Alice's Heart : The Crown

"Oh yeah, I'm so sorry." The squirrel immediately distanced herself an inch from Alice. "Alright, let me introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth. I used to be one of the servants in the castle from land of Jelita. And I still live there, but I often visit here to check on the condition of our former king."

"And what can I call you?"

"Just El," answered Elizabeth with an angelic smile.

"Well, El. Can you please tell me about this land of Jelita. Where is that place located and how is it now?" Alice started the conversation while directing Elizabeth to sit next to her.

"Land of Jelita is not on this earth, but on another planet called Putri. It's the farthest planet from earth. And if you ask about the situation, then I can say with a heavy heart that chaos has occurred there. Since Silas was exiled and chose to let you live, Land of Jelita has not again has a king. Evil is rampant there and no one has the power to stop it," explained Elizabeth with a gloomy face. "Some people who are still loyal to Silas are waiting for him to come back, but we know that will never happen. Because he will choose you as the final decision. And we respect that. However, some have become rebellious and are thinking of killing you as a show of their disillusionment with Silas,"

Alice chose to listen while sitting with her chin on her knees. There was a feeling of guilt in her towards the people of Jelita Land.

“Why not send Sebastian there to replace Silas as king? He was bewitched to have Silas' face, right?”

"Their eye colors are different," Elizabeth smiled sadly then continued. "Don't blame yourself for this, Alice. You have the right to exist. Don't worry, I'm sure this curse has an antidote."

"What if not? I don't want a lot of people to suffer just for my life. It's not worth it. It's better to lose one life than to have hundreds of others become victims," Alice felt she had to apologize.

"Don't say such things. After all, Silas had previously continuously chosen his people until the truth about this curse was uncovered. And now he knows what to choose," Elizabeth really tried to get rid of Alice's guilt. "Those who disapproved because Silas had to kill you in a previous life must now bear the consequences themselves. You know, a life without a leader is like a family without a father."

Alice didn't blink and just stared at the tip of her toe. There was a feeling that she wanted to give up her life if it could make everything return to how it was before, including Silas regaining his original form. But there was another side to her that wanted that life to be with Silas a little longer, to know if she could be a good mate, to know how to grow and get past the curse.

"You better just enjoy what's happening now. Then you can think about what you want to happen in the future; you decide that yourself from now on,"

Alice was getting the chance to live for her life this time and she knew full well that she had to make the best of it. So she decided to create her own mission. For that moment all she really wanted to do was free her friends.

"What about the panthers? I believe they have a leader," Remembering her friends, Alice felt the need to ask Elizabeth about the panthers.

"You're right, their leader is a royal traitor who leaked Silas' secret about the curse." Elizabeth's cheerful face changed, showing an expression of fury. "We never know who their leader is. But what we know is that they are the ones who did this and created chaos everywhere. I'm sure this unknown creature has a big goal, namely taking over the land of Jelita from the power of King Silas."

Alice was still carefully digesting what she had just heard.

"You should rest and not think too much about this,"

The next day Alice woke up in silence, usually every morning the servants were busy going back and forth taking care of this and that accompanied by their casual chatter and laughter. Now she found herself in silence in a large room to be occupied by herself.

Alice stretched, her blonde hair cascading down her back. She padded to the door, and a smile bloomed on her face. It was beautiful; the kind of morning that sang of new beginnings. Her heart quickened, remembering Silas, and she hurried towards his room.

Alice stopped before his door, a hand poised to knock. It was slightly ajar, just enough for her to hear a hushed conversation within. Her steps faltered.

"I can't, El." said Silas. His voice walked between helplessness and a glimmer of unexplained desire. "I don't want to make Alice live like she's in prison by staying here forever with me. This is her last life; she has to feel every beautiful point that life gives. This is her chance for that,"

A sharp pang pierced Alice's chest. Her last life…?

"You can do it," Elizabeth sounded adamant. "You two are soulmates. If you take Alice away from you, then everything will be in vain. You're wasting what the people on the Jelita mainland have experienced. They don't have a king right now because of that,"

Alice's chest was pounding. She was frozen stiff. Silas wanted her to leave. The thought pierced her with a sharp, unexpected pain.

"I'm sure this curse can be lifted. Just be patient and let Alice be by your side. Since her arrival, I've seen your face brighten." said Elizabeth softly.

Alice turned around and went back to her room. She stared at the painting of a chiseled, powerful king with piercing blue eyes, reminiscent of a Greek deity, his strong jawline and broad shoulders radiating confidence and authority, that she had placed in her room.

"Alice," called Silas, his voice softer now.

Alice did not turn towards the door, holding herself to sit still, worried that she could not control her sad face.

"Alice? When did you wake up?"

Alice could see a large shadow slowly approaching her with fast and heavy steps. She closed her eyes trying to answer. "Just a few minutes ago,"

"Are you okay?" asked Silas. He stopped in his tracks when he realized Alice had kept his painting in the room and was looking at it.

"Don't you miss your true form and how you sat on the throne?" asked Alice, slowly turning around.

"No," Silas turned his face away, his voice strained. "The man in the painting killed you every time you were born. He was the real villain. His people loved him for what he showed, but behind that he was more depraved than any criminal he had ever punished."

Alice stared at Silas' back intently. His body tensed as he spoke, the pain evident in his posture.

Silas tried to control himself. He took a breath and then let it out. "I never liked a king like that. So it's better like this," He turned to her, meeting her gaze. Alice was still just standing there, her beautiful eyes piercing him, looking deep into the walled corners of his heart. He held her gaze, a silent plea in his own.

Alice then did something that surprised even herself. She walked towards Silas, drawn by an invisible force, a force stronger than her fear, stronger than her wounded pride. She stopped just an arm's length away, her hand reaching out hesitantly to touch his soft fur.

"What you did then and what you look like now..." whispered Alice, her voice barely audible. "I still see you; the man beneath, the one you try to hide. The one who’s afraid of hurting me,"

Alice wasn’t looking at the phantom of the king, she was looking at Silas, at the man who stood before her, vulnerable and afraid and deeply, bewilderingly, loved.

Silas' eyes widened, a flicker of something Alice couldn't quite define; hope? - igniting in their depths.

"Alice," Silas finally spoke, his voice a soft rasp.

"The curse..." continued Alice, her gaze burning with understanding. "... wasn't your mistake. It was your ancestor's,"

Silas didn't reply, he simply stared at her, his heart aching. He broke the gaze first, the weight of his self-imposed duty heavy on his shoulders. "I have to leave," He said, his voice tight with resignation. "To save your family. To protect... you,"

Alice's hand gripped his arm, a fierce determination hardening her gaze. "No," She said, her voice firm. "I'm coming with you,"

Silas looked at her, surprised. Then a small, sad smile touched his lips. "This is my burden, Alice. It's dangerous,"

"Then it's my burden now, too." declared Alice, her voice resonating with conviction. "It's not just your fight, Silas. It's mine too. Because I'm not leaving you to fight it alone,"

"The panther den is full of them, I don't want to lose you again. That's why I can't take you with me," hesitated Silas. He had already lost her countless times in the past; the memory haunting him.

Alice's eyes sparkled with unwavering confidence. “Remember, you're the strongest in the Land of Jelita, Silas. I believe you can protect me. You won't let anything hurt me," She trusted him. She had seen the power he held, not just as a former king but as the warrior he was at heart. "And it's called the panther's den for a reason,"

Silas’ eyes shifted. Something like light flashed in their depths, and for the first time, Alice saw a shadow of the king in his gaze, not the one from the portrait, but a king who was ready to fight, not just for his people, but for the woman he loved, who had chosen to stand by his side.

Silas took a deep breath, the lines of worry around his eyes softening. "Alright," He said, his voice firm. "Together then,"

They finally went there; just the two of them, daring to the cave where the panthers held their captive kin. The cave itself glittered with a series of jewels; the panthers’ adornments.

The air was thick and heavy, a mixture of damp earth and the suffocating scent of predators. Above, the cave ceiling gleamed with an eerie display; rough-cut gems and polished stones, clearly the panthers’ attempts to decorate their den.

Silas’ hair stood on end, his senses heightened. He kept close to Alice, making sure she was safe. He could smell the panthers, a sharp, close scent.

“They're here,” growled one of the panthers. Its voice a low, guttural growl that echoed throughout the cave. Its nostrils flared, taking in the scent of the intruders.

As they got deeper into the cave, Alice's gaze drifted upward. Her heart clenched seeing her kin and the servants suspended by ropes from the cave ceiling, their faces pale and drawn.

“Alice!” Zoe cried out, her voice laced with relief.

Sebastian, with a straight face, just stared and watched.

Before anyone could react, a large panther, its eyes blazing like embers, shot toward Silas. With a roar, a sound that shook Alice’s bones, he moved instinctively, pulling her back, shielding her with his powerful body.

The panther’s claws tore through the air where Silas had been just seconds before and he met the attack head-on; teeth bared, claws outstretched. The force of the impact sent the panther flying backward, falling.

More panthers emerged from the shadows, their eyes fixed on them, their bodies coiled like springs. They attacked with extremely frightening ferocity.

Silas was a whirlwind of feathers and claws, a brutal dance of defense, his rage evident. He took the blow, blood dripping from his fur, but he pressed forward, his focus unwavering.

Alice was safe behind him, and he would die before he let her get hurt. He moved with incredible speed and ferocity, every slash of his claws finding its mark, every roar a testament to the power that flowed through him.

The panthers fell. Their bodies limp and broken, their aggression wavering in the face of his relentless assault.

Taking advantage of the lull, Silas lunged, his claws finding the ropes that held his kin. With a series of powerful slashes, he severed the thick ropes. Zoe, Sebastian, and the servants fell to the ground, gasping for breath, but still alive.