The Cursed Prince

All of the guards surrounded Harlow and stepped forward with their weapons raised and ready to strike her. The princess found herself outnumbered and also outmaneuvered. Harlow's bow and arrows were useless against close-range combat.

The dagger she had strapped on also didn't seem useful, but Harlow still pulled it out and raised it to fend off the guards.

"Stay back!" She said and narrowed her eyes on them. 

With her life at risk, Harlow pulled herself out of thoughts of panic and immediately shifted her form to the one that her father once taught her. Her gaze darted across the numerous guards warily.

The goddess called out to her. "Don't bother trying to fight them off, mortal. These are elite and armed guards of Cretea."

"Do not resist arrest, human," one of the guards called out to Harlow.

"Throw down your weapons now, mortal," Another warned her off.

Harlow bit down on her lip and a part of her was tempted to just try and fight them off. That was her impulsive side and the one who refused to go down.

However, when she compared this event to her dealing with demons and the witch in the demon realm back then, it was clear as day to the princess that the situations were different.

Harlow really trespassed into the lands of the immortals, those people who humans often referred to as gods and goddesses. They were powerful and higher beings.

Even if the goddess before her was mean, Harlow should have still probably paid respects to her. The other gods were not like Raphael who didn't bat an eye at her attitude.

If she really made one upset, she could end up endangering herself for real.

Harlow sighed and dropped her weapons and looked at the guards with a calm expression on her face. She hoped that these people were level-headed and understood the situation that she brought herself into.

"I got here by accident, I didn't mean to come here at all," Harlow said. 'Believe me, this is not where I want to be."

One of the guards who was holding on to a rope suddenly threw it out and the magical cords immediately wrapped around Harlow and bound her. The princess immediately struggled and found herself unable to move. 

A guard finally approached the goddess and said. "Goddess Nymia, we will need your statement as to how this human appeared in our lands." 

"I will go with you," the goddess said.

Harlow's eyes widened and she tried to break free from her ropes. She looked at the guards and stammered. "What? You're going to take her testimony and not mine?"

Nymia frowned. "Can anybody shut this mortal's mouth? She shouldn't be talking in the presence of gods."

Harlow's eyes widened. "What? You can't do that—"

Unfortunately for Harlow, she felt invasive magic suddenly touch her lips and close off her mouth. It was as if someone had sewn her lips together and prevented her from speaking at all. The princess unhappily looked at Nymia.

Without another word, the guards took her to prison. 

***

The princess couldn't believe how bad her luck was.

A while ago, Harlow was able to enjoy the sights of nature without anybody stopping her and she thought it was no man's land. However, the guards now took her to civilization that existed in Cretea and they did it while she was bound like a criminal.

Numerous gods and goddesses watched the guards take her and immediately whispered to one another as if Harlow was nothing more but a spectacle.

A part of Harlow actually hoped that maybe Raphael was here. However, there was no familiar face and before she knew it, they arrived at their destination.

The prison was located in one of the several temple-like buildings and the guards dragged Harlow inside with the Goddess Nymia following behind her. 

The guards tossed her unceremoniously into a cell.

They were unbelievable! Thankfully, the moment Harlow stepped inside, she was freed from the ropes and Harlow immediately backed away from the guards with frustration. The magic currently binding her lips also vanished.

"Hey!" Harlow immediately shouted at the goddess to no avail. 

Nymia turned her back against Harlow and stepped forward to a guy sitting at a table. He seemed to be the one in charge of the security and the goddess quickly made her testimony.

"While I was minding my own business, this mortal suddenly arrived and refused to answer my questions." the goddess said. "She seems to be of the violent kind and almost resisted arrest until she realized she was outmatched."

The head of security glanced at the human and then at his guards. "Did you retrieve her weapons?" 

"I have them all here." One of the guards raised the bow and bag of arrows and placed them down on a table. They also placed Harlow's dagger down.

"Does she have anything else on her person?" 

At those words, Harlow's gaze suddenly drifted to the jade bracelet on her hand and before anybody could do anything else, she quickly touched it and said. "I summon the Demon King. Please help me…"

The princess should have said it sooner.

Suddenly Raphael appeared out of nowhere. Harlow gasped and pressed her mouth in shock. She hoped he would come when she called him, but she didn't have high hopes that he would.

Now, seeing the familiar face when she was in deep trouble, Harlow couldn't help but shed tears.

"Raphael…" she muttered his name, sobbing.

The man was so surprised to see Harlow in Cretea. He thought she was safe in his castle. So, why did she end up here???

With a wave of his hand, the prison door was opened and he immediately entered to comfort her. The man pulled Harlow into his embrace and immediately shielded her from the guards. Harlow buried her head on his chest and felt so much relief wash away her fears.

"Are you okay?" Raphael asked her in concern.. "Did anyone hurt you? Tell me."