The Curse Crown

Chapter 6

Inside the stable, Theodore’s movements were cautious as he checked every corner for any lingering threat. Clariza watched him, her worry evident.

Theodore's frustration boiled over. His fist struck the wall with a loud thud, causing dust to fall from the old wooden beams. "Damn it, who could have wanted me dead? Rajid? The nobles who don’t want me as crown prince? This is madness."

Clariza, struggling to piece together the fragmented situation, spoke up, “I knew you were a prince, but I didn’t realize you had already been chosen as the crown prince. What’s happening?”

Theodore’s face showed a mix of anger and concern. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. There’s so much unrest among those who don’t support my selection. Rajid has always wanted the throne, and there are nobles who see me as a threat to their influence. They might have seen this as their chance to remove me.”

Clariza’s eyes widened in shock. “So, it’s true? You’ve been selected as the crown prince?”

Theodore nodded, his expression grim. “Yes, and this is just the beginning. If the assassins were sent by those who oppose me, they might try again. I can’t let my guard down.”

Clariza, seeing the gravity of the situation, added, “We need to stay quiet and keep a low profile. If they come back, we need to be prepared.”

Theodore took a deep breath, his fists clenched in frustration. “I’ve never been so exposed before. This was supposed to be a time of transition, not a fight for survival.”

They both remained silent, each lost in their thoughts, as they listened intently for any signs of danger. The minutes dragged on, and the uneasy calm in the stable seemed to stretch on forever.

After an hour of tense silence and with no sign of the assassins outside, Clariza turned to Theodore, who was still lost in thought. “What’s your plan? Are you going back to the palace?”

Theodore paused, considering his options. Finally, he stood up, his face resolute. “Yes, I have to go back. I know that returning there might make it easier for them to target me, but I have no choice. I need to confront them and find out who’s behind this.”

He glanced around the dimly lit stable, then turned to Clariza with a new question. “Do you know the way out of here?”

Clariza looked puzzled. “No, I don’t. Why?”

Theodore sighed, frustration evident in his voice. “We’re quite far from the palace gate. I’ll help you get there as a thank you for your help tonight. But if you tell anyone about what happened or what you’ve seen tonight, I will come after you, and you know what that means.”

In her mind, Clariza thought, *Unbelievable. I was hoping he’d be nicer to me after this. I guess I was wrong to expect anything different.*

---

Theodore carefully opened the stable door, making sure not to create any loud noises. Just as he was about to step outside, Clariza’s voice broke the silence.

“Hey, are you going to leave your crown here?”

Theodore glanced back at her, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Crown? I didn’t have a crown with me earlier.”

Clariza shook her head. “I’m not sure. It was too dark to see clearly. I couldn’t tell if you had one or not.”

Theodore thought for a moment, his expression shifting to realization. “In all the chaos, I must have forgotten I was still holding it. I must have brought it here by mistake.”

Clariza reached down, picking up the crown from where it had been left. She approached Theodore and held it out to him. “Here you go.”

As Theodore extended his hand to take the crown, their fingers touched. The moment their skin brushed against the cool metal of the crown, a jolt of energy surged through them. It felt as though their hands were magnetically linked by the crown.

The world around them began to shimmer and spin, their surroundings blurring and swirrling . Theodore and Clariza struggled to stay upright but the sensation was too powerful. Suddenly, their legs gave way, and they collapsed to the ground, their consciousness slipping away as the world around them faded into darkness.

------

The next morning, Clariza awoke to the warm sunlight streaming through the window. She squinted against the brightness, the gentle rays hitting her face and pulling her from sleep.

“Father, brother, could you please close the window?” she called out, expecting her father and brother to be the ones to help her up. They were the ones who usually woke her when she overslept, reminding her to join them in the bakery.

Her voice echoed softly through the room, but there was no response. Confused, Clariza pushed herself up and looked around, realizing that she was not in her own bed or room.

Clariza’s confusion deepened as she looked around the room. It was grand and opulent, with high ceilings, large crystal doors, and exquisite furniture. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the luxurious bed that she was lying on. Something felt off, and she tried to piece together the events from the previous night, but a sharp pain suddenly struck her head.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Come in?” she called out hesitantly.

An elderly maid entered the room, followed by a man carrying a tray. The man placed the tray on the bed and opened it, revealing a spread of delicious-looking food and fruits that Clariza had never seen before.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Your breakfast is ready,” the maid said.

Clariza could only manage a stunned “Thank you,” as she stared at the sumptuous breakfast. The maid had seemed surprised when she heard her say thank you. As if gratitude was an uncommon response then they bowed and left, closing the door behind them.

“Am i dreaming?” Clariza muttered, slapping her face. The sting confirmed that this was no dream. She sighed and pushed herself up from the bed, still bewildered. As she explored the room, she was amazed by the opulence surrounding her.

Her gaze fell upon a series of framed photographs on a nearby piece of furniture. The pictures included family portraits and solo shots of Prince Theodore. Clariza’s heart raced as she backed into a large mirror standing in the corner. As she looked at her reflection, her eyes widened in shock.

With a gasp, she collapsed to the floor, her mind racing. The reflection of Prince Theodore’s face, wearing an expression of bewilderment, was unmistakable. Her stomach dropped as the horrifying realization sank in: she had somehow switched bodies with the prince.Her heart pounded as she looked into the mirror and saw not her own reflection, but that of Prince Theodore!

*******

**Prince Theodore’s POV**

"I can’t believe this!" I muttered, my face buried in my hands as I slumped over the old wooden table.

“Are you alright, child?” Clariza’s father’s voice broke through my shock. His concern was palpable as he looked at me with evident worry.

I tried to steady myself, taking in my surroundings. The room I was in was old but clean, with a modest and simple appearance. The walls were bare, the furniture was basic and worn but well-maintained, and the bed was small and unadorned. There was a faint scent of jasmine in the air, suggesting an effort to keep the space pleasant. A photograph of Clariza and her family stood out on a side table, giving the room a personal touch despite its plainness.

*Is this really Clariza’s body?* I thought, my heart pounding as I glanced at the reflection in a nearby mirror. It was unmistakable—her face stared back at me. I realized that I must be in her body now, and she must be in mine.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” a young man who resembled Clariza asked as he sipped his coffee. He looked like her brother, and the older man beside him, who Clariza had called ‘father,’ seemed deeply concerned.

“No, just a headache from being out in the rain last night,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady and avoid any suspicion. If they noticed something off, they might discover the truth.

I needed to act quickly. This body-swapping predicament had thrown everything into chaos. I had to get to the palace and find Clariza before things got even more complicated.

Before I could make it to the palace, I needed to freshen up. I was still wearing Clariza’s clothes from last night.

“You,” I said, addressing Clariza’s brother, trying to adopt her polite manner. “Could you show me where I can bathe? And if possible, could you get me some clothes?” I added a “please” at the end, though I normally wouldn’t have said that in the palace. Clariza’s respectful tone seemed to require it.

His eyes widened in surprise. “Did you hear how she spoke, Father?” he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm. “Seems like the palace’s wealth has really changed her in just a night.”

He turned to me with a disbelieving look. “Come here, I’m going to give you a smack,” he said, clearly annoyed. “Did I say something wrong?” I wondered to myself, confused by his reaction.

The room seemed to close in on me, and I realized that my attempt to fit in was not going as planned.

Just as I was about to confront the situation, a woman with a soft voice intervened, gently holding my hand. I heard her being called Helen by Clariza’s brother.

“Perhaps Clariza isn’t feeling well, which is why she’s acting differently today,” Helen said with a hint of humor.

She then addressed her husband. “And you, dear husband, hurry up. We have deliveries to make,” she added, revealing that she was Clariza’s sister-in-law.

Helen guided me towards the bathroom. “Wait here, I’ll get some clothes for you from the room,” she said with a reassuring smile. I was touched by how warmly Clariza’s family treated one another. They showed care and love, a stark contrast to the distant affection often felt in my own family.

Now the problem is how can I focus on taking a bath when I know I have to touch Clariza’s body? This is so strange.

I couldn’t help but be amazed by Clariza’s body. She is flawless, with a slight tan that highlights her beautiful skin, even though she’s just a commoner. I also noticed that her figure is gracefully shaped.

"Come on, Theo, stop thinking about it. This isn’t helping you right now." I reminded myself firmly, trying to push away the distracting thoughts and just focus on cleaning this body. I repeat it over and over in my mind to avoid feeling anything uncomfortable, especially not getting aroused or thinking dirty thoughts. Shoot this is hard!!

**************

**Clariza's POV**

What is happening? What should I do? I find myself standing at the threshold of a meeting room in the palace, heart pounding. After breakfast, a palace official came to my room with a stern face, informing me that I’m expected to attend a meeting with high-ranking officials and nobles. They’re anticipating my first address as the crown prince.

I struggled in the large, mirror-filled bathroom earlier. It felt like the whole room was designed to reflect the prince’s vanity. I kept my eyes closed throughout the shower, trying not to let the abundance of mirrors bother me. But when I had to touch his body, it was impossible to ignore the sensation. I don’t want to dwell on it—it's uncomfortable but not entirely unpleasant. If I’m being honest, he is actually my type. What am I doing thinking about this now? This isn’t the time. I bury my face in my hands, trying to clear my mind.

“Are you okay, Theo?” Prince Rahjid’s voice suddenly breaks the silence, startling me from behind.

“Yes, I’m fine… ahem, I’m fine,” I manage to respond, clearing my throat and attempting to deepen my voice. My voice comes out softer than I intended, almost too gentle. I have to be careful not to reveal anything that might give me away..