NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Am I a Princess?
Chapter 32: Am I a Princess?
Aurora's gaze froze.
“We? Just the two of us? Can we really defeat the Black Witch? In the kingdom, aren’t there many warriors far braver than I am, and countless mages just as talented as you, Teacher?”
She had heard tales of Black Witch Maleficent, stories that painted her as an unbeatable and terrifying figure. Aurora couldn’t fathom going up against such a legend.
Up until now, due to a lack of comparisons, Aurora still had no concrete understanding of her own strength. Doubt surfaced instinctively.
Rhine smiled and said,
“Aurora, perhaps you’re unaware, but right now, you are the most skilled warrior in the entire kingdom. And as for me, I am indeed the most exceptional mage here.”
Years ago, Rhine’s magical prowess was on par with the most gifted of the witches. However, during Aurora’s growth, after fulfilling countless wishes in the kingdom, he had gone much farther in his mastery of magic. Now, he could single-handedly resolve issues that would require over half of the 13 Witches working together.
Pausing briefly, Rhine continued,
“Of course, Maleficent is a legendary witch capable of enveloping the entire kingdom in magic. You are not yet strong enough to defeat her in her dragon form.“But your talent is extraordinary, and on the journey ahead, your growth will be exponential!”
Rhine firmly believed that both he, who could harness the power of wishes, and Aurora, who was exceptionally gifted, would gain immeasurably from the journey they were about to embark upon.
A spark of determination ignited in Aurora’s eyes as she nodded enthusiastically.
At that moment, Rhine felt an unprecedented surge of power, akin to a blazing sun—it was the power of a wish.
It came from Aurora’s deepest desire.
“Alright, Teacher. Please take me away from the kingdom. I want to become a true hero, find the Black Witch, defeat her, and then return to this land!”
Seeing the timing was perfect, Rhine added what he had not yet explained:
“By the way, I made a prophecy. The curse of Black Witch Maleficent cannot be avoided, even if you flee the kingdom. Unfortunately, not everyone believed me when I said so.
“That’s why the King chose to conceal the truth of the curse—it wasn’t a bad decision. If the public were to learn of it, the kingdom would have fallen into panic and chaos.” 𝖗À₦ꝋBЁṣ
Aurora suddenly realized how hasty and impulsive her earlier assumptions had been.
The Violet Fairy chuckled and said,
“So, you’re about to take Aurora out of the kingdom to search for Black Witch Maleficent’s whereabouts, while training Aurora to become a hero capable of opposing Maleficent. I wish you both success!”
This had been the plan all along, so the Violet Fairy wasn’t surprised.
It seemed that everything had been settled, and in just a few days, they would embark on their journey abroad.
However, as the witches thought all was agreed upon, Aurora suddenly spoke up.
“Wait, Teacher, we can’t leave so soon!
“Before leaving the kingdom, I must complete one last task.
“That soldier said Enderland is preparing to reveal the truth of the curse to our citizens soon. When that happens, the kingdom will descend into chaos.
“At that time, Enderland’s army—or should I say their band of thieves—will invade and plunder our treasures, our rare artifacts, and even our livestock.
“Since you said I am already the kingdom’s strongest warrior, I should lead the army to drive off the invaders before departing on our journey!”
Lead the army? How do you plan to become the commander of the troops? How will you make the soldiers obey your orders? From appearances alone, you’re just a 10-year-old girl. Who would let you take command? Or… have you already guessed? Rhine’s thoughts churned.
“Teacher! Aunt Violet, Grandma Rosa, everyone. I have a very, very important question. Please, you must answer me truthfully. I beg you!”
Aurora’s gaze turned sharply serious as she bowed politely to Rhine and the witches.
“Oh, Little Aurora has a question? Go ahead and ask,” Grandma Rosa replied with a kind smile.
Aurora swallowed nervously, raised her chin, and asked solemnly, enunciating each word:
“Am I a princess?
“Am I the princess from the rumors, the one who was supposed to be imprisoned in the depths of the palace?
“And you, my teacher—are you the Royal Sage and Grand Mage Rhine from the kingdom’s legend, the one who served as an advisor to the King for half a year before mysteriously disappearing?”
Silence.
A deathly silence.
“Yes. Yes.”
Rhine nodded gently, his expression calm and unwavering.
This was something he had always planned to tell Aurora eventually.
Aurora let out a sigh of relief, a smile of contentment spreading across her face.
“Thank goodness. Otherwise, I would have thought I was some magical weapon you created just for battle.
“No wonder I possess such astounding talent. No wonder I share a name with the rumored princess who was supposedly imprisoned—though, to be fair, many share that name in the kingdom today.”
When did you begin suspecting your identity?
Rhine wanted to ask but decided it wasn’t necessary.
There had been too many clues.
A clever girl like Aurora would have pieced it together eventually.
“I heard it from the people at the tavern and the children I played ball with. They said the King’s daughter was trapped in a copper palace deep within the royal compound, never to step outside.
“I often thought about how lonely she must feel, trapped there, unable to see the outside world.
“And now I know—it was all a lie. She was never imprisoned at all.”
Aurora spoke softly, her tone filled with endless emotion.
The golden-haired girl raised her slender yet strikingly strong hands and looked toward Rhine and the witches.
“Teacher, Grandma Witch, Aunt Witch, my talent comes from your blessings, doesn’t it? Thank you.
“Now that I’ve grown up, can you tell me what happened on the day I was born?
“Why are there rumors of a princess being imprisoned in the Copper Palace? And what blessings were bestowed upon me?”
Rhine sat down, and with the witches, they began to recount the thrilling events of ten years ago.
It was a fascinating tale.
There was a grand banquet, exquisite food and fine wine, witches, mages, a fire-breathing, unstoppable dragon, a terrifying curse, and a sacred blessing. It began as a story so beautiful it could inspire poetry, only to suddenly descend into darkness, followed by an unexpected twist.
What captivated Aurora most was the prophecy made by the Prophet—her teacher—about the future she never chose.
Aurora listened quietly to the story, fully absorbed.
“So that’s how it is… I’m the source of the kingdom’s dreadful curse.
“You all saw the vision in the mirror, saw the misfortunes that awaited in the future. So, in the end, you didn’t choose the original blessing—replacing death with sleep—and instead opted for the path we’re on now.”
Aurora appeared deep in thought.
Grandma Rosa, watching the golden-haired girl’s serious expression, couldn’t help but feel an outpouring of love and affection.
Indeed, in the scene back then, the Royal Sage had chosen an unconventional path that amazed everyone. But it did seem to be the best choice. The King, the Queen, and the witches, herself included, had supported this decision, step by step raising the Princess to be a warrior capable of slaying a dragon.
However, all of this was simply the adults’ (Rhine could barely be considered one here) unilateral arrangement. What about Princess Aurora’s own thoughts? She was, after all, a living, breathing person.
As a baby, Aurora had no idea of the burden placed upon her shoulders. But the Aurora of today now knew everything.
From birth, she bore a mission. She endured years of rigorous training, unchanging day after day, until now, carrying a responsibility far beyond her years.
Would the Princess willingly accept the decisions made for her back then?
Aurora’s birthday banquet was over.
The witches departed one by one.
Aurora had proven to them that she had become an independent hero, no longer in need of their care.
The house grew quiet. The living room was empty and hollow.
The Little Princess rested her chin in her hand, gazing at the stars. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and turned abruptly to ask Rhine:
“So, what happened afterward?
“Teacher, your prophecy back then only went up to the point where I fell into a long slumber, and the kingdom was covered by thorns for fifty years, right?
“So what about the future beyond that?
“In the end, was the curse broken?”
The night was so silent that even the chirping of distant birds could be heard clearly.
After a long pause, Rhine nodded gently and said in a low voice:
“I am truly sorry, Aurora. Back then, I made the decision on your behalf without consulting you.
“Since that’s the case, I believe it’s necessary for you to know your future—even if it isn’t entirely precise.”
Aurora’s eyes lit up instantly.
Rhine continued slowly:
“The River of Destiny branches into countless streams and possibilities.
“While I cannot predict the exact details of a distant future, I can glimpse fragments of its tributaries. Most of the outcomes aren’t perfect, but in many of them, the curse is indeed broken.
“Aurora, since you’re curious about the road not taken, I can show you the best, the most perfect, and the most flawless ending among them.
“This is your rightful privilege to see!”
Rhine pulled out a silver mirror—the same one he had used ten years ago to reveal the future.
Aurora fixed her gaze on the smooth surface of the mirror, barely breathing.
This was a path not chosen.
Ripples spread across the mirror’s surface, and an image emerged once more:
It showed Aurora pricking her finger on the spindle, the curse taking hold, and the kingdom’s lands overrun with thorns and brambles.
Ten years later, the vision of prophecy played out again.
Lines of text appeared around the edges of the image, labeling the scenes.
“Legends about this kingdom began to spread—a tale of a beautiful princess who lay sleeping. From then on, many princes came to explore, hacking through the brambles in an attempt to reach the palace. But none succeeded.”
In the vision, one prince after another appeared, slashing at the thorns. They fought to cut through the hedge that barred their way, trying to reach the palace sealed by layers of overgrowth.
But the thorns seemed alive, closing in around them. The trees shifted their positions, tripping the princes up.
It was as if the brambles, thorns, and trees had become countless hands, grasping them tightly, holding them inescapably.
The princes struggled, cried out in agony, and ultimately died painful deaths.
More ripples spread across the mirror, and for a brief moment, the image faded into darkness. New captions appeared:
“Many, many years passed. Finally, exactly 100 years later, another prince set foot on the cursed land.”