The next day, precisely the last day of the week—Octeth. In this world, a week spanned eight days: Primeth, Secneth, Tertieth, Quarteth, Quinteth, Sexteth, Septeth, and finally, Octeth.
After preparing myself in the morning, I made my way to the dining hall for breakfast. My mother, Rosalind, was already seated, her usual elegance radiating as she sipped tea. But instead of her usual quiet demeanor during meals, today she was more talkative—specifically, pestering me.
She wanted to teach me about magic, particularly the powers inherited from her bloodline—the fox spirit traits I possessed.
"You need to learn this, Frynn," she insisted, her violet eyes locking onto mine.
"You can't neglect the gifts of your heritage."
I glanced away, half-focused on finishing the food before me. "Maybe another time, Mother. I already have something planned for today."
Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a dramatic sigh, puffing her cheeks slightly in a childish pout. "You always say that."
I smiled lightly but remained firm. "I promise. Soon."
Though she clearly wanted to protest more, she let it slide—for now.
———
Now, I stood at my usual training spot in the forest clearing. The area had become familiar, almost like a second home, and I much preferred it over the royal palace's designated training grounds.
The palace grounds had both outdoor and indoor facilities—the latter offering privacy and security, making it a more logical choice. But logic wasn't what I sought. The tranquility of this forest clearing outweighed any convenience the palace could offer.
Besides, there was another reason.
My curse—the world's reverse blessing, bestowed upon me by the beloved world will—meant misfortune and chaos followed me like a shadow. Out here, I couldn't avoid it. But instead of running from it, I decided to face it head-on.
I needed to train—not just my mana or magic but my senses and instincts.
One of the traits I inherited from my mother's fox spirit bloodline was enhanced senses. It wasn't just sharper hearing or keener sight; it was a deeper, almost primal awareness—one that tingled at the edge of danger.
And in this world brimming with threats, I couldn't afford to let it go dull.
The curse wouldn't stop. It was a persistent, malevolent force, and this was only the beginning. Right now, the incidents were minor—unfortunate accidents, random mishaps. But what about when those small incidents grew into lethal threats?
What if monsters did appear?
I glanced around the forest, the breeze rustling leaves overhead. It wasn't impossible for beasts to wander into the palace grounds, but it was unlikely—especially with the royal guards stationed at their post.
Still, the thought lingered in my mind.
If I ever ventured beyond these walls—into the wilderness or unknown lands—monsters would find me. My curse ensured that. Like moths drawn to flame—or cats chasing treats. Only this time, I was the treat.
Shaking off that unsettling image, I focused back on my plan for today.
Like I had in mind last night, one of the effects of my curse was its ability to disturb the flow of mana around me. That disruption caused magic to fail, not just for me but for anyone close to me.
So, after dinner last night, I asked Risu for a favor—to help identify the range of my curse's effect.
Honestly, I was worried about how she might react once she realized the truth.
The whole point of this test required her to use magic repeatedly until it eventually failed—allowing me to determine the radius of the curse. But this was where my concerns started to pile up.
Asking her to repeatedly cast spells without offering a proper explanation? That was suspicious enough on its own.
And even if I tried to mask my true intentions by asking her to showcase different types of spells, I wasn't confident that would avoid raising her doubts—especially since we were out here in the forest. If her spells involved destructive magic, there was the risk of damaging the surroundings, which was out of the question.
I had considered using the indoor training grounds at the palace, where the walls and wards would minimize damage. But there was a problem—only royalty had access to those facilities, and Risu didn't qualify for entry, even if she was with me.
Then there was the idea of asking my father for permission.
...Yeah, forget it. I was too lazy to go through the trouble.
In the end, I realized there was no way around it. If the curse finally activated after multiple attempts, Risu would inevitably figure it out.
Even if I acted innocent, there was no chance she'd buy it.
Doubt was guaranteed.
She might not press me for answers immediately, but knowing her, she'd report this to my mother—and that was the last thing I wanted.
I let out a sigh, recalling the conversation I had with her in my bedroom last night.
———
A knock echoed softly against the carved wooden door, followed by a gentle voice that I immediately recognized.
"Young master?"
It was Risu. Her tone was as soft as ever, laced with its usual warmth and devotion.
"Come in," I called out.
The door opened without a sound, revealing her familiar figure. She stepped inside gracefully, her hands folded neatly in front of her, as if awaiting my instructions.
"Do you need anything, young master?" she asked with a faint smile.
I shifted slightly, lying on my stomach atop the soft bed. A book rested in front of me, though my focus had long drifted away from its pages. My voice came out calm, almost lazy, as I finally brought up the reason I had called her.
"There's something I'd like your help with tomorrow," I said.
Her eyes lit up almost immediately, her expression bright and eager.
"Of course! It would be my honor," she replied without hesitation.
I paused for a moment, lifting my gaze to meet hers. A faint smile tugged at my lips—not too wide, but just enough to keep the atmosphere lighthearted.
"That's good to hear," I said, then shifted my tone slightly. "But… there's a bit more to it than that."
She tilted her head slightly, curious but still attentive.
"It's related to magic. Specifically, I'll need you to demonstrate some spells tomorrow."
"Magic?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes," I nodded. "I've been thinking about studying magic circles—their structure, flow, and formation. Books only tell you so much, so I thought seeing it in real time might help me understand better."
It wasn't entirely a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. And as I spoke, I subtly activated one of my abilities—the [Aura of Enigma] from my Blessing of the Hidden Veil.
[Aura of Enigma]: Anyone who interacts with the user's finds it hard to discern their true intentions, making them highly persuasive or unsettling, subtly influence others' decisions. The effect decreased with someone intelligent or stronger.
I let its effects seep into the space between us, hoping it would reinforce her trust in me without raising any suspicions.
"I see!" she beamed, clearly convinced—or at least not doubting me yet.
"Still," I added quickly, "what I need your help with has to remain between us."
At this, her cheerful expression flickered for just a moment. She blinked, then tilted her head again.
"Why does it need to be secret?"
Her question didn't catch me off guard—I was prepared for it. Keeping my voice steady, I leaned back slightly, feigning casualness even as my mind worked carefully.
"I just don't want anyone—especially my mother—to misunderstand what I'm doing," I explained. "It's not anything dangerous, but you know how she can be. If she hears I'm messing around with magic circles, she'll either worry herself sick or—worse—try to take over and turn it into a full-blown lesson."
I let out a small laugh, playing into the idea of my mother's overprotectiveness.
Risu blinked again before her lips curled into a knowing smile.
"That does sound like her," she admitted.
I nodded in agreement, pressing forward while her guard was still lowered.
"I just want to experiment a little in peace. Nothing more."
As her expression softened, I felt the subtle pressure in my chest begin to ease.
The blessing seemed to be working—or perhaps it was just Risu's natural faithfulness that carried the moment.
Either way, her smile returned, warm and full of trust.
"I understand," she said softly. "If this is important to you, then I'll keep it secret. I promise."
I exhaled quietly, barely letting the sound escape my lips.
"Thank you," I said, my voice genuine despite the small sting of guilt that lingered in the back of my mind.
"It's my honor to be of assistance," she added with a small bow.
Even with her unwavering loyalty, a part of me couldn't help but feel uneasy. I was manipulating her—using my blessing to shape her thoughts without her realizing it.
But was it wrong?
It wasn't as though I had bad intentions. I wasn't hurting her. This was just a precaution, something I needed to do to keep the curse in check.
Even so…
The guilt didn't disappear entirely, even as she excused herself and left the room.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind churned over the uncertainty of what might happen tomorrow.
This wasn't just about finding the limits of the curse. It was about control—control over my power, control over the effects it had on others, and, most of all, control over what might happen if I ever failed.
I shut the book I'd been reading earlier, suddenly unable to focus.
Tomorrow, I'd find my answers—even if it meant testing the boundaries of what I was willing to do.
———