The Cursed Prince

Harlow thought the man who sent her those gifts was presumptuous! How dare he claim her as his wife without the princess's approval? And not even her parents knew or agreed to this. How dare he!

After the king and queen left to have a talk between them, and while the birthday princess was sulking at her own birthday party, suddenly, a new guest arrived at the palace.

It was a man that Harlow did not recognize at all.

The man was really handsome, perhaps even more handsome than the famous former womanizer, Lord Gewen Athibaud.  He looked younger than Gewen, but had a taller and bigger build. 

He had ashen hair down to his shoulders and his eyes held a hint of fleeting happiness in them. He looked like he was happy to have arrived in the palace but there was still a look of sadness in them that couldn't be erased.

Harlow also saw that his clothes did not belong to those who came from the village, but rather, this man appeared to be in traveler's clothes and he was weary. When he saw Harlow, the man came forward.

Even during the party proper, people from across the kingdom were invited but none were so bold or dared to approach Princess Harlow. The guards made a movement towards her, but somehow, all of the guards looked like they tripped in the thin air.

Harlow's eyes widened and she felt the breeze in the room. 

Wind magic. Invisible but useful. Was this the person who brought her the gifts? He seemed like the type of man to do so but Harlow did not have any interest in older men or anything like that.

Gewen and Kira were with their children, but as Kira was gulping some of the wine in the goblet, her eyes suddenly bulged and she pointed at the newcomer. "Hey, isn't it–!"

"Hello, Harlow." The handsome guest came in front of the princess, nodded his head a little and then smiled a bit. "I wish you the happiest of birthdays. Is your mother and father around?"

"You know my parents?" Princess Harlow blinked at him. 

She could immediately tell that this man was no ordinary traveler. His movements were graceful and he didn't even pay respect to her, a crown princess, like people who were lower than her in status would.

Was this man… a royalty? She raised an eyebrow, assessing the man.

"Yes, you can say that we've known each other for quite some time. I've come here to pay a visit and only realized that it was your birthday tonight. So, apologies for the lack of a present," he said.

Harlow nodded slowly. She understood that this man was not the mysterious gift sender.She could tell that this man was actually powerful and also had magic on his side, but he was not the one. "Oh… it's not a problem. Sir?"

The man laughed a little and then extended a hand, "I usually tend to have people bring things for me, but that was when I held a more kingly role. My name is Loriel Ashborn, former king of Summeria. Known to your mother and father as Maxim, an old friend."

"An old friend? That's one way of saying it." Suddenly, Emmelyn's voice was heard from the doorway.

Maxim smiled to himself when he heard her and slowly turned around to see his old friend. Gosh.. how long had it been?

More than sixteen years. It's such a long time, but felt like yesterday.

Emmelyn was notified by their butler on the arrival of Maxim when she reached the terrace to talk with her husband. John told her that the former king of Summeria was led by the servant to the banquet hall because he thought Emmelyn and Mars were still there.

Emmelyn immediately rushed back to the venue to see Maxim.

***

"I'm afraid that I think I know who this Ice Prince is," Emmelyn closed her eyes and remembered the time when she, Maxim and Renwyck saved Kira from the White wiitch who turned her into an ice statue. Now… it was not actually the white witch's doing but..

The ice prince himself?

"Who is he? Did he force you to give up your first born?" Mars asked. He was aware of the myths and tales of witches, wizards and other powerful beings that asked for children. The expression on his face was hard to guess.

"No, not at all. The man was kind to me." Emmelyn said. "He is not a bad guy."

Before the two of them continued their conversation, suddenly John came and bowed down so deeply. His face showed that he needed to convey an important message. So, Emmelyn and Mars paused their conversation.

"What is it, John?" Mars asked his loyal butler. "Is anything the matter?"

"Your Majesty, there is an important guest looking for you," said John respectfully.

"Huh? Who is it?" Mars remembered all their close friends and family that mattered already came to attend Harlow's birthday celebration. So, he couldn't think of anyone.

"He said he is Lord Loriel Ashborn. He came from Summeria," said John.

"Loriel?" Mars's immediately remembered that name. He disliked that name so much years ago. Only recently he could say that name without feeling annoyed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Emmelyn gasped. She couldn't believe her own hearing. Loriel was Maxim's other name. So, was it really him?

No… of course, it's him! Who else could it be?

It's been almost seventeen years since the last time Emmelyn saw her friend. Even though he already asked Loriel to come and visit her, he never did. 

And Emmelyn was in no position to travel to faraway places such as Summeria, because she had to care for her young children. So, it's been an awfully long time. Emmelyn missed Maxim so much.

If he really came to visit her today, Emmelyn would scold him for not keeping his word to come and visit her.. Emmelyn heard the news that Loriel only kept his throne for several years after they last met and now he was a free man.