The final night 1

Jane sat beside Prince Dubois' bed, her rough fingers gliding over the intricate patterns on the silk coverlet. The weight of the King's deadline felt unbearably heavy, pressing down on her like a force that threatened to crush her under its relentless pressure. She glanced at the prince's still form, his handsome features serene, dark hair cascading over his forehead.

"Please, Your Highness," she whispered, her voice barely rising above the oppressive silence of the royal chambers. "I beg you, wake up."

The chilling grasp of the witch's potion tightened around her heart, squeezing it painfully. Jane shut her eyes, yearning for even a flicker of affection for the man lying before her. But there was nothing, just an overwhelming emptiness where her feelings should have been.

"I don't understand," she murmured, frustration bubbling within her. "Why can't I feel anything for you?"

Her mind spiraled with images of failure, of the King's disappointment and fury. What would happen to her family, to their humble farm, if she failed in her mission? Tears threatened to spill, blurring her vision of the prince's striking face.

"This isn't fair," Jane said, her voice trembling. "I want to love you. I really do. But this cursed potion..."

She clenched her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought against the potion's hold. Tears streamed down her face, landing on the prince's motionless hand.

"Your father is depending on me," she went on, nearly choking on her words. "The whole kingdom is counting on me. And I'm letting everyone down."

Leaning in closer, Jane examined the prince's features. She tried to envision his eyes flickering open, full of warmth and life. She imagined his lips curling into a smile just for her. But those thoughts felt hollow, devoid of genuine emotion.

"What will happen to us if I can't break this spell?" she wondered aloud, shaking her head as her long black braids swayed. "The King will never forgive me. And you... you'll be lost forever."

The weight of her task crashed down on her again, and Jane buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as silent sobs wracked her body. The witch's potion felt like a cruel reminder of her powerlessness against such dark magic.

"I'm so sorry, Prince Dubois," she whispered between shaky breaths. "I'm trying. I promise I'm giving it everything I've got. But it's just not enough. I'm not enough."

The clock on the wall ticked steadily onward, each second bringing them closer to midnight. Jane's trembling hands clasped Prince Dubois' limp fingers, her knuckles turning white from desperation.

"Please," she murmured, her voice fading to a whisper. "I know you're somewhere in there, Your Highness. If you can hear me, please... fight this curse."

Leaning in, her long braids brushed against the prince's chest. "I've heard tales of your bravery and spirit. Use that strength now. Come back to us... back to your kingdom."

Just then, a soft glow caught her eye. Jane blinked, wondering if her exhausted mind was playing tricks on her. But no – it was real. A butterfly, unlike any she'd ever seen, floated into the room through the open window.

Its wings glimmered with an otherworldly sheen, casting playful shadows on the walls. Jane held her breath, captivated by its graceful flight, momentarily pushing aside her despair.

"What in the world...?" she whispered, feeling a flicker of hope. The butterfly seemed to fill the room with a strange, warm light.

It danced around the prince's bed, its glow intensifying. Jane watched, entranced, as a spark of hope ignited in her chest, pushing against the potion's icy grip.

"Are you a sign?" she asked the creature softly, struggling to believe it. "Or have I truly lost my mind?"

The butterfly's wings pulsed with light, almost as if responding to her question. Despite everything, Jane found herself smiling, a small, bewildered grin creeping onto her face.

Her calloused hands trembled as she slowly rose from her chair, her gaze never leaving the ethereal butterfly. The creature's gentle glow seemed to beckon her closer to Prince Dubois' still form.

"I shouldn't..." she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. Yet her feet moved as if led by an unseen force, each step deliberate and careful. The butterfly hovered near the prince's lips, its wings weaving an enchanting dance of light and shadow.

Jane's heart raced, a mix of fear and an unfamiliar warmth swelling within her. "What are you trying to tell me?" she asked quietly, her words directed at the mystical creature.

As if it understood, the butterfly landed softly on Dubois' lips, its wings shimmering with a brilliance that made Jane squint. She leaned in closer, drawn by an inexplicable force she couldn't explain.

"This is madness," Jane thought, her mind racing. "And yet... I've never felt so certain of anything in my life."

Now just inches from the prince, she could feel the butterfly's magical energy crackling in the space between them. The tension in the room was thick, almost electric.

"I have no idea what's happening," Jane whispered, her eyes glued to the glowing insect. "But something tells me this is right. This might be the key to breaking the spell."

The butterfly fluttered its wings again, casting a warm glow across Dubois' striking features. Heart pounding, Jane leaned in even closer, seemingly guided by an invisible hand.

"Please," she breathed, her lips almost grazing the prince's. "Let this be the answer. Let this save him."

Finally, Jane pressed her lips to Dubois' in a gentle kiss, and the world exploded into a myriad of sensations. A wave of warmth surged through her, starting from her lips and radiating outward, dissolving the frigid grip of the witch's potion. Her heart, once distant and numb, now blazed with fierce intensity.

"Oh!" Jane gasped, pulling back slightly, eyes wide with wonder. The butterfly had vanished, leaving behind a trace of shimmering dust that settled on their skin like star particles.

As she gazed at Dubois, tears filled her eyes. The love coursing through her felt overwhelming, pure, and undeniably real. "How could I have ever doubted this?" she thought, instinctively reaching to caress his cheek.

Suddenly, Dubois' eyelids fluttered, and Jane's heart soared. "Prince Dubois?" she whispered, almost afraid to hope.

His eyes opened slowly, revealing warm brown depths that locked onto her face. Confusion flickered across his features before giving way to recognition and... something more.

"Jane?" Dubois' voice was raspy but laced with a tenderness that made her heart race. "Is it really you?"

She nodded, unable to speak through the lump in her throat. Jane watched as Dubois' gaze explored her face, taking in every detail as though seeing her for the first time.

"I... I was lost in darkness," he murmured, brow furrowing. "But I heard your voice, felt your presence. You brought me back."

Jane's heart soared at his words. "I thought I lost you," she admitted, voice trembling. "I was terrified I wouldn't be able to save you."

Dubois reached up, intertwining his fingers with hers against his cheek. "You did more than save me, Jane," he said softly, eyes shining with admiration. "You've awakened something in me I never knew existed."

As they gazed at each other, Jane felt like the world had shrunk down to just this moment, the two of them together. The love flowing between them was palpable, a living force glowing with the same otherworldly light as the now-vanished butterfly.