"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." ― Ernest Hemingway

Arthur was certain that he had not once had such a day like this. During the years of his cursed life he did have moments of sadness, depression and anger. Although they had decreased over the last past years; he needed to cope with his situation and so did those around him – and they had done so successfully, supporting him during these years and accepting that the enchantment was part of him. Over the course, Arthur had been more in disagreement with his inner self and the moment of when he had been cursed played repeatedly in his head. This day, it was no different, although the circumstances had changed: Not only had he finally learnt of the enemy that wanted him dead, but he was confronted with the fact that the woman he loved had once worked for Antonio – and he did not know if she had plotted against him. This information was bitter . . . It was time to disclose the secret. Arthur (his face still hidden under his hood) glanced towards the small crowd in front of him: She was looking at him with a concerned expression on her face, while the other presents in the room wished to be finally told of the curse. How embarrassing.

Not even magic could help him escaping this awful place. How he dreaded to speak of this ridiculous occurrence of having been transformed into an ugly beast. But he knew it could not be helped, he owned them an explanation for they had already agreed on helping him without knowing of the awful event. The cursed Prince sighed loudly, looking down, hiding his face further behind the hood that was the only sanctuary at that moment.

"It had been an accident," the first words rang through the grand room, his voice sounding bitter to his own ears. "I –" He interrupted himself, looking around as if the door would open itself for him to flee from this dreadful situation. Had it only been his brother, he would not mind– even if he already knew the history – but the other faces were not lifting his nerves. But what had he to lose anyway?

Without glancing up, he began telling the tale that had changed him ten years ago: "As the oldest son, I had to fulfil a role. The responsibilities were part of it, just as the royal lifestyle. Like my brother, I completed the education of a soldier and during the missions we had met several enemies. And one of them was Antonio Fernández Carriedo." He observed Lien and Sakura. The former wore a blank expression while the latter's emotions were mirrored in her eyes: she was concerned. Arthur even thought of having seen regret in her eyes but focused his sight immediately to the floor and proceeded in his speaking, "It was the beginning of our rivalry . . . but in the end, he lost and we conquered part of land. Years after that conquest, I had never dreamt of seeing him again . . . although he had never been someone to have accepted defeat so easily. It was ten years ago during the festivities of our Crown that he forced himself back into my life." He stilled several seconds.

"Somehow his group of delinquents had managed to sneak into the castle without our guards knowing. Antonio must have gotten a map of it, for he knew where my chamber was."

Alfred grunted, mentioning that a spy must have broken into the tall building – Arthur's gaze immediately focused on Sakura, analysing her stance, recognising any sign of reaction that seemed to confirm the suspicion of her having been engaged in that mission. He let out a relieved sigh when her face remained unchanged – the cursed Prince knew her enough to detect any small change of her lovely eyes. She inclined her head as if to ask him to continue.

"My mother and nurses took the time to tell us stories of fairy tales – how the sleeping Princess woke up with a kiss from her beloved Prince, how an enchanted frog transformed back to a human-being or how a Prince saved one entire Kingdom by fighting an evil sorceress. As a child I loved it, as I grew older, I hated it. As if all the responsibilities of a royal heir was nothing but a fairy tale. No war, no forceful marriage to another aristocrat. It was pure mockery of my life: as if a kiss from one's true love would give us all freedom and defeat all evil." How had he gotten so off topic? He did not dare to watch Sakura's reaction of his outburst. But he knew that he and her sister must be confused by this information he was giving. Still he had to explain some of the elements that involved his curse, those fairy tales being one of them.

"I had been in my bedchamber." He gulped at that sentence, more than glad to wear a hood to hide his blush that had suddenly crept up his face. He was embarrassed. "I was . . . foxed." The way he had pressed out the words mirrored itself in his tone – he closed his eyes. His teenager years as a Prince had not been those of a responsible, brave young man who should someday rule over the Kingdom. He was often told that it was quite normal to behave as such during these years, although he did not like speaking of it in front of people. Alfred almost nudged him in order to continue; if the cursed Prince would not proceed, Alfred would assist him and how much his younger sibling would speak of it was something Arthur clearly wanted to avoid as much as possible.

"I don't know if it had been the alcohol or if someone had put something in my drink–" he stopped abruptly, seeing the expression of Alfred's face. "Well, there had been another person in my room . . ." Once again he went silent and the two hunters watched him carefully – they were the only ones in the grand room who had not yet heard of the tale.

Sakura, who was growing concerned by this odd silence shifted uncomfortably – she was not one to be nervous at receiving such information but seeing Arthur's hunched form, his tapping foot, she assumed the worst. "An assassin?" she asked, not wanting to endure this silence any longer. All the heads turned towards her, her sister not watching her for both shared the same suspicion.

Arthur's form stiffened and he looked straight at her – even if he was wearing a hood, Sakura could still make out the contours of his face due to the sunlight coming through the tall windows of the room. His confused expression changed to another indistinct one. "Not quite," Alfred spoke and he tilted his head – a sign, which Sakura immediately understood. Another person, why he had chosen that expression instead of speaking directly what he meant: A woman, a harlot. Had he tried to paraphrase it for the sake of her? She asked herself why he should. He had been a handsome Prince, so of course women around the Kingdom favoured his company and she could not blame them for doing so.

"It was a spy, paid by Antonio," Alfred concluded and Arthur continued the story: "She had brought the drinks, although she must have put something into it. She had suddenly spoken of fairy tales and this subject was somehow unnerving me . . . She told me of a poor desolated man who will rise and claim the throne with the help of magic, a throne that he would deserve, for he was a better King than anyone. I had heard familiar words years ago when I defeated Antonio. But she would not stop talking about her stories and got me angry. I mocked all those ideas of such fairy tales and magic, claiming that I will demonstrate what a perfect fairy tale was . . . The only thing I could remember after my outburst was that female's laugh and the sudden force of magical powers inside me."

"In short: it had escalated." Alfred felt the need to conclude this sentence; his brother had not the courage to lift his head.

"I was too foxed to know what spell I had used, what curse had taken over me . . ."

It took five full minutes for someone else to speak. "You cursed yourself with your own magic?" Sakura asked in a whisper, receiving a nod from Arthur. Antonio's plan had not included the matter of cursing the Prince, nonetheless it had been a success for the criminal.

"And the woman?" Lien questioned, looking at Alfred when Arthur did not reply.

"She was caught by the guards and executed by the laws of Whitefort. Of course she had mentioned something of Fernández Carriedo but it had never been certain, although I somehow knew . . ."

"Did you tell them that she had used a magical potion on you?"

The hooded Prince shook his head. "No . . . It is no secret that I have inherited my mother's powers, although her magic was far less strong than mine. But our informants of the castle had found out the woman's identity. It was not the first time she had used her tricks on someone. Had I not been a magician myself, the potion would have killed me." It was the reason that was always mentioned and Arthur had once suspected that his body had reacted on impulse to save itself from the potion – but he did not know, the state of his body was quite uncertain for him.

No other word was exchanged until the youngest Prince asked the one question Arthur had hoped would finally be formed loudly.

"When exactly did you serve Fernández Carriedo and for what mission?"

Eliza was still starring at Gilbert with widened eyes. "You mean to tell me that he had cursed himself?" Her partner nodded, claiming that it had all happened with a set of incidences which had come to such an end. Even if they had not wished Arthur to be enchanted – for an assassin was more likely to happen – the result had still been satisfying. Now the people of the Kingdom could see their future King how he was not even able to save himself with his own magic but rather having put himself in misery. Who would want such a kind of King?

The barmaid and Gilbert were currently in the back of the tavern; no guests occupied the bar as the sun had only risen.

"So this criminal group has planned the overthrown for years . . . And now they hide and wait for the inhabiting people to question everything."

Gilbert nodded again. "Eliza, they want to provoke people into a rebellion. That is why this poster had been created for. That is the reason why the bounty huntress had decided to have my Prince's head."

The brunette watched the man's facial expression change into light concern – he was not only worried for his future King. His brother was also part of the servants. After they had successfully caught Karpusi, whose residence at that moment was in the cellar (and got often visited by Ivan), Eliza had ceased quarrelling with the silver-haired man. He too had stopped with his bickering, for he was clearly in his thoughts due to the situation. It was not an easy one . . .

"Eliza, if this happens, I want you gone from the village." The words were clear and void of any anger. They were spoken in a most emergent tone.

"I am not taking orders from you," she replied with a challenging look, causing the man to groan.

"This is not an order." Months ago he had provoked her, having startet one argument after another with her, only to now speak fondly towards her. Despite herself, Eliza felt drawn to him. He had changed and as he spoke of wanting to form a friendship with her, she knew that he was attached to her. The man would not force her in returning his feelings and she much appreciated that. Even if she denied her own feelings in that case. Eliza could not dwell on this topic, now was not the time to discuss this.

"Sakura is my friend . . . And so are you, and what am I supposed to do? Running towards another Kingdom without money or the surety of an occupation?"

He considered her words but shook his head. "They are dangerous . . . Although you are powerful." His obnoxious smile surprised her, he had witnessed her energy by first hand – her cheeks reddened and did not go unnoticed by Gilbert. He wanted to utter a comment, but she did not let him.

"We have Ivan and he will support us," she blurted, "I have vowed to help you." Even if this vow had been made for the sake of not being murdered. Gilbert shuddered at the mention of her employer.

"We don't need an angry mob or army, when we have Ivan . . . But heaven help me if I need to introduce him to Sophia."

Eliza smiled ruefully, patting Gilbert's shoulder – something she had somehow getting used to – and saying: "After this, you have to."

[A/N: Please excuse my lack of updates. I had a small writer's block and I worked on another story of mine. I wanted to finish it as soon as possible due to other projects (as an artist you sometimes have to many projects :'D). I will update this story as much as I can, although I don't know if it will be weekly or once a month. Thank you for patience.]

Reply to Reviews:

WhiteXTrainer00: Oh yes :) I wanted to put in some drama (as if a cursed Prince was not drama enough)