The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince

Sneaking into the Tower ; The Prince, Locked Away

Several nights later...

The prince, now blind, had brought disappointment and shame to the royal family, and his parents locked him away in the castle tower.

The wolf was concerned about the prince and overheard some soldiers in the castle say that he had been locked away. "That's awful," she thought angrily, and she snuck into the tower to check on him.

The wolf came across a cold room and saw the distressed prince sitting inside. The prince sensed someone nearby and raised his face. A large cloth was wrapped around his eyes, as if to hide something shameful and dirty.

"Prince..." the wolf said uncertainly.

"That voice... The singer in the forest?" the prince said.

"He can recognize me by voice," the wolf thought. "Um... Yeah... That's right," the wolf responded.

"I was attacked by a monster in the forest," the prince said, "But I'm glad that you're alright..." The prince smiled a bit with relief. The wolf felt her chest ache when she looked at his ragged figure.

"Thank you for coming. But how did you know I was here?" The wolf didn't know how to respond to that question...

"I-I'm a princess from a nearby kingdom," the wolf lied, remembering that the prince couldn't see her, "I said I wanted to visit the ill prince, and they let me in. Anyway, forget that. I can't believe that you're trapped in here!"

"But I... I was attacked by a vicious monster and my face is awful... My vision is gone... I can't wander outside... I'm forbidden from showing my face in public ever again..." the prince said, his head hanging sadly.

"...Let's ask the witch of the forest to heal your eyes." The prince looked dumbfounded upon hearing her idea.

"The witch..? You mean the witch of the forest, like the one from the storybook?"

"Storybook? I'm not sure, but the witch can grant all wishes. She can fix you! The witch lives deep in the forest. I could take you there." The wolf was excited at the prospect, but the prince's head continued hanging.

"It'd be hard to take me deep inside the forest... And the monster that rendered me blind... I can still feel its claws on me..." The prince couldn't continue, his shoulders trembling.

The wolf dropped her gaze after hearing his words. She looked at her paws ; all she saw were sharp claws that were made for hurting others. "I want to take the prince from here," the wolf thought, "But I can't hold his hand with these monstrous claws..."

Determined, she clasped her paws quietly and stepped closer to the prince. "I'll take you to the forest to see the witch." The prince slowly raised his head to the wolf's voice, "But just wait here a bit ; I'll be back shortly." She then fled the castle tower and ran into the forest.