I was summoned to be interrogated by a jealous dragon (Part 2)

I waited after dinner. Korvan was usually a very busy zmok, taking care of the entire castle. Today was not different. He already lost half a day trying to help get the magic bead out of that falcon, then we spent some time learning how to read, so he was occupied right now.

Once I confirmed the hallway was empty, I took off.

The old metal key was burning in my pocket. Korvan already showed me the entire castle, but we skipped His Highness’s chamber. I am not sure if it was just because he was royalty and his chamber was simply restricted to everyone, or because there was something inside, I was not supposed to see.

There were a lot of folk tales about restricted rooms that maidens shouldn’t open. Some of them contained barrels of liquid gold or silver, others contained previous maidens who were unfortunate enough to get caught.

Hopefully, I won't find the first bride in His Highness’ chambers?

I stopped behind the doors and looked around. There was no one in the hallway, not even Vesna, who was always checking on me just to add another snarky remark. I took out the key from the apron pocket and held it with my fingers. I was getting both excited and scared, as a small child who was going to do something forbidden.

I put the key into the keyhole. The lock clicked. I opened the doors slowly, hoping its hinges won't screech. Up until this point, I was lucky enough. I snuck inside quietly as a mouse, and closed the doors behind me, slowly.

The air inside was warm, carrying a slight scent of smoke, old paper, and—strangely enough—wildflowers and green grass. I was expecting an extravagant room, but this chamber was decorated in the same simple fashion as the other places in the castle.

There was a large canopy bed draped in velvet. But this was the only furniture in the castle that looked luxurious enough for a prince or even a king. Near the bed, there was a small washstand with an old, distorted mirror and a ceramic bowl, almost the same as in my room.

Apart from that, there was another half-empty bookshelf with a few books and ornaments. The fireplace was in the middle of the room, with a cozy armchair to sit and warm up near its fire. Above it, there was a sword hanging on the wall, slightly covered with dust.

Another small desk with a chair was standing in the corner. Although this desk looked clean and empty, His Highness probably preferred to use the desk in the tower or the library.

On the wall, there was only one big window with the same velvety curtains as the drapes around the bed. I looked at another wall and gasped – I found the missing princess.

There were two portrait paintings hung on the empty wall of the room. On one of them was the dragon prince in his human form, as I saw him during my first night here. White pale skin, striking emerald green eyes, and raven-black hair, now tied and falling over his shoulder. A big golden crown was sitting on his head. And the clothing painted on the canvas also looked more expensive. He had probably some kind of ceremonial robe on when posing for this painting.

And on the canvas right next to him, there was a princess. Pink blush skin, soft as peach. The golden yellow locks were firmly pinned in a bun, but were threatening to fall over like a waterfall. Big, bright, blue, shimmering eyes were radiating love. The big, pouty, slightly open lips were showing a hint of a smile. She had on a wedding dress – an off-white, flowy skirt with a corset and big puffed sleeves. On her head, the small tiara symbolizing a crown was entwined with small wild white flowers.

I came closer to take a better look at the paintings. Even though it was not one big canvas and both of them were displayed on separate paintings, I could still see the feelings radiating between them. The first bride of the evil dragon prince was not sacrificed at all. She genuinely loved the prince, and he, for sure, genuinely loved her too. And considering the clothes depicted on the paintings, they were even married together. And they were happy.

Her dress looked completely different from the one that the villagers put me into. After all, that lady was a royal princess, and I was summoned to pretend to be a simple village girl who shouldn’t know how to write or read.

I looked back at the first bride of the evil dragon prince, who was not evil at all. I never saw this princess person, and then I realized it. The prince is cursed.

“You are the third bride the villagers sent here.”

“What about the first one?”

“We do not talk about her,” Korvan said. “And I recommend you to do the same.”

“I see. Something happened. ”

“We don’t talk!”

Was the first bride dead? Did some tragedy happen, and the prince is mourning her? And how was this related to the dragon’s curse?

Why was I even here? What kind of universe rule decided that I would be the one torn away from my original world and be transported here, into the old world of magic and fairy tales? Is it because I studied these things or because I liked them? But reading a story to pass free time was something completely different than living in it. I understood that from the very beginning.

So… what was my purpose in this world?