The Cursed Princess: A Jensoo Princess/Witch AU

Chapter One: The Curse

I gazed at my complexion in the gold-plated mirror as the castle maids tended to me. A few of them were brushing my brown locks while others were helping me into my gorgeous dress. The layers of pink taffeta adorned the skirt beautifully. The bodice was beaded perfectly to show off the color of my eyes. I shooed the maids away from my dress to admire how I looked in it.

Tonight was the night that I was meeting the prince that I'd be marrying. Yes, I was in an arranged marriage. My parents, the king and queen, wanted me to marry before the end of the month. There was a political alliance set for us that would help my country. For me, I wasn't mad at the whole ordeal. I mean, Prince Taehyung seemed to be attractive and rich. What else could I want out of a guy?

"Your highness?" One of the maids said. "There's someone who wants to see you."

"Is it Taehyung?" I asked.

"No, your highness," she sighed. "It's an old woman."

"Can't you take care of her?" I rolled my eyes.

"No, your highness," she said. "The woman demands to see you."

I sighed exasperatedly as I got up from my chair. Did I seriously have to do everything around here? I made my way down the grand staircase to the door, huffing all the while of displeasure. The butlers bowed when they saw me, but the old woman did nothing of the sort. Instead her lip quivered upon looking at me. Pathetic.

She was quite pitiful all around. Her hair was an ash-tone that was quite possibly the most heinous color I'd ever seen. Scratch that. Her cloak was the most heinous color I'd ever seen. It was a murky green shade, almost like the grass in a swamp. Her wrinkles were rather prominent, especially when her mouth moved.

"Your highness," she began. "I hate to disturb you on this fine evening, but my carriage broke down and I have nowhere else to go. Would you be so kind as to let me stay here? Only for a few hours, of course."

I scoffed. "You show up, asking to come into my castle unannounced, wearing those ugly clothes, and you think that I'll let you stay? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. On the night of my engagement too. The audacity. Guards, see her out."

They nodded and closed the doors on the old woman, despite her begging and pleading. God, the nerve of that woman. Did she seriously think I'd allow someone like her into my castle? I never would. I fixed my dress and hurried to the throne room, where I'd meet Prince Taehyung.

"Darling!" Daddy beamed. "You look absolutely stunning."

"Thank you, daddy!" I twirled in my dress, showing off the beauty of it. And me, of course.

"My dear, you look positively perfect for the prince," Mommy said. "Speaking of which, he'll be here any minute! Places!"

I gracefully sauntered to my throne, which was polished exquisitely. Of course, I had the maids make it extra shiny. I can't sit in an unpolished one. That's completely ludicrous. As soon as I heard the fanfare, I took a deep breath, ready to meet my future suga- I mean, husband.

"Your majesties!" One of the butlers said. "All the way from the kingdom of Lucriath, King Albus and his son, Prince Taehyung!"

We clapped for their arrival, especially me. Taehyung was definitely more handsome in person than he was in his paintings. He would make for a fine piece of arm candy. Our wedding was to be in a week, hopefully enough time for me to find the perfect dress.

Taehyung made his way over to me, extending his arm out to kiss my hand. I feigned flattery, but in all seriousness, he was definitely not the first person to do that. Especially not the most handsome of them all.