The Cursed Prince

Princess Harlow Strongmoor stormed out of the elven kingdom once she understood the full picture. The Ice Prince was a visitor who was welcomed in the elven realm because he seemed to be a delight to many of the elves.

However, the reason for the bad blood between Raphael and the elves was simply heartbreak! Their princess was the one who fell in love with the Ice Prince and was the one who chased after him.

Honestly, Harlow was stupefied and thought she was silly for thinking that Raphael did something dangerous. The reason for his ostracization was enough to make her question the elves more.

It was such a ridiculous reason that Harlow couldn't help but just ask for the next portal to lead her into the next realm and then make her way out.

"Stupid arrogant elves," Harlow muttered underneath her breath. "You agree, right, Icecube?"

The beautiful ice dragon nodded its head and let out a breath of snowflakes as they flew across the air and eyed the barren wasteland ahead of them. The elven realm was usually lush and verdant with trees, flowers, and a multitude of flora and fauna.

However, as warily instructed by the princes before she left, the portal to the demon realm did not have the same beauty as the elven realm at all and was instead isolated and actually separated.

"Must you really leave to find this foul man, beautiful maiden?" the first prince asked back then.

Harlow who was itching to go out, and was moments away from just leaving, answered. "Yes."

Compared to the Elf Princess who was heartbroken and just stayed in the window of her room, longing for the return of Raphael, Harlow was out to meet with the Ice Prince for a different reason.

  "Then you must tread lightly, and walk slowly to the portal that leads to the demons!"

"I have an ice dragon." Harlow shrugged.

"Oh, but you must still be careful and safe. The people, if you can still call them people, who dwell in the demon realm are a race that will swindle, trick and deceive you. You must stay on guard and protect yourself."

Harlow nodded. "Yes, thank you. I could use the directions now."

"Will you not take one of us as brave guardians?" a prince spoke up and motioned to himself. 

Another stepped forward, wearing silk robes and holding a wand. He inclined his head and looked at Harlow. "A protector who will watch over you as you go about and search for this deceiver?"

"This is a journey that will go into the belly of the underworld realm! Take one of us or us all and form a beautiful bond that will stand the test of time!" another interrupted his brothers.

Harlow wanted to cringe at the words of that elf, but then suddenly, the throne room that held the elven princes once again succumbed to chaos and madness as they all came forward to insist on accompanying her.

"Pick me!"

"No, choose me!"

"I can be the one who will travel with you!"

"My arrows spread far and wide, let me be the one!"

Harlow clasped her hands together and sighed deeply. She was moments away from exploding and saying something that might make her even less welcome than the Ice Prince if she delayed another second.

She ended up declining all of the elf princes that tried to escort her on her journey because she wouldn't be able to last an entire trip that involved being surrounded by such ghastly elven men.

Perhaps, Harlow had treated Alexei too harshly when she called him annoying because the elven princes managed to beat his record without even working that hard. 

It made her confident about her chances though.

As far as the princess was concerned, in terms of inflicting damage or chaos, there wasn't much this Ice Prince could do to others. 

Perhaps the Ice Prince was only a big fish in a small pond but elsewhere, he was around the same level as an elf or the elven kingdom?

It was difficult to gauge, but Harlow at least knew that the man was no murderer or have committed any actual atrocious deeds beside tricking and swindling other people. If that was all that Raphael did, then she could take him on.

Unlike other people, Harlow was on guard.

Icecube dove and hurtled downwards to the wasteland in search of the portal as Harlow tried to erase the terrible memories of the elves in her mind and hold on to the lovely provisions that the princes did provide in the end.

Actually, Prince Nieven gave her something she actually liked.

"Since you hold no interest in being accompanied by any of my brothers and I am far too young to accompany you, please take this." Prince Nieven motioned for one of his archers to come forward.

The elf handed her a bag filled with arrows.

"Arrows of Frost, Fire, Lightning and other elements imbued in each arrowhead." Prince Nieven explained to Harlow before she left for the demon realm. "They will aid you if you happen to face any foul beasts."

"Thank you," Harlow smiled at him before she left. "I will put them to good use."

That was what the princess had said to the elven prince, but as she landed on the barren wasteland that held thorns, thistles, and other dried-up things… there wasn't even anything to attack.

"Maybe once I actually reach the underworld is where I start using them," Harlow muttered.

However, as the Crown Princess of Draec was about to move forwards, she heard another set of footsteps come from behind. She wondered if an elven prince secretly followed her all the way here in secret and just didn't let her know.

That was going to be the worst thing ever! Harlow quickly spun around and pointed her bow and arrow at the handsome intruder.

It turned out to be someone else completely.

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From Missrealitybites:

I feel like seeing 6 Gewens in the same place when Harlow was surrounded by the six elven princes. What do you think?