The Curse Crown

Chapter 5

**Chapter 5**

Clariza ran through the rain, trying to find a place to stay dry. The downpour was heavy, and she was already soaked, shivering as the cold water seeped through her dress. She hadn’t realized how far she had wandered until she noticed she was deep in the woods behind the palace.

Finally, she spotted an old, run-down building in the distance. As she got closer, she saw it was an empty stable, probably once used for horses but now abandoned. It wasn’t the grandest place, but it would do. She pushed open the creaky wooden doors and stepped inside, grateful to be out of the rain.

The stable was dark and musty, with only a few old tools left behind. It felt strange being there, so far from the palace, but at least she was dry. Clariza noticed a light switch on the wall near the door and flipped it. A single lightbulb flickered on, casting a dim, shaky glow across the room.

“Well, this is better than nothing,” she whispered to herself, trying to shake off the chill.

Clariza sat down on a dusty bench, pulling her knees to her chest. The rain continued to pour outside, but here, in the quiet of the stable, she finally had a moment to breathe.

“Why did it have to be like this?” she muttered, wiping away a tear.

As she stared at the flickering light, she couldn’t help but feel the loneliness of the place. The stable, once full of life, was now just as empty and forgotten as she felt.

She sighed, wishing the rain would stop so she could find her way back. But for now, she would wait, hoping the storm would pass.

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Theodor's POV

**Theodore’s Perspective**

Theodore stared out of the large window in his chamber, watching the rain pound against the glass. The storm outside mirrored the uneasy feeling churning inside him. He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his discomfort. Was it the anticipation of learning who would inherit the throne—him or his younger brother Rahjid—or was it something else?

His thoughts kept drifting back to the young woman he had encountered earlier—Clariza. From the moment she arrived with the Wincaster family, Theodore had recognized her. His sharp memory, a trait often praised in him, made it easy to remember her face and the brief exchange they had.

He recalled her look of surprise and hurt when he had spoken to her earlier. His words had been cold and dismissive, and now, as he reflected on it, he felt a gnawing sense of guilt. The way she had tried to hold her composure, only to flee the hall in distress, weighed heavily on him.Theodore stared out of the large window in his chamber, watching the rain pound against the glass. The storm outside mirrored the uneasy feeling churning inside him. He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his discomfort. Was it the anticipation of learning who would inherit the throne—him or his younger brother Rahjid—or was it something else?

His thoughts kept drifting back to the young woman he had encountered earlier—Clariza. From the moment she arrived with the Wincaster family, Theodore had recognized her. His sharp memory, a trait often praised in him, made it easy to remember her face and the brief exchange they had.

He recalled her look of surprise and hurt when he had spoken to her earlier. His words had been cold and dismissive, and now, as he reflected on it, he felt a gnawing sense of guilt. The way she had tried to hold her composure, only to flee the hall in distress, weighed heavily on him.Theodore stared out of the large window in his chamber, watching the rain pound against the glass. The storm outside mirrored the uneasy feeling churning inside him. He couldn’t pinpoint the source of his discomfort. Was it the anticipation of learning who would inherit the throne—him or his younger brother Rahjid—or was it something else?

His thoughts kept drifting back to the young woman he had encountered earlier—Clariza. From the moment she arrived with the Wincaster family, Theodore had recognized her. His sharp memory, a trait often praised in him, made it easy to remember her face and the brief exchange they had.

He recalled her look of surprise and hurt when he had spoken to her earlier. His words had been cold and dismissive, and now, as he reflected on it, he felt a gnawing sense of guilt. The way she had tried to hold her composure, only to flee the hall in distress, weighed heavily on him.

Theodore tried to push away the guilt gnawing at him. He was accustomed to being cold and detached, a trait that had often served him well in his royal life. He had only spoken the truth earlier; his words were meant to reflect the harsh realities of their world.

He told himself that confronting Clariza in that manner was for the best. If he hadn’t made it clear that she didn’t belong in such high circles, Euphemia might have taken advantage of the situation to humiliate her further. His bluntness had at least spared Clariza from more public embarrassment. He justified his actions by thinking that he had saved her from Euphemia's potential scorn, which could have been even more damaging.

Theodore clung to this reasoning, trying to push away the lingering guilt. He was sure he’d never see her again, and that thought made it easier for him to ignore the uneasy feelings troubling him.

Theodore’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his open door. It was his younger brother, Prince Rahjid. Despite their two-year age difference, Rahjid’s youthful appearance made him look even younger than he was.“Everyone is looking for you,” Rahjid said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s time for the King to announce the crown prince.” His cheerful demeanor masked an unsettling undercurrent. Theodore knew that while Rahjid appeared friendly, he was anything but. Rahjid's smile was a façade, hiding a more dangerous and calculating nature.Theodore was well aware of Rahjid's true character. Behind the veneer of politeness, Rahjid was cunning and ruthless. He had witnessed his brother’s sadistic tendencies since childhood, including Rahjid’s willingness to harm others to achieve his goals. The façade of kindness was just a mask to conceal the cruelty beneath, something Theodore had seen many times over the years.

The herald’s voice filled the grand hall, signaling the start of the selection for the crown prince. Theodore watched as guests shifted in their seats, excited to see who would be chosen.He felt sure that Rahjid would be picked. Rahjid had been handling the King’s political duties, charities, and diplomatic meetings. He was good at making people like him and putting on a pleasant front.Theodore, on the other hand, was known for being cold and uninterested in royal duties. He had no desire to be king and would rather study medicine, agriculture, or travel. Being a monarch seemed like nothing but a huge burden.Rahjid leaned in, his smile as smooth as ever. “You know, everyone expects me to be chosen. They think I’m more suited for the role.”Theodore nodded. “Yes, you’ve handled everything well. I’ll be fine either way.”

As the herald concluded the announcement, the King stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the expectant crowd. Theodore and Rahjid exchanged a quick look, the tension palpable.

“The new crown prince,” the King began, “is Prince Theodore Kingsley of Silvercrest.”Theodore’s heart skipped a beat. The hall erupted in murmurs, and Theodore felt a mix of shock and resignation. Rahjid’s face went cold, his earlier smile fading into a mask of bitterness.

“Well, this is a surprise,” Rahjid said, his voice clipped. “Congratulations, Theodore.”

Theodore sensed the hidden anger behind Rahjid’s smile and greetings. "Rahjid, I—" he began, but his words were cut short as he was quickly enveloped by a crowd of nobles and high-ranking officials.“Congratulations, Your Highness!” one noble exclaimed, patting Theodore on the back.“It’s a well-deserved honor,” another added, shaking his hand warmly.Theodore forced a smile, though his mind was still on Rahjid’s unsettling demeanor. He glanced over his shoulder to find his brother slipping away from the crowd, his face a mask of controlled fury.

As the crowd around Theodore gradually dispersed, he made his way to his father, confusion etched on his face.

"Father, why me? Rahjid should have the crown," Theodore asked, his voice filled with distress.

The king looked at him, equally surprised. "Even I was taken aback, but the crown chose you."

"I don’t understand, Father. Rahjid has been handling the political affairs, charities, and diplomatic meetings. He’s always been the one everyone expected to become king."

The king sighed, his expression thoughtful. "Sometimes, the crown chooses the unexpected. It’s not always about who is most prepared or who is favored. It’s about who is needed."

"But... I’ve always been known as the cold one, the one who doesn’t care about these responsibilities," Theodore protested.

"That may be true," the king said, "but perhaps the crown sees something in you that even you don’t yet understand."

"I don’t know if I can live up to these expectations," Theodore admitted, his voice tinged with doubt.

"You will, my son. It’s a heavy burden, but you have the strength to bear it. Trust yourself and trust in the path that’s been laid out for you."

Theodore nodded slowly, though uncertainty still clouded his mind. "I’ll try, Father. I really will."

"You will come to understand in time," the king reassured him. "For now, you must prepare for what lies ahead."

Theodore took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as he faced the monumental task before him.

Theodore couldn't shake the king's cryptic words from his mind. He was still grappling with the question of why he had been chosen over Rahjid. He decided to return to his chambers to reflect.

Standing on the veranda of his room, he noticed that the rain had stopped. As he opened the large glass doors, a cold breeze greeted him, mingling with a strange, unsettling aura. Theodore's senses were on high alert; he knew he wasn’t alone. The presence was faint but undeniable.

Theodore scanned the room, his eyes searching for any sign of intrusion. "Who's there?" he called out, his voice steady but wary. The silence that followed only heightened his unease.

He waited, listening for any sound that might betray the presence of another. The tension in the room seemed to thicken, and Theodore's hand instinctively moved towards the hidden dagger he kept for emergencies.

As Theodore's eyes adjusted to the dim light, three figures clad in black emerged from the shadows. Their faces were obscured, and their movements were eerily silent. Theodore tensed, his mind racing as he tried to gauge their intentions.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Theodore demanded, standing his ground with a mix of confidence and caution. Despite his unease, he was confident in his abilities. His skills in fencing and martial arts had been honed through years of rigorous training.The assassins didn’t respond. Instead, they lunged at him with swift, coordinated movements. Theodore dodged the initial attacks, his reflexes sharp. The first assassin swung a dagger, aiming for Theodore's side. Theodore blocked the strike with his forearm, using the flat of his sword to deflect the blade. He retaliated with a precise thrust, but the assassin twisted away, narrowly escaping the blow.

Theodore’s heart raced as he sprinted through the darkened garden, every shadow and rustle heightening his senses. The cold night air bit at his face as he zigzagged between the garden's trees and hedges, desperately seeking a place to hide. His injured arm throbbed painfully, the blood seeping through his makeshift bandage, but he couldn’t afford to slow down.

As he ran, his mind flashed back to his childhood. He remembered an old, abandoned stable on the far edge of the estate—a place he and Rahjid had once used for their games. It was far from the palace, hidden behind thick trees and overgrown vegetation. It was the perfect place to hide, secluded and out of the way. The thought provided a glimmer of hope amid the fear.

He dashed toward the edge of the property, his breath ragged as he moved. The sound of his pursuers’ footsteps echoed in the distance, growing louder as they neared. Theodore pushed himself harder, ignoring the burning in his lungs and the sharp pain in his arm.

When he reached the stable, he hesitated for a moment, his hand trembling as he pushed open the creaky wooden door. The inside was dark and musty, the smell of old hay and dust filling his nostrils. He quickly entered, shutting the door behind him with a heavy thud to block out any light from the garden.

Inside, he fumbled to turn off a small, flickering light that had long been a fixture in the stable, casting eerie shadows across the walls. With a shaky breath, Theodore approached the corner where Clariza was hiding, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. He placed a gentle but firm hand over her mouth.

“Stay still and quiet,” Theodore whispered urgently, trying to keep his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “I’m being followed. If they find us here, we’re both in danger.”

He crouched beside her, his injured arm pressing against his side to keep it from moving too much. Through the cracks in the stable walls, he could hear the assassins searching outside, their voices muffled but growing closer. Theodore’s heart pounded, knowing that any moment now, they might discover his hiding spot.

Theodore’s heart pounded in his chest as he pressed himself against the wooden wall of the old stable. The assassins had been hot on his trail, but, miraculously, he had managed to lose them. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to remain as silent as possible.Clariza, still reeling from the chaos, struggled to remove Theodore’s hand from her mouth. Her face was a mix of anger and confusion. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Shouldn’t you be somewhere more fitting for a prince? Like, say, the palace, rather than this dirty stable?"

Theodore tried to shush her, his voice low but urgent. " You shouldnt be here."

Clariza raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp and mocking. "And you’re the one who shouldn’t be here. This is still inside the palace. Or did you think commoners like me would just disappear when you show up?"

Theodore winced from the pain in his side but managed to retort, "You’re the one who shouldn’t be here. It’s still within the palace grounds, so this place is still mine."

Before Clariza could respond, Theodore’s face contorted with pain from his wound. Clariza’s eyes widened as she saw the blood staining his clothes. The only light in the stable came from the moon’s reflection over the wooden window, casting an eerie glow on the scene."Are you alright?" Clariza asked, her voice tinged with genuine concern despite her earlier sarcasm.

Theodore groaned slightly, struggling to maintain composure. "Just a scratch," he managed to say, though his voice betrayed his discomfort.Without hesitation, Clariza tore a strip from the inside of her dress, her hands trembling slightly as she moved to bandage his wound. She worked quickly, her fingers deftly tying the makeshift bandage around the injury.

"Hold still," she instructed, her tone softer now despite the urgency. Theodore winced as she tightened the bandage but remained silent, focusing on keeping his breathing steady.

"I didn’t think I’d be seeing you again, especially not like this," Theodore said, trying to lighten the mood despite the pain.

Clariza finished securing the bandage and glanced at him, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "Well, this isn’t exactly the royal introduction I had in mind. But hey, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve always thought the palace could use a bit more action—and apparently, you’re doing your part."

Theodore chuckled softly, though it was cut short by another wave of pain. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For helping."