The Cursed Prince

Harlow ate in silence and tried not to show the fact that she was enjoying her meal, Raphael only watched her eat in satisfaction. He was pleased to see her eating her fill and not at all bothered that he was around.

Once Harlow finished eating, the two of them didn't say anything at once. A minute or two passed in complete silence that the princess faintly heard Icecube in the distance roaring and soaring through the clouds.

Finally, Harlow looked up from glaring at her plate and looked at Raphael. There was a patient look on the Demon King's face as he returned her look with one of his own and it made the princess sigh aloud.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" Raphael chuckled and carefully touched his face. There was a light expression on his face as he joked. "Are you disturbed by my horns?"

Harlow averted her gaze and shook her head. "No… I just can't believe that I've actually met you now." 

She looked at the man attentively. So, this was the face of the presumptuous man who tricked her mother. Harlow was really tempted to scold him some more but realized it wouldn't work for someone so presumptuous like the man before her. 

She cleared her throat and asked him, "Why did you present yourself differently to my mother? She didn't say you have horns or something."

Raphael shrugged. "People judge a book by its cover. So, when I meet humans, I will choose a more 'presentable' appearance. I happen to have many forms."

"Oh..." Harlow bit her lip. "I am human, but you didn't show a 'more presentable appearance' to me."

Raphael smiled faintly at her words. "Does my appearance bother you that much? Do you not like how I look?"

Harlow remembered how Uncle Gewen was a superficial man before he met his now-wife, Kira Grim. Kira was not the typical beautiful noblewoman that Uncle Gewen used to fool around with.

She was not beautiful, only slightly above average at best. But she was brave, smart, and had a personality that complemented Gewen.

So, now, Harlow tried not to be superficial with appearance too. Uncle Gewen was proof that to find love, one shouldn't limit one's choices only within the beautiful genes.

Harlow looked at Raphael from head to toe and back to his face. This man was not ugly. His body was burly and muscular, much taller than her.

His skin was slightly darker than hers, perhaps it was the physical traits of his race, but it only complimented his features.

Raphael had a handsome face with bloodshot eyes and thin lips that made him look wicked. There were also two horns protruding from his temples, making him look dangerous and mysterious.

Harlow asked herself, did his look bother her? Not as much as the fact that he was cunning. He tricked unsuspecting people to bind themselves in shady agreements with him, that were bound by magic. THAT was what bothered her.

So, Harlow shook her head.

"Not really," she said honestly. "I agree with you on people do judge a book by its cover."

"I know you will agree with me," Raphael smiled happily. "Because you are my future wife, I want you to see me for who I am and get used to…  the real me."

Harlow didn't know how to respond to that.  Accept him? No way. She didn't come here to be with him. Like she said, she came to beat some sense into him. However, now that he worded it that way, it would feel like if Harlow rejected him, it was because of his looks. Which… was not really the case.

Uff…. 

Harlow realized nothing would work with this Demon King who actually made her mother, Emmelyn, promise to give him a prized possession. Beating him wouldn't work, neither would trying to make Raphael realize that what he did was wrong.

It wasn't only Raphael who thought that he did nothing wrong. Many others would simply say that it was Emmelyn's fault for getting deceived and Harlow knew that there was no way out of this agreement.

Unless she could give him something equivalent in exchange.

"What do you want?" Harlow suddenly asked him. "For you to let me go…"

Raphael raised a brow. "Hmmm? Are you trying to barter with me?"

Harlow smiled broadly at him and nodded her head. "If there has been anything that I've learned through the teachings of people wiser than me, it is this statement. People are always looking and desiring something. Even the wealthiest and the most powerful kings would want something that they couldn't get. So… what is it that you want?"

"How do you know if that applies to me?" Raphael chuckled. "I am the Demon King now and have a vast amount of wealth and power at my fingertip. I can assure you that there is nothing that you can offer me that will make me change my mind."

"That's a lie." Harlow shook her head. "There must be a reason why you specifically want me to be your wife. There are countless other women out there perhaps even more beautiful or smarter than me… but you insist on me."

"You are without compare, Harlow Strongmoor." Raphael smiled. "There is no one else that can fulfill the role of being you."

Harlow pursed her lips. "I don't know what you see in me, but I can assure you that I'll do anything within my power and ability to get you anything that you desire. There's probably something else that you want. So, just tell me. I'm not that special to be irreplaceable to you."

Raphael's expression suddenly became gloomy and he shook his head. "No. Unfortunately, you are wrong."

Harlow frowned at him and quickly stood up from her bed. She approached him angrily and glared up at him. "What do you mean no?"

Raphael tried to smile at her but he only shook his head. The man still looked sad but did his best to hide it. Instead, he cooled his expression into a blank one to meet her gaze. 

"I cannot accept anything else besides you. I need you to become my wife… So you will become my wife." Raphael looked at Harlow. "Your mother and I had an agreement and you will stay here with me or else terrible things will come to pass."

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From Missrealitybites:

I can imagine Harlow must be so curious as to why Raphael is so persistent about marrying her.

PS: I will publish 5 or 6 chapters tomorrow as New Year's gift to the highest privileged readers. You girls have been supporting me so much. So, I would like to show you my gratitude by giving you extra chapters.. Regular readers will only get one.