Chapter 22: Marked by the Curse

  Theodore

  The days passed in the castle, slow and uneventful. We were left with little to do but wait. The grand halls, the lavish rooms, and the abundance of food only made the silence heavier. Servants moved about, tending to their duties with quiet efficiency. One woman, in particular, stood out to Taki—a maid who had come to clean their rooms. She was young, with a tired expression and hands that moved with practiced care as she smoothed out the sheets on the beds. As she reached for a pillow, her sleeve slid back slightly, revealing a faint but distinct mark on her wrist—a lion cub tattoo.

  Taki’s gaze lingered on it, curiosity gnawing at her, but she said nothing. It wasn’t until later that the weight of that mark would become clear.

  We had been given everything we could ask for, yet it felt like a gilded cage.

  One evening, after dinner, the four of us gathered in one of the castle’s many sitting rooms. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. None of us spoke at first, each lost in our own thoughts. Then, Akira broke the silence.

  “This is your fault,” he muttered, arms crossed as he glared at Maki.

  Maki, leaning back against the couch with her legs crossed, didn’t flinch. “My fault?”

  “You ran away,” Akira snapped. “You made a mess. You caused trouble. And now we’re here, dragged into this kingdom’s schemes.”

  Maki rolled her eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. Should I have just sat there and let myself get caught like an idiot?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying,” Akira shot back. “I’m saying we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

  Taki, sitting beside me, sighed. “Maybe being here isn’t the worst thing,” she said. “The prince promised us protection, and we might actually get help now. If we had stayed outside, we’d still be struggling to survive.”

  Akira huffed, but didn’t argue further. He looked away, tapping his fingers against his knee.

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  The conversation shifted, and soon we found ourselves discussing the prince. The man who had, in some ways, taken control of our fates. We hadn’t seen him since the last time he summoned us, and his absence left an uneasy silence hanging over us.

  “Did you notice how different he is?” Taki asked. “He’s… not what I expected.”

  “He’s changed,” I agreed. “His personality, his entire demeanor. I remember hearing about him before, but he wasn’t like this.”

  I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I’ve heard rumors about him,” I admitted. “Before all of this, back when I was still with the kingdom, there were always stories about Prince Marshall. He was reckless, and his father hated it. They fought all the time. And eventually, he left the kingdom.”

  Taki frowned. “Reckless how?”

  I hesitated, then continued, “The prince… he was always surrounded by women. He didn’t just enjoy their company—he indulged in them. He had an insatiable appetite for pleasure, and women were his greatest vice. But more than that, he only stole blessings from women. And once he took their blessings, he made them work for him.”

  Silence fell over the room. Akira and Taki exchanged a glance before looking back at me.

  “How do you know that?” Akira asked, skeptical.

  I sighed. “Some of it I know because I was once part of the kingdom, one of its special forces. Information like this spreads like rumors among those who serve. But there’s also a way to tell—he leaves a mark. The people he steals blessings from… they’re branded. A lion cub tattoo appears on their arm after they lose their blessing.”

  Taki crossed her arms. “That’s... unsettling.”

  Her mind raced, piecing together the scattered fragments of information. The lion cub marks. The fact that only women bore them. The prince’s reputation. She sucked in a breath, the pieces clicking into place, forming an ugly truth she could hardly stomach.

  Her voice was unsteady but urgent. “If stealing blessings leaves that mark,” she muttered. “And he only steals from women... then that means—”

  Akira frowned. “Taki? What are you saying?”

  She hesitated, her thoughts swirling into something undeniable. “Marshall… he steals blessings through—”

  A sudden knock thundered against the heavy doors.

  The room fell silent. The doors swung open, revealing Prince Marshall, standing tall and composed. Behind him, the king entered, his presence commanding and cold. His sharp gaze swept over them, lingering on Taki.

  Marshall’s lips curled slightly. “I see you’ve figured it out. Yes, I steal blessings through sex.”

  The old king exhaled, not even looking surprised. “It was only a matter of time. For the elthias hiding our curse has never been easy.”

  “It’s time,” Marshall announced. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

  The king stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over us with unreadable intent. “Get ready,” he ordered. “The curse is about to begin.”

  We exchanged glances, a chilling sensation settled over us—this wasn’t just a warning, it was a declaration. Something far greater than us was about to unfold, and we had no choice but to face it.