Reverse the Crazy Curse

Chapter 4

K-Kaortan?

Even though I knew it was impossible and that I was mistaken, I couldn’t help but whisper that name. Of course, it came out as nothing more than baby babble.

“Ga ga?”

Are you Kaortan’s descendant?

The urgency I felt made my tiny lips tremble. I’d thought about this moment, imagined it even, but seeing his descendant standing right before me stirred up the rage buried deep inside me.

That’s how it is, huh? You seal me in stone and then go off to have a child with someone else? I’ll never forgive you!

Ignoring the waves of power rolling off the emperor, I fixed him with the fiercest glare my baby face could muster.

* * *

The room fell silent. Everyone who had quietly gathered inside the Sacrificial Palace, in this baby’s room, seemed to hold their breath. They hadn’t expected a one-year-old to bow and greet the emperor with a polite “Your Majesty,” but they certainly didn’t expect a cuddly baby to glare at them with such hostility.

Isn’t it just a baby…? It’s a baby, right?

How could a baby—so round and cute, so seemingly angelic—look at them like that? The servants that had accompanied the emperor exchanged nervous glances, and then looked back at the baby. My skin was flawless, like the finest pearl, and my rare coral-colored hair was a trait seen in only two of the empire’s aristocratic families. Those eyes, as deep and blue as the ocean itself, gleamed with a hint of mischief.

There was only one word to describe me.

Adorable!

As if struck by Cupid’s arrow, everyone clutched their chests at the same time.

The Duke and Duchess of Ruseiyan were famous in society for their incredible looks. Whenever the Duchess—a coral sprite—made an appearance, men and women alike would flock to social gatherings, orbiting around her. Just a single glance from her intense eyes would draw sighs from those around her. If she smiled, people would fall over themselves to do her bidding.

The duchess was living proof that other races existed. Her marriage to a human and the birth of their children marked a historic moment for humanity. This rare and unique quality only made her more captivating. It was no wonder there were rumors that the emperor was secretly in love with her.

She is the spitting image of the duchess. There’s no doubt the blood of the Coral Sprites runs through her veins!

Her child’s aloof expression and slightly upturned eyes were too precious for words.

Please don’t make her the sacrifice!

The servants silently prayed for my safety, their hearts aching at my supposed fate.

The second child would make a better sacrifice.

As they exchanged these silent thoughts, the emperor, who had remained quiet until now, spoke slowly.

“This will be the last sacrifice.”

His tone was solemn, almost mournful. The cold expression on his face sent a chill through the room. The air, warm just moments before, grew suffocating.

Adele, bowing deeply, replied as respectfully as possible, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did you witness the final moments of the duke and duchess?”

Adele’s voice trembled with barely contained grief, “The humble servant before you was busy hiding the young lady, so I did not see what befell my masters.”

One could feel it—the immense rage borne from shame and sorrow.

Adele must have truly cared for my parents.

My eyes fluttered at her raw emotions. My parents must have been good people to have had servants as loyal as her.

“Set a date for the duke and duchess’s funeral. I’ve cast a spell to preserve their bodies. We will hold the service for two weeks as soon as the brothers return. You are most welcome to attend.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“This child… She may hold the key to curing the young dragon’s madness. She is very important. Raise her well.”

Excuse me? I’m not some miracle cure. Listening to their conversation instantly made me frown.

“I don’t know who the crown prince will choose, but thankfully there are three options.”

Hey! I’m not one of those options! I tried to wrap my head around what was happening, but as the absurdity continued, my eyes only grew wider in disbelief.

He’s nothing but a descendant. How dare he treat me like some kind of miracle cure?

Watching the scene unfold, it was impossible to just sit there and do nothing.

If you start to feel the madness, just boil some sea urchin and seaweed and make a potion. Why the hell are they trying to sacrifice me?

If the madness is so severe, shouldn’t they be taken somewhere remote and dealt with quietly? Why go after someone innocent like me? The emperor may have inherited Kaortan’s good looks, but his personality was entirely different. He was like a summer typhoon brewing over the ocean, and he didn’t even bother trying to hide the immense power he possessed, oblivious to how stifling it was to everyone around him. So insensitive! If he were my child, I would’ve smacked him and yelled, “Behave yourself, you brat!”

Who taught this kid his manners?

“Goo goo, gah!”

My nagging came out in baby talk, but I didn’t care. No one could understand me anyway. Might as well let loose. While I was grumbling, the emperor continued to stare at me, expressionless. For a moment, we locked eyes, and I could’ve sworn his gaze said, “Oh, my.”

What was that?

What did I just see? My anger evaporated, leaving me stunned.

He looked a bit dorky there…

I started studying him more closely, now more curious than angry. His sharp nose and strong jawline gave him the air of a sailor. The more I looked, the more I thought I saw the real him beneath the imperial attire.

If I threw him in the ocean, I bet he’d splash around like a kid.

That would suit him better than this stiff, condescending persona. Yes, I was sure of it. After all, I would know—I used to be an empress.

Mr. Emperor, I’m quite certain that you picked the wrong career. Any thoughts on making a change?

“All right, let me see here.”

At that moment, I made a mistake—I let my guard down. The emperor suddenly scooped me up. With absurd strength, I might add!

“Kaaaaaaah!”

My ribs! My poor ribs! They’re cracking!

“What is wrong with this child?”

The emperor looked around, completely bewildered, but no one dared to speak.

Are you blind? You’re squeezing too hard, you idiot!

I was fuming.

Forget cutting him some slack. I take it all back, every bit!

“Does her diaper need changing? Is she hungry? Bored? Or… Maybe she likes me?”

The emperor rattled off questions, but it was clear to everyone that he was most focused on the last one. I could practically feel his excitement, but come on! He was still hurting me!

You idiot! I’m in pain!

“There, there. Is this how you rock a baby?”

He pulled me closer and mumbled complete nonsense.

Now’s my chance!

I gathered all the strength I could muster in my tiny legs and kicked him in the face like a fish flopping onto a boat. With each kick I landed, I saw everyone’s mouths drop open further in shock. When my third kick connected, the emperor’s advisors finally sprang into action and rushed over, their faces pale.

“She’s dangerous!”

“How can she be so violent?”

“She’s as fierce as a sea monster!”

Despite their panic, nobody offered their help. Was I not the beautiful baby daughter of a Coral Sprite, with eyes even more mysterious? My hair was fluffy, my cheeks round and squishy, and my eyes shimmered like the ocean. I looked as fragile as a bubble, ready to pop at the slightest touch. How could I possibly be dangerous?

There’s no way I could be a threat. Why would they think that?

Everyone simply stood there, heads tilted in confusion. Only the emperor remained composed.

“Calm down.”

Why? Was he going to spank me? I was still pressing my foot against the emperor’s pointy nose, seething with anger.

Go ahead, hit me. Just try it!

“Uh, Y-Your Majesty. Your noble face… it’s…”

“She’s just a baby who doesn’t know any better. I must not have controlled my strength when I picked her up. And so, I’ve angered her.”

“You’ve angered… a baby, Your Majesty? Do babies understand such things?”

Sir Lucas, the emperor’s personal guard, widened his eyes at the emperor’s solemn explanation, as if he had mastered parenting. Sir Lucas was one of the emperor’s most trusted knights. He had not yet married, and as such, had no children. So, although he felt something was off, he could not be sure what was different about the baby in front of him compared to an ordinary one.

“According to the prophecy, she will be far more extraordinary than any normal child,” the emperor said, appearing quite proud.

A faint smile crossed his lips as he gently placed me back in the cradle.

Then, with a serious expression, he asked, “Are you afraid of me?”

No way.

I immediately shook my head. His servants gasped in unison.

“So, you are not afraid of me?”

Who do you think you are?

I arrogantly tilted my chin. Back in my day, I once fought off an entire horde of giant beasts on my own! How did no one know this? I even commanded that my feats be recorded in history with magic tools so they’d be remembered for generations.

“Not afraid, you say? How interesting. Your older brother burst into tears the minute he saw me,” the emperor said, sounding oddly proud. “Fascinating. Perhaps it’s because you’re half Coral Sprite… You’re already thinking on your own and expressing yourself, even though you’re still so small.”

The knight standing beside him quickly added, “I think this generation of Ruseiyan children were born afflicted with a period of slow growth.”

“Yes, right. At first, everyone was so worried when Hiberg didn’t walk, even though so much time had passed. Ninis, on the other hand, didn’t seem concerned.”

“I remember when Lord Garzen came to see you in tears. Together, the two of you emptied three cases of expensive wine.”

“Ninis was so stunned when she found out, she smacked him on the back. Coral Sprites hardly grow the first year after birth, so naturally, even if the baby was part human, the same would hold for them.”

“That’s when everyone realized that anyone with Coral Sprite blood grew according to that side of the family. This baby is now thirteen months old. Starting now, she is going to grow very quickly.”

“Yes, she will. Once Lord Garzen saw that their second son was growing slowly too, he finally relaxed.”

“Duke Ruseiyan’s second son did grow much slower than their first.”

“Indeed. He was quite small. Just like this little one here.”

Lost in his memories, the emperor chuckled softly. As I listened to the conversation between the emperor and the knight, my ears perked up, and I reached out, wailing. Other than my mother, do other Coral Sprites exist?

Just then, the emperor suddenly extended his hand, and a servant waiting beside him quickly handed him an object. It was a pitiful-looking turtle doll that appeared as though it had just been hunted down, its neck caught in the emperor’s massive grip.

“In the imperial family, it’s tradition to gift a turtle doll when a baby is born. It symbolizes longevity.”

“Ga ga?”

“Someday, you’ll meet your end, but hold onto this. You never know, you might just outlive us all. Let this doll be a blessing for you.”

As the emperor spoke, his eyes flickered with a hint of something deeper.