MADNESS CALLED SOPHIA

Darian stared at her, completely lost in thought. Sophia was the first person who treated him like… someone worth the effort. It was confusing. And frustrating. And, somehow… pleasant?

"You know," he finally said, "it's been a long time since I met someone this persistent. Or this irritating."

Sophia just laughed and sat across from him, crossing one leg over the other.

"Persistence and irritation are essential when you're trying to save someone from a curse."

"Oh, yes, of course," he muttered. "Because you're an expert on curses."

"Not yet, but give me time."

He shook his head and looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"You said love might be the key."

"I did."

"And what exactly are you suggesting?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow.

"That you fall in love, obviously."

Darian choked, as if he had just swallowed something the wrong way.

"Excuse me?"

"I heard that you don't listen well, Mr. Monster."

"I'm not deaf. I'm just trying to figure out whether you just said something utterly nonsensical or just plain stupid."

"I think that was an insult, but I'll let it slide because you're already pathetic enough."

He crossed his arms.

"And how exactly do you imagine this working? That I simply decide to love someone? That I go to the village, find some young peasant girl and say, 'Hey, sorry that I'm about to turn into a terrifying demon, but how about you fall in love with me and maybe save my life?'"

Sophia shrugged.

"Honestly, it would be interesting to see how that plays out."

"You know what? You're impossible."

"But realistically, what do you have to lose?"

"My dignity?"

"You mean this dignity that didn't stop you when you kidnapped me from my home and threw me into this frozen tower?"

Darian bit the inside of his cheek.

"I don't like how you act as if you're here willingly."

"Oh, well, in that case, I could just leave."

"You won't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're too curious to leave without answers."

Sophia thoughtfully placed a finger on her chin.

"Hmm… true. But you're too curious to let me go."

Darian rolled his eyes and gave up on further arguing.

"In any case, your theories are ridiculous."

"Your life is ridiculous."

"Thank you, that's very encouraging."

Sophia stood up and brushed her hands over her dress as if dusting off invisible dirt.

"Alright, if you don't want to talk about love, let's talk about alternatives. Have you asked anyone for help? A powerful mage? A seer?"

Darian looked uncomfortable for a moment.

"There have been… attempts."

"And?"

"Unsuccessful."

Sophia immediately suspected there was more to it, but she decided not to press him too much.

"Okay, so love is out, powerful mages have failed—what's left?"

"Accepting my fate."

"No, wrong answer."

"Then enlighten me, wise witch."

Sophia laughed.

"Maybe it's time to try something completely different. Maybe you need to stop running from what you are."

Darian raised an eyebrow.

"Sophia, you do realize that if I did that, I would fully turn into a monster?"

"But what if there's a way to control it?"

Darian fell silent. That thought had never occurred to him. His entire life, he had tried to escape his fate, but he had never even considered that he might… turn it to his advantage.

Sophia leaned against the table and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Look at me, Darian. I'm not afraid of you. Maybe you don't see how this could end differently, but I do. You are not just a curse. You are a man, first and foremost. And I'll prove it to you—whether you like it or not."

Darian felt his throat tighten.

No one had ever told him that before.

Sophia smiled and, before heading toward the door, she patted him on the head once more.

"Now that we've discussed everything, I'm going to bed. Think about it all, but not too much—I wouldn't want that brilliant little head of yours to explode."

And with that, she disappeared from the room.

Darian remained where he was, staring at the door where she had just stood.

For the first time in his life, someone believed in him more than he believed in himself.

____

Sophia tossed and turned in bed that night, staring at the ceiling while her thoughts spiraled into complete chaos.What if she was the key to his curse?

She had already realized that Darian had grown close to her heart. It made no sense for her to fight so hard to save him, to believe in him when no one else would… unless she truly cared about him.

"Oh, no…" she muttered into her pillow. "No, no, no, no…"

She couldn't be in love with him. NO! That would be a disaster. An apocalypse. A catastrophe of epic proportions.

But… what if she could make him fall in love with her?

If love was the key, then maybe… just maybe… if she made him fall for her, she could save both him and herself.

She grinned in the dark.

"Operation: Enchant the Beast – activated!"

Morning in the Castle

The next morning, Sophia burst out of her room as if the sun itself had decided to bless her with its warmth. She was fresh, well-dressed, glowing.

The servants gave her confused looks.

"Good morning! Beautiful day, isn't it?" she chirped as she strolled through the halls.

An older maid watched her with suspicion. "My lady, are you… feeling well?"

"Never better!" she said cheerfully and skipped toward the dining hall.

Everyone in the castle already knew that Sophia always had some madness brewing in her head, but this… this was something new.

Even the guards at the dining hall doors raised their eyebrows when she greeted them with a wide, beaming smile.

Then she walked in.

Darian was seated at the head of the table, staring pensively at his breakfast, as usual.

Without hesitation, without warning, without any pretense of politeness, Sophia sat down right next to him.

Darian lifted his gaze.

"You… look… I don't even know how to describe it."

"Stunning? Enchanting? Loveable?"

"No, I meant… disturbingly happy."

She simply waved a hand dismissively.

"Oh, come on, Darian. Is it a crime to be cheerful?"

She leaned toward him, and before he could react—

SMOOCH!

She quickly kissed him on the cheek.

The entire room fell silent.

The servant pouring tea missed the cup. The guard by the door coughed. Someone dropped a fork.

Darian froze, his gaze locked in the distance as if processing his entire existence.

Sophia smiled, clasped her hands under her chin, and batted her eyelashes at him.

"You're cute when you're flustered, you know?"

Darian didn't speak. He just sat there. He felt something strange beneath his gloves. A… sensation.

It wasn't possible.

Slowly, under the table, he pulled off one glove.

The claws were gone.

He stared at his hand in disbelief. For the first time in ages… it looked human.

Quickly, he pulled the glove back on before anyone could notice.

Then, he looked at Sophia.

What if she really was the key?

She continued to chatter away, completely oblivious to his shock.

"Darian, did you know your eyes are especially dazzling today?"

He cleared his throat, trying to regain composure.

"Sophia… what are you doing?"

"Me? Just spreading love!"

Everyone at the table still looked utterly stunned.

Darian leaned closer to her and muttered through gritted teeth:

"Whatever you're up to… stop it."

She only blinked at him innocently.

"But, my dear, don't you see? Maybe I am your salvation."

He leaned back in his chair, his mind spiraling in a thousand directions.

If Sophia was the key… what did that mean for the two of them?