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(Imma mess! Switch from third to 1st person🙃) Father Yei
And that was the priest's duty for the rest of the week. Everyday, he was to report to the palace to pray, speak, and conversation with the princess.
The king and queen sat at dinner as Father Yei ate his fill. He wiped his mouth clean before addressing the royals.
"She has an evil entity?" I ask.
"Or some sort of demon I think" the queen clarifies. I took another sip of my wine before looking at the Queen.
"And why are you so sure? She can be a woman who is not..of sane mind?"
The Queen's nostrils flared as I suggested the accolade. "NO! NEVER! She is perfect! Something evil entered her. For you to suggest she is a lunatic is offensive Father Yei"
The queen stands from her chair, offended I would even utter the words.
There was a deafening silence in the room before I had the courage to break it. "My queen, and king, I must be honest. There are steps I must take to perform and determine if the princess is possessed or even has a demon. If it is found she has one, only then the exorcism can begin."
The royals look at one another before nodding. That was their sign that I could continue on.
The king dismissed himself for he had important duties to attended to. The queen continued on, showing Father Yei the palace before leading him up the stairs.
"She is smart and witty. Do not fall under her spell. Avoid looking in her eyes."
"Is she Medusa?" I answer through a smirk but the queen did not find my humor quite so funny. The queen slips her fingers against her pockets and pulls out a small key.
She smiles awkwardly as she met my eyes, before unlocking the door. I only look away out of awkardness. She knew what I was thinking and did not like to be judged. After a few clicks and switches, she finally opens the door.
How Father Yei wished he could turn around and never step foot in this castle. He prayed for the day he never laid eyes on her. But for a moment like this, he cursed every sin and inhibition he had.
I stopped in my track as I met eyes with the most beautiful woman I had had ever seen. She was only in white petticoats. A thin dress that showed off every curve and groove was draped against her body. Her hair seemed to dance a symphony of twists and curls. It was hypnotic. And her skin.... I had never seen a hue so rich yet warm. She was almost inviting.
"Anai! I told you to be dressed!" The queen screams, rushing to shield her daughter's body.
"You did mother, but I thought why should I be? I would run around naked if it weren't for—" She stopped and looked over at the stranger in her room.
A mischievous smile parts her lips as she pulls her gaze to size me up. "And who is this?" she frowns.
Her mother grabs her by the arm and leads her away to the partition to dress her. There was a bit of grumbling on her end but she finally stepped out dressed and sat on her bed.
"Princess Anai. This is Father Yei. He is here to... Well.. you explain" The queen whispers. Her reality of the situation finally hit.
I dropped my bag and looked around her room before facing her. It was the cleanest room I've ever been in for one. Usually women who were...touched lived in filth.
"I hear there is a demon in you princess"
"A demon inside me? Oh how rude! The demon did not even introduce himself!" she frowned.
"So you admit there is a demon?" I stress.
"Not that I know of?" she smiles, trying to hold back her giggles but eventually she let them escape. I was a bit taken aback by her nonchalant nature but it was what expected by women of her..nature.
"I would say the true demon is her!" She stands dramatically and points to the queen. "She locks me in this tower day and night, depriving me of my basic needs. I get no food. No water. I cannot even run free in the yard" she pretends to cry, falling to her bed in sadness.
The queen rolled her eyes, looking over at me in annoyance. "She is touched Father.I told you"
The princess stopped her tears and turned around to look into my eyes. She walks over to me and falls to her kneees, grabbing my black robe with the ends of her fingers. " Please... kind sir... save me" she pouts, throwing her cheek into my chest. She started crying, pressing her lips against my throat.
"Please princess" I gently guide her away. She smiles handsomely before pushing her arms around my neck. "Why is a man that looks like you a priest?"
"Enough Anai!" The queen snatches her away and forces her to sit. "He is a man of God! He does not falter to your tricks and womanly charm!"
The princess pouts and meets my gaze before pushing a palm beneath her chin. "I'll break you soon enough Father" she whispers, " just like the others." She mutters beneath a breath.
"I am anticipating it princess" I smirk, matching her energy. She frowns before turning around to go to her desk. She sits down at the chair and snatches a few papers to write.
"Well princess. I will be visiting everyday from now on. I will first determine if you have a demon or evil spirit."
"You don't believe that I do?" She asks, her eyes still focused on her papers.
"I am not sure princess. Once I determine that, I will cast out the demon, if you do have one."
"So soon? I have named him Lous just now" she sighs.
"Lous?" I ask. She turns from her papers to face me. "Yes. The name fits him. Doesn't it?"
"I thought you had no demon?"
"I did not, but now that you suggested it, I figured I do. I will miss Lous, please don't cast him out" she pouts, titling her head to the side.
I look at her mother but she rolled her eyes again and led me outside to speak more privately.
"See how deranged she is Father! She was perfect until...." her words trailed.
"Until when?"
She waits and hesitates for a bit before she meets my gaze. "She killed a frog in the forest when she was 4. She tried to kill her sister by then tried to kill her self."
"How many times?" I ask, trying to understand her story.
"2, two times with poison and a third with a dagger."
I push a palm to my chin, thinking the circumstances and newfound information. I truly wondered if it was a demon or something traumatic that happened to her. "Are you sure there is nothing else that has traumatized her? Nothing you have done to her?"
And Queen Agatha thought. Of everything! The ball and the witch in the forest the curse! No! Divine intervention was greater than anything. She couldn't tell him.
"No Father. Nothing at all"
I look into her eyes, hesitant to believe her word but her word was the only one I had for now.
