Morning came, and Princess Elena was feeling sore.but not much..There was a knock on the door - the ladies-in-waiting were there to prepare her for the yearly celebration which was happening today.
Elena spoke up, "come back later,I just want to sleep. I'm tired."
Then she heard her mother's voice from outside, "Just leave her. Let her be."
Her mother's voice continued, "Elena,they will be back soon...."
Her mother left and elena stayed in her room for a while.
The queen went to the chambers, she talked with the king, they were discussing a concerning matter. The queen expressed her fears to the king, "Your Majesty, I'm really scared. Yesterday, in the physician's room, something happened that's never happened before. I don't know what's happening."
The king's expression turned serious, "We need to call on a prophetess to cleanse this palace. I think something is happening...Maybe there's..."
The queen finished his sentence, "A being?"
The king's eyes narrowed, "That reminds me. One of the advisers said his son saw a group of strange beings while hunting in the forest."
The queen's eyes widened in surprise, "Strange beings...they certainly weren't human??"
The king nodded, and the queen continued, "Well, whatever. We just have to focus on the celebration today."
The king smiled, and the queen helped him prepare for the celebration. It was a big day, with people coming from all over to eat, have fun, and enjoy the festivities. The celebration was held by the king,a yearly tradition, to bring joy to his people.
Princess Elena, still in her room,she heard loud music from outside. She knew the celebration was underway, their yearly tradition. She wasn't feeling well enough to join in.
**************
The princess, Elena, was in her room, feeling exhausted. Queen Sophia knocked on the door, and Elena opened it slightly, but not wide enough to let her mother in.
Queen Sophia's voice was gentle but firm, "Come on, Elena, there's a celebration going on, and I want you to join us."
Elena hesitated for a moment before responding, "Of course, Mother, I'll come out."
As Elena look through the hallways she was surprised to see a group of maids and guards approaching her. Queen Sophia reassured her, "These maids and guards will watch over you, just in case...you know, what happened yesterday doesn't happen again."
Princess Elena's ladies-in-waiting arrived to help her prepare for the party. However, Elena had other ideas. "I don't want to dress up too much," she said. "I just want to keep it simple."
Her ladies-in-waiting obliged, helping her into a stunning yet understated black gown. They paired it with golden shoes, a delicate golden necklace, and elegant golden earrings. Elena's hair was braided, adorned with a beautiful golden and black flower clip. A light touch of makeup completed her look, making her appear more like a refined 25-year-old woman than a teenager.
As Elena stood before the mirror, admiring her reflection, she felt a sense of satisfaction. She liked what she saw.
With a gentle smile, the ladies-in-waiting led Elena out of her room, followed closely by the maids and guards.
***********************
Ramel sat in a dimly lit, eerie space, surrounded by an unsettling atmosphere. The walls seemed to absorb the faint light, making the air feel heavy and foreboding. A plain, unassuming wall , but it was no ordinary wall – it seemed to reflect every detail of the surroundings, like a mirror.
An elderly woman, her body trembling with age and fear, sat on the floor beside him. She murmured incantations, her voice barely audible. Ramel's gaze fell upon her, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "I want you to find out, as quickly as possible, why her birth has something to do with my release," he commanded.
The old woman strained herself, pouring all her energy into the incantations. However, after a few moments, she shook her head, defeated. "I couldn't find anything," she whispered.
Ramel's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was laced with disappointment. The old woman was promptly discarded.
Ramel's instructions were curt: "Bring in the other prophetess. I want to hear what she has to say." The servant bowed, disappearing into the shadows to fetch the new prophetess.
The second prophetess was ushered in, her eyes gleaming with a fierce inner light. She began to recite incantations, her voice steady and confident. As she spoke, her gaze locked onto Ramel's, and she declared, "the princess birth has something to do with your release, Lord Ramel, because the one who bound you said you would not be freed until a pure and innocent princess, a special child born to a king and queen is born."
Ramel's gaze narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. The prophetess's words were both perplexing and intriguing. He waved his hand, dismissing her, and turned his attention to the wall, which reflected the ongoing celebration in the kingdom. His eyes seemed to bore into the scene, his thoughts consumed by the mysterious princess and the bet that could seal his fate.
And without any second thinking, he vanished into thin air.
*******************************
Princess elena was escorted down the stairs by the maids and guards, the guards positioned at her back while the maids led the way. Suddenly, everyone around her froze in place, as if time itself had stopped. Elena was the only one who seemed to be unfrozen.
That was when she felt the cold sensation creeping up her spine. She turned to face the source of the chill, and her eyes widened as she saw him. This time, he wasn't floating; he was walking towards her with an unnerving calmness.
Elena couldn't deny the fear that gripped her heart. This being, this demon, or whatever he was, seemed to carry an aura of death around him. She swallowed hard as he approached her, her eyes fixed on his.
As he drew closer, Elena's courage failed her, and she stumbled backwards, her voice trembling. "W-what do you want?" she stammered, her eyes locked on his.
Ramel's head moved slowly, his gaze fixed on Elena. A cold, mirthless smile spread across his face. "I told you, I would be back," he said, his voice low and menacing.