The king silently observed her, wondering if she truly held the key to breaking the curse that had tormented him for so long. With a hint of sarcasm, Theodore opened his mouth and said, "Impressive."
Startled, I quickly turned to see King Theodore entering the room. My heart raced, and I immediately stood to greet him, saying, "I greet King Theodore and wish him a happy birthday."
Theodore laughed at my words, but his laugh carried a trace of bitterness. "Do you really mean that?"
Confusion overtook me; his piercing tone and gaze nearly stripped away all my defenses. He added, "There's no need to say such things. After all, no one really wishes a beast like me a happy day."
A heavy silence filled me upon hearing his words. I recalled my own birthday—a reminder of my forgotten place.
Theodore watched me with his cold, blood-red eyes as I prepared a cup of tea. He commented with a cold sarcasm, "A calming tea? I wonder, what else are you hiding? Isn't your voice… magical?"
My body tensed for a moment, and I froze briefly, but I continued preparing the tea without turning, my voice calm, "Let me carry on with my duty… even if you don't believe me right now."
Finally, I turned and met his gaze steadily, quietly adding, "In the end, we have until dawn."
Theodore stared at me with his cold eyes, his thoughts racing: "(Where does this confidence come from? And yet…)"
The air thickened around us, shadows growing heavier, as he pondered grimly: "(Do I go along with this? Or end it now…?)"
In his mind, an image flashed—a vision of his sword cutting through my neck, blood spilling under the cold beauty of the moonlight.
Handing him the cup of tea, I steadied myself and whispered to myself, "(I must not falter now)."
He looked at me, then let his gaze wander around the room, which I had adorned with carefully chosen flowers and herbs: "(…?)"
My heart raced, my hesitation building: "(Please, just drink it… please.)"
But I maintained a mask of calm, forcing a gentle smile.
Theodore took the cup, staring into it as the herbal scent reached him, before he remarked coldly, "You know, poisons don't work on me."
For a moment, I was taken aback by his bluntness, wondering, "(Why mention this now?)"
Then, with a soft smile, I replied, "Don't worry, Your Majesty… they're just medicinal herbs, nothing more."
He scrutinized me for a few seconds, then lifted the cup and drank it in one go. A sense of relief washed over me, and I thought to myself, "(Good… he drank it!)"
But he commented in a tone of irritation, "The taste… is awful."
I offered a faint smile without responding. Then, with a sharpness in his voice, he demanded, "So, what now?" thinking to himself, "(What are you offering before you start to sing?)"
I replied calmly, "Lie down…" (It's time for the real part of the plan.)
Though I looked calm, it felt as though I was standing at the edge of a dark cliff, facing an endless abyss.
He watched me walk towards the balcony and asked sharply, "What are you doing?"
With a gentle smile, I replied, "Ah, I need to be close to the moonlight…" (In truth, it's all part of the illusion to make him believe in what's happening here.)
I took a deep breath to steady my racing heart and closed my eyes, recalling glimpses of my past:
"(Since I lost my mother at a young age, I haven't known a single happy day… And who would have thought I'd be here now?)"
Then, slowly, I opened my eyes, thinking to myself: "I am here to cure the king's curse… all I have is my voice… my voice that holds nothing extraordinary."
I began to sing softly, my voice flowing like a distant traveler seeking an unknown path:
"Oh, where does my path lead?
Like a bird released from its cage,
I don't know where to fly.
Though I have my freedom,
The sky is vast and beautiful,
Yet, it terrifies me…"
Theodore fell silent, his crimson eyes alight with caution. He thought wryly: "(What is this? Is she serious now? Her voice… is out of tune.)"
I noticed his gaze and tried not to let my nervousness show. I couldn't read his thoughts, yet I continued singing softly, delving into my memories, looking up at the sky as if searching for an answer there:
"From deep within, I sing,
Carrying my hopes,
And my lost dreams,
I will fight for tomorrow,
I don't want to disappear."
Theodore remained silent, listening intently to my words. His thoughts drifted to memories of a young boy with red eyes, dressed in torn clothes, gripping a sword too big for his size, fighting beasts that surrounded him. He placed a hand on his face, confused by a strange heaviness in his eyelids.
"(Why do I feel… sleepy? Could her voice really be the cause?)"
Though he knew her voice wasn't perfect, her words seemed to touch something hidden within him, something emerging from the depths of his soul.
Theodore laying down, his eyes growing heavy as he watched her, her gray eyes reflecting the solitary, cold moonlight above.
She sang, appearing unbothered by what he might think:
"Painful memories come to me,
In every corner, I search for safety,
But alone in the dark,
I need a light to guide my way."
Lifting my hands to the sky, the moonlight cast a mysterious and enchanting glow on me.
Her expressions captured his attention, and he began to feel drowsy, wondering to himself:
"(What's happening to me? Could her voice truly possess a magical charm?)" as if something deep inside him had been touched.
My gaze turned skyward, my eyes trembling: "(All I ever wanted was freedom… God, please, save me.)"
Then I noticed the quiet that had fallen, and I turned to see King Theodore fast asleep. A quiet smile formed on my face:
"(In the end, I succeeded…) I knew poisons wouldn't work on him, just as healing herbs wouldn't; his body wasn't entirely human because of that."
I approached, looking intently at the cup, my eyes narrowing with focus:
"(I searched every book for an herb that affects beasts, and since his blood runs with that of a dragon, I finally took a chance.)"
Recalling the herb I read about in magical and healing texts: "(It's called the Black Lion's Claw for its claw-like shape and dark color. An herb used to lull powerful beasts to sleep.)
I sat silently on the chair beside his bed, observing him closely, thinking to myself: "(Few know this herb's purpose, as it's rarely used. With magic now taming beasts, it has nearly faded from memory.)
I stare at the sleeping King Theodor, as if I am watching a human peacefully asleep, beautifully serene like a sculpture that truly reflects the king's majesty.
I stand up and move toward the balcony, clutching my hand , revealing my true expressions, and I gaze at the sky. Thinking to myself ("I hope that when he wakes up, he will believe that I used a magical voice. After all, I heard he doesn't sleep well, so acting as if he fell asleep because of my powers might make him believe me a little, right?")
Doubts and anxiety surround me after the king has fallen asleep, and I stand alone. ("If only I could escape from here, but where to? I don't have any wings to fly away with; my feet are chained again.")
As if something is stuck in my throat, choking me, my eyes burn trying to not cry. "I just wish to live my life freely."
At dawn, King Theodor opens his eyes. "What happened?"
He looks at himself on the bed, the blanket draped over him. "Did I sleep?" He thought In disbelief, memories of what happened and Selinia's voice flood his mind. "Was her strange voice really magical?"
He hears a voice speak: "You are awake, Your Majesty?"
He turns to see Selinia standing as calm as ever, smiling at him.
His eyes narrow. Thinking to himself ("I can't believe it. Does she really possess something magical? Or was it the drink? But my body doesn't accept any herbs; they don't affect me then.")
I asked him calmly, "So, Your Majesty, do you believe my voice is magical?"
Feeling his cold gaze upon me for a few seconds, a wicked smile begins to form on his lips. "Ah, you survived for today. Be grateful for that."
In Silent, i thought ("I want to feel happy, but his smile doesn't allow me to.")
I thanked the king, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy."
I hear him continue as he stands before me, making me clench my fists tightly, feeling his size and his cold, cunning gaze upon me. "But I wonder, what will happen in our next meeting? I'm curious whether you will be able to protect your miserable life or not."
Smiling to himself thinking (
"Yes, it seems this puppet game is enjoyable. Let's keep it going for a while longer.")