The Cursed Prince

After a song or two, Harlow and Raphael eventually slowed down and halted their dancing. The rest of the guests started to enter the ballroom and danced their own way, which was actually interesting to the princess.

Some of them didn't have legs like the lamia earlier, and then there were others who had too many legs which made dancing with them a nightmare. However, Harlow saw that all of them were enjoying themselves.

As Raphael led Harlow away from the ballroom area, he gently held her hand and asked. "What would you like to do next, princess? Would you care for some refreshments? Are you in the mood to socialize with the leaders of the underworld?"

Since Harlow and Raphael were actually close to the banquet table, the princess decided to seize the opportunity and picked up a jug of wine and a crystal glass and gave him a small grin. 

"You wish to drink?" Raphael raised a brow. 

"I'm not actually ready to socialize with the others yet and I don't usually do well in a ballroom either." Harlow admitted. The reason why she preferred being with Icecube and just flying around was because she felt more at ease in nature.

"I do not think drinking alcohol will help you with it," Raphael commented.

"It's not only for me." Harlow rolled her eyes and handed the Demon King the jug. "This is for the two of us. Let's get out of here, shall we? It actually feels a bit stuffy here in the throne room."

"Would you like me to throw out some guests indeed?" Raphael eyed a bunch of goblins that were scarfing down the food available in one of the banquet tables. The Demon King looked prepared to throw them out of the window.

"Nonsense." Harlow grabbed the man's hand and redirected his gaze to her. "Let us retreat into somewhere less crowded? Didn't you say that I don't know you that well? Let's get to know each other." 

"I know you well though," Raphael commented as he looked at Harlow with a deep gaze in his eyes. "I'd like to think that I'm quite an expert when it comes to the topic of you."

Harlow snorted at this guy's presumptuous declaration. "That makes only one of us. So, let's go somewhere quieter, okay? Maybe a nice open balcony underneath the stars or somewhere else…"

The Demon King snapped his fingers.

Raphael teleported the two of them into a private chamber room. It was a huge contrast to Harlow's beautiful room that she liked, there was a king-sized bed decorated with dark red canopies, lush pillows and even an aromatic candle that smelled faintly of roses.

Heck, there were even rose petals!

If the princess could describe it in one word?

Sultry.

Seductive?

Harlow couldn't help but sigh and she looked at Raphael with a narrowed stare. "Please tell me that this room doesn't belong to you. Is this a brothel's room? Harem chamber? Some kind of special service room for the king?"

Raphael's face scrunched up. "I have no need for comfort women, Harlow. You are more than enough for me. But is the room not to your liking?"

Harlow looked around again and shook her head. "Frankly? It's a little too much. You better not get any strange ideas or look at me funny or else I'll punch you in the face or kick you in the groin. I've done that and made a bachelor king cry before."

"Serves him right," Raphael muttered darkly.

"What did you say?" Harlow tried to find a place to sit down and quickly plopped down in one of the luxurious velvet cushions. She placed the two glasses on a low table and waited for Raphael.

The Demon King plopped down beside Harlow and smiled innocently at her. He was holding the wine jug and said. "You are free to hit me whenever and wherever you like, princess."

"Ew." Harlow scrunched up her nose as she took the wine jug from him and then immediately poured the two of them a glassful of wine. The sinful red liquid filled their two crystal glasses but the princess didn't seem to notice.

Raphael's eyes widened as Harlow offered him a glass. "Princess, I have to warn you that alcohol here in the underworld is incredibly stronger compared to the ones in human realms. The grapes used here are from the vineyard of Balthasor himself. A master gardener."

"Thank you for the warning, Demon King." Harlow sipped some of the wine and then looked him in the eye. "However, I think you should be more afraid of this human princess outdrinking you."

Raphael sighed and looked at his reflection in the wine cup. Right now, he was in his demon form with two hideous horns on his head. "I do not really enjoy nor partake too much in indulgences or substances such as this one. They can dull the senses and I wish to avoid that."

Dull the senses? That was exactly what Harlow wanted from him! 

He better fall asleep fast or be knocked out by this alcohol so the princess could get away from him. She didn't have a lot of time to waste.

Harlow wanted to be with her family so bad and that meant working with Julian fast. Not wanting to get ahead of herself though, or ruining the plan, she cleared her throat and then smiled again. 

"Then how are we going to get to know each other if you don't drink?" Harlow pouted. 

"Must we really drink to converse?" Raphael frowned at the wine glass.

"Where's the fun if you don't drink?" Harlow raised a brow but then smiled teasingly. "Don't tell me that you never drank wine because Mount Tempest freezes all of the liquid there. Are you the type who unintentionally freezes anything that you touch?"

Raphael snorted and shook his head. "That is not the case at all. I am in full control of my ice abilities. If you kissed me right now, my lips are actually very soft and not at all cold. They're actually quite warm."

Harlow averted her gaze and took a gulp of the wine. 

What was she even supposed to say to that? Stupid, Ice Prince. If the situation was different, she really wouldn't have wanted to talk with him.

"Er, good for you." Harlow coughed and then glanced back at him. "As for the White Witch?"

Raphael chuckled at her reaction and yet answered her question. "The White Witch prefers tea and I enjoy drinking with her when she took me in before when I was weaker…"

"Weaker?" Harlow tilted her head. "Based on the stories that my mother heard from the Wizard Renwyck, you were nothing more than a child when he first came there. Isn't that why the Witch made a frozen castle?"

Raphael chuckled and looked at her mischievously. "For someone like me, age is a difficult thing to calculate and frankly, who can tell if I've actually deceived the Wizard by portraying myself as a boy?"

"So you're not actually in your thirties." Harlow sighed. "I kinda knew that but…"

"Apologies for disappointing you." Raphael chuckled and sipped the wine. He grimaced but said, "I'm a lot older than that. Is that truly a big problem with you? I believe I can act your age."

Harlow scrunched up her nose. "Er, no thanks. We don't need you to act even more annoying than you are now."

"You say that, but you're still actually here." Raphael grinned at her. "Isn't that supposed to mean anything?"

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From Missrealitybites:

Hope you enjoy the mini mass-release. Happy new year!!