So the idea for this story came to me from a short story I read years and years ago about an ugly prince who creates his dream woman as a sculpture and insists on only marrying her, thinking that she does not really exist. I can't find this story anywhere now so if anyone knows what it is please let me know so I can credit it here.
My story uses the same theme but as I can't remember anything else about the original hopefully it will be different. It will be a sweet, fluffy EC romance which I hope you enjoy, and do let me know what you think with a review. :)
Once upon a time in a land renowned for its majestic beauty, there lived a not so handsome prince. The prince had never felt as though he fitted in, for all those around him held some kind of beauty within them, except for himself. In the kingdom of Aljamila, Prince Erik, the only child of King Yusuf and Queen Esther was known to all who knew him as a kind and compassionate man, though very few could claim to know him at all. His father, the king was much adored by all his subjects and it was widely agreed that Erik was much the same and would make a fine leader when the time came for the king to pass the mantle on. Though none had seen the young prince in many years, and as communities are want to do, gossip had started to spread. It was rumoured that the prince was hideously deformed, so ugly that no one could bare to look upon his face. It was said by those who had met the prince that he covered his face with a mask of white porcelain and would never remove it, not even in front of his father, who had never cared what his son looked like. He lived in seclusion in his vast but remote palace, with only his father, his servants and his animals for company. Erik's own assertion that he was too ugly to ever be loved for himself caused him to hide from the world, never even daring to believe that things could be different and that he might just hold some beauty of his own.
The king despaired of his son ever finding a wife and future queen to help him rule their land. It was his own beloved queen's dying wish that her son would find true love and happiness. Love was the ultimate goal, and nothing less would do for her only son. King Yusuf would have married him off to one of the princesses who longed to rule the prosperous kingdom if it were not for his wife's most fervent wish. Erik, who was very clever and sly would use his mother's wish against his father. He promised his father time and time again that he would choose a wife when he found love just as Queen Esther had wished. Whenever King Yusuf brought a woman to meet the prince however, he would turn her away without a word, citing that she was not the right one. Yusuf knew the true reason for this. Erik believed himself unlovable, not that he himself could not love. Erik hoped that if he turned down enough women that one day his father would give in and allow him to live his life in solitude. Yusuf, who was also an incredibly stubborn man was not about to allow that to occur if he could prevent it.
As the years passed, King Yusuf's despair grew stronger. He was not a young man anymore and soon Erik would be king. Without an heir, the kingdom would one day pass to his cousin, Hazim, who was a cruel and vindictive man. The power would no doubt go to his head and the kingdom would suffer under his rule. Yusuf grew more determined to find his son a wife, not only for the fate of the lands he ruled but for his beloved son, who he wanted to see happy more than anything in the world. Loneliness was making the prince retreat further into himself each day that passed, and he knew that time was running out. There were fewer and fewer unmarried noblewomen who would agree to visit with the prince, both throughout the kingdom and of any others. Even after allowing women if no noble birth the chance, still no one could be found. One day King Yusuf snapped. He was tired of Erik's stubborn refusal to comply with his wishes. He would give him an ultimatum. Choose a wife at last or he would cast him out into the world with no fortune and no mask to hide behind. His coddled and protected son would not last in the real world, and though he would never carry through with his threats, he knew Erik would not be willing to take that chance. This was his last chance to give his wife what she wanted above all else, and only then could finally allow himself to join her again.
…
"That is my final word, Erik. You have tried my patience for the final time. I have given you enough chances, and I have had enough. You will marry and produce an heir to take over this kingdom."
Erik glared at his father from his huge armchair by the fire. The large wiry dog that sat his side lay its head in his lap and looked up at his master with sad doleful eyes. Erik lay a hand upon its head and stroked its ears. "Fine father, you win. I will choose a wife."
Erik had suddenly had the most brilliant idea, one he wished he had thought of years ago. The idea, if it worked would finally cause his father to stop this irksome task of finding him a bride forever. He would finally be left in peace. "If I make my own choice, no matter who she may be will you accept that?"
"That is what your mother wanted, Erik. That is what I have been trying to make you do all these years!" The irritation that Yusuf felt was swiftly turning to anger. "Yes, I will accept any wife you choose. I have however had enough of your constant excuses. You have a year to choose a bride or I will choose her for you!"
A slow smile crept over Erik's malformed lips. "I can do better than that father. I will choose my bride within a week. How does that sound? I will present you with my chosen bride one week from today."
Looking back on this moment, Yusuf should have known this was far too good to be true. He should have guessed his very clever son was planning something devious. He would not usually have capitulated to his wishes so easily. Yusuf had been so desperate to accept this seeming perfect offer that he had not thought twice but to accept. They shook on the deal, Erik smiling devilishly as they did.
Over the next week, Erik worked tirelessly on his creation. Night and day, he laboured, until at last he had finished. He was blown away with the final outcome, it being even more perfect than he had imagined. The marble sculpture depicted quite simply the most beautiful woman he could possibly envision, brought forth from his vivid imagination. Such perfection could not possibly exist anywhere in the world, that was a certainty. The angels in heaven would weep with jealousy at seeing such beauty. Before leaving the gardens that night, he removed his mask in front of the angel and gazed into her loving eyes. He could not resist placing his lips to hers, though afterwards he felt a wave of despair crash over him. If only, he thought to himself as he stared in longing at her perfect visage.
….
King Yusuf entered Erik's living quarters within the palace a week from the day he last visited, feeling lighted than he had in years. Today was the day when he would meet his son's chosen bride, though he was sure he would not have met anyone in that time. He had received no word of his son leaving the palace gates in the last week; not even once. There would be no bride, and he would finally be allowed to choose for him. He already had a few princesses in mind whom his son had previously scorned. Any one of them would make him a fine wife. Erik would be married off within the month. It was however a smiling Erik that greeted him in the palace gardens. Could it be possible that his son really had fallen in love within the week? Even if she were a servant, or heaven forbid a harem girl, Yusuf did not care by this point. Just to see him happy would be enough for him.
"Father, I am so pleased to see you. Come with me and meet my bride." Erik was fairly bouncing with barely suppressed glee. His plan could not possibly fail. His father was a fool who thought he could actually best him. He, who was a bona fide genius!
It was with trepidation that Yusuf followed Erik through the gardens and into the central courtyard. It was an oasis of tranquillity, and a place he knew to be one of Erik's favourite places in the world to be. Where there had once been a marble pillar entwined with wildflowers stood a sculpture. A sculpture of a woman so heartrendingly beautiful that Yusuf felt his own heart miss a beat at the sight of her.
"Here she is father," Erik gestured to the sculpture. "And before you ask, no I don't intent to marry a sculpture. I will marry the real thing. Only she will do, father. Find her – this exact woman - and I promise I will marry her."
Yusuf was incensed with rage and he stormed out of the gardens without a word. At first he was filled with such anger that he could not see straight, but as the days passed he came up with a plan of his own, though it may not be possible. Erik thought himself so clever that he could get the better of him. Well his son had learned his tricks from the master. Yusuf decided he would beat him at his own game.
Only she will do, hmm? Well then, dearest son, it is she you will have. Yusuf thought to himself as he devised his plan late one night, a cunning smile of his own gracing his lips.
