Kapitel 1: Once upon a time there was a curse

As many fairy tales begin with those famous, little words we all know, this story will also start with "Once upon a time". Be aware that the characters in this story will show you a world full of wonder, adventures and love.

Now let me tell you about a girl who was different and who would never submit herself to anyone, and a boy, better a beast, who thought himself to be too awesome to be in company of "ordinary" people. Will those two change? For the better or for the worse? Ask yourself as many questions as you like but keep in mind, that you will have to read their story to answer those questions. Welcome to a wondrous narration which might oh so familiar but also foreign in some parts.

Once upon a time, far away from the place you probably live in, there was a prince with hair as white as snow and eyes as red as blood. Many people adored this handsome man but only few were actually allowed to talk to him. Among those selected few were some of his most loyal servants. Only those 'friends' - or whatever else he called them- were allowed to bore him with their company. Among others, Francis who was the chef in the castle´s kitchen and Antonio who was once a prince but now was a gardener.

The prince, called Gilbert, was greatly disliked by some of his servants because he always demeaned them. It was no secret that they were talking behind his back. Arthur Kirkland, he could be described as the manager of the castle and who was constantly being harassed by the Prince, was the leader of the "We-loathe-Gilbert"-Club. Now you might ask why they had not left, if they hated the prince so much. And you might wonder as well, how there were people who liked that prince who thought too much of himself and too little of those around him.

It was because no one else would take them in. They were outcast by their former villages. After travelling around and living on the street, they came to the castle and finally found a place to stay. A place where they were accepted and treated like actual human beings. Gilbert´s father, who was thought of as a wise and great man, gave them a chance when no one else would. He took them in, healed their wounds- not just those their bodies carried but also those their souls gained- and gave them back a meaning for life.

Sadly, he passed away at a very young age and his oldest son Gilbert became heir to the throne. The young boy, who yet had to become a man in spirit and body, was torn from his comfortable, easy-going life and had to take on a responsibility most thought he could not live up to.

Therefore it came not as a surprise when many servants started to protest. They wanted Ludwig, the younger brother of the white haired prince, to be the successor. That boy, barely 7 years old was not aware of the expectations the servants had. He was a small boy, lovely and gentle but weak in health. When he was born not many believed him to survive.

So when the protesters were not able to carry through with their plan, they hoped that Gilbert would at least listen to his brother during his reign.

Gilbert loved his little brother dearly and although Ludwig was younger than him, he usually listened to what the smaller boy said. So when it came to the future of the servants, Ludwig intervened with his older brother's plan to get rid of those who were against him.

Therefore, all the servants is father took in were allowed to stay, including those Gilbert indeed did not like.

As it was already said at the beginning of this story, the prince was a very proud person. He always called himself "awesome" and said that nobody could stand a chance against his awesomeness. Hadn´t he annoyed a wizard from the northern hemisphere, he probably would have lived an easy and carefree life. This occurrence would drastically change not only the prince's future and life but also those of all the inhabitants of the castle.

It was a calm night. The moon shone in the dark sky and illuminated the walls of the castle. A picture of a scene which many artists would have loved to draw. A night in which the stars indeed looked like diamonds. sparkling and shimmering.

Not many hours had passed since the prince returned from a party in the village at the foot of the forests, when knocking could be heard throughout the corridors and halls of the building.

"Who the bloody hell is knocking at someone´s door at this time?!" cursed Arthur who marched down the stairs, closely followed by one of the knights. His face twisted in a frown, his eyes, a beautiful shade of green and often compared to emeralds, filled with annoyance.

"Artie, calm down! It is probably just a poor fellow who got lost in the woods. No need to rip off someone´s head!" the knight, Alfred, tried to pacify the green-eyed man. Alfred might haven been young and had yet to grow a beard, but he had seen hell and had the experience of a veteran.

Arthur just sent him a death glare and turned to the big wooden door. Damn this knight and his blue eyes and his handsome face. He inwardly cursed.

"How may I help you?" Arthur asked with a friendly tone and a small, polite smile on his face to which he got a snort as a reaction from Alfred.

"I want to talk to prince Gilbert. Either you get him here, or you take me to him. I have some business to settle with him." was the monotone answer from a slender looking man. He wore a dark blue cloak. His hair was hidden underneath a cap, although some strands of bright hair could be seen. His violet eyes bore into Arthurs´ green ones.

Alfred, who was standing right next to his friend, later told the other servants, that Arthur opened the door further without saying anything. The knight, being concerned by this action, tried to talk to the smaller man. However, he was not able to get a word out of the man, even when the stranger left in his search of the prince. Arthur just stood there next to the door, his eyes vacant and one hand still touching the door handle. "Artie? You okay there?" Alfred asked and loomed over the smaller male. "Can you hear me?" he asked, but again, the smaller one did not answer. Instead his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed. With a yell, the knight caught him and held him up. "Artie?! Come on dude! Wake up!" he frantically shook the green eyed man. His only answer was a small groan.

"Damn it…MATTHIAS! BERWALD!" he shouted and soon steps could be heard as two tall grown man came around the corner.

"Alfred man, what is up? You ca….wait is that eyebrows? Did he drink too much again or what?" one of the knights said and started to laugh.

"Man he really can´t hold is liquor, can he?" he continued and laughed again, but stopped when the other knight elbowed him.

"B´ c´lm. Y´re to' l´d. ", the other knight murmured and they glared at each other in a silent battle.

"No Matthias, he did not drink too much. For once. You and Berwald have to go to the prince. He is danger! Some weird guy just came in and then Arthur collapsed and I don´t think he just wants to talk to Gilbert! Now hurry! I will help you as soon as I have taken care of Artie!", Alfred commanded and Berwald and Matthias ran as fast as they could to the throne room.

In the meantime Alfred had lifted Arthur into his arms and hurried towards the manager´s bedroom. "Everything will be alright, Artie. Don´t worry.", he murmured when a soft sighed escaped the smaller male and he tightened his grip on the smaller form. Once he reached Arthur´s room, he opened the door and laid the other down on the bed, tugging him in. He softly touched Arthur´s cheek, who in turn slight nuzzled his hand.

"Whoever that dude is, I will make him pay!", Alfred murmured and his eyes darkened. He turned around sharply and silently left the room. Nobody hurt his friends and loved ones without being punished. He took one last glance at the door he had closed only a few seconds ago before he hurried off in search of the stranger. A determined look on his face.

Meanwhile the white haired prince was talking to Antonio, who was one of his best friends and one of the few who as it was already mentioned were allowed to talk to him. In the middle of their discussion about tomatoes and chickens they were interrupted when the door to the throne room burst open.

"Dude! Not cool! Nobody interrupts the awesome me!" the prince shouted annoyed and glared at the cloaked figure standing in the archway.

"Prince Gilbert! I think it is time that somebody teaches you a lesson!" the cloaked figure said menacingly and took a step closer to the prince. He pulled back his cap uncovering a man with emotionless eyes who stared at the duo in front of him. Well not really at the duo but at the prince. "What? A lesson? Why? And who allowed you to talk to me anyway? I am too awesome for you, Alter (1)! No leave at once." Gilbert waved his hand in a bored manner and turned towards Antonio who was following the discussion with a confused expression.

"You are too arrogant for your own good, prince Gilbert! Now listen! I curse you and all those working and living in this castle! Your damned awesomeness will not help you anymore and as long as you won't find someone who loves you the way you will look from now on, this curse will not be reversed." the mysterious stranger said and held up a sceptre which began to glow and illuminated the whole room. Everything was white for a short time, until the light started to recede. "I will leave this rose here with you. Until your 25th birthday, it will lose its petals and then the curse is irreversible. We will see if someone will love you the way you look. I bet it won´t happen. How could anyone love you? At least your outside matches your ugly inside. I will take my leave now. Hopefully we won´t meet again. Ever." the wizard spoke, turned around and left. It was the first time the castle had been as silent as it was in that moment before chaos reigned when every single inhabitant took notice of what had happened.

(1) Alter (ger.)- either age, an old man or as it used in this case: dude