Chapter 67
Lucy felt Bartholomew’s loneliness flooding over her like a wave.
She realized how lonely his life must have been until now.
This loneliness had probably followed him his entire life.
Through their shared emotions, Lucy could guess what kind of days he had lived through.
As she connected with his feelings, she hoped that his loneliness would lessen, even just a little.
At the same time, Bartholomew also felt Lucy’s emotions.
He didn’t know why, but it felt natural.
They were careful, warm emotions.
What Lucy felt was sympathy and compassion.
Lucy felt sorry for Bartholomew.
Bartholomew felt his chest grow heavy.
He didn’t want her pity.
It felt as if everything he had hidden deep inside had been exposed.
As if no matter how much he tried to hide it, he couldn’t.
So Bartholomew decided not to hide it anymore.
Maybe her sympathy could become a way to keep Lucy by his side.
Lucy had a soft heart.
The reason she first showed interest in him, approached him, and treated him kindly was probably because of sympathy.
As long as Lucy felt sorry for him, she wouldn’t be able to leave him.
Hoping that his dark thoughts would not be noticed, Bartholomew silently endured the moment.
Lucy stayed focused.
She couldn’t finish everything at once, but at least she wanted to take away enough of the curse so that Bartholomew could breathe more easily.
“It’s gathered so tightly.”
She could imagine how much pain he must have felt.
Images from the past came to Lucy’s mind.
Bartholomew coughing painfully, even coughing up blood.
His pale face.
And yet, he still came to see her.
He listened to her requests and stayed with her.
Lucy felt a deep gratitude toward him—something she couldn’t put into words.
Maybe that was why the ring began to shine even brighter.
Lucy traced the curse pattern carved into Bartholomew’s back again and again with her hand.
After some time passed, Lucy felt her limit.
She couldn’t transfer any more of the curse to her body today.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
Lucy pulled her hand away from Bartholomew.
The light from the ring faded.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and asked,
“Are you okay?”
Only then did Bartholomew turn around.
Lucy was smiling, as if this were nothing.
But her paler face compared to before told the truth.
She had pushed herself too hard by taking part of his curse.
And yet, she was the one asking if he was okay.
That was something Bartholomew should have asked.
Bartholomew nodded and put his shirt back on.
Turning to face Lucy, he spoke.
“Lucy. Does your chest feel heavy or uncomfortable?”
Lucy shook her head.
She was tired from focusing so hard, but her body didn’t hurt.
“Think about it carefully. The curse puts strain on the heart.”
“I’m really fine.”
Bartholomew looked like he wanted to say more, but he stayed silent.
A quiet moment settled between them.
Then Bartholomew spoke.
“Thank you.”
Lucy’s face brightened.
It was a word she wanted to hear far more than “I’m sorry.”
“My body feels much lighter.”
“That’s a relief.”
Lucy said it sincerely.
That was enough for her.
She wanted to slowly break the curse and someday see Bartholomew completely healthy.
Bartholomew fell into thought.
“How can I repay this?”
Lucy laughed.
“You don’t need to. I’m already repaying a debt I owe you.”
Bartholomew looked confused.
Lucy gently rubbed the ring on her thumb.
“Do you remember what I said when we first met?”
Bartholomew thought for a moment, then nodded.
“You said you were under a curse.”
“That’s right. It wasn’t a real curse, but it was similar.”
Because of her stats, Lucy couldn’t speak freely or move properly.
At that time, she felt deep frustration and despair.
She didn’t know how to survive in this game-like world.
“I told you that the curse didn’t work when I was in front of you. That was true.”
When Bartholomew appeared in her life, he was like rain after a long drought.
Lucy felt deep gratitude toward him for letting her speak and move freely.
When she was beside him, it felt like she could finally breathe.
That’s how she grew attached to him and became his friend.
“Thanks to you, the symptoms that tortured me got much better.”
Because of that, she succeeded in quests and gained chances and hope to improve her stats.
“And you even saved my life.”
Lucy never forgot how Bartholomew risked his life to save her.
“I’m happy that I can repay you like this.”
Lucy said honestly.
She had wanted to express her gratitude someday, and now felt like the right time.
“Thank you, Bartholomew.”
Bartholomew said nothing.
Lucy kept saying all the words he should have said.
He had never even hoped that the curse could be lifted.
But Lucy did it.
She was his savior.
Lucy said she owed him more, but Bartholomew didn’t agree.
Without Lucy, he would never have dared to escape the Duke of Faraday’s control.
But after meeting Lucy, he changed.
Step by step, he acted on forbidden things and was able to report the duke’s crimes to the imperial family—thanks to Lucy.
It started when Lucy told him that the medicine he took was actually poison.
The cautious duke had made him take deadly poison just in case.
It added needless suffering to Bartholomew, who was already doomed to die.
Filled with anger, Bartholomew began collecting evidence.
In his mind, he doubted whether collecting it would even matter.
He thought he would never be able to accuse the duke.
But because he wanted to stay with Lucy just a little longer, he found courage.
He passed judgment on the Duke of Faraday, who had oppressed him for so long.
He gained his freedom.
But he thought it would be short-lived.
After all, he was still going to die.
Then Lucy opened a new path for him.
She loosened his curse and gave him the chance to stay by her side longer.
Lucy didn’t know it.
She didn’t know how much today’s act changed Bartholomew again.
Bartholomew truly wanted to break the curse.
A new desire had formed inside him.
And that desire was still Lucy.
“I couldn’t completely share the curse in one try. We’ll probably need to do it several times.”
Lucy said with a smile.
She didn’t mind taking his curse onto herself at all.
She was genuinely happy that she could help him.
Bartholomew was left speechless.
Seeing Lucy sacrifice so much for him, he couldn’t simply feel happy.
Was Lucy really unaffected by the curse?
Had his selfish desire put her in danger?
Bartholomew made a vow to himself.
If Lucy’s body was harmed, he would stop everything.
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
Bartholomew asked while looking at her.
“If my curse is completely lifted, what will you do?”
Lucy’s eyes widened.
What would she do?
She had never thought about that.
She thought it was something Bartholomew needed to decide.
“What do you want to do?”
Lucy asked back.
“I want to go to the sea with you. I’ve never seen the sea before.”
At his simple wish, Lucy smiled.
“Of course.”
Lucy promised.
Bartholomew smiled brightly.
Lucy found herself staring at his smile for a moment.
As Bartholomew slowly escaped his curse, he was becoming a brighter person.
Lucy felt proud.
But at that time, she didn’t realize that this wasn’t the only way Bartholomew was changing.
