PROLOGUE: THE BEGINNING OF THE CURSE

“In the year 563, there was once a girl who was loved by the empire. Her flowing silk hair, fair skin, with her crystal blue eyes made everyone believed that she’s the reincarnation of the goddess in the Empire of Sylvia . She came from a powerful noble family that even the king himself can’t order that family. Her dad and the king were close friends, but when the owner of the throne changed, the peacefulness in the empire were shattered.

The king was a tyrant who only think of himself and entirely hates the Rouse’valle Family. The king ordered a powerful sorcerer in exchange for his throne to overthrow her family. The sorcerer had a second thought but he still agreed because the throne was the exchange though he pitied the family which was the target of the king.

On a rainy day, the sorcerer intruded the mansion of the Rouse’valle family. His magic’s pressure was intense which led the family become powerless. Their daughter who was crying on the stairs was asked by the sorcerer softly “you’re the reincarnation of Sylvia are you?”, the girl was trembling and couldn’t answer. In the silence, the sorcerer checked her neck and saw a symbol, there he realized that she was really the reincarnation of the goddess. The sorcerer decided that he will only curse her family and not her.

The girl was shocked when she heard the sorcerer. “P-Please,…great sorcerer, just c-curse me…don’t include my f-family…” she begged the sorcerer, so the sorcerer said “you’re really her reincarnation, both of you are willing to sacrifice yourself just because of a family…HAHAHHAHAHA!!”, “you can c-curse anything to me, even it means I have to die, JUST LEAVE MY FAMILY ALONE!!!! I-I’m begging…you please….” she said while her family was screaming outside the barrier the sorcerer cast. The sorcerer took a look at her family crying in the barrier he casted and spoke with a tone full of agony “you know, dying is such a wonderful word, you’ll die and will be given a new life to start again”, “W-what do you mean…?” “Since you want to take the curse yourself, I’ll give you a gift instead.”, the girl was thinking about what that gift could be.

“It will be a gift for a villain but will be a curse for a girl like you” the girl was still confused “you know villains intends to live long life taking things away from someone so they would definitely think that this curse is a gift to them.” the girl saw the sadness in the sorcerer’s eyes, his eyes were sad, like it contains many memories on one person, then she realized that the curse that the sorcerer were talking about is the “Gift of Life”, it’s called a gift because the person’s magic who casted it will fall upon the one who was casted on then and the mana of that person will be eternal which her life will also means that she won’t die. Then the sorcerer cast the gift of life to her “mi a r kej i ma kin kuf r tas gha sentos…!!” with the sorcerer casting the gift of life to the girl, the girl fainted on the floor, with this the sorcerer’s final words were “be careful of the king…” and his body disappeared slowly.

Her family rushed to their daughter, “ALEEXX!!! are you ok..??!!” her older brother asked while crying, she slightly opened her eyes and saw her family crying in front of her, and fainted.

ONE WEEK LATER

She found herself waking up in her bed, a maid came in her room and was shocked to see their lady woke up. The maid hurriedly called the whole Rouse’valle Family, they gathered in her room waiting for the doctor’s slip.

“Is our daughter ok??” her parents asked worriedly. “Mom, dad, brother, I’m fine see for yourself no need to worry.” she told them while smiling brightly “no, you’re not fine, you got the gift of life” her brother said while crying “brother look, I’m totally fine it’s better than having our whole family being cursed” “NO IT”S NOT!!!” both her parents shouted “you won’t be given a new life, you won’t die!! you won’t age, and you’ll watch your love ones die ahead of you, do you want that life..?” “mom, it’s my choice so I shouldn’t regret it…” the whole family was in silence, “then we will support your decision” her parents told her while crying, “We’ll take our leave now so you can take a rest” her father said.

“Oh yeah…I forgot to tell you, father, the king is the one who sent the sorcerer, be careful” “I already know, were planning to overthrow the king in two weeks…” Her father told her seriously.

After they left, the girl sat beside the window thinking what will happen to her, “I’m really an idiot aren’t I…?” she told her self while her tears slowly drip from her face.

2 WEEKS LATER

The Rouse’valle and other families successfully overthrowed the king led by the crown prince. After the treason they elected the crown prince to be the king but, the crown prince disagreed. The ministers were shocked by the crown prince disagreement, “I can’t be the king, because I killed the king my own father, to me he was a father before a king, to the Rouse’valle family I’m deeply sorry for the mess my father made and also to your daughter.”

“You don’t need to be sorry, it was your father who’s at fault not you, and also you should be the king, you always told me that you would be a king one day…” Alex butted in. “B-bu-” “No buts, just be the king goddamn it” “since your my only friend, and I don’t know anyone,….uhmm so..” “what?” “BE MY QUEEN!!” the ministers were shocked, despite that confession she answered quickly “NO!” but since you want a queen, I know someone who’s fitted” she said while smirking. Because of that offer the crown prince strongly disagreed since he’s one of the people who knows about her true nature so he just accepted being the king of the empire. Time passed by quickly and the king led the empire greatly.

27 YEARS LATER, YEAR 580

“Brother, I will leave this place” she told her brother. Her brother was old now and has children to take care. “W-where will you go?” her brother asked in shock. “Since mom and dad already died, and you also had a family already, your children are even calling you papa so cute but they are pretty naughty though…ahahaha, also send my regards to that idiot king ahahhaha” she laughed softly “don’t talk like that to the king it’ll be an act of treason…”, “ahahhaha don’t worry even though I call him idiot he won’t kill me…I’m his only friend” “…” “brother I don’t wanna see you die either…” “B-Bu-” “I just realized now what mom meant when she told me watching my love ones die, why the gift of life is called a curse instead of a gift!! I REGRET IT NOW!!” she said while crying, her brother told her, “Alex, just remember even if mom and dad isn’t here now they’ll always be in your heart” “Brother I want to ask you a favor…” her brother looked at her “brother…please stab me in the heart so I can die” “w-what are you talking about I ca-” “BROTHER PLEASE!!!! I searched everywhere but there’s no way to undo the curse….so please..” she begged her brother until her brother agreed to stab her.

When her brother stabbed her in the heart, she didn’t feel any pain and didn’t die. The wound stabbed by her brother quickly healed “I really can’t die…..ahahahaha” she laughed while crying and with the magic she learned she disappeared right in front of her brother’s eyes…”

“Father, Father what happened to her sister?”

“I also don’t know it’s still a mystery, even now.”

“Your grandfather always tell me and my brother this story every bedtime, they said this story was a very famous tale in the Empire of Sylvia but, whenever your grandfather tell us this story he will always cry”

“grandfather is crying so that means he is sad…”

“That’s because the girl in the story is your grand-aunt, your grandfather’s sister”

“So grand-aunt is the girl in the story”

“Yes, and grandfather would always think about how aunt is doing.”

Many generations passed and a scroll containing the one and only picture of Alex Iciclis de Rouse’valle was passed down with a ring on it.

This tale that became famous in the Sylvia Empire was known in the whole world, they made it into a novel, a stage play, even made a music for this tale. And this tale was known as “The tale of the Gift of Life”. And that tale will always be a mystery.

CHAPTER 1: THE GIRL IN THE CROWD

ARCANIMUS, THE CITY OF MAGIC, YEAR 963

“They said that the girl buried herself so that she can die, and no on-”

“pftt……ahahahahahaha” the girl laughed.

“Who laughed..!!” the storyteller angrily asked. He found a girl with a long brown hair wearing a black cloak laughing in the crowd. “Hey you…” “me?” the girl asked “Yes you, who else would I be pointing at if it wasn’t you??” the story teller asked “Oh sorry, there’s a ghost beside me so, I didn’t know your pointing at me” the crowd suddenly dispersed.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA ya’ll avoided me just because I said there’s a ghost beside me….HAHAHAHA!!!” the girl laughed loudly

The citizens thought she was crazy and called some guards to take her.

A guard came and told her “miss your troubling everyone please leave.” the guard told her coldly. “Hey Mr. guard you’re pretty cold for a handsome face” she told him while smirking. The guards at the back were whispering that the girl is doomed.

“Ooh~ I see even if you’re annoyed, you’re still hot” the girl said while smirking “Miss please leave now” the guard said angrily. “Ahahahahhaha sorry, ok then I won’t call you handsome nor hot, Ah! I know how about a wolf…” the guard glared at her. “Please state your business then leave.” the guard told her coldly. “You see, it’s been a while since I came in this empire….” then she stared at the guard “please stop beating around the bush and state why you’re here.” “then let me ask you, are you loyal to this empire’s king?” the girl asked while smiling “Of course I am, all the people here respects the king!!” the guard answered seriously.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” the girl laughed loudly then gave a pouch that has gold on the storyteller then left.

The guards thought that she was weird.

At the guards headquarters, they talked about the girl they encountered earlier. The chief heard about what they’re talking about. “Hey what girl you talking about?” one of the guard answered “It was hilarious, hahahaha, she got the guts to call our noble guard hot, though I can’t argue with that.” “Just one thing, she is annoying” “Hey Yon, your suspension will be over tomorrow and, you’ll go back at being the captain right?” their chief asked “you can go now and rest, since you’ll have it rough tomorrow.”

“It wouldn’t be her right…I hope so” the chief whispered to himself.

“Man, must be rough being the captain of the knights and the personal guard for the king huh.” “It’s not that hard” he said then left

On his way, he found the girl earlier wandering outside the castle. “Hey what are you doing here.” he asked while glaring at her. “Hey don’t be like that, oh you see it’s been a while here, tour me around the castle will ya” she asked him cheer fully “No, I still have some business to attend” “awe com’on, your gonna submit a report right?” the guard stared at her and said no.

“Hey I know that idiot king, just let me in” she said. “Miss please don’t say that the king is an idiot, or I’ll report you to the head of the knights.” Oh that’s great then, I wonder if he’s still the head ahahahahaha!!!” “Miss, please go now if you don’t have business here.” He said to her politely with an annoyed tone. “You said you’ll report me to the head of the knights if I called the king an idiot right?” the guard glared at her.

“THE KING IS AN IDIOTT!!!!! ahahahahaha… whoo! that was satisfying” she said while laughing. “You’re really taking this far, come with me!!” he angrily pulled her into the knight’s headquarter.

*sigh I guess this is the only way

KNIGHT’S HEADQUARTERS

“Wow, they still haven’t change that picture, ahahahahaha his picture there is cringe” she said while the guards are looking at her “will you please shut up!!” “fine, fine”

*knock knock knock

“Come in”

“I’m here to re-” “oh, they still haven’t changed the office, yo long time no see” “I’m sorry but who are you?” “I’m sorry for intruding” she said while looking around the office.

“How many years has it been, hmm…, I left at 583 and now it’s …. hey what year is it now?”

“It’s year 963, please leave now if you don’t have business”

“woah, I didn’t know I was that old now, ahahahahha….so you’re Levis’s great great grandson are you ?”, she asked with a smirk on her face.

“The scroll of the Rouse’valle family must have passed on you then, *sigh it’s been a long time, that idiot king must have died then since the search was stopped. I even stocked his favorite food, what a waste of money.” she sighed and sat down

“Amon, you may leave for now” he ordered. “Yes sir”

“Now how did you know about the scroll and the search ordered by the kings in the past generations”

“Do you have the picture of your grand gra-, hmm, that’s too old, let’s make it into grand aunt, there much better.” “Sorry but answer my question first who are you??!!” he furiously asked. “hmm… guess ahahahhaha”

“Amon, please escort this guest out” Amon came in and was ready to take her out

“Ah geez, wait.” She transformed to her original look a fair skin, silver hair, with a crystal blue eyes, the guards who were peeking including Amon inside the office was stunned by her and the head of the knights was shocked.

She stand confidently and said “Now let me introduce myself, Alex Iciclis de Rouse’valle”

CHAPTER 2: HER RETURN

“Now let me introduce myself, Alex Iciclis de Rouse’valle” she confidently introduced herself

“Amon kick her out” the head of the chief commanded.

“w-wait, What?!!”

They kicked her out, in Alex’s confusion on why they kicked her out, she knocked so hard on the gates where she was thrown.

“So this is how it’s gonna be!!!…Prepare yourselves, I cursed you all to lose the tournament tomorrow, HAHAHAHA!!” she said in an angry tone while laughing, after a while her smile faded and left.

“She”s hot, but she’s crazy” one of the guards said and they sighed.

“she finally left…but how did she know about our descendants secret about great grand-aunt??” he asked himself

ROUSE’VALLE GRAVE

After she left, she visited the Rouse’valle Family’s grave.

“Ahahahaha, they really managed to kick me out, tsk”

“Mom, Dad, Lev, I’m back, they said they invented a new poison here so I came back, I’m still searching a way for how to die…it’s been a long time since I came here, and nothing changed.” She said while tears are dripping softly in her face.

“You know what? I regret all of this, my actions and when I disappeared right in Lev’s eyes, I didn’t come back cause, I don’t know how to face him. He even made me a grave when I said I want to die, ahahahaha” she laughed softly

“I still haven’t give up, I know the king has the sword of Orcus so I deliberately intrude to the knight’s headquarters, but I guess I failed, I’ll come with all of you soon, so I gotta go now, bye mom, dad, and also to you lev” she chuckled softly while wiping her tears away

SYLVIA’S PALACE

“Your majesty, we already confirmed the cause of the drought”

“We’ll talk about that next meeting” the king said coldly with his gold eyes making the minister tremble in fear

“I guess my ancestors will be relieved now” the king said while he sighed “Why are you still there hiding, didn’t you came here so that I can kill you am I wrong Alex Iciclis de Rouse’valle?”

CLAP CLAP CLAP

“As expected of the king, so can you really kill me?” she asked to the king with a smile on her face.

The king took the sword and pointed it at the girl’s neck, with his cold stare “maybe he could really kill me” Alex though staring directly at the king’s cold eyes.

“Hey king, what’s your name?” “Why would you need my name or when I’m gonna kill you anyway” he answered “Don’t be like that, just like you said I’m gonna die anyway so I should remember the name of the person who killed me~” she said with a seductive smile while wrapping both her hands to the king.

“I see, so you’re acting like a little fox now” the king said with his eyes changing to the color of red.

“Felix Chonniss Deloffre, you satisfied now”, “maybe? so can you kill me now?” she asked impatiently. The king stared at her, “I changed my mind I won’t kill you for now” Alex was shocked while the king laughed because of the face Alex made.

“pftt…look at your face, it’s been a while since I laughed like this” he said while wind blows slowly on his golden hair, with a moon shining brightly to him.

“What the hell, is this a manhwa?” Alex thought to herself with a blank face.

While the king walks away, she took the sword at the king’s hand and stabbed herself, “Wow it’s working, I’m bleeding” she said with a relief on her face. “What the-, she’s not that crazy right?” the king thought with a shocked on his face.

Blood slowly flowed in her mouth thinking that she’ll die now. She slowly fainted in the arms of the king. Felix pulled out the sword in her body and checked her pulse. “I guess she really died now” he though for a second.

He carried her through the hallway, and within a few seconds, tiny blue lights are flying slowly around her, the king was shocked to see the stab wound in her body quickly healed.

“Looks like she can’t really die, sorry to disappoint you little fox, but looks like I gotta keep you here” he said while walking away with a smile on his face.

“You’ve caught my interest now little fox, Alice Iciclis de Rouse’valle, I won’t let you run away.”