Kingdom: Another World

Chapter 30: Maiden's Curse

"'Maiden's curse'?" I asked.

Rio looked at me. "Yes. The maiden's curse." she said. "It's about the deep melancholy and longing of a woman." She explained.

"You could tell a curse just by telling you what happened?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No. I had just heard of it. A ring, huh..." she muttered, then turned to Oril. "Can you describe the ring?" she asked.

Oril nodded. "Yes. It's a silver ring with an engraving inside." He answered.

Rio looked sharp. "What... engraving?" she asked.

She looked... panicked? I thought. Why? He suddenly got a very bad feeling.

"Ah... if I could remember it right, it said – " Oril said as he tried to recall. "'What the heart yearns, this ring will give. But only to those who don't desire to live.'" He said and nodded. "Yes. That's it – "

"Oh no..." Rio said, her glow went purple. "That's... that's a Lovers' Curse." she said.

"Huh? But I thought you said it was the Maiden's Curse – " I said, confused.

Rio nodded. "Yes. The Maiden's Curse has two kinds." she started. "The Old Maid and the Lover." she said.

"What's that?" I asked.

"The Old Maid – from the name, is a curse for a woman who never felt love in all her life, and longs to be loved." She answered. "The curse item is usually put in a handkerchief which she always carries." She explained. "And the Lover's Curse – the woman was either betrayed or left by her lover. The point is, she was hurt." she finished.

"That's... amazing..." I didn't know what to say.

Rio sighed. "Either way, how was Yelena now? How did he survive the curse's attack earlier – " she asked.

"That..." Or said. "There's an elf who arrived at the castle last week. He's a friend of the West prince – " he answered.

"Vincent's?" she said, frowning. "Never heard of his elf friend." she said.

Oril sighed. "Anyways, she's been a great help." He said. "She's the one who told us the princess was cursed, and is healing her these past few days." He explained. "She's a reliable – " he suddenly stopped.

We turned and saw Vice. "Oh, uh – " she said. "I, uh... so Yelena was – " she said, then hung her head.

"Vice." Oril called.

"How are you?" I asked.

Vice forced a smile. "Oh. I'm... I'm fine, I guess – " she answered, scratching her head and looking away.

"Hmm?" I said, puzzled by what she behaved. "Oril – " I cLLED and turned. I saw him staring at Rio. They're... talking about something, aren't they? I thought. It seemed serious. I sighed. "Man. We've got to go back now." I told him.

"Ah. Yeah." Oril said. "We're going – " he told Rio.

"Wait." Rio said. "You're not asking my help?" she asked, hurt on her face and face

"Hm?" Oril muttered. "But you're mad at her for something, right - ?" he asked.

"Argh!" Rio said, pouting. "Fine! I'll help him!" she said.

Oril smiled triumphantly. "Good." He said and messed Rio's hair. "You come with us now – " he told her.

"Hmph!" Rio said, frowning. She looked at Vice. "You're coming?" she asked.

Vice smiled. "Mm." she nodded, then took a deep breath. "I'll go." She answered.

Rio smiled. "Atta girl." She smiled.

We all went to the castle.

Rio's POV

3 days later.

Our eyes went wide with shock when a bright light burst out from Yelena's body. We're thrown on the walls.

"Waaah - !" Emil exclaimed and clutched the door when he was almost swept away.

I covered my eyes. "Yelena... Vice..." I called, looking at the two of them.

Vice is kissing Yelena, who's now awake.

Flashback

"So? How was Yelena now?" I asked Oril and Emil as we walked towards the castle.

All of them are looking at us.

"She's okay... for now." Oril answered.

"What do you mean 'for now'?" I asked and we stopped.

He looked at me, then sighed. He looked away and scratched his head. "I think... the princess is... in danger." He said.

"Of course she'd be in danger." I said. "She's cursed." I told him.

Oril looked at me, then sighed. "Her life is in danger – " he said.

"I know that since the curse takes one's life – " I told him.

"Oww!" Oril cried when Emil suddenly hit his head.

"Be straight to the point!" Emil lectured him.

Vice chuckled.

Emil looked at me. "The thing is, the princess's life must be in danger – oww!" he cried when Oril hit his head.

Oril sighed when Emil pouted and looked at him. He sighed and then looked at me. "The last time we saw the princess, she's not looking well." He said. "Well, since she's having an attack the last we saw her, but – " he took a deep breath. "The princess is dying." He stated.

My mouth fell open, shocked. Vice gasped.

"What did you say?!" I asked, aghast.

...

"Ye... Yelena!" I cried and my tears fell when I saw her lying on her bed. I flew to her. I saw a female elf sitting beside Yelena's bed. "You..." I said.

She smiled. "I'm Chris." She introduced herself.

I looked at her. Chris might look like a fairy for a moment – well, all elf must be. Their ears are pointed, too, but longer. Her eyes are green, too, just like ours, the fairies.

"Hey." I called. "Why do you have golden hair, too?" I asked, glaring at her. Golden hair is the distinct characteristic of fairies.

"Oh. That." she said and touched her hair. "I am half- bred. My dad's an elf while my mom is a fairy." She answered.

"That's... really rare." I said. I looked at Yelena. "Thanks for healing her." I told Chris.

She smiled. "No problems for me." he said. "But he – " he said and sighed. "The next attack will be his last." He said.

My head turned sharply to him. "What?!" I was stunned.

"Here." Chris said and showed me the ring.

It flew in front of me. I gasped.

She nodded. "I'm a half-fairy so I could feel how deep the curse was put in this ring." She said. "But I'm only a half-fairy so I can't find the root of the curse." She explained.