Luxecio was a lovable character in the novel, and despite knowing that Adrelo was evil, he never judged him entirely based on his actions. He still tried to stop Adreloâs evil deeds up until the end. Itâs sad that their interactions were limited in the novel because Luxecio left abruptly. But if he hadnât, perhaps Adrelo and he could have become friends, and Adrelo might have finally found someone who truly understood him.
Luxecio was genuinely curious about Adreloâs personality and what drove him to become who he was. He was the kind of person who loved learning and exploring everything, which is why he eventually left the empire to seek knowledge and adventure. He even visited all the magic schools across the world, especially the five that were considered the center of magical knowledge.
"Glad he made it out..."
The fact that he visited those five schools in his lifetime was boldâmost schools were notoriously strict about outsiders entering. Well, some schools were just really tight-knit.
For someone like Shiori, who preferred to avoid trouble, it was surprising to admire someone like Luxecio.
Now, let's talk about the third prince, Geovra Azekian Luxein Dennior Breneille, the handsome yet maniacal prince. This guy... he was wrong in the head, just like the first prince.
He was utterly obsessed with the female lead and almost destroyed his brother just for her. Eventually, he married a woman who looked exactly like the female lead when he realized he couldnât win her heart. It was even mentioned that he would have married a man who resembled her if necessary. Thatâs how deep his obsession ran.
This prince was described as a manipulative, cunning maniac. Heâd draw you in with his charm, and once you were completely under his control, he would trap you and destroy your soul.
Adrelo himself didnât bother messing with Geovra. Even Adrelo, despite his own psychopathy, knew better than to challenge a maniac like him.
Once Geovra caught your attention, you would wish you could escape and never see him again. The female lead struggled immensely to shake him off, and thatâs one of the reasons she never considered him as a potential partner.
Geovraâs appearance was seductive, his charisma making both men and women fall under his spell. His manipulative nature allowed him to use his looks to control others effortlessly.
No doubt, he would be my number one on the list of people to avoid.
Now, for the fourth prince, Dennielle Azekian Luxein Geovri Breneille. He was the youngest and appeared normalâuntil you discovered his intelligence and cunning. He was the spoiled youngest son, but his relationship with his brothers seemed decent enough.
He, too, was a two-faced bastard like his older brother. However, he didnât have the seductive charm but rather a cute and angelic face. One glance, and youâd feel an overwhelming urge to protect him.
He used his cuteness to attract and manipulate those around him, playing with them until he got bored. Occasionally, he would secretly dispose of those who annoyed him or tried to disrespect his body.
He was particularly prone to attracting perverts and maniacs, thanks to his soft, delicate appearance. Unlike Adrelo, who used his intense beauty to intimidate, Dennielleâs innocence was more likely to draw predators.
"Never mind, heâs not normal either..."
The royal family raised some questionable princes, indeed. They were far from what the past generations had expected.
The princes were the only ones I could remember right now, despite their long names. The royal family, the magic, the female lead... what else?
"...Wait... what about Adreloâs family?"
Thinking about this poor childâs family, I couldnât help but pity the villain.
Adreloâs family... his father, Arreillo Donastasio Ramoille Dierre, the Lord of House Dierre. This man was one of the primary people who made Adreloâs life a living nightmare. Neglected by both his father and mother until his death, Adreloâs lowest point was met with complete indifference. Even when he was struggling, no one from his family offered a helping hand.
And so, the consequences of their neglect turned Adrelo into the monster he became. The curse of his family devoured him completely. His shattered heart and mind were gripped by the same sharp hands that took away his soul and memories, ultimately leading him to become consumed by his own curse.
âWhat is wrong with his family? Why even have children if you donât plan to love them? The parents should be the ones to suffer!â
Shiori angrily cursed Adreloâs parents. They needed to be punished for the way they treated their son.
It was also revealed that Adrelo had fought the black curse alone since he was six. No adult ever offered helpâhis servants, maids, and even the butler were useless.
There were three children in the Dierre family who inherited the black curse passed down through generations. This curse had been placed upon them by a black witch, whose daughter died due to her foolishness in love.
The black witchâs daughter had fallen in love with one of Adreloâs ancestors, and despite their mutual feelings, society rejected them. The witchâs daughter was a commoner, while Adreloâs ancestor was a noble. Their love was never allowed to blossom. Ultimately, the ancestor was forced to marry a woman from a countâs family, and the witchâs daughter, heartbroken, took her own life.
The witch, in her rage, cursed the Dierre family to suffer for generations. Even with modern magic, no one has been able to lift this curse.
"Itâs like Iâm telling the whole backstory of this family... sigh."
Anyway, the three children who inherited the curse were the eldest son of the marquis, the youngest son, and Adrelo.
The other two children, luckily, didnât inherit the curse, although they did have mysterious birthmarks on the back of their necks. But at least those marks werenât harmful.
"Wish Adrelo had a birthmark instead of that curse," Shiori muttered bitterly.
To make things worse, the youngest child in the Dierre family received far more love and care than Adrelo, even though both of them carried the curse. His parents and siblings spoiled the youngest son, while they ignored Adrelo completely.
âIs it a middle child thing to be ignored?â Shiori wondered. He had heard that middle children often felt neglected, though it wasnât always the case. His cousin, for example, was always ignored despite being the middle child.
But still, why was Adrelo treated so differently? The other two siblings didnât have the curse, yet they were still given attention. Why wasnât Adrelo ever loved, even though he carried the same curse?
âUgh, why is this happening to me? Was I cursed too?â
Shiori mentally groaned. Living in Adreloâs body wasnât as easy as heâd imagined. First, he had to figure out what to do about his own messed-up family.
"No matter how I look at it, Iâm doomed once I step out of this room."
There was a good chance heâd encounter some of Adreloâs motherâs servants in the mansion. That woman, just like her husband, was insufferable.
Criselda Alvionne Dristonio Dierre, the lady of House Diere. She was described as gentle and loving toward her other children but indifferent to Adrelo. She was like a poker-faced stranger to him.
"Why do I feel like they all hate Adrelo? What was wrong with him? Was he born with something that disgusted his family?"
"This is giving me a headache!"
Shiori cursed inwardly. He was getting a lot of mental pressure trying to understand why Adreloâs family treated him this way.
He didnât know much about the other siblings yet. His memories of them were still unclear, and their background was a blur. But one thing was clear, they acted like a normal family without Adrelo. And that, more than anything, must have hurt Adrelo deeply.
To be so blatantly ignored by your own family... That kind of pain was unbearable.
And yet, Adrelo kept seeking affection from them, over and over, until his heart was completely shattered by the curse.
"Man, that hurts. I should have focused more on Adreloâs story than those damn protagonists."
Shiori moved to the large window with luxurious curtains, peeking outside.
"Hmm... this place is huge. Itâs even bigger than my previous schools. Wow."
He saw people in the frontyard, walking around the estate. The landscape was stunning, lush green lawns, carefully manicured gardens, and tall hedges that seemed to stretch endlessly. It almost looked like a fairytale castle, yet the air was heavy with an unsettling stillness. The grandeur of the mansion, with its imposing architecture, was a constant reminder of the stark contrast between its beauty and the darkness that seemed to linger within.
Shiori took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. Adreloâs life had been full of neglect, loneliness, and an overwhelming sense of rejection. It was clear that no one truly cared about him, not in the way a family should care for a child.
"I guess this mansion isnât just grand in appearance," Shiori murmured to himself.
"Itâs grand in the suffering it hides."
He turned away from the window and wandered deeper into the room, trying to shake off the grim thoughts that had taken root. He still wasnât sure how he was going to navigate his life in Adreloâs body, but the more he learned about this family, the more he understood that avoiding them might be his best option.
A sudden knock at the door startled him, and he quickly wiped away the distant look in his eyes.
"Enter," he called, trying to sound calm.
The door creaked open, and a servant, one of the housemaids, stepped in, bowing low.
"My lord, dinner is ready. The family is gathering in the dining hall."
Shiori nodded, trying to put on his best impression of Adrelo, even though he still wasnât fully comfortable with his new identity. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling inside him.
The maid hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"I... I apologize for any inconvenience, my lord, but... I must ask if you are feeling well. You seemed... distant earlier."
The maid didnât seem convinced, but she didnât press further. Instead, she gave another quick bow before leaving. As the door clicked shut behind her, Shiori exhaled slowly, his heart racing.
Dinner with the family. That was the last thing he wanted to deal with. He could already imagine how it would goâawkward glances, cold stares, and polite conversations that hid the underlying tension. Adreloâs family was not a warm, welcoming place. It was more like a prison built on appearances.