Sweet Castle

The Wilted Flowers

The village was looked down upon by a large, dark castle. It was said that the demon who ruled over the kingdom cursed the people below.
His curse was like a plague, starting with few people, before finally enveloping the nation.

His curse was dark and left a sour taste in one's mouth.
His curse was cruel and hurt many people.
His curse was beautiful.

It was a curse of the soul, leaving the people of the kingdom with black marks on their bodies in various shapes and places. Some were hand prints, placed on one's body, face, or appendages.

Others were in shapes of fists, signaling that one would be hit some time in there life. Others, odd shapes upon their skin.  These curses were beautiful in the eyes of their ruler.

When one met their true love, and they touched these black marks in the intended way, the dark patches would explode with beautiful color.

It was once recorded that when two childhood friends got in a fight, the young girl pushed her back, laying her hand on the black curse embedded in her friend's chest.

The mark had changed from a pitch black to a beautiful array of colors before finally going back to the girl's original skin tone. The one who pushed her  experienced the same thing on her hand.

Their argument seemed to end instantly. It was in that moment that they realized they were each others soulmates. But not everyone had such a happy ending.

Some people had the misfortune of brushing hands with their love while walking down the street, only to realize that they no longer had their marks. They were so busy with their own lives that they did not notice the colorful change. It was a cruel side to the curse.

But there was another dark joke the demon had played. Some people could not find their true loves and were left with the dark splotches of color on their bodies. Occasionally there would be those who matched together despite their dark spots, living as happily as anyone else.

They knew that there was a possibility that their true love was out there, or that they did not exist. But still, they stayed happy with whomever they chose. A bittersweet curse.

One day, a mother had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. But when the doctors examined her, they could not find any curse on her body.  Her parents were worried that she would not find anyone, that she was meant to be alone. This thought scared them to death.
The doctors assured them that her mark was perhaps just hidden or not quite there yet. But as the girl grew, there was no sign of a curse. It was as if the demon's plague had completely missed her.

The girl was ridiculed in her childhood, considered an outcast.  She was sad and to help cure her sadness, she would travel out to the field of flowers and think about their beauty. Longing to be with them, to be considered beautiful.
She wished to belong, just as the flowers did in the field.

One night, after being ignored by her peers, she walked out to the flowers. Sitting in the middle of the aromatic display of ethereal  nature, holding her face in her hands.

"Flowers are always so lovely and captivating, your beauty is everlasting year after year. Why is it you can not spare some of your beauty for me?" The raven haired girl sighed as she caressed the flower.

She was so captivated by the plant that she did not notice the figure that was standing before her. They extended their hand down to her and gave her a respective bow. Upon seeing the hand, she looked up to the stranger, greeted by a woman with snow white hair tied in a side ponytail and adorn with a black bow. Her eyes were red, and her skin was just as pale as her hair. She wore a pressed black suit and had two distinct horns on her head. Both in the shape of a fork-like musical instrument.

"You can not borrow what you already have." The girl explained as she stood back up from her bow. She looked down to the raven haired girl and kept a mysterious smile on her face.

"What do you mean?" The girl stayed on her knees as she looked up at the stranger. "Who are you?" The stranger left her hand outstretched, waiting for her to take it.

"I am Fuyu, a demon and servant to the ruler of your country. And I mean that you can not take one's beauty when you yourself are already beautiful."

"Oh!" The young girl wailed. "I am not beautiful. You're master is a cruel being! He left me with no curse at all and I am mocked for it." Fuyu watched her and stretched her hand lower.

"You do not feel you belong? Take my hand. I will show you how wrong you are." She blinked her ruby eyes as the girl took her hand, pulling the forlorn girl to her feet. "I will take you to the castle. There you will see how beautiful you are."

"The castle? But what of your master? There are tales that he has the power to transform into a hideous Lindworm!" The girl released the demon's hand.

"Yes, you have heard the stories correctly. Come to the castle. Agree to be his wife, he may be able to help you see your true beauty. But if you've heard the stories, you must know what he does to his brides if he does not find them suitable." The demon gave a playful smile.

"Is it correct that he turns into the dreaded Lindworm and eats them up?" The girl asked as she averted her eyes. "I do not wish to throw my life away so easily."

"No, no my sweet girl. You fear you are not beautiful and you fear no one cares. Why not take the risk? I will show you how to protect yourself if ever you find yourself before the Lindworm."

The young girl thought as the demon once again extended their hand to her. During her time at the village, no one seemed to care for her. It seemed that if she were to be eaten by a Lindworm, no one would care. Finally, she took Fuyu's hand and released a deep breath. "I will join you at the castle. What is it I must do to protect myself?"

Fuyu smiled and held the girl's hand, leading her out of the field. "I will show you three things to do in the presence of your king. Do not worry."