The Cursed Prince

"Towel?" Raphael said suddenly, halting Harlow's train of thoughts.

The princess looked up to see the Demon King with a towel in his hand and offered it to her with a smile on his face. Accompanied with it was a hint of concern on his face and Harlow wordlessly accepted it.

She dabbed her forehead. She didn't even realize she was sweating. The towel was cool and refreshing. She eventually glanced at the man after she was done. 

How could she forget her manners at this time? Even if she was lost in thoughts, she should have thanked him for being so thoughtful. So, Harlow spoke with a low voice. "Thank you…"

"You are very much welcome." Raphael looked pleased and with a subtle nod to the jacaranda tree, the beautiful plant swayed closer to them and provided the princess an ample enough shade to relieve her from the sweltering heat.

Harlow was distraught and had been pacing under the tree before Raphael came. She didn't realize she already left the cool shade.

Harlow knew that her plan wasn't going to work if Raphael was around. She couldn't find an excuse to push him away to leave. Perhaps it was really time to enter the castle as Icecube advised her earlier?

"Are you looking for someone?" Raphael suddenly asked.

Harlow's eyes bulged for a moment and she glanced at him. She felt her heart pound at his honest question. She wondered if this was his way of testing her and her allegiance. The princess decided she would feign not knowing anything.

She batted her eyes and looked at the man innocently. "What are you talking about? What even made you think of something like that? If you are talking about yourself then I wasn't waiting for you to reappear in the garden, not at all."

Raphael chuckled and looked at her. "You are not going to fool anyone if you speak that much, wifey. Why else would you stand here in the garden and wait for hours if it weren't for you expecting someone to arrive?"

Harlow wondered if Raphael was truly alluding to Julian in his statement. She was already sorely tempted to ask him if he was pertaining to the handsome adventurer but she knew better than to say it in front of this Demon King.

"And who would I even be waiting for?" Harlow tilted her head and then shrugged "I am stuck here in the demon realm all by myself. I do not think that my parents can quickly figure out where I am even if they are looking for me."

Raphael cleared his throat. "I believe you can never underestimate a parents' willingness to take care of their children, especially when it borders on overprotection. You explained your father's hesitance with marriage quite well so I am sure that the Strongmoor Family is doing everything they can to find you."

"I've asked a favor from Witch Marguerite to send them a message that I was alright…" Harlow brushed a hair back behind her ear. "I've explained the situation too."

"I see…" Raphael nodded. "So you have visited the White Witch, I am glad that she seems to be in good health. However, I doubt that they would merely stop there. Perhaps they are searching for you as we speak." 

Harlow smiled a little. "I can imagine that, but I doubt they'd be here so soon. There are a lot of kingdom affairs in Draec. So, perhaps this is nothing more but a pretty picture."

"Fortunately for you or not, they are not whom I am pertaining to but someone else, or other people in general," Raphael said as he looked down at her. 

Harlow's face suddenly became tense as she glanced up at the man and found his gaze on her. "What do you mean? Who would I be waiting for… if that's really what I am doing here."

"You've traveled far and wide to reach the demon realm." Raphael mused aloud. "In that span of time, it is quite likely that you've made friends. Someone so charming like you must attract quite a lot of people. I can imagine perhaps some people you met on the journey would find themselves joining you. I know I would definitely join you in a heartbeat if I met you on the road."

Harlow shook her head vigorously. "I didn't travel and leave my kingdom to socialize or go merrymaking, it was to find you and smack you in the face. I  don't have time for other things."

"I believe you." Raphael chuckled and touched his face. "You might go about your own business, but it doesn't mean people will just leave you be. For a charming lady as yourself, I still find it near improbable that you haven't made a friend or two."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Raphael, but I think I lean more to my father Mars in that aspect than my mother. If only you have met my father, you would understand that he is not an extrovert who loves going out and making friends." Harlow forced a smile even though her blood was spiking at the way that this Demon King looked at her. 

Was Raphael pertaining to Julian? All his words seemed to be hinting at specific people. 

It must be Julian!

Raphael raised a brow. "Hmm, I don't want to seem like I pried on your belongings, but for ah, lack of a better word... a couple of your arrows seem to be of elven-kind quality. Imbued with magic. My senses noticed it immediately when my servants picked up Icecube and the rest of your belongings at the inn." 

Harlow's eyes bulged and she gasped  "My arrows and bow!" 

"Ah, so I am right. They are yours!" Raphael chuckled but then paused. His expression became curt as he glanced at Harlow seriously. "But this is what I meant by you being charming, wifey. It's not every day that an elf provides you with special arrows. They are noisy and stingy as hell."

Harlow felt so relieved. It looked like Raphael was talking about the elves and not Julian. She was glad that it means Raphael was still unaware of Julian.