It happened four years ago.

  Livius, the youngest son of Duke Carter, was always a modest and shy child. When he was born, the fame of his older brother was already resounding everywhere. In such an environment, one could expect Livius to be forced to remain in the shadows from the start.

  Michel and Katrina, the Duke's favorite children, enjoyed great popularity in society. Those around them tried to please them in every way, fearing to lose the favor of the heirs of a noble family. But no one approached Livius. He was more like their servant or pet, always following them.

  Duke Carter also did not pay much attention to his son. In his opinion, a child could only be worthy of love if he was useful. Otherwise, it was just useless rubbish taking up someone else's place.

  Michel and Katrina had secured their father's favor from the very beginning. They also had good support among other aristocrats. As children born under a lucky star, brother and sister grew up knowing no need or problems.

  The blessing of the star was not an empty phrase in the Nadal Empire. In the birth certificate, there was even a separate column indicating which star accompanied the newborn. So deeply rooted was astrology in society.

  Only the ignorant or commoners who didn't have the money to apply to the

  Astrological Order lacked a horoscope. But in other cases, this procedure was absolutely necessary. It was impossible to imagine a child from a noble family for whom a personal natal chart was not compiled.

  Regardless of other factors, if the celestial bodies were favorably aligned in one's chart, that person would in any case be born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Even an illegitimate son could oust the official heirs and become head of the family if it was "destined" by the stars.

  In this regard, it was not surprising that all pregnant women prayed for only one thing before giving birth. Not for the health or well-being of their child, but that he might be lucky enough to be born under the "right" star.

  Livius was not so lucky. His star Amarin was quite mediocre. Completely unsuitable for the heir of a ducal family. His celestial companions were positioned on his chart in such a way that it directly stated this — there was nothing special about him. The best he could do was to try his best for the good of his family.

  And he tried. Only no one noticed.

  While his older brother and sister could have fun without burdening themselves with "extra" duties, Livius, who had realized his position in the house early on, tried to step out of their shadow. He wanted to prove to the Duke that he could also be useful.

  Having learned to read and write, the boy always studied harder than the others. Although he didn't really like it, and sometimes Livius just wanted to be an ordinary child. But he knew that if he slipped even one step, he simply wouldn't be able to survive in this house.

  So, no matter how hard it was for him, Livius always tried to exceed his father's expectations.

  His favorite place was the garden. It was beautiful and quiet, and besides, the older children rarely came there. They preferred to spend time in society rather than among weeds and plants.

  Livius took advantage of this so that no one would disturb his studies.

  He loved to spread his things out at the edge of the fountain and sit there until it got dark. Nearby, water gurgled, and birds sang overhead. This solitude allowed him to forget for a while about his status as a useless heir of the house.

  Livius was an ordinary child, and it was hard for him to study such complex books. He simply didn't understand most of the content. Concentrating, the boy tried to grasp the meaning of the term "financial market" in his head.

  But suddenly…

  A strong wind suddenly blew right where he was sitting. The wind caught the important papers, and the boy, stunned by this, grabbed at them in the air. These were valuable manuscripts. If they were damaged, the library secretary would surely report everything to his father.

  Biting his lip, the boy almost cried. He couldn't allow his position to be shaken even further.

  Livius stood on the edge of the fountain and tried to catch them. Absorbed in this activity, he didn't notice how he slipped on the cold marble. The tiny figure flew into the water.

  "Aaaah!"

  The fountain was not very deep, but the boy, in his panic, completely forgot about this. Feverishly gasping for air, he appeared and disappeared above the water. For a fiveyear-old child, this was a real disaster.

  "H-help!"

  The boy thrashed on the water's surface, but his desperate attempts to get out were unsuccessful. The only thing left for him to do was wait for help. But at this time, there was usually no one in the garden. Even the gardener working here had gone on break an hour ago.

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  But just when Livius thought he was doomed, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps nearby. It seemed someone had finally heard his cry for help.

  He was shocked when he met the gaze of topaz eyes. The same as his own.

  This girl, who looked very much like him, without hesitation grabbed his hand and with all her strength pulled him out of the water. She looked even younger than him.

  Finally, when she succeeded, the exhausted children fell to the ground. Livius could barely catch his breath. He couldn't believe he had just escaped death.

  "Are you alright?"

  When the girl with wet dark hair asked him this question, only then did he realize who he was dealing with. His younger sister, Remesis Carter.

  Realizing this, Livius was shocked, and his first instinctive reaction was to recoil. This was the first time they had met alone. Meanwhile, Livius already knew that this girl was cursed.

  But this reaction didn't embarrass her at all. As if she already expected something like that.

  "I won't hurt you, and I'll leave soon. Just tell me, are you injured?"

  "…"

  Livius was stunned. He couldn't believe that a four-year-old child was talking to him like this.

  Along with the rumors about the curse, he had also heard that this girl was very talented. So that was true too?

  He didn't know what to answer, so he just silently nodded.

  The girl's face brightened. Livius stared at her mesmerized, unable to look away.

  Her clear features were charming. Long eyelashes, a cute face. Her hair, black with a bluish tint, was like the night sky itself. The boy suddenly realized he was blushing deeply.

  His younger sister turned out to be not at all what he had imagined. Contrary to the rumors about the curse, there was no dark energy around her, and instead she shone brightly, like a dazzling sun.

  Livius was very shy and didn't dare look at her directly.

  Remesis, quite like an adult, took a deep breath. Her behavior was radically different from that of ordinary children. If it weren't for this tiny body, the boy would never have thought this was his younger sister.

  "It's nothing. You probably don't want us to be seen together. I'll leave now."

  The girl got up from the ground and was about to leave. At that moment, Livius came to his senses and muttered something.

  "Th… tha… thank you… sister…"

  Remesis froze for a moment. She smiled at him.

  "You're welcome."

  After that, Remesis Carter left. The boy stared blankly after her. At that moment, his heart involuntarily clenched. So much so that he even grabbed his chest.

  Only now did he realize that before him was not a monster at all, but an ordinary child. And so gifted that if it weren't for her origin, Remesis would have long ago surpassed Michel in position in this house.

  "I'm so sorry… I can't do anything for you at all…"

  The corners of his eyes became moist.

  He knew that all this time Michel and Katrina had been bullying her. However, he could only cowardly watch, as he could do nothing. He was too weak. Disgustingly weak.

  When Michel ordered the servants to put bugs in her food, or when Katrina cut up her dresses, Livius only stood silently nearby. What could he do if even the Duke himself didn't prevent it?

  As a cursed child, Remesis bore a "sin." So wasn't it natural? She needed to humbly accept punishment for bringing misfortune to the family.

  Everyone thought it should be so. Even Livius himself once thought so… Until he met her personally. After all, this girl even saved his life.

  From that moment on, his soul held only regret.

  This relationship was maintained by an invisible thread throughout their lives. At least, until Remesis left the estate. Now all that was left for them was to wish each other luck, which they both undoubtedly needed.

  When the carriage jolted over a bump, Remesis involuntarily shuddered.

  Why did she remember this now?

  The trip to the Imperial Palace was still ongoing. Since the Duke's residence was not far from the capital, the journey should not have taken more than a few hours. The landscape outside the window, from trees and fields, smoothly transitioned to residential houses and streets.

  The girl absently ruffled her hair. Remesis did not often dream. But suddenly she remembered her older brother. Although he was so small and shy that he seemed even younger than her.

  It was probably just nostalgia, since she and Livius had said goodbye. Remesis always thought they were both like rabbits thrown into a snake's den.

  Being a cursed person, Remesis hadn't heard many good words addressed to her in her entire life. And some of them came from Livius. He was the only one who had ever said "thank you" to her…

  The girl remembered that day well.

  The day her relationship with her brother began to change little by little. Actually, Remesis hadn't ended up in the garden that day by accident. From memories of her past life, the girl already knew that at the age of five, Livius would have an unfortunate incident in the fountain.

  Fortunately, the servants managed to save him at the last minute. However, since he almost died then, this incident left a psychological trauma for the rest of his life. From then on, the boy was afraid to swim or even approach water.

  Remesis knew that one way or another, Livius would not die. But she still rushed to save him.

  Because Livius was different from the others. If it had been those fools, the Duke's older children, the girl would have passed them by without even looking back. But this was Livius.

  She felt they were similar in some ways.

  Even in her past life, when she did nothing for him, he did not treat her with contempt. This boy was surprisingly innocent for a ducal house. In this life, their attachment had only grown slightly.

  Although they almost never communicated…

  At least, in this life, Livius would not be afraid of water. That alone was enough for Remesis to risk saving him that day. It was the only thing she could do for him before starting her revenge.

  Now, all that was in the past.

  Remesis continued to look out the window, feeling her excitement growing stronger and stronger. It was already rising in her throat.

  When the coachman announced they were approaching the Imperial Palace, Remesis didn't even move. She didn't know why she felt this way, but she couldn't shake the feeling.

  Although deep down she knew it was just a child, the same age as herself, and as yet posing no threat…

  The carriage pulled up to the main gate. Remesis got out of the Carter family carriage. Opposite, another carriage stood ready for departure. They were accompanied by a small detachment of the royal guard.

  It didn't take long to look around. She stood right before her.

  A cold wind blew, making Remesis shiver in her thin fabric dress. She held her hat on her head with her hand.

  "…"

  Glowing amber and topaz eyes met.