"How can I trust you?"
"You'll have to learn."
Isabella Magaroth was just a child when her new family arrived, though her tale was quite different than anyone could've ever imagined. Four years after her father's death, Isabella encountered the prin...
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Blake sat on a chair next to Ella, who lay on one of the cots in the infirmary. One of the nurses, Lia, was feeding Ella some herbs and medication for her illness.
But Ella lay still, unmoving, like a corpse.
"Lia," Blake whispered, "is she going to be alright?"
The nurse looked down at the girl that lay on the bed. "I'm not sure, Prince. She's really ill."
Blake raked his fingers through his black hair, letting out a frustrated groan. After calming the anger that started swelling up, he managed to look down at Ella, noticing her relaxed expression, but also seeing her cheeks and nose flushed due to a high fever.
"God..." Blake grumbled, covering his face in his hands, "why did it have to be her?"
"You know why," Lia stated. "You just don't want to admit it."
"Yes." Blake rubbed his eyes, trying to cover the rage in his expression. "Yes, I know why...."
"This girl," the nurse stared down at Ella, "is so fragile."
"I know," Blake admitted somberly. "It's just all that she's gone through is horrible. She doesn't deserve it."
"Have you found out who cursed her yet?" Lia wondered.
A slight shake of the head was his response. The word curse sounding so unfamiliar in his ears.
But the nurse was right. Ella was sick because of a curse someone placed on her. Clearly it was a witch, but Blake was unsure if the witch was forced, hired, or if she was the villain.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"I...." He bit his lip. "Her stepmother treats her horribly, but I see no signs of magic or necromancy in her presence. She's cruel, yes. Abusive also. But... I don't see any kind of witch magic placed on the house."
"Is she the only person who treats Ella horribly?"
Blake shook his head. "One of her stepsisters also, but she has the same presence as her mother. I don't see magic in either of their rooms, but... I also haven't been inside to look in hidden places, so... I'm still unsure...."
"Can you think of anyone else who might hold a grudge against her?"
A soft shake of the head. "Whoever they are, they're doing really well by staying in the shadows." He looked down at the precious girl, resting silently, but breathing shallowly.
"Prince Blake," the nurse said. He looked up due to her stern tone. "This girl needs help. I can't help her."
Blake's heart froze. "What do you mean you can't help her?!"
"Prince," the nurse calmed her tone, "I can't help her. All I have are herbs and medicine... But I can't cure this curse with human medication. Only healing magic can."
