"Why am I like this? No kid wants to play with me... Why? Whenever I try to play with them, they run away." A little girl's voice trembled as she looked up at her father, her big eyes filled with confusion and hurt.
Her father looked at her with a mix of affection and amusement. He ruffled her hair, trying to soothe the discomfort that lingered in her innocent words.
"Hehe, it's all because you already have someone special."
The girl's face brightened, her eyes wide with curiosity. "You're right, Father! I got you!!"
Her father chuckled again, but there was something empty about it, something that didn't quite match the softness of his tone. "Not that, my little princess..."
He pointed toward the grand castle in the distance. "One day, a prince will come and take you to his palace. You'll live like a queen, just like the ones in the stories." The little girl stared at the castle, lost in thought.
A prince..
The girl was truly a picture of innocence, a radiant child whose large, doe-like eyes and angelic face could melt anyone's heart. But as time passed, that innocence was cloaked in something much more unsettling.
Despite her charm, no boy would dare to look her way. It wasn't that they had some god complex or that they thought they were unworthy of her attention. No, it was something deeper. A fear, a sense that approaching her was dangerous.
Something about her, or perhaps something darker lurking around her, made them hesitate. They couldn't quite put their finger on it, but they were too intimidated. The fear wasn't even necessarily of the girl herself, it was the unknown, the nagging sense that something might happen if they crossed the line.
Days blurred into months, then years. The little girl who once cried over toys grew into a young woman, a stunning, captivating beauty. With her beauty came the same invisible wall that had kept the boys at bay in her childhood, Now, she wasn't just untouchable, she was more dangerous than ever.
One day, a new family moved into the village, house next door to her. The boy was their only son, fresh-faced and full of excitement, a stark contrast to the twisted world the girl had come to know. He had two younger siblings and, like most boys, he was just as carefree and unaware of the darkness that followed the girl. His innocence made him naïve, his charm untarnished by the jadedness that lingered over the village.
He hadn't yet learned of the unspoken rule, that staying away from her was safer than trying to get close. But one day, when he saw the girl sitting alone outside, gazing at the horizon with that same, mysterious air about her, he didn't hesitate.
"Hey," he called, his voice bright with the enthusiasm of a child who had no reason to fear anything. "Wanna play?"
The girl looks at him with eyes that shimmer with excitement, her heart racing.
"Really!? You'll play with me?"
She grabs his hand, her fingers squeezing gently as she pulls him into the house, the warmth of her touch sending a subtle shock through his body.
"Come... let's play."
He feels an electric surge, an unfamiliar rush of energy coursing through him, but he can't bring himself to pull away. For the first time in his life, he feels alive, as if something inside him has awakened.
They spend the entire day together, laughing, playing, the hours slipping by unnoticed. She's everything he never knew he needed in a friend. But there's something strange about her. Something about the way her presence sends a shiver down his spine, making him feel both exhilarated and... cautious.
He doesn't know why he's still in one piece. Others, especially men, stay away from her perhaps out of fear or instinct, but not him. For some unknown reason, he can't resist being near her, even if it means risking something... more.
Her father, a woodchopper by trade, barely notices the connection forming between them. He's always busy, leaving the girl to her own devices, much to her own dismay. The bond between the girl and the boy grows steadily, deeper than either of them realize.
They don't quite understand the feeling yet, but they both know this connection is unlike anything they've felt before.
The boy can't help but glance at her lips whenever she speaks, a strange pull that he can't explain. She notices, but she says nothing, a knowing smile dancing on her lips as they continue their innocent play.
One evening, as the sun begins to set, they're outside, playing tag like they always do. Even though they're both 21, they still act like children in these moments. Laughter echoes through the air as they run, her light footsteps barely making a sound as she dodges his outstretched hand.
Then, in a blur of motion, it happens. The girl stumbles, her body crashing into his, and they both tumble to the ground. She lands on top of him, their faces inches apart. They freeze, locking eyes, both breathing heavily. For a long moment, there's only silence then, they burst into laughter, the tension of the fall dissolving in a shared moment of joy.
But then, something shifts. The girl's laughter fades as she stares into his eyes, her expression softening, deepening. The boy's breath catches in his throat as he watches her, an unexpected seriousness overtaking him.
The girl leans in slowly, her lips brushing against his, tentative at first, but with a hunger that quickly grows. Without thinking, the boy responds eagerly, his hands finding her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepens. It's not just a kiss, it's a moment, an explosion of emotions that neither of them can fully comprehend.
They pull away, their breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. The world around them feels suddenly too still, as if everything has stopped. The boy's heart races, but a part of him wonders, for the first time, if he's stepped into something much darker than he could ever imagine.
"You belong to me..." he whispers, his hand gently cupping her face, his thumb brushing her skin. His touch is tender, sweet, unlike the others.
Unlike the boys who only saw her as an object, a possession. There's something different about him. His sincerity melts away the heavy, oppressive aura that always surrounds her.
For the first time in her life, she feels truly seen, not for the curse that has followed her since childhood, but for who she really is.
"I... um... I... I LOVE YOU..."
The words slip out before she can even stop them, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and longing. She leans in, her lips finding his once more, this time more desperate, more passionate. Their tongues meet, exploring, tasting, this kiss is different. It's not just about desire,
it's about connection, about something they've both been missing their entire lives.
But then,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY DAUGHTER!!!!??"
The sudden roar of her father's voice cuts through the intimacy like a knife. The girl freezes, her heart skipping a beat.
"SHE'S BEEN SAVING HERSELF FOR THE PRINCE!"
Her father stands at the doorway, eyes wide with shock and fury. His expression is twisted in disbelief, his voice shaking with anger.
The girl pulls away from the boy, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and confusion. Her father's words hang in the air, suffocating the moment they've just shared.
Her father's grip on the axe was firm, his knuckles white as he approached the boy. The gleam in his eyes wasn't just of anger—it was of twisted pride.
"Listen, you lowly peasant," he spat, his voice cold and unforgiving. "My daughter's fate is sealed. She'll marry a prince, not some dirt-stained rat like you."
The boy stood his ground, his heart pounding. "But I really like your daughter… and she loves m—"
Before he could finish, the handle of the axe struck his temple with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in his head as blood trickled down the side of his face. He fell to his knees, clutching at the wound, while her father towered over him, breathing heavily.
"You dare speak of love?!" the man roared. "Stay away from her, or next time, I won't use the handle."
The girl watched the scene unfolds, tears streaming down her face as her father dragged the boy away. That night, she was locked in her room, forbidden to step outside.
Days turned into weeks, yet she and the boy found ways to meet. Through whispered words and stolen glances, they spoke through their windows, their love growing stronger despite the barriers her father built.
But one day, their secret world was shattered.
The village erupted in celebration. A royal procession had arrived, their banners flying high, trumpets blaring a triumphant tune. The prince had come to choose his bride.
Her father beamed with pride, his chest puffed out as he prepared his daughter for her fate. She was dressed in the finest clothes they could afford, her hair braided with trembling hands.
Locked away, the girl felt a suffocating dread rise within her. She couldn't imagine a life without him, the boy who saw her for who she truly was.
But the prince was here, and her father wouldn't stop until she was gone.
The air was thick with tension as Prince Daimon entered the small home, his presence commanding and overwhelming. His dark eyes scanned the room, locking onto her instantly. A sly smirk curled across his lips as he approached her.
Without hesitation, he grabbed her hand. "Come on," he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You're mine now."
Her father's face lit up with a pride that bordered on delirium. Rising quickly from his chair, he stammered, "Th-thank you, Prince Daimon… Thank you for choosing my daughter."
The prince said nothing in return, his attention fixed solely on the girl. She glanced at the boy standing outside the house, their eyes meeting for what felt like an eternity. She saw the pain etched into his face, the silent agony of losing her.
Through the window, he raised his hands, forming a sign that only she could understand. Maybe in the next life, you'll be mine. Take care.
Her chest heaved as tears streamed down her face, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces. She wanted to scream, to fight, to break free, but the prince's iron grip on her hand held her captive. As the royal carriage pulled away, she turned her head, watching him fade into the distance.
The boy stood there, unmoving, his bloodied face stoic as the love of his life disappeared from sight.
Inside the carriage, the prince's smirk grew wider. "Don't worry," he whispered, leaning close to her ear. "Your life will never be the same again."
And she knew, her fate was sealed.
The prince pulled her into a searing kiss, his grip firm and unyielding. She froze, her strange aura that had always reacted violently to other men lay dormant, as though it had been tamed. It was surreal, impossible. The beast within her didn't fight back, almost as if it had been waiting for him all along.
Her protests were fierce, her hands pushing against his chest, but his dominance overwhelmed her. She gave in eventually, the fight draining from her as the grim realization set in, this was her new life. She kissed back reluctantly, though the passion was hollow, and the guilt weighed heavily in her chest. She felt nothing, only emptiness.
Nightfall came swiftly. In the grand throne room, Prince Daimon's four brothers stood before the throne, their father's lifeless body slumped in his seat.
"So?" Daimon asked with a smirk, stepping into the room. "Have you done it?"
"Yes, big brother," one of them replied, wiping the blood from his blade. Together, they lifted the king's severed head and threw it at Daimon's feet.
Daimon bent down, his movements deliberate as he picked up the crown from the lifeless head. A dark, guttural laugh echoed in the room as he placed it upon his own. "Now, I'm the king."
"Hey! That's not fair!" one of his brothers protested. "You said you'd share the power!"
"I will," Daimon replied with a wicked grin. "You'll all be kings. But make no mistake, the real power lies with me."
As his brothers begrudgingly agreed, their loyalty bought with greed, the girl stood at the edge of the room, her heart pounding. She'd witnessed everything, the cold-blooded murder of their father, the callous betrayal between siblings, the utter lack of humanity.
One of the brothers finally noticed her. "Wait… who's that?"
Daimon turned to her, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, her? She's my wife. Or, should I say…" He paused, his voice dripping with malice. "Our wife."
Her stomach churned, bile rising in her throat. The realization hit her like a hammer. She was dead, not physically, but spiritually. Trapped among monsters who'd killed their own blood without hesitation.
"She'll satisfy all of our desires," Daimon declared, his voice reverberating with sinister intent.
Tears welled in her eyes as the brothers closed in, their laughter cold and cruel. Deep down, she knew, this was the end of her innocence, her freedom, and her life as she'd known it. A living nightmare had begun.
"Once there was a queen who used to live with many kings. They'd use her body for pleasure, no matter where she was, whether in the bathroom, the bed, or even in court. Soon, the queen realized they were all demons in disguise. They planned to use her for their twisted desires with 700 others like them. Their true forms? Horrifying."
Isn't it a touching story, Ethan~