The Curse Crown

Chapter 12

Theodore's POV

"Clariza! Clariza!" I kept shouting her name in this vast forest. I've been circling around, running endlessly, trying to find her, but she’s nowhere to be seen. I'm getting closer to the borders. It’s strange; I should be seeing guards patrolling this area, but there’s no one—not a single soul.

It’s frustrating trying to run and move in Clariza’s body. Even though I want to keep sprinting, I have to stop every now and then because this body is so much softer, so unaccustomed to strenuous activity.

And another thing, I need to take care of this body. I know Clariza is doing her best to look after mine, so I have to do my part as well.I stopped by a large boulder to catch my breath. Then, I looked up at the sun, trying to estimate the time. We only have four hours for this activity, and based on how long we’ve been here, more than two hours have already passed. I really need to find Clariza soon.

Not far from where I was standing, I sensed someone approaching. I doubted it was one of the participants since this area was too far off. With uncertainty creeping into my mind, I decided to be cautious and hid behind the large boulder.

What I saw next was something I hadn’t expected. Assassins—the same assassins who tried to kill me the night I was crowned crown prince. They weren’t alone. Another man was with them, but I couldn’t see his face. It was covered, and he was wearing a black robe, making it difficult to identify him.

I tried to listen to their conversation as they passed by.

"That one’s definitely dead. I hit him in the shoulder. And who could survive falling from a cliff that high?" one of the assassins said. I had a sinking feeling about what they were discussing.

"Good job. You’ll receive your reward as promised. Just make sure Theodore is truly dead," the man in the black robe replied.

I waited until they were completely gone before stepping out from behind the boulder.

I ran immediately toward the only cliff I knew in this area. I’ve scouted these forests before, so I’m familiar with the terrain. The cliff they mentioned is beyond the border of the forest. How did Clariza end up there? They must have been chasing her.

If they were talking about me, then Clariza was probably the one who got hurt. The thought made my heart race, and I didn’t want to imagine the worst possible scenario. I don’t care if my body is injured; all I care about is that she’s safe.

When I finally reached the cliff, I called out Clariza’s name several times, but there was no answer. This cliff was dangerously high, and if she fell... she wouldn’t survive. I prayed nothing terrible had happened to her.

I tried my best to carefully make my way down the cliff, using the rocks and edges to steady myself as I descended.

There she was—Clariza, barely hanging on to the edge of the cliff, her body crumpled on a small outcropping of rock that jutted out like a hidden ledge. It was as if fate had spared her, allowing that tiny cave to catch her fall. My heart lurched at the sight. If those rocks hadn't been there, she would’ve fallen to her death, lost to the abyss below. From the top of the cliff, she had been invisible, just a shadow hiding in the crevice of danger.

Without thinking, I leaped from my spot, desperation fueling my every move, as I reached for Clariza. She was unconscious, fragile in my arms, and the weight of what could’ve happened crushed me.

***Clariza's POV***

A soothing warmth coursed through my entire body. I felt a gentle hand, warm and comforting, resting on my head. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and there before me was the one person I had longed to see for so long—my mother.

Tears immediately welled up in my eyes, overflowing as I couldn't contain the surge of emotion. "Mother... is it really you? Is this real?" My voice trembled as I reached for her, unable to believe what I was seeing. "I’ve missed you so much. I don’t want you to leave me again."

I broke down into sobs, overwhelmed with joy and sadness. My mother pulled me into her arms, holding me close. It was a happiness so pure, I didn’t want to wake up.

"Is this a dream? Or is it real?"

“Clariza, I’ve missed you too, more than you could ever know. And always remember... I love you so much.Remember, you are never alone." My mother’s gentle voice echoed as she held my hands, her eyes meeting mine with a gaze that seemed to comfort me without words. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and happiness.

But suddenly, she started to walk away. Panic surged through me, and I instinctively reached out to grab her hand. Yet, it felt like... like she was an apparition. Something I could no longer grasp. My fingers slipped through hers as she slowly drifted farther from me, her form fading bit by bit.

I didn’t understand it, but it tore me apart to watch her disappear. I called out to her, desperately, but she didn’t turn back. She never looked at me again.

Then, I woke up, gasping for breath as if I had been running in my dream. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I felt a warmth around me... a body holding me close.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Theodore—back in our own bodies—embracing me tightly.

I forced myself to remember what had happened before I lost consciousness. Then everything came flooding back—the assassins chasing me, and how I fell off the cliff. Thankfully, I didn’t plummet all the way down. I struggled to wake Theodore.

“How did we get back into our bodies before sunset?” I wondered, my gaze drifting up toward the sky. Something didn’t add up.

I glanced back at Theodore, worry flooding me. I noticed the arrow wound on his shoulder. Without thinking, I tore a piece of fabric from my skirt and fashioned it into a bandage. As I tied it tightly around his wound, he winced in pain, gradually waking up.

“Oh my god, Theodore, are you okay?” I asked, my voice thick with concern. I helped him sit up, tears threatening to spill again.

“I’m so sorry this happened...” I whispered, on the verge of breaking down. My heart ached for him, knowing he was in pain. I feared he might have sustained a head injury after my fall.

“Hey, this isn’t your fault,” Theodore said, his voice soft but steady. “This is all because of whoever wants me dead. You just got caught up in it.”

I had expected him to be angry with me, thinking I had dragged him into this mess. But instead, I felt nothing but warmth and reassurance from him. His eyes were filled with concern as he wiped away my tears. My heart raced when our gazes locked.

“How did you find me here?” I asked, quickly looking away from his eyes, which were too intense for me to handle.

“I overheard the assassins talking, so I ran as fast as I could to get here. Thank God they didn’t manage to kill you,” he replied, still sounding worried.

“How did we get back into our bodies?” I questioned.

“I’m not sure, but...” I didn’t catch the rest of what he said.

“We need to get out of here,” was the only thing I clearly heard from him.

We moved further back to avoid getting completely soaked by the rain. The wind was picking up, and the cold was starting to seep through.

Suddenly, Theodore's head dropped onto my shoulder. Is he okay? I glanced at him and noticed his body trembling slightly. When I touched his forehead, my heart sank.

He was burning with fever.

Theodore was shivering, clearly in bad shape. What do I do? Panic surged through me as I realized how serious this was. We were stranded, far from help, and he was getting worse by the minute.

I carefully propped him up so he could rest comfortably. Then, I took off my knitted cape shawl and draped it over Theodore, hoping it would keep him from getting too cold.

"I'm freezing!" Theodore muttered, his eyes still closed. I had to find a way to warm him up, and the only thing that came to mind was using body heat. Slowly, I unbuttoned my top layers and did the same for him, my hands trembling slightly as I worked. Gently, I guided him to face me, wrapping my arms around his strong, solid frame.

Our bodies pressed together, the heat between us building. I used our clothes like a makeshift blanket, hoping it would help trap the warmth. As moments passed, I felt Theodore relax against me, his shivering fading away.

But now, I was feeling warmer too. My heart raced as I became all too aware of how close we were, our skin brushing against each other. A flush of heat crept up my neck, and it wasn’t just from the warmt.

Fine! I admit it—I’m slowly developing an admiration for Theodore. Well, maybe it's just that—admiration. Who wouldn’t be impressed by him? He has such a striking physique, and yes, he's ridiculously handsome. His eyes are deep and captivating, his lips perfectly shaped, and his nose is sharp and defined.

But beyond that, even though others see him as distant and aloof, I’ve caught glimpses of his caring, softer side, the one most people don’t get to see.

As these thoughts swirled in my head, my heart began to race even more. I just hope Theodore doesn’t notice how fast it’s beating...

I hadn’t even noticed that the sun was setting, and there still wasn’t a single sound of people nearby. I heard Theodore slowly waking up. The rain had finally stopped, and I had already put my top back on. Noticing that Theodore wasn’t shivering as much, I covered him with my shawl. But I stayed close, still holding him, hoping to keep him warm.

“I’m thirsty... I need water,” he whispered in a hoarse, weak voice.

Where am I supposed to find water here? We’re on the edge of a cliff. I looked around, and luckily, I saw droplets of water trickling from a rock above us. It wasn’t rainwater—it seemed to be seeping from inside the ground.

I stood up and reached for a nearby branch, using its leaves to create a makeshift funnel to catch the droplets.

After gathering about a handful of water, I carefully brought it to Theodore’s lips. But he was too weak, and most of it slipped away, wasted. Determined to help him, I collected more water and, this time, tried something different.

I took the water into my mouth, then leaned closer to him. Gently, I pressed my lips to his, transferring the water slowly, making sure he drank every drop. His fever was still high, and I knew he needed this.

I repeated the process a few more times, each moment feeling more intimate as I stayed close to him, our breaths mingling. It wasn’t just about helping him anymore—something about the closeness stirred a warmth in me that I couldn’t ignore.

Afterward, I sat down for a moment, exhausted. Without realizing it, I drifted off to sleep, with Theodore resting on my lap. I didn’t wake up until I shifted and accidentally toppled over.

When I looked around, Theodore was no longer beside me. He wasn’t anywhere in sight. Panic set in as I feared the worst—what if he had fallen off the cliff while I was asleep and didn’t notice?

I was just about to call out in a panic when Theodore suddenly appeared in front of me, leaping from the side.

"Where have you been? Are you feeling better now?" I asked, my hands instinctively reaching for his face, gently checking for any signs of fever. His skin was warm, but not like before. It seemed the fever had broken.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine now," he said, his voice steady and reassuring. "My body heals quickly from fever, pain, even poison. But I owe it to you... I know you took care of me when I was weak."

His words sent a rush of warmth through me. I could barely process the memories flooding back—the way I had shared body heat with him, how I’d transferred water to him with my lips. My cheeks flushed at the thought, and I was grateful for the dimming light that hid my embarrassment. He didn’t seem to mention any of it, though, so maybe he didn’t remember. Hopefully.

"Where did you go? And what’s that you’re holding?" I asked, eager to change the subject.

"This?" he said, holding up a vine rope. "I climbed up and found this. I need to tie it around you so we can both climb up together."

"You already made it up there?" I asked, surprised. "Then why did you come back? You could’ve saved yourself, gone to the palace for help, and then returned for me."

My heart swelled at the thought. He could’ve left me, but he didn’t. He’d risked coming back, even when it would have been easier to save himself. The realization made me feel something deeper—a warmth that wasn’t just from gratitude. It was something more. His selflessness, the way he returned without hesitation, made my heart race even faster.

Is it possible that I’ve shifted this quickly from simple admiration to something deeper? It feels like more than just being impressed by his strength or his looks. There’s this undeniable pull, a warmth that grows every time I’m near him. My heart races whenever I hear his voice, and the smallest things—his smile, his touch—seem to linger longer than they should.

Every moment with him feels like a thread pulling me closer, and the more I try to ignore it, the tighter it becomes.

I think...I think I am Falling for Theodore!