The Princess and the Demon King

Chapter 1 - Kidnapped

CHAPTER ONE

"Oh, m'lady, I can't believe this night has come already…" My nurse said tearily as she combed my hair for the third time. "Already 18, and soon to be married to a prince. You have grown too fast." As the youngest princess of Tida, I was to meet my potential suitors tonight at the Royal Ball. It was royal tradition for the king and queen to hold a ball when their daughter has come of age. All noblemen within and outside the kingdom would be invited for the sake of searching for a suitable husband for the princess.

As my nurse started to comb my hair for the fourth time, I let out a sigh. I wondered what Eriol was doing right now. The prince of the neighbouring kingdom, Eriol was my closest friend throughout my childhood. As the best warrior in the lands and an impeccable wielder of magic, Eriol was the pride of his kingdom. The citizens of his kingdom loved him for his kindness and courage. It was common knowledge throughout the kingdom that he would be my chosen husband because of our close bond. The Royal Ball tonight for selecting a suitor was more of a formality and excuse to hold a grand occasion at the palace.

*knock, knock, knock*

"Come in," I replied.

"Arisa?" my mother called my name from the other side of the door. "It's time. All of the guests have arrived."

"Be right there." I replied.

I gladly stood up from the dressing table, thanked my nurse for combing my hair, and  quickly proceeded to the ballroom. My heart started to speed up slightly as I reached the grand entrance of the ballroom. The herald at the top of the staircase gave me a small smile, and announced my name to the ball's attendants. I walked gracefully down the stairs as I had practiced vigilantly over the past few days. I spotted Eriol in the audience below and he grinned at me when our eyes met. I grinned back, happy to see him. It had been a while since we had seen each other. He had been busy for the past year due to frequent attacks to his kingdom's villages from demons and dragons. The attacks had left him with hardly any time to visit me.

I reached the bottom of the stairs to applause. Light, soft music filled the room as the ball's attendants paired up to dance. A nobleman from Leuda approached me and politely asked for a dance. I was exchanged between dancing partners as the music changed, until I found myself dancing with Eriol.

"Happy Birthday, 'Ris", he told me. From the way he smiled at me, I knew he was as happy to see me as I was to see him.

"Thanks," I replied. "Will your father's army be able to manage this week without you?" I asked teasingly.

Eriol laughed. "Ouch, what would the army commander say to that? Of course they will. It's not like they're helpless without me." He spun me around once to the music and we danced in silence for a few minutes. "The attacks are starting to lighten up," he added conversationally, "so hopefully this year will not be as bad as the last."  His eyes softened. "The past few months have been torture."

This surprised me. Had the journeys to villages and battles been that difficult? Eriol was not the complaining type. "If you're getting tired, talk to your father," I replied, "I'm sure he would speak to the commander about giving you some relief."

He looked at me blankly. "No…" he started, and then paused. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully said "I didn't mean that, 'Ris. These past few months have been torture without you."

I gave him a look of reproach. We had discussed this the year before. We both knew that Eriol's feelings for me were of an entirely different nature from my feelings for him. Over the years that we had grown up together, his feelings had grown to a deep love that my feelings did not answer. I wasn't ready for love. I was afraid of it. When Eriol first declared his love for me a year ago, we had a heated argument. He had cut his visit short and left for his kingdom the next day. I didn't see him for two months. When he returned, he told me that he would stay by my side and wait for me to return his love. He never mentioned love again, until now.

Before I could reply, there was a loud "BOOM" as the ceiling cracked open. A dark figure dropped from through the ceiling and landed at my feet. When he stood up, he was a head taller than me. In shock, I gazed at him. A small part in the back of my mind saw bright amber flames, Eriol's magic, deflect off of the mysterious being. The mysterious man swiftly picked me up and slung me over his shoulder. Before my mind could register what was happening, we launched through the ballroom ceiling and were high in the sky, flying away from the castle.

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~ Mae <3