The Cursed Prince

Raphael didn't understand what happened to his wife, but he decided to trust her words and instead gently stayed by her side. He wished and hoped that Rowena would tell him the situation if anything was wrong.

He was always there for his beloved wife.

"Alright, wifey," Raphael said. "Please tell me if you feel anything though. You know you can tell me anything that is on your mind."

Rowena looked down at her empty cup and smiled sadly. "Thank you and I know that I can trust you, but nothing has happened to me." She felt immensely guilty that it was Raphael who suffered and not her. 

Raphael's expression saddened. "That's not true…"

"I could have been the monster instead, you know?" Rowena laughed bitterly and placed a hand on her chest. "I know your father did not approve of me, so why didn't he just make me the monster instead of you?"

"I would not let him harm you," Raphael said. "You have already suffered enough, Rowena."

"That simply means that I can take a lot more," Rowena smiled sadly and reached out to the wine bottle. She poured herself another drink. "But ah, I suppose I cannot do anything about it."

Was there a possibility that she could approach the King of Cretea herself? No. Rowena was already surprised that they hadn't already thrown her off from Cretea and into the underworld with how much the people hated her.

"Slow down on the wine, Rowena," Raphael said. 

"Come on, it's just a little drink," Rowena said as she downed her wine once again. "A nightcap if you will."

"You know that it's not good for you," Raphael said. "Why not talk to me instead?"

"We can talk and drink." Rowena eyed him and this time didn't immediately shudder from his form. At first, she was frightened, but she wasn't raised as a coward. "You're no fun as always, Raphael. Loosen up a little… if I were, never mind."

"Nevermind what?" Raphael raised a brow.

"I know that becoming a monster is a punishment," Rowena whispered sadly as she looked down at her wine. "I don't want to become callous by saying something that you could misunderstand though."

"Wifey, I will always understand you." 

"You're just saying that."

"Fine. Perhaps there are some things that you have done that I cannot understand." Raphael thought about her stealing the magic dust and immortality potion. "However, I know you and love you. I will always give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Ah, you're really too kind." Rowena sipped her wine and grinned at him. "That form doesn't suit you at all. I would have done a better job at being a monster."

Raphael quirked a brow at his wife's odd statement. "I don't really see how you will. Even if you're great at being harsh with your words and can handle knives like they're your fingers, that doesn't make you a monster, Rowena."

Rowena lowered her gaze to the table, she folded her hands together and smiled sadly. "It's a punishment to you, but I really wouldn't have minded being a monster…"

"Wifey," Raphael gazed deeply at his wife's sad expression. "Don't say that."

"All of the gods and goddesses here think I have seduced and tempted you." Rowena laughed bitterly. "All they see is my beauty and in a way, it feels like a punishment too. They hate me for being born this way."

"It is not your fault," Raphael said.

Rowena brushed back her hair and sighed. "If I was the one punished as a monster, then the people will realize that your love for me is genuine. Because even if I look horrible, I know that your love is true."

Raphael's heart pounded because it only took one evening for Rowena to immediately grasp how taking the form of a monster, or thinking that Raphael took on the form of a monster and still being with him could measure love.

His wife was truly too sharp and calculating. Ahh... if only she could realize that the same thing was happening right now, they would be able to pass this test easily.

Rowena shrugged. "It also means that I can probably chase all of the gods and goddesses that hated me and scare them off with my monster form. You on the other hand are too nice for that."

Raphael shook his head and chuckled a little. He was happy to see Rowena seemed to start getting her sense of humor back. "Why am I not surprised that you would immediately think of ways to utilize a monster form?"

"The horns on your forehead are rather sharp and I can say the same for your claws." Rowena motioned to her hands. "I can probably pierce a dragon's scales with how pointy they are."

"Alright, I now understand why you think you'll be a better monster." Raphael rolled his eyes. "Combat once again." 

"...I'm being mean, aren't I?" Rowena immediately averted her gaze and started fiddling with her wine glass. "Here you are, suffering by becoming a monster and it feels like I'm making light of it. It's offensive."

"No, I understand how you think your beauty is a curse," Raphael said. "People here in Cretea used to adore me because I am my father's son and good-looking, but if the situation was different, then perhaps, we would be in a more difficult place."

"My father told me that my beauty is a double-edged sword." Rowena seriously said. "Although I feel like it has brought me great sorrow, it has also brought me some advantages… so it feels bad to say it is a curse."

Raphael shook his head. "It does not diminish the fact that you have also suffered. You are free to get upset, Rowena. I will not judge you for it."

Rowena blinked back some tears and smiled. "I think I said too much, it must be the wine. Ah... don't listen to me.. I am talking nonsense."