Chapter 68: Analysis and Conclusion

"You..."

Jisha gasped, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance as she pointed an accusing finger at Nolan.

But not a single harsh word left her lips. After all, what Nolan said was true.

How he managed to do it wasn’t her concern.

Even so, she couldn’t help feeling irritated—deeply irritated—by his smug and arbitrary attitude.

Seeing her fall silent, unable to argue, Nolan let out a soft chuckle. For some reason, watching Jisha like this felt strangely satisfying.

Maybe it was because she was so arrogant and conceited that breaking her pride felt incredibly satisfying.

Shaking his head slightly, Nolan ignored her and rose to his feet.

"By the way, Marquis Orlan, there’s something important I’d like to discuss with you in private," he said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

He threw a glance at Jisha, and she immediately caught his meaning.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it already! I’m leaving! Hmph. Just say it next time—no need to shoot me that look. Your gaze is the worst," she huffed, turning her head away in irritation.

But just as she was about to step out, Nolan stopped her.

"Wait. Don’t go yet. What I want to discuss is important... and I need your help."

Jisha froze, staring at him with a stunned, disbelieving expression.

"Are you serious?" Her eyebrows rose in suspicion, but a faint smile began to form at the corner of her lips.

She couldn’t explain it, but something in his words stirred a warmth in her chest.

Maybe it was because Nolan had done something she never could—heal Alicia—and now, she found herself wanting to understand him more.

"Yes, I do need you," Nolan admitted sincerely. "But first, could you close the door? I don’t want anyone else to hear this."

She let out a small huff, clearly annoyed, but didn’t protest. Instead, she walked to the door and shut it with a sharp thud.

Nolan took a deep breath, then glanced at Alicia, Orlan, and Jisha.

"To be honest... the curse on Alicia wasn’t something she was born with. It was implanted right after her birth," he said calmly.

The moment those words left his mouth, Orlan and Jisha were stunned. They turned to each other, disbelief written across their faces.

"Prince Nolan, are you serious?" Orlan asked, his voice shaking. "That can’t be. Back then, the doctors told us the curse had been there since Alicia was born!"

"Yes, Nolan," Jisha chimed with a serious expression. "Based on my research over the past year, the curse on Alicia appears to be something that was implanted in the womb. It’s incredibly complex and powerful. Even after a full year of investigation, I couldn’t find an antidote."

"I also reached out to my master, but she’s struggling with it as well. She said this curse is ancient—so old that the antidote was lost hundreds of years ago."

As a once-in-a-millennium genius mage, it was only natural that Jisha’s master was the strongest sorcerer of the Tower of Silence—the Celestial Mage known as the Divine Sage.

Her master was not only the head of the Tower in this era but also a figure with an extraordinary web of connections.

Her knowledge was as vast as the ocean, and Jisha trusted her completely—just as much as she trusted herself.

Despite their doubt and disbelief, Nolan wasn’t offended. He was open-minded and not the type to be easily provoked.

Sitting back on the edge of the bed, he turned to little Alicia and gently stroked her cheek—soft and warm like freshly baked bread.

"Hehehe..." Alicia giggled, squirming sweetly like a cuddly kitten.

"I know it’s hard to believe, but this is what

he

discovered when he healed Alicia," Nolan said calmly.

Orlan immediately understood who

he

referred to—but Jisha didn’t.

She tilted her head slightly, wearing a confused expression that was both innocent and unintentionally amusing.

"He? Who are you talking about?" she asked, clearly puzzled.

Nolan was the one who healed Alicia, wasn’t he? Why was he referring to someone else, as if another person had been involved?

Nolan gave her a casual glance and replied, "You’re still a kid. It’s not something you need to know."

Jisha: "..."

Her teeth clenched audibly, and she glared at him with growing irritation.

"I’m not a kid! I’m sixteen—and only two years younger than you!" She snapped, folding her arms beneath her chest in a clear attempt to emphasize her mature figure.

Nolan’s gaze swept over her from head to toe before he smirked.

"And yet, you’re so short—like a thirteen-year-old. Did all your nutrients go to the wrong places?"

He shot a pointed glance at her chest and hips, then let out a dramatic sigh.

"You—!" Jisha’s eyes widened in disbelief, her breath catching.

Her teeth clenched, and she raised her hands like claws—though she had none—trembling with fury.

"Nolan Lorian, I swear I’ll defeat you!" She shouted, ready to pounce.

But Orlan quickly stepped in, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Wait, Jisha! Calm down!"

She didn’t hear him. Her frustration, simmering for some time, had finally boiled over—and there was no stopping it now.

Just as she lunged at Nolan, he casually extended a hand and pressed his palm against her forehead, holding her back with ease.

Jisha flailed with both hands, but her attacks never landed.

"Coward! You only act tough with women!" She growled in frustration.

But Nolan remained unfazed. He glanced down at Alicia beside him and smiled gently.

"Look at this girl, Alicia. She’s unruly and arrogant. When you grow up, don’t be like her, alright?" he said as he fondly ruffled Alicia’s hair.

Alicia’s big round eyes sparkled with resolve as she clenched her tiny fists.

"Don’t worry, Brother Nolan! I won’t grow up to be a wayward girl like Sister Jisha!"

Jisha: "..."

"Ahem... Prince Nolan, could you please get back to the point?" Orlan cleared his throat, gently steering the conversation back to the topic.

Although he appreciated the life lesson being passed on to Alicia, he couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for Jisha.

After all, she had shown him nothing but kindness and had spent the past year helping to manage Alicia’s seizures.

Nolan finally lowered his hand from Jisha’s forehead.

She didn’t attack again—but her furious gaze never left him, as if she were trying to burn a hole through his skull.

"As I mentioned earlier, the curse on Alicia wasn’t something she was born with—it was implanted at birth, not while she was in the womb. And the simplest proof is this: neither you, Marquis Orlan, nor your wife have any ancestors—no father, grandmother, or anyone else in your bloodline—who’ve ever been afflicted by such a curse, correct?" Nolan asked with a faint smile as he looked at him.

"Yes... that’s true," Orlan replied, lowering his gaze.

Upon reflection, he realized that Nolan’s reasoning was sound. A hereditary curse was impossible—he and his wife had no cursed bloodline.

Even if it was a sent curse, the pieces still didn’t fit—such curses typically required an intermediary, someone closely tied to the victim.

Then a chilling realization hit him, and his eyes flew wide in shock.

"Prince Nolan... are you saying—"

Before he could finish, Nolan chuckled and cut him off.

"Bingo. You’ve guessed it." He turned his gaze toward the nearby window, a cold smile forming on his lips. "There’s a traitor in this mansion—someone who’s been sabotaging your life for years, Marquis Orlan. And that’s exactly why I asked to speak with you in private—so we can find the one responsible."