The Curse Crown

Chapter 8

As the night began to settle in, Clariza and Theodore decided it would be best to just meet again the following day .They also planned to discuss their situation in more detail during their next meeting. Both knew they needed to fully understand each other's lives and responsibilities—how to act, speak, and behave convincingly in each other’s roles. This would be crucial to avoid raising suspicion and making it through this bizarre experience without further complications.

The fading light cast long shadows, and Clariza couldn’t shake her concern over what had happened earlier with the guards. Worried about Theodore's safety, she suggested arranging for someone to both pick him up and drop him off, ensuring he wouldn’t have to travel alone at night. Theodore agreed, realizing it would be much more comfortable than enduring the jarring ride in an old wagon.

A loud alarm suddenly echoed from a clock mounted on the wall of Theodore's room, signaling that it was 6 p.m. Without warning, their vision became hazy, and a wave of dizziness washed over them, as if they were momentarily dissociating from reality. Then, in an instant, everything snapped back into place, and they found themselves back in their original bodies.

"We're back in our own bodies!" Clariza exclaimed joyfully. A bright smile spread across her face as relief washed over her. She was genuinely happy, thinking she no longer had to deal with Theodore's problems. That thought alone filled her with excitement and made her almost giddy with joy.

"Finally, thank you!" Theodore muttered with relief, grateful to be back in his own life. He had missed the comfort, wealth, and luxury he was accustomed to. The brief time spent in Clariza’s simpler, more difficult life had been quite challenging, and he was more than ready to leave it behind.

"So now that we're back in our own bodies, there's no reason for us to meet again. I hope this is the last time," Prince Theodore said in a cold, detached manner.

Clariza didn’t like his attitude at all, but for the sake of avoiding further stress, she decided to let it go. "Yes, I hope our paths don't cross again," she replied, turning and walking towards the door.

When Theodore opened the door, both he and Clariza were startled to find Euphemia standing right outside. Theodore's mind raced with worry—had she overheard their conversation?

“Have you been standing there long? Did you overhear our conversation?” Theodore asked coldly.

Despite her best efforts to imitate Theodore’s demeanor, Clariza found it impossible to replicate his natural air of detachment. The way Theodore spoke carried an aura that was uniquely his, and no amount of mimicry could match his genuine presence.

“Oh, I just arrived,” Euphemia replied, waving casually. Her expression quickly changed to one of surprise and irritation when she saw that Clariza was also inside Theodore's room.

“What is that commoner doing here?” Euphemia sneered. “Aren’t you afraid she might carry bacteria and diseases?” Her disdainful remarks were a stark reminder of her habit of belittling others.

Theodore answered her sharply, “I’m the one who invited her into my room to clean since she's applying to be one of the palace maids.” Euphemia’s irritation was evident as she continued to glare at Clariza.

“What do you need? Why are you here?” Theodore asked, his tone firm. Euphemia’s expression shifted instantly. She adopted a demeanor that was both innocent and flirtatious, as though trying to soften her approach now that she was addressing Theodore directly.

“Well, since the king and my father agreed that we will soon be betrothed, I wanted to let you know that the king has permitted me to stay here at the palace for a while. This way, we can get to know each other better,” she said, her voice dripping with flirtation. She even placed a hand on Theodore’s shoulder, as if trying to be alluring.As she said this, Euphemia’s gaze clearly lingered on Clariza, as if to assert, “Theodore is mine.”

Clariza rolled her eyes at the flirtatious atmosphere Euphemia was creating. In her mind, she thought, *As if I’d want to go after your prince. Just keep him to yourself.*

"Excuse me, I need to leave," Clariza said, trying to squeeze past them at the door. "Before I puke from all the flirtation," she muttered quietly as she walked by, offering it as an excuse.

"Did you say something?" Euphemia asked.

"No, I said, ‘Good night, Your Highness,’" Clariza replied as she exited, using it as a cover for her irritation.

Clariza walked to the carriage waiting for her outside to take her home. As she settled in, her mind churned with thoughts. *Why did we switch bodies?What could have been thr cause of it? So i guees the prince and I wont see each other again.* Her thoughts turned more personal, *. And what could have Theodore and Euphemia have been doing now? ...Why am I even wasting time on thainking about them? I couldn't care less if they spend the whole night together.* She shook her head, trying to push away the unwelcome feelings.

After Clariza left, Theodore turned back to Euphemia. He quickly shut down her attempts at conversation, using a calm but firm tone. “It's late, Euphemia. You should rest. We’ll have plenty of time to talk in the coming days.”

Without waiting for a response, he excused himself and made his way to the king’s private quarters. When he arrived,his father was seated at his desk, reviewing documents. Theodore bowed respectfully before making his request. “Father, I would like to request a private secretary and an office of my own. There’s much work to be done, and I believe this would help me better manage my responsibilities.”

The king looked up, studying Theodore for a moment. “Yes you may select your private secretary and I will tell the Steward to prepare an office for you. By the way you handled yourself well today, Theodore, especially during the meeting. I was impressed by your patience and composure. You’re growing into the role of crown prince.”

Hearing his father’s praise, Theodore felt an unexpected sense of pride. But it also made him pause, realizing that the success of the meeting earlier wasn’t entirely his own doing. He owed Clariza for that. She had managed to navigate through the meeting in his body, and now, he realized he had to thank her for it.

“Thank you, Father,” Theodore said with a small nod. “I will continue to do my best.” After receiving the king’s approval for his request, Theodore was just about to leave the room when his father suddenly asked, "Ah, Theo, the night after you were crowned… did anything unusual happen to you?"

Theodore froze, the question immediately grabbing his attention. *Does Father know something about what happened to me?* he wondered, his mind racing. Turning back to face the king, Theodore tried to maintain a calm expression, but his curiosity was piqued.

“Why do you ask, Father?” he responded carefully, unsure of how much to reveal.

The king stood up, walked to a corner of the room, and retrieved an old, worn-out book from a shelf as he began to speak. "Theo, you know the story of the Cursed Crown, don’t you?"

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that just an old tale? Something the ancient kings made up as a bedtime story for their children? It’s not real." His words were dismissive, but his curiosity was undeniable. Why would his father bring up such a legend now?

King Thanos, however, seemed serious as he carefully placed the book on his desk. "That’s what most people believe, yes. But there’s more to the story than what is told in children’s tales. Some things… aren’t as mythical as they seem."

"This book, Theo," the king began, his voice low and deliberate, "contains records from ancient royals who experienced unimaginable things after they were crowned."

He gently opened the book, revealing yellowed pages filled with handwritten notes and symbols. "These aren’t just stories. The experiences documented here are real, passed down through generations of kings. They speak of strange occurrences, body-swapping, visions, and curses that befell those who wore the crown."

Theodore was shocked by what he heard, but he kept his expression composed, deciding to let his father finish before saying anything. His mind was racing, trying to connect the dots between the strange events he’d experienced and the ancient records his father was talking about.

"Not everyone experiences these things, Theo," his father continued, his voice carrying the weight of the past. "My father and I didn’t but my garandfather and my brother did. You know that I wasn’t meant to be king. It was supposed to be my brother, Prince Demeter."the king paused, the memory of his brother's fate darkening his expression.

"But strange things began happening to him. And then… one day, we found him. He had taken his own life." The king's voice faltered for a moment, the pain still evident despite the years that had passed. "The curse, or whatever it was, took him. And I was left to rule."

Theodore was stunned. All his life, he had believed, like everyone else, that his uncle Demeter had died from an illness. To learn now that it had been suicide, brought on by something supernatural, left him speechless.

He stared at his father, trying to reconcile the image of his strong, composed king with the vulnerability he now displayed. "Father… you never told me," Theodore finally managed to say, his voice laced with disbelief. "Why hide it? Why let everyone believe it was an illness?"

"This is a highly sensitive secret that must remain concealed," his father explained, his voice tinged with gravity. "My father and I chose to keep the true cause of Demeter's death hidden. If our enemies were to discover that such a curse afflicts our family, they would seize the opportunity to exploit it. They would seek out any sign of weakness to undermine us, using it to their advantage in their relentless pursuit of power."

"So how did you know, Father, that I was the one chosen by the crown and not Rahjid?" Theodore asked.

The king’s gaze softened as he replied, "When I first touched the crown, I felt a whisper on the wind, calling your name. Even though I couldn’t fully understand it, I knew deep down that you were the one chosen."

"Father, would you have chosen me if the crown hadn’t selected me?" Theodore asked, his eyes searching his father's face.

The king’s expression shifted to one of guilt, revealing that Rahjid might have been the chosen one. Theodore noted the subtle signs of favoritism, understanding that since his real mother had been exiled and the king had remarried, Rahjid and the new queen had become the king's favored ones. It was clear that, in his father's eyes, Rahjid held more importance than he did.

"That no longer matters," the king said with a reassuring smile. "What’s important is that you were chosen."

Theodore hesitated, considering whether to tell his father about the body switch with Clariza. Yet, a deep-seated reluctance held him back. Having grown up with little affection from his parents and feeling their emotional distance, Theodore had developed a cold, guarded demeanor. He struggled to trust anyone, even his own father. The lack of warmth and care in his upbringing had left him feeling isolated and skeptical.

"Anyway, I’ll give you this," the king said, handing Theodore the book. "If you ever experience anything similar to what they went through, this might help you."

Theodore took the book, his mind already made up to keep the truth from his father for now. He still had many questions, and his trust in others, including his own father, was limited. Theodore had learned to rely solely on himself, and he was determined to navigate these challenges on his own.

Just as their conversation concluded, Rahjid entered without knocking. "Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were here, Theo. Were you discussing something important?" he asked, his expression revealing a subtle curiosity.

The king replied, “It’s nothing significant. I was just giving Theo some records on the royal affairs of the kingdom.” He returned to his seat.

He tried to mask his growing unease, but Rahjid’s casual suggestion made him question how far his brother was willing to push boundaries. There was an underlying tension in Rahjid's tone, and Theodore couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a twisted idea—it might be the first sign of something dangerous his brother was planning.

Rahjid approached, bowing to his father first before turning his gaze to Theodore. Despite his smile, there was an undercurrent of suspicion in his eyes, as if he could sense Theodore’s underlying tension.

Rajhid simply laughed at Theodore's remark.

"My dear brother, you should let me finish first. And for the record, you've never really understood the kingdom's affairs, even before now," Rajhid added with a subtle jab.

Theodore clenched his fist at his brother's words, feeling the sting of the insult despite trying to maintain his composure.

Rajhid smirked as he began to explain the mechanics of his proposed hunt, attempting to present it as a thrilling event rather than something barbaric.

"The new Grand Hunt will have a twist this year. It's not about hunting wild animals anymore, dear brother. It's a game of strategy and cunning where no one gets hurt. Here's how it works: Every participant, noble or commoner, will draw a ribbon. Those who receive a blue ribbon will be hunters, while those who get a red ribbon will be the prey or the targets. The prey will have an hour's head start to hide within a designated area, allowing them to devise their strategies."

He paused, gauging Theodore's reaction before continuing.

"Each prey will wear a badge that corresponds to a certain number of points. The hunters' goal is to collect as many of these badges as possible. At the end of the game, the hunter with the highest total badge points wins. However, if a prey manages to avoid capture until the end of the game, they'll be rewarded with something valuable— a favor or a request granted by the king, within reasonable limits, of course."

Rajhid's eyes gleamed with excitement as he finished his explanation. Theodore could feel the unease growing within him. While the game seemed harmless on the surface, he couldn't shake the feeling that his brother had ulterior motives.

Their father smiled as he listened to Rahjid. “What a brilliant idea, Rahjid!” the king said, clearly pleased with the unique twist to the Grand Hunt. “I’m sure the nobles will love it. It’s not just about hunting animals anymore; it adds a layer of excitement and strategy.”

Theodore could see his father’s approval of Rahjid’s suggestion, and though it seemed like a creative change, he wondered what Rahjid’s true intentions were, suspecting that there might be a deeper plan behind the facade of entertainment.