《Tagetes' Short Stories》 The Demon King and The Princess The Demon King and The Princess ~What really happened~ Today was like any other day, orso I thought. I''m the butler of the royal family of the Kingdom Of Treeno. I served one of the 4 sons and daughters of the 4th King, The Youngest, Princess Lily. I was born in a small village in the north of the kingdom, The Village of Kraid. I was an orphan, My parents died in an attack of demons when I was 5 years old. I don''t really remember it well but I was told that I cried for 3 nights . I was a hard worker and was talented in both magic and swordplay. Magic was rare and had no teachers. Mage kept it all for themselves. I studied magic and delved in its secrets and developed what I called Illusion magic and Healing magic using water element but that was my little secret. I trained under a Blademaster and was very good at it. After that I went to the capital to have a job and settle there and caught a hold of a butlers contest, the prize was being a royal butler and having 300 gold coins. And here I am a 17-year-old teen becoming a refined royal butler for a 13-year-old princess. But time passes really fast. It''s been 4 from me becoming a butler I''m now and adult of 21. My day started now. First I help the maids with fast cleaning and I prepare breakfast and wake the princess up, But my main job is an escort and a bodyguard. That is what others see but in fact I don''t need sleep, I use water magic to make sure that my stamina regeneration equals consumption. I have a fast mana regeneration and pool by nature.In night I go to my room where I study magic and mana properties. I actually discovered a type of magic that can alter time and space!, But it requires half of my mana pool to cast the easiest spell that fastens or slow time in the room which I define at will. I used my whole room as a ''Space'' for the spell but it only lasted an hour at best. I used an enchantment to make time in the room slower so I can study or sleep twice the normal time and didn''t need to use my own mana as it used the mana in the air. I discovered other ways to widen the mana pool, Using a storing gem I stored an amount of mana, then absorb it when my mana pool is filled to slowly expand it by small parts and make it more flexible. I could cast the lowest spell for a day.after that I studied transmutation, but I instead found fusion, but it as well took a lots of mana, but only half a time spell and I found a way to turn life force to mana and mana to life force and found out that life force equals 7 mana units.one could say I was a Mage but I would say I was a researcher. Now back to my real job. --------------------------------- As I said I was the butler of the princess for 3 years, In the years I escorted her, I noticed many things; The First thing was that she was extremely beautiful, well... All people noticed that and I think I may have fell for her... Ahem. The second was that she was abnormally weak and diseased. It was what you call a slow blooming illness. After I took a sample of whatever I could....not from obsession, but for diagnosing her illness. I found out the mana parasite in her mana flow veins. The most common cause for this parasite to exist in the flow is to be born from an infected father. Demons are the second and basic source. Anyway, I knew the princess would not last to reach the 20th of her age.so I decided today would be the day I will inform her. Oh..I forgot the 3rd notice....The princess was in love with a son of a noble, after investigating him and his background.. Well, I have to admit he''s the best noble and one of the most righteous out there. So, I went to the princess to call her for dinner. upon entering I saw her sitting with a pile of books next to her. as I approached she didn''t notice me. It seems she was concentrating in reading. I neared her and picked up a book strangely enough, it''s title was "An introduction to the Humans Body" and the one below it was "Herbal remedies". I was shocked. It seems the princess noticed it already. Clearing my throat to get attention."Waah!"The princess jumped in surprise."Hey!, You surprised me James!" and she started pouting. ''cute'' I thought. "Princess,You shouldn''t read about lewd things until you are 18"I said,trying to sound as harsh as possible. The princess'' reaction was really amusing. She was confused at first, then her face got really red. "It seems I was right..." I mumbled with a voice loud enough for her to hear. The princess was embarrassed and was stammering "W-w-wait you got it wrong!" I responded fast "But you wouldn''t be embarrassed if you didn''t know what I was talking about, Plus you were so immersed that it was suspicious". The princess got more red than I though would be possible then I chuckled.she yelled "Stop teasing me!". I apologized to her and asked her why was she reading about this certain subject. she answered me "well....I suspected my weak body and wanted to be more healthy, But I still haven''t found any clue". I stayed silent for a bit then asked "why did you think of that now?,you should''ve done it earlier". She then blushed for a moment before asking me "What are you doing here?". I now remembered then said "Oh.Dinner is ready". After we finished dinner the princess once again went to the study, I followed. After she sat down. I said"Princess actually... 3 years ago, I started suspecting your body was sickened and 1 year ago I discovered The cause and I completed the Medication earlier this month" the princess widened her eyes and asked "and what is that medicine!". It stayed silent for about 3 minutes I then said "Preparation needs me to be away for a month and the medication needs te- A year of deep slumber" ''Damn I lied because she looked at me with excepting eyes'' "so you should be healthy at least 2 weeks before your birthday". ''well I can do that but it will cost a lot more than the normal'' "Then let''s get started!" Jumped the princess out of her chair "Wait! As I told you, the preparation will take 2 months, and I''ll be away and you got to keep silent about that, Never tell anyone that I''m the one who cured you." she then looked at me with a tilted head expressing her confusion but I stayed silent so she took the hint and didn''t inquire further. ---------------------------------- James left for 2 months and 3 days with the excuse that he needed a vacation and went and started the preparations. he bought best magic gems and made a weightless and extremely Spacious bag using space magic he bought lots of things but still had more money, his job paid really well. He then started his journey to The Mountains of Carborane. James built a tower using Telekinesis a basic magic skill. It was made from a dark marble found in the mountain. He then linked a room to an empty shack in the woods near the Capital using space magic he hides it by using illusion to make it look like a normal wall and began the real work Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. He started fusing the magic stones he filled in his way.It turned out intoa 3 meters high and 2 meters wide hollow magic crystal with a shuttle attached to it, it would look like a normal big crystal when the shuttle is closed, He then filled the magic crystal to the fullest using a specially enchanted water that can allow breathing and easier flow of mana, then poured his mana in the crystal and noticed that it become only 1/6 the amount the crystal held before fusion. He started to decorate the tower and put the Crystal in the right side of a throne in the main room, Just opposite to the crystal was a painting with a chair and a dark armor sitting on it with the helmet in its hand. It all took him 1 month and 26 days. the next few days he enchanted the room with slow time so the time was 1/10 the normal, but he found it impossible as the enchantment didn''t acquire enough mana from the air so he linked his mana with the enchantment ,he then started programming the crystal to terminate the parasites while repairing the flow and programmed it to keep the person inside asleep the entire process .that took from his time another 4 days now he had 3 days left. After returning to the capital he made an invisible illusion around him and went to meet the princess.when he reached her he said "Princess, it''s time " she jumped once again and looked at him "eh..lets go tell the king that I''m leaving for a y-"... "I already took care of that." he said. She looked at him and said "OK, let''s go". Heading to the shack with invisibility on they reached the castle really fast. He then asked the princess to enter the crystal and closed it after her. she panicked slightly before she noticed she could breath, after that she fell into deep sleep. ---------------------------------- I woke up. It felt like I took a light nap. I felt really good and had more energy in me. The first thing I saw was a painting with a dark armor with its helmet in its hand it looked really eerie. I called James, He was sitting on the throne with a tired look. As he approached, I noticed that he looked older. When I asked him about it. He told me that I took a-10-year-nap, I was confused, But he said something even more confusing "but it was only a year" I wanted to ask him what he meant but before I could speak he started again."we got another 40 minute until the process ends so let me tell you a little story to pass time." I still wanted answers but I could ask him later. When I started looking at him attentively I noticed his expression, it was a tiredness and loneliness with uncertain regret in it then his slightly wrinkled face looked determinated and he started his story. ---------------------------------- "This is a story I heard in the capital "Once upon a time, There was a beautiful princess, Her beauty shined, her smile gave light more than that of the sun. The princess had a silver straight and smooth hair, she had a slim and curved body. she had a body that could be envied by the gods, and that proved true. The princess was sickly and weak. She stayed inside her room most of the time. but she went out from time to another. Before her 17thbirthday by 2 weeks she went out, she played in the royal garden and danced with the grass and talked to the flowers ,Unfortunately for her the demon lord, Dakrya Aimatos, was flying over the skies of the capital and he saw her, he was mesmerised by her beauty, so he went and proposed his love to her. but the princess was in love with a man so she rejected him. Filled with sadness and dejection Dakrya kidnapped her and took her to a tower in the mountains and he then froze her in the ice and stayed watching her beauty from his throne of the tower." then he stopped and turned around saying "Its time" when I asked him "Where is the rest of the story?! won''t she be saved?!" he answered me with a tired voice "The story has yet to end, Princess" he paused then said "But remember not all what you hear is true, for there is always a difference between ''What people hear'' and ''What really happened''" He turned around and walked towards the painting, he became blurry then his looks changed he had a dark skin and a thin long ear and he had two big horns going back and he looked younger. I was surprised at first, but I knew what that was, it was a demon. he walked right into the painting and took the helmet and wear it, then he wear the armor. I was really confused and couldn''t talk from the shock. Just when I was going to ask what is happening the door crashed open and HE entered. HE stood there wearing a white armor with his sword unsheathed and shouted "Demon Lord Darkya! Release the princess at once!"James(?) Looked at him for a moment and then burst in laughter "HAHAHAHA You Mortal dare enter my castle and as if its not enough you ask me my precious?" then his voice went cold "I shall slaughter you!" They both dashed at each other after that my untrained eyes couldn''t follow their strikes anymore, but I knew that HE was winning and James(?) was losing. After a long fight I noticed the crystal''s walls started breaking down and cracks covered a part of it, from the unbroken part I could see James(?) being pierced by HIS sword James then said in a weak voice "Be damned mortal I''ll take you with down with me" then he slashed with his dark sword but only left a shallow wound at his chest barely enough to leave a scar.James''(?) turned into dust. After that, my memories were vague. I fell into His arms then darkness overtook me. ---------------------------------- I open my eyes. A high ceiling a pure white ceiling. I hear the birds chirping around signaling a new day. ''My room....was that all a dream?'''' The door creaked open ''I have to tell James to fix it.'' "Good Morning, Princess." A familiar calm voice resounded the room. "Good Morning. James." ''''So it was a dream after all'' "You are finally awake, you really are a heavy sleeper, ten years wasn''t enough to satisfy your sleepiness?huh?."James replied with a sarcastic tone in his voice. My eyes widen then I turn to look at him. He looked the same young James I always knew, no wrinkles on his face, no horns or darkened skin. "W-What happened?..... It was all real?! Didn''t you turn into ashes?" I say surprised. and he answers my shocked face with a fake hurt frowning face. "Its almost as If you want me to turn into ashes, You really are cruel, Princess" Then I noticed his words. "W-wait! 10 years?" I ask him. He makes an ''Oh'' face then its turns into a mischievous smile "A mage never reveals his secrets, Princess" Then he turns around and says "Anyway, I have to tell the king that you are awake, Excuse me" As he opens the door to leave but I call him "Wait, James. Thank you." He bows to me " It''s my Job As your butler, Princess" then leaves. An Oath Taken Opening my eyes, I see it once again, I see the haven so dear to my heart ¡ªperhaps soul is more accurate¡ª. Once again, I see the grass blades swaying with the gentle breeze, I see the mountains in the farthest place, I see sparse clouds colouring the blue sky space. Once again, I see the hill centring the green plain, I see the majestic tree where it all began. I lower my eyes with anticipation and dread and see the same scene repeating itself again. I see a beauty that cannot be described by words, A beauty that I would sacrifice anything to once again truly hold it in my arms, I see those pink eyes that looked at me once in love, I see that pink hair that was so pleasant to touch, I stare and I would have liked to stay like this to the end of time, but ¡ªonce again¡ª a masculine voice shatters the dream I wove for myself. ¡°Eve, I make this oath under this sacred tree; I shall guard your happiness as long as I be.¡± And how I wished to hear her voice, but I feared to hear those words that promised the different terms under similar words ¡ªbe it intentional or not¡ª, how I sometimes wished to have said those words too. So I ¡ªonce again¡ª interrupt the super extremely handsome blue-eyed and blue-haired handsome ¡ªyes, twice¡ª man. ¡®You shall regret speaking those damned words; for the sacred tree has more than the eye beholds.¡¯ Then everything went still, the sky and grass lost their colour and so did the soothing pink. Only the tree''s green and the man''s blue remained, the branches and leaves still swayed with the wind and the man finally took notice of my existence, he looked at me as if a fly landed on something he intended to eat and he replied harshly. ¡°My words to her I shall keep, even if the price is steep.¡± I nod my head while smiling bitterly. ¡®Your words to her you shall keep, even while you in suffering weep.¡¯ The handsome man looks at me in frustration in that he cannot silence me so he can revel in this moment, but seeing that I don''t speak more, he looks back at ¡®his¡¯ Eve.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As colour returns to the world I sigh gently lamenting having to hear the words that damned what would have been a beautiful fairytale into a tragic tale of one-sided love and suffering with no escape. Once again I hear that clear voice, much more beautiful sounding than the whistles of the wind, much more attractive than the songs of the birds, those words -said by a voice that surpasses musical tunes- that damned me are ¡ªonce again¡ª coming out with a beautiful tune that makes one dazed. ¡°And I in keeping your happiness shall do my part; Until death does us apart.¡± I watch her smile gently with love in her eyes, this smile I always wished to see again and I indeed did see it but it hurt me more often than it made me smile back. I watch as my haven ¡ªonce again¡ª fades around me and I know that my time is up here, I close my eyes and wait, I wish it was all merely a dream, but it was not. *** Opening my eyes I see it once again, those beautiful brown eyes filled with tenderness, although they are not pink I would know them anywhere. I feel those gentle hands stroking my hair, and see those lips smiling and hear them saying sweet words to me. ¡°Good morning, Adam¡± My heart skips a beat, but laments returns within my heart as it takes a seat. As I lament my existence, I hear the door open and irritation and frustration fills my body. ¡°Urgh, why do you wake it more gently than you wake me up.¡± said the man with unhandsome face and wretched hair. ¡°Because he is much cuter than you.¡± said the beautiful and pretty woman with cute bed hair. ¡°I''m a man! How can I be cute?!¡± said the wretched man grumbling. ¡°He''s also much more handsome than you are!¡± the beautiful and pretty woman told him the undeniable truth as she started brushing her fair chestnut hair. ¡°How so? Look! It''s just a black cat, how can it be described as handsome, even?¡± the insect spoke in protest not realising it''s word brought the ire of the most handsome, brave, strong and valiant feline in the myriad worlds. ¡°You''re just jealous.¡± said the now elegant and refined woman. As I look gloatingly at the superficial man in front of me, he looks back at me in irritation. ¡°I''m not! Look at how it looks at me! Your cat hates my guts.¡± for once the man spoke something meaningful, unfortunately for him he was ignored. As they are play-fighting I lay back down and organise and calm my heart, a new day of happiness for one, one of suffering for another, but my feelings are starting to go numb with time and I have long since got used to those feeling that threaten my mind with insanity and instability. I yawn as I watch the couple making their way to the doorway, while bantering playfully. I close my eyes and feel out for my soul, letting my spiritual avatar take the shape of my current body, I ¡ªonce again¡ª follow her to guard her happiness however harsh it may be for me, and keep an oath taken under the sacred tree.