Chapter 1: Promise me you'll find your true love

"George," Queen Persephone called, "George, I've been looking for you. Why didn't you answer my calls for you?" She knocked on his door impatiently. "You cannot avoid this issue for the rest of your life. You need a queen beside you once you become king, there's no avoiding that!"

"Mother, why can't I refuse? Why should I marry someone I do not love?" the muffled voice of Prince George shouted from behind his locked bedroom door.

"George! Get out here this instant, stop embarrassing me and just talk to her! She seems like a nice girl." the queens voice pleaded.

"Mother... please. I don't think... I don't want to marry someone who doesn't love me too. I don't want to marry someone whom I don't love. Mother don't you know what it's like to marry without love?" George's voice barely audible.

Queen Persephone was silent for a while and her voice sliced through the silence quite suddenly, "Fine, George. I understand. However, you must get married before your coronation in two years time. Promise me you will find your true love and I promise to respect your decision."

The next few days were spent preparing for Prince George's journey in search of his bride. His mother held a small ball in honor of his safe journey. And then finally on the twelfth day in the crisp early hours of the day at the eve of winter, the prince mounted onto his horse and bid a final farewell to his mother before galloping off into the horizon. The castle shrinking behind him as he moved forward towards the rising sun.

The prince travelled until nightfall without stop. His back ached and his skin was painful to the touch from sunburn. His parched throat was begging for water when he heard the unmistakable sound of running water. He found a small stream in a forest and decided to set up camp here for the night. Unfortunately for him, his sleep was disturbed by mosquitoes and strange rustling noises in the treetops. His fear and discomfort made it impossible to sleep.

The next day George sat under a tree with eyes heavy with tiredness. He could barely move even when he heard footsteps approaching.

Suddenly, hands grabbed the prince and pushed him up against the tree. With the last bit of energy the prince struggled against the strength of his assailant to no avail. A dull thud vibrated through his skull and he collapsed into warm darkness.

When he finally opened his eyes, he had to blink a few times to adjust his eyes to the light filtering through the leaves of the trees. A rustling noise behind him made him whip his head around. George sat and stared with absolute shock and awe at the sight in front of him.

He saw the most beautiful man he had ever seen, but 'man' wasn't exactly the right word for the creature. The creature had shimmering skin the colour of the trees and sky, hair the colour of the purest snow and eyes that were the depths of the ocean. The creature was like a perfectly sculpted man, with all the right curves and edges.

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