- Look, the moon rises. A spiteful wolf pup finds its way into the royal house. Your final breath. Your last moment of splendor. That very brilliance, I will take it away.
- Abandon it and perish; hold onto it, and death will still come. The seed of ruin, you've already sown it. As it grows, your last trace of glory, even that grandeur, I will strip away.
Eight moons had passed since a dreadful curse struck the Brendell Dynasty.
On that fateful day, only hours apart, two children were born into the Brendell royal family.
Waaaah~!
Under a bright blue sky and a blazing sun, accompanied by the cheerful song of a bluebird, the second son of the first queen came into the world.
Relieved, the royal family inspected the infant. His skin was flawless, and his cries were strong and healthy.
Joy lit up their faces as they blessed the arrival of the family's newest member.
Waaah-!
Later that night, as the kingdom slept, the first son of the second queen was born. His arrival was marked by his mother's cries of pain and the faint rustle of a field mouse.
A small group of royal family members gathered anxiously around the child.
When they discovered a faint but unmistakable blood mark on his body, their faces fell into despair.
The curse had appeared a curse made flesh.
Fearful of the prophecy that could unravel the kingdom and ignite rumors, the family decided to hide the child's existence. The second queen's sorrowful cries echoed for days.
From that day forward, only one child was officially acknowledged.
The kingdom's people bowed and celebrated the unblemished child, his pure appearance a symbol of hope.
From that day onward, the Brendell Kingdom faced endless turmoil, with conflicts breaking out both large and small.
As life grew harder, people gathered in taverns, drinking beer and whispering suspicions about a hidden child in the royal family.
Rumors spread like wildfire, claiming that a "cursed child" was dragging Brendell into darkness.
Eight years after these dark whispers began, under the light of a glowing crescent moon, the so-called "cursed child" of the Brendell Dynasty killed the second son of the first queen.
The news sent shockwaves through the royal family, who had worked so hard to keep his existence a secret. The King of Brendell, consumed by rage, slammed his fists against his knees in despair.
Without hesitation, the king locked his young son in the dungeon beneath the castle. As he walked away, he didn't even look back at the boy his own flesh and blood.
The second queen's heart wrenching screams echoed through the halls, but the king silenced them with a chilling order. Everyone who knew of the child's existence was to be executed. Only members of the royal family were spared to ensure the secret would never leave the palace walls.
When the first queen's eldest son fell ill and died, the king's anger boiled over. His icy glare turned toward the "Cursed Cub," whom he blamed for every misfortune that had befallen the kingdom.
With the death of the crown prince the kingdom's future heir rumors about the cursed child erupted like a storm, spreading fear and doubt across Brendell.
The kingdom was thrown into chaos, a dark shadow hanging over the once-proud realm, threatening to tear it apart.
***
"Unnh"
Lynn stirred between dreams and reality, her eyes slowly opening to the sight of a plain white ceiling.
As her mind cleared, she pushed herself up from the soft, feather-filled mattress beneath her, which shifted slightly with her movements.
"How did I get back to my room?"
She tried to recall the events of the previous night. After seeing Hwan on the terrace, the last thing she remembered was him falling asleep and then, somehow, she must have drifted off as well.
But she had no memory of returning to her room.
Did Hwan… carry me back?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Sean stepped in.
"Lynn, looks like yesterday's training really wore you out."
"Ah…" Lynn let out a small, sheepish laugh, feeling a bit flustered.
She had overslept by nearly four hours past her usual wake-up time. Sean walked over with a kind smile and handed her a glass of water.
"Here, drink this. I brought breakfast earlier, but you were so out of it you didn't even budge when I tried to wake you."
Lynn sipped the cool water, grateful for its refreshing taste.
"Father, did you… carry me back to my room?"
Sean blinked, clearly surprised. "What? No. Why would I do that?"
He sat down in the wooden chair by her bed, his brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lynn replied quickly, brushing it off.
So it wasn't Father. Could it have been Hwan? Or maybe I walked back here without realizing it? She smiled to herself, shaking her head at the thought.
Lynn reached for a piece of wheat bread spread with strawberry jam, taking a small bite before speaking again.
"Father, do you think Hwan might not be feeling well?"
"Huh?" Sean raised an eyebrow at her sudden question.
"Oh, um… I went out to the terrace for a bit last night."
"The terrace? At night?"
"Yes. I saw Hwan there, but…"
"And?"
"He seemed… different," Lynn said softly, her voice trailing off.
Hwan had definitely not been himself. He seemed to be in pain, his body trembling as he made strange, mumbled sounds. Lynn's concern was clear on her face as the memory of the previous night replayed in her mind.
"Hwan, you say?"
The smile that had been on Sean's face faded.
Ah, so it's that time again… I understand now.
He remembered the unusually bright, thin moon from the night before. After a short pause, he spoke again, his voice gentle and reassuring.
"Don't worry too much. He's a strong young man."
"Yes…"
"I'll go check on him."
Sean's comforting words eased Lynn's worry a little, and she nodded.
"By the way, why did you go to the terrace last night?"
As he arranged the dishes on the tray, Sean asked casually.
"Oh, well…"
Lynn stopped mid-bite, her expression shifting. Sean noticed a hint of hesitation in her face.
"I… had a nightmare."
"A nightmare?"
"Yes. Actually, I've been having the same one lately."
She let out a nervous chuckle, but Sean's steady gaze encouraged her to keep going.
"What kind of nightmare is it?"
"It's always the same," she murmured, her brow furrowing as she tried to remember. After a moment, she spoke in a daze.
"I see a village… The people there are all smiling, happy."
"…"
"I don't know them, but… somehow, I feel like I've known them forever."
Sean's expression tightened. He gripped his weathered right hand with his left, his face shadowed with concern.
"And at the very end… someone comes at me, holding a knife…"
"…"
"They're screaming that they'll kill me. Heh, it's just a silly dream, right?"
As she spoke, tears started to form in her eyes. Suddenly, one tear slipped down her cheek, surprising her.
Huh? Why am I crying?
Without a word, Sean moved closer and wrapped her in a comforting embrace, his hands gently stroking her back, bringing her a sense of calm.
The warmth of his embrace slowly steadied Lynn's erratic heartbeat.
"There's no need to worry, Lynn. I'm here with you."
"…Yes."
As Lynn relaxed in his arms, Sean's face briefly showed pain. He held back tears and gently pulled away, his expression suddenly serious.
"That dream… Have you told anyone else about it?"
"Huh? No, I haven't told anyone."
"Good. If you have that dream again, come to me. Only to me."
His tone grew firm.
"And you must never, ever speak of it to anyone else."
"Pardon?"
"Promise me, Lynn."
Though confused, Lynn nodded in response to Sean's intense gaze.
"Yes, I promise, Father."
Relieved, Sean let out a soft sigh, his rough hands closing around hers in a reassuring grip.
Knock knock.
"Yes?"
The visitor at Hwan and Sahan's room was none other than Sean. Freshly washed, Sahan greeted him with a smile, toweling his damp hair.
"Sean. What brings you here?"
"It's been a while since I stopped by. You weren't feeling neglected, were you?"
"Not at all. You've got your long-lost daughter back, Sean. I completely understand."
Sean chuckled at Sahan's polished response. In his hand, he held a bottle filled with blue pills.
Sahan's eyes moved to the bottle, then reflexively to Hwan, still fast asleep in bed.
"Hwan's still sleeping. Want me to wake him?"
"That's not necessary. About last night…"
"Ah, yes."
Sahan understood what Sean meant and gave a faint, bitter smile as he glanced over at Hwan. He had already noticed Hwan's bed had been empty the night before.
"So, he's sleeping in today."
"…I see. I thought things were getting better."
Sean sighed briefly, his gaze lingering on the empty medicine bottle on the bedside table. Sahan shrugged as he rubbed the towel through his hair.
"Same as always, I guess."
"…"
"Give me the medicine. I'll give it to Hwan."
"Alright. Thanks."
Sean handed the bottle to Sahan, giving Hwan a sympathetic look before patting Sahan's shoulder twice and leaving. Once alone, Sahan, still wearing the towel around his waist, walked to Hwan's bedside and set the bottle on the side table.
Looking down at the sleeping Hwan, he murmured softly, sadness in his voice.
"Poor guy."
He let out a quiet sigh.