The Cursed Prince

Harlow fluttered her lashes and ended up seeing little sprouts of violet flowers that were incredibly small. She approached and gently knelt in front of them, beside Raphael.

After she looked at the plants carefully, she tilted her head a little in confusion.  Harlow glanced at Raphael and only said one word.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why…?" Raphael looked at her, confused. "Why not?"

"No, I mean, why are you taking care of these flowers?" Harlow asked again. "Don't you have magical fertilizer or anything to take care of them? Those demon servants of yours too."

"Oh, these flowers are special to me, that's why." Raphael smiled broadly.

"What's so special about them?" Harlow couldn't help but ask again. Those were small and simple violet flowers. She couldn't see anything interesting about them.

"You don't think they are special?" Raphael asked back, looking disappointed. He acted as if he was showing a ten-carat diamond to a lady who was not impressed because she couldn't understand the value of the diamond.

"Uhm… they are not special, sorry." Seeing his disappointed expression, Harlow started to feel bad. Should she think the flowers beautiful?

There were many other flowers in this garden, bigger and more colorful, yet this little ones were the the only flowers that get the king's special attention. She tried to think of a reason. "Is this a magic flower?"

Raphael shook his head. "No."

"Does it have any healing ability? Or maybe you can use it to make medicine?" 

Harlow remembered Bruinen loved teaching her about plants and their medicinal benefits.

Unfortunately, she was wrong again. The demon king shook his head.

"It's a regular plant," he admitted. "But it's special because of what it reminds me of."

Then he raised his gaze and looked at her so deeply, that Harlow almost felt his eyes were boring her soul.

"And… what does it remind you of?" She couldn't help asking.

"Home." Raphael replied without really giving away any answer, much to Harlow's frustration.

Fine. This man was hiding so many secrets and refused to be honest with her.  If she continued asking him questions out of curiosity, where his home was, and why didn't he just go there if he liked his home so much… etc, he would just reply with more vague answers and, in the end, Harlow would feel tired.

No, she was already tired by everything and how he always acted mysteriously around her. So, Harlow focused her mind on stealing the magic closet with Julian and broke the oath that bound her to Raphael.

That's it.

"Okay." Harlow shrugged and then got up. She dusted off the dirt off her hands and looked at the Demon King. She decided to stop questioning the man and trying to understand what went through his mind.

If he wanted to remain an enigma then Harlow would let him.  The princess didn't want to waste mental energy by continually thinking about this guy when she had more important things to do.

Now that she had found Raphael, Harlow wanted to test her luck. She cleared her throat and looked at Raphael.

"I want to take Icecube outside and go on a ride with him."

"Oh." Raphael looked at Harlow curiously. "You will try not to leave, yes?"

"I'm not supposed to be a prisoner right?" Harlow gave him an annoyed gaze.

"Alright, wifey. You don't have to remind me. You are not a prisoner. You are a beautiful guest of honor, and the future lady of the castle. So, of course, you can go with Icecube." Raphael nodded slowly and looked her in the eyes. "I trust you."

"Thank you. I will see you around then," Harlow said and immediately started to walk away from him.

The princess was completely oblivious to the fact that Raphael was looking at her leaving the garden with a sad smile on his face. Since Harlow wasn't looking at him, Raphael felt the tears mist his eyes and he tried to blink them away.

"I wasn't lying. This flower truly reminds me of home," he muttered to himself as he glanced down toward the plain-looking tiny violet flowers.

His voice sounded bitter when he whispered his longing to the woman who strode away from him, seeming eager to get away as soon as possible. "Don't you know that my home is you?" 

**

Harlow walked excitedly away from the demon king only to glance around in confusion not long after. She just realized that she didn't know where Icecube was.

She had left the demon king quite far behind and now she couldn't see him to ask for direction. It left her grumbling and scolding herself for being so impulsive. Eventually, Harlow wound up finding a guard.

"Excuse me, do you know where to find my ice dragon? He is supposed to be taken care of by the King here," Harlow asked the demon guard.

Wordlessly, the demon guard pointed with his spear into a direction outside of the castle and just right behind it. There was a green hill behind the castle and it was the direction that the demon-guard was pointing at.

After giving the guard her thanks, Harlow found herself easily leaving the castle gates and traveled up the hill to find her enormous ice dragon. On the way to her dragon, Harlow glanced about and was surprised to find that the scenery was lovely.

"I almost expected those devil-like thorns I encountered back at the elven realm to keep demons out, but everything looks wonderful here." Harlow chuckled as she passed by several blossoming trees outside of the Demon King's castle.

The princess was still hung up on the idea that she and Julian arrived here via the inside of a mountain that seeing green grass and even a beautiful sun shining down on her was strange. 

"I really am in a different realm," Harlow said in awe.

At long last, she arrived up at the hill and saw her beautiful blue dragon on a valley behind the green hill.

Icecube was munching and devouring a carcass of a goat but then paused when he sensed her presence. The ice dragon raised his head and then plopped down on his behind and perked up at the sight of Harlow.

It reminded the princess of an oversized dog. Her ice dragon was only huge and fearsome on the outside. Deep inside, he was like a cute and obedient puppy.

"Ah, you didn't have to stop on my account." Harlow laughed and went down the hill to meet her dragon in the valley. She looked at it proudly and said. "You have to eat a lot and take advantage of the free food, Icecube."

Icecube simply snorted some snowflakes.

Harlow sat down close to her dragon and then rested on the grass. She looked up at the sky and started forming shapes on the cloud. "If you're not going to eat that, Icecube, I have to ask for your help in maybe half an hour."

Icecube let out a roar and flicked his tail happily at the princess.

"Why do I need your help?" Harlow chuckled and glanced at the majestic creature. "Well, we're going out flying and we'll be meeting your favorite person. I don't think it would be too easy for Julian to come to the castle a second time."

The ice dragon stared down at her and it was Icecube's way of saying that he paid attention to her as she explained the situation. Harlow thought it was nice that she could relax and take a moment away from the Demon King, but now it was back to business.

"I have to inform Julian about what I found out, right?" Harlow smiled and patted Icecube.. "Gotta think about our best escape route."