MTLNOVEL Chapter 9: The Curse
Chapter 9: The Curse
One by one, the witches stepped forward to bestow their blessings upon the Little Princess cradled in her ornate bassinet.
“I grant you a heart of gold. You will be kind, humble, honest, strong, and just. You will show compassion to the weak and possess an unerring sense of right and wrong…”
“I grant you a melodious voice. Your songs will touch the soul, moving even the coldest hearts to tears…”
“I grant you a healthy and resilient body, a perfect form as if crafted by the gods. You will live a lifetime of vitality, immune to fatigue and illness…”
“...You will have a flawless memory, effortlessly learning the knowledge of the world. Even the most erudite scholars will be no match for your intellect…”
Each witch’s blessing illuminated the grand hall in radiant light, filling it with an otherworldly brilliance. The witches seemed intent on compiling an exhaustive list of humanity’s virtues and bestowing them all upon the princess. As the blessings continued, those presenting later found it increasingly difficult to come up with new gifts.
One witch, stepping forward, twitched her lips in visible frustration. The witches before her had already gifted every conceivable virtue to the Princess. Was there anything left to give?
Noticing her hesitation, Rhine coughed lightly and remarked casually to the Queen, as though engaging in idle conversation:
“With so many blessings, Princess Aurora will undoubtedly be the most perfect child in existence. Perhaps what she needs now is protection from harm and a blessing for a peaceful, happy life.”The witch quickly caught on, pivoting her blessing accordingly:
“Princess Aurora, I grant you invulnerability to all weapons, natural or man-made. Swords, arrows, claws, and fangs will never mar your snow-white skin.”
The next witch followed suit, granting immunity to the elements:
“You will not be harmed by water or fire, nor by extreme heat or cold.”
Rhine couldn’t help but smile as he watched the witches pile protective blessings onto the Little Princess. For those in the know, this was a touching gesture of goodwill. For anyone uninformed, it might have seemed like they were crafting the ultimate biological weapon.
Or rather, the opportunity to create such a perfect being was being used simply to allow Aurora to live an ordinary and happy life as a royal princess. A small part of Rhine found it almost… wasteful.
Soon, all twelve witches had delivered their blessings. This included the eldest witch, Violet Fairy, who in the original tale hadn’t had the chance to bestow her blessing before calamity struck. Violet Fairy’s gift was one of incredible luck—fortune that could turn misfortune into opportunity.
According to the common version of Sleeping Beauty, she was supposed to use her blessing to weaken the Black Witch Maleficent’s curse, transforming death into mere slumber. But this time, she finished her blessing before the Black Witch stepped forward.
Now, only two individuals remained to bestow their gifts.
Maleficent, the Black Witch.
And Rhine, the Court Mage.
Once certain that all twelve witches had taken their turn, Maleficent laughed. Dressed in her signature black attire, she strode confidently to the cradle, her sharp voice cutting through the air:
“Well, well, the other witches have given such wonderful gifts!
“What could I possibly offer to our beautiful, perfect, healthy, and kind-hearted Princess?”
She gestured theatrically with her hands.
“Oh, Princess Aurora, this is the blessing I bestow upon you...
“You will live a wonderful life for fifteen glorious years, filled with happiness and adored by all within and beyond the kingdom.”
The King, tense with worry, finally exhaled in relief. Her blessing sounds… normal. Perhaps we’re safe after all.
“But...”
In the next moment, Maleficent’s voice rose sharply:
“On your fifteenth birthday, you will prick your finger on a spindle—and die instantly!”
Her words struck like lightning. Maleficent turned toward the King with a wicked smile, her laughter dripping with venom:
“And when your daughter dies, so will this kingdom!
“Oh, King,
“I curse your daughter and this land!
“Your sweet child will perish from a simple tool of weaving—not a man-made weapon, nor one of natural origin!”
She continued, her tone growing darker and more malicious:
“After the Princess breathes her last, the curse will fully descend upon your kingdom. Every noble and commoner alike will meet the same fate.
“You will succumb to a terrible sickness—coughing, bleeding, writhing on the ground.
“The next day, as you regain control, you’ll find your own hands plunging blades into your throats.
“Your blood will flow from your homes into the rivers, turning them crimson.
“The streets will empty, the palace lights will go out, and the sun will fail to rise over this land.
“Thorns, brambles, and weeds will overrun the barren fields. Any who dare enter this cursed land will find themselves ensnared, tripped, and held down, as if countless unseen hands grip them, dragging them to a painful death. 𝙍ÂℕỌBĚⱾ
“This curse will linger over the once-prosperous kingdom—forever!”
With her declaration complete, Maleficent smiled. It was a cold, ruthless beauty.
The legendary witch of unmatched power among the 13 bowed deeply toward the King.
“And thus, I offer my ‘blessing’ to Princess Aurora… and Your Majesty.”