Enchanted Twilight

Isaac was clutching the drawstring pouch containing the potion he had bought from Raphael when he visited the man’s house two days ago, staring at the bag in silence.

All this time, he had always taken the time to visit Raphael’s house by using the classic excuse—buying potions or whatever trivial excuses. So that he could have a reason to see Raphael without raising his suspicions.

Since becoming king, his busier schedule has made it harder to see Raphael compared to when he was a prince. His space for the movement was limited, so he had to think of various ways to spare his time just to meet Raphael.

Four days ago, he was desperate to visit Raphael’s house in the middle of his busy schedule, carrying some of his unfinished work files. As he always did in previous years, because he heard the news that Ursula, Raphael’s younger sister, was coming home from the magic academy to spend her semester break.

Normally, he would ask the royal advisor to spare his time so that he could stay at the Lockwood family home for a week.

But since this month coincided with the planned war with the Northern Kingdom, it made his schedule even more hectic.

Of course, he would not allow his busy schedule to leave the routine that he had been doing since Ursula entered the academy.

Every time he paid a visit to the Lockwood residence, Patricia Lockwood, Raphael’s mother, would usually greet him in a welcoming manner.

Patricia Lockwood herself is a human who was granted immortality by the Celtic goddess, Dana. The woman looked young and beautiful, even at the age of fifty.

Lockwood's family was aware of his love for Raphael, so they didn't object to his presence. In fact, Raphael’s parents and younger sister already considered him as their own family member.

Except for the man himself, of course. When it came to relationships or interactions with others, Raphael was notoriously slow. Even at the magic academy, Raphael was considered a talented wizard by the teachers because of his ability to learn fast.

As he tried to calm his mind, he walked towards the potion room, where that man usually spent his day. He had thought of many topics so that he could talk longer with Raphael.

Unfortunately, he came at the wrong time. As soon as he opened the door to the room, he found Raphael collapsed after drinking the energy balancing potion. The potion Raphael had to take every month in order to survive.

He threw away his bag, ran over to Raphael, and carried him to his room. For two consecutive days, he waited for the man while doing his job. He couldn't sleep, as he worried about Raphael’s condition.

"And about your statement earlier, I’ll pretend not to hear anything."

His grip on the drawstring bag tightened, reminding him of what Raphael had said to him.

How could Raphael so quickly dismiss something that had taken him so long to find the confidence to voice the thoughts he had harbored for fifteen years?

It irritated him. He felt annoyed at Raphael’s answer, which seemed to take his feelings lightly, even though he knew the reason behind Raphael’s refusal.

Raphael’s fate was cruel, and it made him upset. It dismayed him to not be able to find a cure for Raphael’s condition. Without even being told, he already knew that Raphael’s condition was getting worse and worse.

Everything led him to the conclusion that the potion Raphael used to drink had lost its effectiveness. Raphael’s body temperature as he touched the back of the man’s neck alone was more than enough to tell him everything.

Again, he cursed his clumsiness. 

All the folktales he had read when he was a child said that all the princes always found a way to cast away the curse of the death of their loved ones, save their loved ones from their deaths, and then they married.

They always ended with them living happily ever after. All the princes in the fairy tales he had ever read had passed all kinds of obstacles.

But, in reality, it was not that easy. No matter how many sacrifices he made, it was not enough to save Raphael from his cruel fate.

Since his first meeting with Raphael Lockwood in the palace, when Hugo Lockwood—Raphael’s father—took Raphael to the palace, he fell in love with him. His black hair and blue eyes resembled the ocean. His pale skin. Raphael’s gaze was sad when they met.

The first time he shook Raphael’s hand, he almost jumped in surprise because Raphael’s cold body temperature made him unlike humans and wizards, things he had never known before.

Raphael immediately withdrew his hand, frowning in annoyance. An expression that actually made him look cute in his eyes. Since the first time they met, he has been determined to become a prince for Raphael.

He made a pact with himself: he would protect Raphael from anything that wanted to harm him. He would take care of him like a prince in folktales that he often read with his mother when she was alive.

When Uncle Hugo mentioned Raphael’s special condition, he learned to understand Raphael’s condition. He learned to get himself used to the cold temperature of Raphael’s body until he could handle it.

He even pushed back all the people who teased and tried to bully Raphael. He forced himself to play with Ursula Lockwood—Raphael’s younger sister, who had the opposite nature of the man when he invited Ursula to play with them.

At first, he objected because he wanted to spend time alone with Raphael. And it ended up with him also pampering Ursula like his own little sister, just like the way Raphael spoiled Ursula.

For this reason, he has been aggressively planning to control the northern region since the parliament appointed him as a king five years after the death of his father. Using the excuse of expanding the kingdom, he succeeded in getting government officials to agree to his proposal.

Indeed, when his father was still in charge of the kingdom, several officials had suggested expanding the territory to the north, but his father disagreed with the plan, as his father still wanted to maintain peace with both sides.

Now that he had succeeded his father, he brought the proposal back to a government meeting, which was immediately welcomed with an open hand by all government officials. Although there was only one real reason: to find an antidote or a way to balance the energies in Raphael’s body.

His selfish excuses he kept to himself. Over the years of his research, he discovered that the witches in the Northern Kingdom area were possessed knowledge far more rapidly than his kingdom.

Added to the fact that half-blood witches in the Northern Kingdom had a brighter future, as the average of them can survive the same as pure-blood witches, in contrast to the region where he ruled. He wanted to give the Northern kingdom to Raphael as a gift once he had succeeded.

A dream that seemed difficult to achieve, considering that it pushed several times the troops he led back because of their different technology and magic. As for the result, it forced him to devise a new strategy.

"Excuse me, Your Majesty."

An old man, one of the royal advisers who had served his father—Ethan Weissmann—walked in after twice knocking on his door. Quickly, he hid the bag in his desk drawer.

"What is it?"

"The preparations for tomorrow’s war are complete."

"Very nice. I received the report. You can go now."

The old man remained standing where he was, not moving an inch. There was a streak of anxiety on his face.

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

"That…," Ethan’s eyes avoided his. "Your Majesty may not like the news that I will say ..."

"Just say it if it’s important. I’m busy. I can’t wait too long."

"I… have just received news regarding the departure of Mr. Raphael Lockwood and Miss Ursula Lockwood into the forest today."

"What?!" He jumped from his chair, ran over to the terrified Ethan, and grabbed the collar of the old man, shivering in fear. "Why didn’t you tell me right away?!"

"Forgive my indiscretion, Your Majesty! I am really sorry! I was afraid that His Majesty would cancel your invasion plans, so I didn’t—"

"Who do you think you are, Ethan!?" Isaac let go of his hand from the collar of Ethan’s neck, pushed roughly against the old man’s body. Until it made Ethan cough while touching his neck.

Isaac then threw a sharp and piercing gaze at the old man. "I’m not asking your opinion! When did they leave?"

"Just now, Your Majesty ..."

"I will follow them. If I don't come back, cancel our attack plans. If you dare to disobey my orders, I’ll cut off your head and make an ornament on the palace gate. Do you understand?!"

"A-All right, Your Majesty!"

Isaac growled in annoyance, walked over to his desk and took the drawstring bag containing the potion he had bought from Raphael, then took out his sword and thick coat, dashing out of the room.

This must be Ursula’s doing. Isaac was certain, given that the Raphael he knew so far was not the type of person who would make such a reckless and rash decision to enter the forest.

Raphael, as far as he knew, was the type of person who was very cautious and did not like risks. Unless it was related to potions and healing magic.

The last time they went to the forest was when Ursula was nine years old. His feelings were starting to feel bad. He knew that Ursula’s goal was the same as his: to find a way to balance the energy in Raphael’s body. So that Raphael could have a chance to live a normal life without worrying about the death curse.

He knew it exactly since all this time, without Raphael's knowledge, he and Ursula had exchanged letters, sending reports regarding the investigations of each party. His research focus was on the northern region, while Ursula's was on ancient legends and tales. Ursula mentioned the dragon fairy tale a few days ago in her letter.

Coupled with the information he just got, he was pretty sure that the two of them were planning to enter the deepest area of the forest, looking for the existence of a dragon that existed in ancient legends.

Shit! He should not have returned to the kingdom yesterday, not following Raphael’s request. He should have stayed there.

He growled in annoyance, cursing himself as he pushed the several soldiers walking around the palace hallway, ignoring their terrified faces. He accelerated his pace even more and took one of the strongest horses that had just finished being bathed by the palace horse guard. Then he cast a glare at the horse guards, who were about to protest, as his way of silencing them.

He put down the saddle, and jumped up onto the horse. As if they understood his worry, the horse he was riding immediately ran at full speed, leaving the palace.

He wished he still had time to catch them. He hoped Raphael and Ursula did not meet that man.

***