Spirit Princess and her cursed Prince

2

   "A deal? About what?" Isabella asked confused. 

Taking in a deep breath Noel took her hand "you see, my family has been cursed and i will won't live passed 25. It has been the the curse of my family since the beginning and all i know is because my ancestors pissed off some spirit. So i would like you to marry me. you are my only hope and i haven't had that in a long time" 

  "What does me marrying you have to do with breaking your curse?" She asked for clarification. 

  "Well i feel as though what i am asking you to do is a big favor and no amount of money or jewels would compensate for you curing my family bloodline so if you succeed i will promise you a happy life and of course protection for your kingdom forevermore" He says searching her eyes. He had no idea on what she was thinking and was scared that she may reject him. 

   {I don't think you should help him. If they were cursed they deserve it.} Crystal commented. 

   {Now Crystal, You know the Princess would never think like that} End chuckled. 

Isabella smiled "Right...okay I'll marry you and do my best to figure out to breath the curse" she tells the Prince. He let out a sigh of Relief and smiled a bit "Thank you..." Isabella simply nodded before Noel took her hand again and walked towards the front "Wait what are you doing?" She asked. 

  "Announcing that you will be my future queen, what else?" He says trying to go up the steps to the stand but Isabella pulled him back. Noel was a bit taking back by her strength and blinked looking down at her "What?"

    "I uh, do you have to announce it? I'm really shy" She whispered. 

He gave her a blank unamused look and pulled her up the steps onto the stand and told the band playing to stop and everyone looked at them. Isabella felt like she would faint but Noel put an arm around her. "I would like to announce I have chosen Princess Isabella of Asteria to be my future queen" Noel says. The people around the room began to clap loudly making her even more nervous. 

    "Just relax. I got you okay?" He whispered to her and she nodded taking a breath and letting it out. "Everyone please enjoy the party" He added before stepping down with Isabella. "See? There was nothing to be nervous about" He smirked. 

Rolling her eyes she crossed her arms "says you. This is the longest i been around other humans beings that aren't my family" She said "That explains a lot." Noel commented 

Isabella opened her mouth to speak but Merlin rushed over hugging the both of them "Wonderful! just wonderful, I am happy for you your highness and you too Princess" He smiled. 

  "Just Isabella is fine" she giggled 

Merlin smiled and looked at Noel who was avoiding eye contact. Soon enough other nobleoyal crowded them offering them best wishes and congratulations. That went on for most of the night and when the ball ended and everyone pretty much left. Isabella was standing out on the balcony looking out to the garden. 

   "Isabella!" A familiar voice called out to her. She turned to see Antonio waving at her next to Noel who didn't even bother to glance at her. walking over to them she smiled.

   "Hello again, did you need something?" 

shaking his head he put a arm around Noel shoulder "No, just wanted to congratulate you both, I never expected this one to decide finally get married. i was sure he would die alone" He snickered earning a elbow in his side from Noel. 

   "But it's true i was surprised" Antonio added stepping away from him "Are you going to help him break his curse?" 

Isabella glanced to Noel "It's fine, he knows we grew up together" He assured her. 

   "Oh yeah, we're best friends" Antonio grinned. 

   "No we aren't" Noel says walking away to go find Merlin. 

Antonio sighed watching him before looking at Isabella "I guess he is still a bit mad. i don't blame him" 

   "Mad? about what?" She asked. 

Moving to the balcony and leaning on the railing he looked up at the stars and the moon in the far distance. "As he said, we grew up together then one day he told me about his curse but at the time i didn't understand it so i asked my parents about it and they got wary of him so i wasn't able to play with him as often, he would try to sneak to see me but because i was scared I told him i didn't want to play as he scared me." Sighing again he ran his fingers through his soft black hair "I didn't think about how lonely let alone scared how he must have felt from the curse. in a way I'm still paying for that slip up" 

Isabella was a bit surprised by his story, it made a lot of sense to her as to why he acts like this now. she couldn't imagine that level of loneliness. "I understand, I'll make sure to stay by his side and you do the same. I'll make sure to break this curse" She assured Antonio. He smiled at her "I trust you. now let's go back in, it's not good if you spend so much time with another prince" 

Isabella nodded and he led her back inside and over to Noel and Merlin who seemed to be having a heated conversation. Once they approached Merlin smiled at Isabella taking her hand "Princ- I mean Isabella. Since you will be staying I have prepared the room next to Noel's for you if you need anything go to him first okay?" 

   "I understand thank you" 

   "will you be staying too Antonio?" Noel asked him

He nodded "You bet, you just got engaged i must stick around and help plan your engagement ball. seeing as you wouldn't put much effort into it. plus we train with Acel tomorrow" 

   "Much appreciated prince Antonio. your room is already prepared" Merlin smiled bowing a bit. Antonio looked at Isabella "I'll see you in the morning Princess, good night" He waved before leaving. 

  {Can we turn in also? I am sleepy} Crystal yawned. 

Isabella looked at Noel and Merlin "It's late and i would also like to go to sleep" "Oh certainly. Noel take her to her room" Merlin ordered. 

"Why me?" he frowned 

Merlin gave him a warning look. Despite being the future king Noel could never stand up to Merlin. He for sure earn his title in the castle. "Fine. Follow me" Noel said walking ahead quickly without waiting. Isabella bowed to Merlin bidding him goodnight before catching up to Noel. "Sorry I don't mean to bother you" She told him. 

  "It's not you. I just hate when Merlin tells me what to do" He says lead her down a hall with different art paintings on them. She stopped at one in particular "This one looks amazing" Noel stopped and looked to which painting she was referring to. 

He scoffed and crossed his arms "This is the first King Armindo. The 'evil' king as history calls him. He let his power get to his head and cursed us all. even i think he deserved the curse" He said and kept walking. Isabella stared at the painting for a moment long before following Noel again. 

Once they arrived at her room he opened the door for her and she walked in. it was big and had a balcony of it's own looking into the garden it was a king size bed with a blue comforter and pillows, a bathroom was across from the bed and had a tub in the middle of the room. "If you don't like anything i'll get the maids to switch whatever it is out for you to feel more...comfortable" He said. 

Isabella turned to him after inspecting the room "No, i love it. thank you" 

Nodding Noel turned and walked out closing the door behind him. Isabella frowned a bit and sat on the edge of the bed, she snapped having Crystal and End appear before her. Crystal rested on her lap "That prince is such a jerk! he didn't even bother to say goodnight!" she pouted. 

  "It's not a big deal Crystal, he's dealing with a lot i don't expect him to change his personality with me overnight Let's just sleep for now i'm tired" Isabella stood up setting Crystal on the bed and changed into her night gown before crawling under the blanket and going to sleep. 

The next morning Isabella woke up to light hitting her in the face from the window. She sat up yawing rubbing her eyes. End sat up from the foot of her bed and looked at her. 

   "How did you sleep princess" he asked. reaching over and petting his head Isabella smiled "Very well thanks, I am starving though so i can't wait to see what i can use for breakfast"  getting out of bed she went into the bathroom and drew herself a bath, she was very independent when it came to handling things herself, As she was the second born the main focus was on her brother. Not to say she was mistreated in any way but she learned to not bother others for little things. Undressing she stepped into the warm bubble filled bath and soaked there for a while. 

End walked in and sat by the tub while Crystal flew over standing on the edge. "So any ideas on how i can help Noel? I mean the sooner the better" Isabella asked End. Humming he rested his head on the edge of the bathtub "I suggest finding the shrine maybe we can talk to the elder spirit. though, it may be hard if they abandoned the land." 

   "I figured that would be the case though finding the shrine would be good. it would be rude to not pay respect. Though with a curse this serious the crime committed must have been horrible. I haven't heard of a curse this bad since...forever actually" 

   "We don't usually use generational curses as it does take a lot of power plus only the caster or the spirit king can remove it." Crystal stated "We have a lot to cover if we plan on helping out the jerky prince" 

Giggling Isabella ducked her head down into the water for no more than 30 seconds before coming up wiping the soapy bubbles from her face. she cleaned herself a bit more before getting out the water then drained the water from the tub. She put a towel around her body and walked out the bathroom to the closet to find a dress. Isabella had think about herself being engaged now so she wanted to dress a bit nicer. 

  "I think you should wear the Yellow dress, it is mature but still shows your cuteness princess" End spoke up as he could see her confliction. Isabella smiled at End and nodded taking out the dress, It was a bright toned yellow that complimented her brown complexion.

 Taking off the towel she put it on and tied the straps around her neck into the bow, It left her back exposed and open and flowed down to her ankles with a row of bow-like design around the bottom. The dress had a clear glittery taffeta wrapped around the waist to give a bit more flare to an otherwise plain design. The top was embordered with pink and white flowers at the top. Isabella whistled and got End to dry her hair a bit with the heat of his flames before letting the bottom half down and tying the top half into a bun.  

Satisfied with her look Isabella turned to End and Crystal "Time to go" She grinned. They nodded and disappeared two symbols on her arms glowed for a second before vanishing. Putting on matching yellow shoes she took in a deep breath and let it out. She walked out the room and looked around the hallway and went down the hall she remembered coming from, It made her a bit lost though. 

Seeing a Butler she went over to him "Excuse me! Can you take me to the Kitchen?" She asked. 

   "K-Kitchen? May i ask why?" He asked confused and concerned 

   "To make food of course" Isabella smiled. The butler was Hesitant but took her to the kitchen. 

In the same while Noel had just gotten seat at the dining table with Antonio "Man...I still can't believe you got engaged. it's all too baffling still. I am proud though. She seems like a nice person" Antonio said. 

  "Yea well it's not that exciting, let's take you for example...you walk around like your free but are engaged to Northern kingdom princess whom you never met. I don't remember you being very excited" Noel mentioned. "good point, BUT you have met her so it's still different" Antonio retorted. 

Sighing Noel shook his head and ignored him, Merlin came into the dinning room smiling ready to greet Isabella but stopped when he didn't see her. His smile fell and looked to Noel "Where is Isabella?" 

   "How would i know?" He scoffed. 

Merlin felt his right eye twitch and calmed himself from hitting the boy in the head. "She was in the room next to yours, It didn't occur to you that maybe you should try to walk with her? She will be your wife eventually" He reminded Noel who groaned loudly "Next person who reminds me that we are engaged is getting beheaded" He said. 

  "Including me?" Isabella asked from behind them. Noel stood up and turned to face her with Merlin and Antonio. "Sorry if being engaged to me is such a bother" She smiled holding a silver tray that held food on it. 

Noel mentally cursed himself closing his eyes before looking away. Merlin shot glares at Noel for speaking so rudely out in the open. Antonio smiled awkwardly rubbing the back of his head not sure on what to say. Isabella chuckled shaking her head and walked closer to the table and sat down with the tray on the table. 

  "Please don't think to much on that, I don't mind" She says softly. 

  "Uhm, you seem to have come from the kitchen Princess, why were you in there?" Merlin ask to steer the topic to something new. "Oh! I wanted to make myself something. I have to keep a certain diet and i don't eat meat due to my spirits so i have to compromise for that" She explained

Noel raised a brow "Your spirits? What do you mean?" 

  "Exactly what i said, You know my kingdom is close to the spirit world so I have spirit familiars which are animals and i feel uncomfortable eating meat when i have them" "Are they here now?" Antonio asked trying not to sound to excited. 

Isabella nods and snapped and Crystal appears on her shoulder and End appears at her left side between her and Noel "Meet Crystal the dragon and End the wolf. End has control of Hell flame and Crystal well...She is still a young familiar spirit in training so her abilities hasn't yet shown themselves but they will sooner or later" 

  "I'm a jack of all trades!" Crystal stated proudly. Noel and Merlin were taken back by her speaking while Antonio laughed happily leaning closer rubbing Crystal head with his index finger "My how amazing! this is truly a sight to behold"  

Crystal blushed and moved to Antonio shoulder and rubbed against his cheek. Isabella shook her head and looked at Noel "You can pet End if you want. Don't worry he looks hot but he isn't his body is actually pretty cool which is why he is blue" She assured him. 

Noel looked perplexed by this and stared at End who was just laying down on his front paws quietly. "He seems to be...comfortable maybe another time. Anyways we have more pressing matters" Noel says and looked at Merlin who caught on. 

   "Oh yes, We have the engagement ball to plan and we need to quickly figure out how to break Noel curse, have you thought of anything yet Princess?"

    "I have" She smiled 

   "Really? What is it?" Noel pressed 

Chuckling she put a figure to her mouth "It's a secret" winking she began eating. Noel stared at her in disbelief. 

    "Why wont you tell me?" Noel gritted through his teeth. 

Shrugging Isabella looked to the side "I am not sure if it will work personally plus it's a bit risky so if i tell you it might be jinxed" She looked to Noel "Just trust me okay? I'll figure it out" Noel frowned but gave in for now and nodded seeing as he had no other choice. 

   "Then I'll leave it to you for now"