The demonic prince .2

So many questions were in her head, yet even a little while later when they now sat in a luxurious looking private room, with snacks and tea on the table before her, she had yet to come up with any reasons as to why on her own. Before her sat the prince who only a while ago she felt rather terrified of and to the side of them both was lord Ivor, holding up a piece of paper in his hand reading it through. Prince Leon ate one of the many cake laid before them nonchalantly before he looked up to Erika who in contrast remained rather enclosed to them all. The prince raised his eyebrow at her, gesturing to the table.

"Do you not want any?" He asked as Erika flinched once more upon being spoken to.

"A-Ah- no I am fine thank you..." she spluttered as Leon took another bite from his cake whilst staring at her... before then shrugging.

"Maybe it's not in your taste- Lord Ivor, ask the maids to bring more cake-"

"N-No need to, I'm not hungry!!" Erika exclaimed in a panic to prince and the mam who was just about to walk away. She grew more nervous at the realisation that she had spoken over royalty as she sunk into herself... "A-Actually if you don't mind me interrupting I was hoping you'd tell me exactly why it is I am here..." Erika mentioned in a tone that only grew more quiet and timid as it went on, as it was then that Leon gave a small smile, sitting back in his seat.

"Yes, I was trying to make you more comfortable before that- but it seems I made you more nervous- sorry I'm not really good with people so you'll have to excuse that!" The prince apologised chipperly as Erika silently shook her head. It wasn't so much that the surroundings were making her nervous and more so that he himself was. Leon sat up more in his chair, putting down his fork. He then looked back up at her, seeming to dwell on a question in his mind as he stared at her...

"Miss Hartell do you by any chance know who I am?" Leon then asked her a rather peculiar question nonchalantly whilst pointing to himself... she blinked twice at him before giving a quiet answer.

"Prince Leon the second- y-your highness..." she responded, the sudden questioning if his identity suddenly making her have doubts with this response. She had never had any experience with the royal family aside from heresay passed around by locals in her village. Leon took this time to look at Erika more, giving a good few seconds to read her expressions, something which only put her on more edge, before it seemed he gave a simple smile to himself.

"I see, you don't need to mind that question Miss Hartell then, I was just checking..." he replied in a fairly ominous way. How was she not going to mind that question now he had brought it up given their circumstances. Leon however quickly moved subject, as he then raised up one of his hands, pointing over to it.

"You are probably confused as to what it was that happened earlier?" he then questioned Erika who found herself looking at the hand... that was the one he took the glove off if earlier so it seemed... so that did seem to have significance? Erika nodded, feeling somewhat confused as to where this was going as Leon continued on. "I'm sorry for not being outwardly open about it before hand but in truth earlier was a test..." he told her as be took off the gloves he was wearing on his hands... a test...? One where he had to touch her shoulders without gloves? The explanation only gave Erika more questions, Leon clearly seeing that as decided to clarify.

"Since you passed the test earlier I'll tell you about the royal families darkest secret, however you have to promise this will never leave this room" Leon quite abruptly dropped on Erika a rather heavy sounding topic, the suspense in the room rocketing out of nowhere to what he said. A family secret...? Why was he so suddenly entrusting her with such a thing? Was it really her place to know of such a thing, to begin with she still had no idea why she had been brought here to be tested to begin with...

Even then, who better to tell than some random peasant he had just met? It wasn't as if given her situation that Erika could really say that she wouldn't, rather she feared what would happen if she said no or if she would ever try. So it was with this in mind and a bit of morbid curiosity that she shook her head, again not giving any noise in her timidness as Leon appeared to take confidence in this, as he then clicked his fingers.

"Great, then I suppose the best way to explain it would be to show you!" Leon replied as Lord Ivor then walked over to the prince after picking up a small potted plant from beside them, much to both Erika and Mira's intrigue. He lowered the plant down to the princes level as Prince Leon then raised his ungloved hand to the leaves of the plant, gently placing his finger upon it... and within seconds, much to the surprise of both Erika and Mira, the plant started going black from where the finger had been touched, spreading across it rapidly like a poison. Within just moments, a flash even, the plant had entirely turned black before then starting to crumble away, almost as though they were charcoal. It left Erika and even the ever sharp tongued Mira speechless as a series of questions began to bubble through Erika's mind. Magic...? No, it could't be!! Even with the inhuman aura Leon seemed to carry, it was more than obvious just looking at the prince to Erika that despite it, he was a human deep down... Not just that but this was the son of a fabled witch hunter and even a hunter himself!! There's no way such a bloodline would have magic within it... so then what?

What was more... was this a threat?! So suddenly showing her how he had sapped away what looked to be the life of the plant next to him so easily... was this his way of intimidating her? Prince Leon looked over to Erika to see her reaction, before it seemed he gave a fairly accepting smile to her response. He put his glove back on before turning to face her.

"This is part of a curse that was placed upon me and my bloodline..." Leon told her calmly, breaking away the stunned silence and tension within the room to explain. Erika's terror slowly turning to that of shock at this news. The royal bloodline was cursed??

"It dates back to my grandfather, the king who started the ban on magic- and in turn the witch hunts which this family are known for..." Leon went on solemnly, seeming to be quite reflective on the matter . "My grandfather one day went got into a battle with a powerful witch who apparently was known for their dark magic. My grandfather sure enough had the brute strength and hatred- but the witch was cunning and wise- just after my grandfather struck them down, the witch cursed him... turning the blood and the bloodline of my grandfather into something inhuman and forever tainted with sin- the blood of demons- a curse that would live on through my through my grandfather, and passively in my father who was already born... but as such, it meant that I would be the second to bare the effects of this curse... "

The news had all but left Erika speechless... The cursed blood of demons- Erika had never heard of such magic before... however if there was one thing Erika's grandmother had taught her...

'Listen to me Erika- in this world, there are spells which which can be good or bad...'

It was to avoid dark magic spells unless they could have a positive impact on something or everyone involved...

The prince proceeded with his explanation-

"As you could see, if I am not wearing these gloves- anything living I touch can deteriorate in an instant... Since I was born I would damage and hurt anything I would touch... then when I hit four years old, I started to completely disintegrate the plants I would touch- over the years it's only gotten worse- the gloves that once retained my power can now even let my power start to have an impact even if I am wearing them..." Leon went on raising his hand as Erika looked over to it- so the prince could not touch anything living- did that mean humans too? Could he turn humans to charcoal as well.... it was to this thought that Erika seemed to realise something- a faintly concerned expression came on Erika's face, her mouth hanging open soundlessly for a few seconds... before she gulped, deciding to speak up...

"S-so... earlier when you touched my face..." she began meekly as the prince nodded, knowing what she was going to say.

"That was a test to see if my power would affect you, yes..." Leon was surprisingly very honest with his reply as Erika became rather uncomfortable to this news. "I knew- I was told that there was a witch residing in your village- That this witch had a resistance to demonic powers and would not be affected by my blood"

Erika sunk down in her chair staring at her knees- so they also knew that she was a witch... she had already known it was a possibility however hearing it from himself made a pit grow within her chest... who was it who had told them? As far as she ever knew, she never gave her identity away... besides... she looked at her hands gloomily. It wasn't as if she could cast any proper magic properly like a normal witch could...

It was was as Erika was brooding however, that Mira finally emerged from behind Erika, making herself as a familiar known- all in a spectacular fit if rage.

"Hang on now, so you mean to tell me that you just used Erika as a guinea pig?!" Mira yelled angrily, jumping onto the table before them, her sudden outburst making Erika jump.

"M-Mira?!" Erika spluttered in alarm.

"How dare you, prince or no prince, you should have let her know beforehand!" Mira lectured the prince acidly as it was then that Lord Ivor began to unsheathe a sword to his side, Erika going pale to this.

"Your highness-"

"Lord Ivor, put your sword away..." Leon stopped the advisor with the pause of his hand, before he then gave a small smile to the cat on the table.

"So who are you?" Leon tilted his head as Mira remained unnerved from the table, all her hairs on ends.

"My name is Mira- I am Erika's guardian!" Mira announced haughtily to the prince. "I'll have you know right now, if you try anything funny with Erika, I will not hesitate!!"

"Mi-mira- please..." Erika ushered her cat to back down as it was then that the prince laughed, completely unphased by the cats appearance or her sudden outrage.

"Amazing! I've never had the honour of meeting a talking cat before!" The prince noted merrily, not seeming at all swayed by Mira's defensiveness.

"Sweet talking will get you nowhere!" Mira hissed as Leon regained his composure.

"Well I can assure you Miss Mira, we aren't here to harm Miss Hartell!" Leon then confirmed with them, a statement that seemed to take the pair back a little.

"Y-you..." Mira began, seeming a little tongue tied. Erika blinked twice at the prince... so she wasn't here because she was in trouble? But she was so certain that being here would mean she was going to be executed for her magical blood...

"You think we'd trust that, you are the royal family! You have an entire history we magic folk can't trust!!" Mira continued to argue as Erika did her best to calm her cat down- though she was thankful Mira was sticking up for her, she was now also very aware of Lord Ivor silently staring daggers at the cat. Leon nodded to Mira's rebuttal though calmly.

"You are correct- my family doesn't have a good history with magic..." Leon acknowledged. "My father in particular..." - ah it seemed for a slight second that the emptiness the prince wore in his eye when Erika first met him returned... though it was only momentary as the prince's smile appeared once more in his face. "However, despite rumours saying otherwise, the royal palace had not ordered another witch hunt since my father had passed away!" Prince Leon then pointed out, his statement only proving to throw Mira and Erika through a loop once more.

"W-what...?" The cat muttered. She seemed to mutter Erika's exact thoughts aloud. "But... But we have heard many stories in recent years-"

"They are just stories..." Lord Ivor cut in, finally speaking up in prince Leon's stead. "Since his highness is of a young age right now, his life is at risk. Unless he holds the same level of fierce reputation as her father did, many countries would take an opportunity to strike us whilst we're weak. So we just tales made of his highness's witch hunts made around the country to maintain the fear his rule has..."

'So that was it...' Erika thought to herself as she recalled the meeting the prince had with the one duke earlier that day. So then the intimidating aura and harsh behaviour was all supposed to be an act...?

Regardless of this explanation, Mira still appeared to be skeptical.

"Is that so..." she muttered, not at all sounding like she trusted them at all- though it seemed she hadn't got much of a counter to this. It was then that Leon focused his eyes back on Erika, looking at her directly, much to her surprise.

"Miss Hartell, I apologise for testing your ability without consent..." Prince Leon began whilst bowing his head as it was then that Erika quite suddenly grew flustered. To have royalty lower their head to her.

"N-N-No- it's okay..." Erika stammered, not feeling comfortable with an apology from someone who really could have had her killed by now if they wanted to. It was then however that prince Leon continued.

"However, if you can trust one thing... it's that I knew you would be fine from the moment I saw you!" He then gave her a very confident smile as it was to this smile that Erika felt her concerns of him begin to fade away... It was something she had noticed before but- for a boy his age he was very articulate- maybe that was normal for a prince given the countries best education... He seemed to be miles ahead in maturity than her- though despite all this, his smile was still that of a child's- a genuine one at that... it was because of this that she could at least sense there was no lie in his words.

It was to this that Erika was once again able to find herself able to speak as she clenched her hands.

"S-So... was that the only reason you brought me here...? If I am okay to ask?" Erika muttered shyly as it was then that the prince laughed faintly to this.

"Oh no? Of course not, there is a bigger reason!" Leon told her brightly whilst shaking his head as Erika gave a puzzled expression. A bigger reason...? It was to this that the prince rested his chin against his hand in a laid back way whilst tilting his head.

"Actually Miss Hartell, I brought you here to ask you if you would mind becoming my bride!"

...

...huh?

"Ehhhh?!"

The shock of thus question was enough for it to audibly sound out of Erika's mouth as the instant such a request processed in Mira's mind was when Mira then regained her defensive stance against the prince.

"Okay Erika, there is definitely some weird trap here, I'll distract him, you run away!" Mira announced, all her trust for the prince going out the window as for a split second in her dumbfoundment- Erika almost went along with the cats request, the prince in turn giving a stiff expression upon realising something.

"Ah- no- wait- I see that-"

"What is it you are scheming huh prince boy?! Did you really think we were dumb enough to just fall into you hands?!"

"Actually I-"

"I object to any sort if marriage, royalty or no royalty, the prince of our enemy is completely off limits!"

"Your highness, if you will-" Lord Ivor had finally seemed to loose his patience in the pandemonium, going to grab his sword from his sheathe once more to the cats yelling as it was then that Leon raised his hand up to stop his advisor once more before raising his voice.

"I am not talking about an official or real marriage!!" Leon made sure to make himself clear as Mira regardless kept her defences up. Nonetheless it was enough to make the room quiet and somewhat calm again- Erika staring at the prince in flustered bewilderment as Leon then took a deep breath, sitting back in his chair. "Miss Hartell I'm sure you saw what was happening in the throne room earlier?" Leon brought up as Erika's minds traced back to the Noble from earlier that day. She nodded quietly, uncertain as to what it had to do with his request as Leon gave a distant smile. "He was here to propose I consider his daughter as a potential queen candidate, the first of quite a few" he went on to explain as Erika's expression became faintly surprised. Queen candidates... at such an age. Erika herself had hardly even considered romance most her life, let alone the idea of promising her future to someone.

Mira seemed to scowl in Leon's direction to this untrusting.

"So why not make one of them your unofficial bride?" Mira brought up as Leon gave an uncomfortable laugh to the cats statement.

"Well if it were that simple, neither of you would be here right now..." he pointed out as it was from here that Lord Ivor spoke up for him.

"The incident from today isn't the only one... As his highness has gotten older, he has received more marriage requests. The longer he goes without at least a future empress in mind, the more wary the court appears to be getting, if he doesn't announce an candidate soon, there may be attempts on the throne and the rule of the country..." Lord Ivor explained, much to Erika's discomfort. So it seemed that stuff like marriage was treated a lot more seriously and direly than she originally thought. Leon sat up straight as he raised up his hand, his smile becoming troubled.

"The thing is, there's no way I can consider accepting an empress in the state I'm in right now. My bloodlines curse makes it so I can't touch anything living, that includes any future partners. My families curse is extremely important secret, if word got out that I had such an ability, it would cause unrest... which would lead to more attempts to the throne and panic amongst the people... I'm already a feared leader which works well for warding off assassins, but there's a line between powerful and a tyrant" Leon described. "I don't want this curse of mind to be used to cause fear... nor do I want to potentially kill my future wife by leaving her ignorant..." He pointed out as Erika could only listen in silence, a little surprised to hear the prince's view of his power...

It was true, due to his father's reputation and viscous rumours, prince Leon was made out to be a terrifying figure even at a young age. In fact, his father was the sort of person she could imagine would use the curse as a cause for control and power... rather most people she assume would. Despite this however, it seemed the prince was a lot more aware of his image amongst his people as well as the safety of those around him... she wasn't really expecting something so mature minded to come from him, though at the same time- it made her understand she was indeed talking to a prince. She had no idea that things would be that complicated un terms of marriage, it seems whether he married or didn't , he wouldn't win the courts favour either way.

"That's where you come in!" Leon then chimed in merrily, cutting in Erika's solemn thoughts and changing the mood completely much to her surprise.

"Eh?" She responded as it was then that Leon reached over, lightly grabbing onto her hand.

"Miss Hartell... not only are you the only person in the world I can touch, which would sway off anyones suspicions... but you are also a witch" he pointed out as Erika's face flustered faintly, her hand jumping back as Leon smiled at her. "Being a bride is more of just a convenient disguise... the real reason I want you to stay is because I want to ask if you can help me find a way to break this curse..." he went on as Erika at first didn't know what to say in response to such a thing- rather it seemed like it was one thing after the other right now in terms of requests... though it seemed that Mira was more than willing to ask the questions that she was struggling to form in her mind with all the chaos.

"First you want to get married, then you want to ask her to heal your curse, make up your mind! Besides, need I remind you, your highness , that the reason your family is cursed us because they antagonised magic users like us for decades!" Mira scolded the prince firmly for his vagueness as Leon at first was at a loss for how to respond to that statement- rather he couldn't argue against it... however with some thought he pushed forwards.

"I understand fully that this whole thing is a very tactless request on my part given the circumstances... however the bride situation is for both Miss Hartells safety as well as for the image of the royal family. If it came out that I was working with a witch to break my curse, whether it was for the future of the kingdom or not, there are people in the court who would have Erika executed against my orders. Not just that but it would lead to more problems in the long run to future unrest as well as the leaking of my family secret..." Leon mentioned as Mira piped up at this statement.

"Well what does that have to do with us?! Erika wouldn't be in any danger if you didn't call upon her to begin with!" Mira snapped as Lord Ivor spoke up.

"If his highness is removed from throne, we run the risk of the witch hunts resuming..." He pointed out to the cat annoyed as Mira turned her nose up to him.

"We did plenty fine hiding when the old king was alive, we can do it again!" She hmphed at the old man, who's hand started to twitch to his swird again- Erika's head spinning to everything she was hearing all at once. She was going to be bride, but she wasn't, she was going to have to use magic but it could get her killed, the fate of the throne lay in her choice and so did the future of witch hunts, the royal family had a dark secret- it was too much to take in all at once.

Though it was Leon who interrupted the advisors and the cats fued once more, directing his words mostly at Erika.

"Look I understand I am in no position to be asking for your help... rather it would be reasonable for you to in fact hate me for what my family has put you through... but in all honesty, I didn't know what else to do or who else to turn to... this was one of my final options and I kn- I had a hunch you were someone I could trust Miss Hartell... so despite the audacity of my request, I still figured I had nothing to lose in asking..." he told her seriously, his sincerity taking Erika off guard amidst the whirling of her thoughts... he trusted her...? She looked over to the coalish remains of the plant next to him... he had been living his entire life not being able to touch another person. Even more so than the former king, due to this curse he had more a reason than any to hold a grudge against magic users and yet, he still found it in himself to plead with one such as herself, even acknowledging the past of his family in doing so...

It was a certain, Erika felt bad for the person before her. She wasn't one to hold callous grudges, especially against someone who was striving to be better... however at the same time, even being a witch, was it her place to forgive...? Was it her choice to get rid of the curse of the person before her after his family had committed atrocities against her kind? Not just that but the whole role of being a fake bride and healing a curse was a large one to undertake... to begin with, she couldn't even bond with a familiar... so could she actually do what the prince wanted her to do...

She clenched her hands tighter as she thought on it more, ruminating it in her mind... before she got some courage to speak up.

"How long would this take by chance..." she questioned as Lord Ivor responded.

"Until his highness is of age is our limit... after this you will be free to walk away as if nothing happened..." He answered as Erika's eyes became a little worried... so three years... that was both so much time and yet so little given the circumstances. She thought on it more before looking to the prince.

"W-would it be okay if I had some time to think on it... meantime, I can try and find some sort of lead to help..." Erika told the prince, who's eyes lit up faintly, almost as though he wasn't expecting Erika to really agree at first...

"Erika..." Mira muttered, a little shocked herself as Leon gave a somewhat halfhearted smile.

"Of course... This is quite a sudden request... so take as much time as you need!" He answered as Erika gave a sigh of relief to his reply, ah so she didn't have to make up her mind on the spot right now, that was a pleasant surprise. Mira seemed to struggle between the choice of Erika and her own feelings, however after quickly dwelling on it, she sat back down with a deep exhale.

"Geez, master raised far too kind a girl... you better count yourself lucky she's even considering such a thing prince kid! Most magic users wouldn't give you the time of day!" Mira snapped at the prince who appeared to take her scoldings in great stride as he laughed.

"I do, I am very grateful! Miss Hartell truly is kind person..." He replied as Mira found herself gradually becoming unable to stay spiteful to Leon and his carefree nature as much as she wished to. She scrunched up her nose before looking back to Erika, who's face was somewhat flustered.

"Well Erika, we should be leaving! We have a lot of thinking to do!" Mira announced, looking back to Erika who went to agree whilst correcting her cat on her speech in this moment, standing up- though they were interrupted by the prince very suddenly.

"Ah, actually there is a condition I have to you as you are thinking!" Leon brought up as Mira looked back at him harshly.

"Ha?!"

Leon himself seemed to ponder if he should continue for a second... however it was only momentary as he gave a serious expression to Erika.

"Whilst you are thinking on your reply, you are required to stay in the castle... in fact it's a must that you do!" Leon put forwards to Erika sternly as Mira's hair started to stand on end to this.

"You have some nerve ordering us when we are only considering your request due to Erika's kindness!" She pointed out as Leon shook his head, not heeding to Mira's fierceness on this.

"Miss Erika Hartell, it is a royal order that you stay within the perimeters of the castle until you have made up your mind!" He restated as Erika looked back at him in shock. She wasn't going to be able to go home until she made up her mind? Even though her grandmothers home and resting place was waiting there for her... quite suddenly the image of the strange and friendly prince she had saw moments ago had started to shift. Rather it started to resemble that foreboding presence she had witnessed earlier as the Prince kept his eyes locked on her.

"If you leave the palace during this time, your identity as a witch will be leaked out..."

Were the threatening words he spoke...