Zaier understood Uriel’s intentions but didn’t accept them at face value.

She probably hoped he wouldn’t obsess over revenge and would take good care of Alter instead.

But Alter had been suffering ever since birth, and he always longed for the past.

‘Your death is indeed my regret…’

Zaier, engulfed in a sense of emptiness, slowly closed his eyes.

Uriel, thinking only of Alter, buried her own death as natural.

But now that he knew, he had to deal with it decisively.

‘Uriel. That man cursed Alter. He didn’t plan to end it with just you.’

Zaire finally opened his eyes, revealing a deep intent to kill.

He would find them, no matter what it took.

Even if they had escaped the inner sanctum, he could not let it end like this.

He had to thoroughly crush the one who assassinated his partner and harmed his youngest son.

‘I won’t just suffer this lying down. I will certainly execute them.’

***

Alter visited the Levhardin Magic Academy to verify his physical condition.

He couldn’t always summon the Archmage to his mansion, and most of the apprentices and magicians were gathered at the academy.

Above all, if he wanted to complete the verification smoothly, he had to establish the right environment and conditions first.

“Uh… It seems quite a lot of you have come.”

As soon as Alter entered the laboratory, he was faced with outsiders.

There were no young people to be seen; most were seasoned magicians.

Allaune glanced around and cautiously addressed Alter.

“Hmm… I’ve called the deans. It’s a matter of great importance, so we need the opinions of many.”

“The deans? Wasn’t the Archmage going to check on his own?”

“At first, that was the plan… But with a matter like this, shouldn’t we be a bit more cautious?”

Allaune did not hesitate for a moment after receiving Alter’s letter.

If it’s a curse, it fundamentally relies on magic, so as a magician, he could analyze it.

But if the curse was engraved on the heart, the risk increased, and it couldn’t be dealt with alone.

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“… Do you remember your promise to me?”

“Yes. I said I would become the Archmage’s apprentice once I’m cured.”

“I am looking forward to that promise alone. I said I would spare no effort, so I hope you, Lord Alter, will cooperate as well.”

Allaune had already been eyeing Alter as the official successor to the title of Archmage.

The other deans had also examined the samples created by Alter’s magic, and they all agreed he possessed a remarkable talent.

Usually, they would have to come up with some minor reason to express a negative opinion, but in the case of ice magic, he had received recognition from the majority.

‘I must take him as my apprentice before I die. How can such talent be ignored!’

Allaune, even after being granted the title of Archmage, continued to refine his skills.

He was called the pinnacle of magicians, but that was a rule only recognized among certified magicians.

There were bound to be outstanding magicians operating in secret, and if he fell behind them, the name of Archmage would be tarnished.

Therefore, he had to firmly build the history of the Archmage by taking a talent like Alter as his successor.

The curse-breaking method can be found. However, since it’s cast on the heart…

Allaune was more sensitive to the location of the curse than the curse itself.

While there may be curses that are difficult to break, with time and effort, a way can usually be found.

But it’s uncertain whether the heart can withstand the shock during the curse-breaking process.

Perhaps the caster also considered this a vulnerability, hence why they engraved the curse on the heart.

“Such a vile creature. Surely, one who does such things deserves a severe punishment!”

Allaune intended to uncover the identity of the caster while performing the curse-breaking.

Since the caster’s magic and soul are embedded in the curse, it allows for the possibility of tracing it back.

Of course, it won’t be a perfect trace, but it should yield a rough location.

“Now that Lord Alter has arrived, let us proceed with the oath.”

“…Do we really have to take an oath?”

“Did I not mention? This matter is directly related to Lord Alter’s honor. If anyone seeks to tarnish that honor, they must be held accountable through the oath.”

The academy heads seemed to exchange glances, reluctantly coming to an agreement.

Given that the subject of verification was a scion of a ducal house, it was indeed related to the family’s honor.

Moreover, if resolved well, it could lead to a rapport with the Northern Duke, so there was nothing to lose.

“From this moment on, all matters concerning Lord Alter that come to light shall be declared secret. Whoever discloses this secret betrays the trust of a magician and commits a crime against those involved in the oath. Those who agree to the oath, inscribe your magic into the stone slab.”

Allaune finished speaking and immediately channeled magic into her index finger.

She then inscribed her name at the top of the stone slab with her finger.

The slab, responsive to magic, allowed the letters to be clearly imprinted without any physical force.

“…Is it all done? Should any of the events that transpired here become public knowledge, the academy’s funds shall be used for the less fortunate.”

Allaune checked the stone slab imbued with the oath and placed it carefully in a corner of the laboratory.

Alter, having quietly observed the process, finally understood the necessity of the oath.

Even a magician representing the academy would want to live affluently, hence the inevitable attachment to money.

Therefore, Allaune had used this psychology as a means to ensure the protection of the oath.

“Hem hem… Let me explain the situation Lord Alter is in. Currently, a curse is engraved on Lord Alter’s heart.”

“What?”

“A curse on the heart? Is that even possible?”

“Ah… it’s the end of days…”

“There was a reason for the oath after all.”

The academy heads finally accepted the reason for the oath and turned their attention to Alter.

Regarding the curse, unproven rumors are circulating, causing many to avoid it.

Moreover, since the curse was cast directly on the heart, it must have involved a magician of considerable skill.

“The third consecrator has uncovered this fact, so we believe its credibility is secured. We hope you all will verify and find a solution.”

“If the consecrator says so, it’s almost certainly true.”

“Can’t the consecrator heal it?”

“It’s the heart, so they can’t meddle with it recklessly.”

Allaune approached Alter and then stopped right beside him.

Should any issues arise during the verification, he would have to take action himself.

Of course, the deans were also magicians of no lesser skill than the archmages, so there was no need for great concern.

“While the magician’s verification method differs from the cleric’s diagnosis, we hope you will carry it out with due seriousness. Do not forget that the subject of verification is a scion of the grand ducal family.”

“Hmm… I’ll start.”

“I’ll go next.”

“These people are unusually diligent today.”

The deans gathered around Alter and began the verification.

Alter remained quietly in place, in contact with numerous magical powers.

‘It’s over quicker than I thought. Is it ending this fast?’

Alter looked around, feeling no particular change.

The deans were presenting their views with serious expressions.

Allaune simply observed the deans while eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Does the impurity originate from the curse?”

“If the curse is interfering with the magic… it must be deliberate.”

“It’s not an ordinary curse. It was engraved in the heart to make it difficult to lift.”

“Though they tried to hide the attribute, traces are emerging from the impurity.”

“It’s the attribute of ice.”

“Indeed. It’s the ice attribute.”

“The curse is specialized for the earth attribute. If it’s cast with the ice attribute, flaws are inevitable.”

“Even for me, it’s difficult to engrave a curse on the heart. Could it be non-human?”

“For a curse of this magnitude, we must consider a dragon.”

“Why would a dragon do such a thing? And weren’t dragons extinct? The previous archmage and the champions…”

“Excuse me… are you alright?”

Alter listened to the conversation before belatedly chiming in.

The presidents of the academy could only look at Alter with questions in their eyes.

“Could it be the Frost Witch? There are rumors she’s staying somewhere in the northern territories, and she does wield ice attributes.”