From Reader to Ruler: The Forgotten Prince's Rise through Harem-Chapter 17: The Beginning of Aria’s Fall
Chapter 17 - The Beginning of Aria’s Fall
Chapter 17: The Beginning of Aria's Fall
After leaving Leena in Evelyn's care, Dani turned back, heading toward his room. The warm scent of flowers still lingered faintly on his clothes, but his mind was elsewhere now—already thinking of what to do next, and what steps to take to further his plans.
He strolled through the marble halls of the Everhart estate, passing through quiet corridors bathed in golden sunlight.
But then—he stopped.
Just around the corner, a pair of maids stood in hushed conversation. They didn't notice him, whispering with heads close, voices lowered but clear enough for his sharp ears.
"Have you noticed Lady Aria lately?" one of them said.
The other nodded quickly. "Yes. She's... different these days. She barely leaves her room. And even when she does, she looks so... off. Her posture, her steps—it's like she's tired all the time."
"That's not all," the first maid added. "I passed by her two days ago. There was a strange smell in the air. I don't know how to explain it, but it made me feel... weird. Like my whole body was tingling."
"Yeah..." the second maid shivered slightly. "I felt it too. Something's wrong with her. It doesn't feel normal."
Dani narrowed his eyes, heart beating just a little faster. So... it's already begun.
He quietly stepped away, pretending he hadn't heard anything, but his mind was racing.
He knew exactly what was happening to Aria.
In the novel, Knight Aria was a legendary warrior. Beautiful. Noble. Respected. She was already at the pinnacle of strength—one of the most powerful knight figures in the entire world. But her path wasn't smooth. Not even close.
She was cursed.
In one of the most unexpected twists of the story, during a brutal battle against a dark cult, Aria was cursed by a mysterious witch. The curse... was lust.
It didn't just affect her mind—it turned her body into a vessel of seduction. Her body would feel uncontrollable waves of arousal. But worse than that, whenever those urges hit, her body would emit a strange scent. A scent that triggered lust in everyone around her.
Man. Woman. Even monsters.
It wasn't just embarrassing—it was dangerous.
In the early stages, Aria tried to ignore it. She fought through the discomfort, hiding the changes as best she could. But as time passed, the curse intensified. Her senses became clouded. Her nights sleepless. Her body betrayed her in combat, and worst of all—her comrades started noticing.
Eventually, she had no choice.
She stepped down from her position as a knight. A heart-wrenching scene in the novel. She was humiliated, ashamed... and left alone.
Dani remembered that moment clearly. It was one of the most emotional parts of the novel.
But it didn't end there.
After losing everything, Aria wandered—seeking help, trying countless methods to break the curse. None worked. And then, it got even worse.
During a mission to wipe out a group of monsters, her curse scent activated uncontrollably.
Even the monsters became affected.
And when she finally defeated them, she was too weak to move. That's when humans found her.
People she thought were allies. Mercenaries. Soldiers. Civilians.
They couldn't resist the scent—and they didn't hold back.
It was one of the darkest moments in the story. She was raped. Not just by men. But by women too.
That Chapter broke her.
She almost gave up on life. Almost.
But then—she did something no one expected.
She meditated, trying to calm herself... and sensed the curse energy flowing inside her like a second core. On a desperate impulse, she tried to merge that cursed energy with her aura core.
And it worked.
Not only did she gain control over the curse—she weaponized it.
Now, she could activate her scent at will. Lure enemies in with desire. And then slaughter them without mercy.
A new Aria was born.
Colder. Stronger. Unbreakable.
She returned to the battlefield like a storm, reclaiming her honor and etching her name in history with blood and pride. She even regained her position—and surpassed it.
Dani stood still in the hallway, remembering every moment.
But no one else knew all of that, he thought. Only I do.
The public knew her curse. But they didn't know the betrayal. The pain. The struggle. The way she clawed her way back.
According to the timeline of the novel, she had just begun to suffer. In a month... she'd step down as a knight.
Dani clenched his fists.
Even the king—human kingdom king—would fail her. He'd get tempted by her scent, humiliated by his own desires, and in the name of preserving his pride, he would banish her... even though he apologized in secret.
Aria forgave him, because she blamed herself. It's the curse, she always told herself.
But Dani didn't see it that way.
He saw a woman who carried a burden no one should bear. A knight who fought both enemies and herself.
And now—he had a chance.
"I can approach her," Dani murmured under his breath. "But not now. She's too proud. Too guarded."
He understood her story better than anyone. He knew when she'd break. He knew when she'd give up.
And that... would be the perfect time.
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When she's at her lowest... I'll be there.
He didn't plan to offer pity.
He'd offer her understanding. A choice. A path forward.
And maybe... maybe...
She'll choose him.
