The Cursed Prince

Icecube finally soared across the skies in the demon realm with Harlow on his back. The princess tried to pretend that she was enjoying the view as they flew over the Demon King's castle and eventually darted across the tall towers and walls even though she really wasn't. She was actually looking for Julian.

Harlow's smile was tense as her gaze swept across the land and flew close to the town near Raphael's lonely stone fortress. This was the best vantage point for Harlow to find Julian and yet, unlike the man's promise, he was nowhere close to being found. 

The princess remembered their conversation from yesterday and her heart was filled with worry. She didn't think that she would get so anxious like this, but Harlow was immensely filled with worry.

"He told me… that he would be close," Harlow whispered to herself. Before the princess was summoned in the evening to meet with the Demon King, Julian and she actually talked about how to communicate.

She remembered it clearly.

***

The two of them were standing close to a bed field of flowers as Harlow stared up at Julian. She gave him a frown and tried to stop him from leaving right away. He was about to go the same way he went through but she intercepted him.

An agreement to spy and look for the Demon King's magic closet was one thing, but they needed to find a way to communicate with one another efficiently.

"Before you go, how are the two of us going to talk with one another?" Harlow asked.

Julian paused for a moment and glanced at her with a grin. "I will be the one who will come looking for you. Don't worry about it because I will be back tomorrow."

"I can't trust that," Harlow said and knew that every moment she delayed him from leaving was dangerous. However, this was necessary. "What if you can't find your way back here? What if it's too risky for you to return?"

"Hmmm, I'm not so sure if you'll be able to come and look for me." Julian glanced around them and scratched his head sheepishly. He looked at her with a small smile. "I don't mind putting myself in danger because I'm capable of handling it, but I want you to stay safe."

Harlow shook her head. "In the event that you find it impossible to find your way back inside of the castle, you will be close, right? You could be in the town close to the castle? I think the inn is compromised but you'll find some other place to stay nearby right?"

The Demon King managed to retrieve Icecube from the same exact inn where she was staying, but that simply meant that it was probably nearby enough. The man in front of her was resourceful and more experienced than Harlow.

"Yes, I will remain close to you." Julian nodded and he eventually grinned in mischief. "Perhaps far closer than you would expect, princess."

Once again this rogue man found the opportunity to flirt even while they were in a precarious situation. She had to give it up to him but she was far more interested in just finding a way to see him again.

"I… don't you have anything else from your adventuring across different realms?" Harlow tried to ask. "A magical artifact that could help us communicate with one another would be helpful if you have anything like that."

Julian shook his head. "The possibility of that being traced or found out on you would be too dangerous since we're up against powerful beings. I don't want to put you in any sort of danger if we were to be discovered."

"So you expect me to just wait around here?" Harlow gestured at their surroundings helplessly. "How can I stay here and wait for you to return? Do you think that's fine with me? What if something happened to you while you were away."

Julian scratched his head and chuckled a little. "I didn't realize that you would quickly miss me. Aww… I am so touched."

"I'm not!" Harlow flushed angrily and shook her head. She repeated her words with a glare. "I AM NOT."

"Sshhh…. not too loud, beautiful, or the demon king will hear you. I will meet with you tomorrow, I promise you that." Julian reassured her. "However, if I manage to find a way to get back here even faster than tomorrow then I'll try my best. I don't want to keep you waiting, darling."

"And how would you even find a way to get back faster?" Harlow batted her eyes at him. 

Julian shrugged. "When you talk to the Demon King and say you want to give your engagement a chance, he might be so thrilled to hear that and he would end up throwing you a party?"

Harlow sighed and was unimpressed with his words. "I don't know where you get your ideas from, but if I manage to find a way to leave the castle and go look for you myself, I will do it."

"I'd rather you not." Julian shook his head, looking worried.

"Do you think you can stop me?" Harlow challenged him.

"No." Julian sighed. "I know you can be stubborn if you want."

"Then it's settled." Harlow smiled at him, feeling pleased with herself. "If you don't find me, I will find you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Or tonight if I get lucky." Julian grinned as he made his way to the exit. "Maybe the guards will be less strict?"

  Harlow only rolled her eyes at the man's flirty behavior. It didn't make her mad though. She found it endearing, unlike those elven princes.

***

On Icecube's back, Harlow could only massage her temple as she kept scouring the ground underneath to find tracks of  Julian.

"That idiot," The princess muttered to herself in frustration as she closed her eyes. "He couldn't have possibly snuck in during the party, did he?"

Icecube let out a roar and breathed a chilly gust of snowflakes as an answer.

.

.

___________________

Do you think Harlow will find 'Julian'?