Cursed by the Phantom Prince (Once Upon A Curse)

Chapter 2

2

RHAN

L ua, my maid, swept into the room, bringing a swirl of sweetly scented air with her. Judging by the smell it would seem that Lua had been in the sweet room, pilfering sugary delights again. The Fae girl had a fondness for after dinner delicacies and couldn’t seem to wrap her mind around the notion of limitation. She wanted it so she got it. It was endearing and why I loved that she was my maid. Rules to her were like guidelines that were meant to be bent or broken if the situation called for it. In my early years we’d gotten into quite a bit of mischief together.

“I passed the queen’s handmaiden on the way here and she mentioned the dinner tonight,” Lua remarked, bustling about the room, grabbing different things she would need. “It sounds important.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I replied, making my way across the room to the small stool that sat opposite a delicate mirror.

“At least we’ve got time to get things in order.”

I settled myself onto the stool, content to sit patiently which gave me time to think and wonder why the consort wanted to meet me.

There was an unspoken rivalry between us that had started the night he collected me from earth. I believe he knew then that the queen was planning to adopt me and for some reason that irritated him. Probably because I’d gotten so much of the queen’s attention. He’d held a grudge ever since. It also didn’t help that I wasn’t fully Fae.

“Lua,” I exclaimed, startling her and Lady, who was back on the bed. “I forgot to mention that the consort wishes to have an audience with me within the hour.”

Lua wrinkled her nose at my mention of the consort. She was not a fan of his treatment of me but bit her tongue for the most part.

“Within the hour?” she huffed, annoyed. “Has he forgotten all of his manners?”

I suppressed a giggle as I watched her abandon her current task and turn her attention to getting me looking presentable. She scurried into the closet, grumbling the whole time as she put together an outfit.

“This is against all etiquette,” Lua complained, rushing out of the closet and beckoning me to stand so she could help me dress. “The nerve!”

I smiled, secretly enjoying my maid’s disgruntled behavior. The Fae took manners and etiquette personally. Requesting a meeting with an unmarried princess so early in the morning was against what mannerly rules dictated. Since I was part human and had spent my childhood in an orphanage on earth, manners were not nearly as important to me as it was to the Fae. I’d had to learn to accept it but in my own head I found it ridiculous.

“We must hurry not to keep him waiting,” Lua fumed, pulling my sleep dress over my head and tossing it on the floor near the bed.

“Oh, I believe that the consort will be arriving here to have a word.”

“Outrageous!” Lua growled, helping me into a soft pink dress with wide sleeves that covered my arms while the excess fabric ended in dramatic points. “He shouldn’t be expecting refreshments at this early hour.”

“I should think not,” I agreed, doing my best to hide my amusement.

Once dressed, Lua motioned to the stool again. I sat arranging the wisps of fabric around my legs. The dress material was soft to the touch and so light that sometimes I found parts of my clothing floating around me like they were made of clouds. It was dramatic but also something I hadn’t been prepared for. I had a few embarrassing incidents when my clothing seemed to have a mind of its own. My teachers speculated that it could be my emotions unsettling the fabric. No Fae had issues with their clothing but drew attention to my otherness which was something that I was constantly reminded of.

The Fae may take issue with the human half of me but I didn’t. I remembered every detail of my mother’s face and everything that she had warned me about in this world. They may see my humanity as a weakness but I viewed it as my strength. Too often I felt empathy for those less fortunate because I had lived that way my entire childhood, which led to me being the champion of the lesser Fae.

Lua attacked my hair with gusto. She brushed and smoothed my black hair with the help of ointments and oils that smelled of freshly pressed rose petals. Within minutes Lua had tamed my unruly mop and created a masterpiece with only a few pins and her experienced fingers.

In the space of only a few minutes I’d transformed from a just woken up tousled mess to a put together princess. I remember Flora telling some other orphan girls and myself that our beauty was a form of armor. We donned it just like a soldier would. Wars had started over the loveliness of a woman, some had ended in the same way. Flora told us to never underestimate the power of our looks. It could make men grovel at our feet. They may be stronger than us, but when it came down to it, we held all of the power.

Looking at myself in the mirror reminded me of what I was capable of.

‘Incredible things.’ Lady whispered in my mind, making me smile.

“Now I must get your sitting room in order. Can you find slippers on your own?”

“I’m sure I can manage,” I retorted, fighting an eye roll as Lua dashed to the door to the sitting room and disappeared inside.

I rose from the stool and strolled toward the still open closet, remembering a time when I was expected to bathe and dress myself. I still bathed myself because the idea of someone else doing it was appalling. After many bouts of stubbornness, Lua finally convinced me to allow her to help me dress and tame my hair. It seemed wrong at first but over time I came to trust my handmaiden.

On a shelf at the back of the room shoes were lined neatly in a row. They ranged from riding boots to delicate slippers. I grabbed a pair of slippers in the same shade of my dress. I slipped them on, enjoying the touch of softness on the soles of my feet. Before coming here my shoes had been practical, which was just another word for uncomfortable. The shoes in this realm were something else entirely. I’d never be able to don a pair of human shoes again.

Ready for the impromptu visit from the consort, I re-entered my room, taking a seat on the bed near my wolfhound, content to wait until Lua returned.

I let my mind wander as I absently stroked Lady’s wiry fur, remembering how life had been back on earth with Flora and the other orphans. Tomalen entered my thoughts, causing a jolt of pain to pierce my heart. I thought of him every day, praying and hoping that he was alright. Guilt followed quickly and I had to actively think of something different. Thinking of the small boy I had cared for and viewed as a brother made my heart ache for something that was not possible. I belonged here in this world, but my love for him extended through the space and time that separated us.

‘He was a good lad,’ Lady remarked, laying her head on my thigh to comfort me. ‘I have no doubt he’ll grow into a man to be proud of.’

I smiled at Lady’s words, grateful that she had decided to come with me. Her loyalty had helped me navigate the difficult times I’d endured while here. I’d be forever thankful that she was here with me.

The door to the sitting room swung open, drawing Lady’s and my attention. Lua entered the room, shutting the door behind her with a grimace that spoke volumes.

“He’s here?” I asked, rising to my feet as Lady jumped down from the bed.

“Yes, annoyingly on time,” Lua remarked irritably. This last minute visit had really put her into a sour mood. Hopefully it would be over quickly so she could concentrate on preparing for dinner with the queen.

Lua gestured for me to come closer, turning and placing her hand on the knob. She hesitated then leaned closer. “I’ll be by the door in case you need a swift exit.”

I smiled, showing her my gratitude. I wouldn’t be doing that. The consort may not like me but he respected my position. He wouldn’t outright do anything to upset his queen, who was essentially my mother. I could handle his pompous attitude. I just wasn’t sure if I could do it diplomatically. I’d need to tread carefully or I’d give in to temptation and punch him in the face.

Imagining my fist connecting with his face caused me to grin pleasantly while Lua opened the door. She stepped through first and announced my arrival, before stepping aside and allowing me to enter with Lady by my side.

Fionn, the queen’s consort, stood from the shallow couch at my entrance. His moss green eyes observed me with barely contained contempt. He’d given up trying to appear kind, looking more like a serpent watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

“Consort,” I greeted, walking further into the room. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Princess,” he replied, stepping forward and offering his hand to me.

Without hesitation, I placed my palm within his, allowing him to guide me toward the couch he’d just been sitting on. He was taller than me, like most Fae were, with long hair the color of sun bleached bones. He wore a dark tunic the color of oxygen rich blood, while his under shirt was white. His powerful legs were encased in leggings the same shade of dark red as his tunic. The pallor of his skin clashed with the deep red color, making him look like he hadn’t seen the sun in ages.

Flora had once told us children about creatures that roamed the night, draining any they encountered of blood which was the only sustenance that sustained them. Demons that had taken bodily form, cursed by the devil himself. Fionn’s appearance reminded me of those nightmarish beings that preyed on humans.

“You are as radiant as ever.” The compliment sounded forced but I smiled regardless, refusing to show any sort of weakness in his presence.

“Thank you, your manners are impeccable as always.” An insult disguised as a compliment was the Fae’s bread and butter, something that I had excelled at during my studies. I enjoyed sparring with words almost as much as I enjoyed sparring with a weapon in my hand.

“Pardon my early request to meet,” he said, while I settled myself onto the sofa. Lady jumped onto the cushion beside me, putting herself between me and the Fae male, allowing the tension in my chest to relax slightly. “I have an urgent matter to discuss with you.”

“Oh, I see. Please continue.”

“First, I’m curious if your tutors have explained the significance of the four courts that make up this world?”

My eyes narrowed but I managed to keep the pleasant smile on my face as I pondered his question.

“As you know my education is quite extensive, the queen spared no expense when it came to teaching me about our court and the realm.”

It was true. The queen had proclaimed me her heir, set to inherit the Court of Dawn when the queen was ready to step down. She wanted me to love this court as much as she did and in extension, the realm.

The significance of the four courts was a reflection of the elemental balances that this realm was built on. A happy court, a happy realm. When the human world was discovered, greed and corruption spread rapidly through the courts, causing distrust amongst the Fae. It has taken years for the courts to come to an amicable truce that had lasted nearly a decade thanks to my parents who spearheaded the movement. However, the memories of the Fae run deep and change has been a staggeringly slow process.

“There are rumors that the balance of the realm has been interrupted.”

“Interrupted by what?” I asked, coolly wondering why he went through all of this trouble to discuss rumors.

“A disturbance that can be traced back to the moment you entered this realm.”