True Love Kiss

In a distant realm, amidst a tapestry of wonder, resided Princess Lara-a beacon of grace and allure. Her ethereal beauty bewitched the hearts of men, leaving them yearning for her affection. Suitors, both married and unwed, dreamt of tasting her lips, captivated by their tender allure. The charm of her roseate embrace enticed the young and old alike, stirring desires that whispered in every corner of the kingdom.

Yet, in her youth and splendor, Lara found herself devoid of true love's touch. Her maidens longed for a stolen moment with their beloved princess, while even her stalwart guards harbored secret fantasies. Even her own father, King Arthur, dared not leave her unattended, fearing his own vulnerability to the temptation of claiming her hand in marriage. Feeling the weight of unwelcome desires that surrounded her, Lara sought refuge within the confines of the castle dungeon, clutching the keys tightly, lest she fall victim to the unspeakable acts of her protectors or companions.

In the depths of the dungeon, she weeps night after night, burdened by the inexplicable curse of her extraordinary beauty. This curse has robbed her of companionship and a life of freedom, leaving her isolated and desolate. Zara, her mother and the esteemed Queen of Sky City, is tormented by the sight of her beloved daughter, Lara, shedding tears. Zara cannot help but shed her own tears, pondering why she was cursed with such overwhelming beauty, a gift bestowed upon her by Lucy, King Arthur's former lover.

Every evening, Zara faithfully visits Lara in the confines of the dungeon, sitting beside the cold iron gates, and listening to the melancholic sound of her daughter's weeping. Although Lara senses her mother's presence, she remains unaware of why her remarkable beauty seems to have no effect on Zara. Trapped within the castle walls, unable to explore the world beyond her home, Lara finds solace only in her tears, which eventually lull her into a restless sleep.

As Lara slumbers, Zara watches over her, her eyes brimming with unspoken concern. She yearns for answers as to why her daughter's beauty grows with each passing year, fearing the impending chaos that might ensue when Lara reaches her twentieth birthday, which looms just nine months away. Zara dreads the unknown depths of her daughter's beauty, fearing that it may cause the kingdom and its cities to crumble under its weight.

Driven by her desperation for answers, Zara sets off to find King Arthur, who is already seated upon his majestic throne, attending to the suitors who have caught a glimpse or heard rumors of Lara's ethereal beauty from the towering watchtowers overlooking the realm. With determination in her eyes, Zara marches toward Arthur, whispering to herself, "King Arthur must reveal the reasons behind Lucy's actions."

King Arthur, upon spotting Zara in his presence, discreetly motioned for the suitors to excuse them. They obediently stepped away, their interests predominantly fixated on the princess. Arthur, acknowledging Zara's unexpected arrival, spoke up.

"Thank you for interrupting me like this," Arthur expressed.

Zara, slightly taken aback, responded, "Wait, aren't you bothered by my actions? I am aware of the law that forbids interference during your meetings."

"In this instance, the law holds no weight. I am weary of these men who are solely captivated by our daughter's physical appearance. Not a single one of them truly loves her," Arthur lamented.

"Very well, then. That means you are going to explain to me why Lucy cast an unbreakable spell on our daughter," Zara asserted.

"Take a seat beside me, my queen. I shall reveal why she committed this unforgivable act," King Arthur replied.

Zara settled into her royal throne, her gaze fixed upon Arthur. Aware of her piercing eyes upon him, Arthur took a deep breath, cognizant that his forthcoming words would pale in comparison to what was to come if he did not bring an end to his only daughter's life.

"Zara, my love, as I once mentioned, Lucy was deeply in love with me. However, what I failed to disclose was that she is the daughter of the night. She rules as the mistress of all witches in the realm beneath ours. Many of the wizards and witches I have vanquished did not acquire their powers from me but from her. Years ago, I ventured into the dark realm to confront their ruler. During this encounter, I accused her mother of bestowing dark powers upon my subjects of light. It was then that I beheld Lucy herself. She was as strikingly beautiful as our daughter. With her desperation to make me love her, she attempted numerous times, resorting even to casting a love spell. Yet, her magic had no effect on me. Realizing my lack of interest in her or her beauty, she resorted to a cursed spell, using her own blood, decreeing that our first child would be a daughter and possess greater beauty than her. This curse was meant to ravage the lands and the kingdom. And she carried out this act right before me."

Zara's heart sank as she realized her intentions had fallen far short of her expectations. "I thought she did this because you hurt her," Zara said, her voice filled with sadness.

"I did hurt her by not loving her. My eyes were already fixed on you, my goddess of beauty. Why would I need to marry a daughter of the night when you possess the breath of immortals?" Arthur replied.

"What has become of her? Let us plead with her to remove this spell from our daughter, for I fear things will worsen on her birthday night. With each passing year, she transforms into even greater beauty. I fear for the lands," Zara expressed her concerns.

"After she cast her spell before me, I used my own power against her. I cursed the earth and the sky, decreeing that they would be against her existence should she ever attempt to enter the Sky City. She lost the ability to teleport to the Outside world, and her home became her prison, just as ours became Lara's," Arthur explained.

"Let us go to her, so you can undo what you have done to her and she can release our daughter from this curse," Zara suggested.

"I went to her on Lara's eighteenth birthday, seeking freedom for our daughter in exchange for her own. But she laughed at me and revealed that Lara's beauty would destroy the lands, breaking the laws of nature. The world would turn against me, and only then would she come to fight, when I have lost the mercy of the universal order," King Arthur recounted.

"What shall we do then?" Zara asked, her voice filled with worry.