Once Enchanted (Romantasy)

The time had come for Princess Clarissa to find a husband—or so her parents told her. The shy and somewhat clumsy, Prince Ormond from a neighboring kingdom, is a contender. Clarissa knows she’ll never fall in love with him much less accept him as a husband. And yet… seemingly in a split second, she changes her mind.

Ryder Grey has known Clarissa since childhood and cannot understand the sudden change from the girl he once adored, to the woman he sees now. How can she be in love with the meek Prince Ormond? Ryder begins to investigate and discovers that a reclusive witch has Clarissa under a spell. When Ryder interferes with Clarissa’s budding romance with Prince Ormond, she takes action and locks her childhood friend in a secluded tower in the east forest until she and Ormond can marry. Forgotten in the tower by all but the rats can Ryder enchant Clarissa and break the sinister spell? His chances do not look favorable.

The floor creaked. The noise woke Clarissa from a deep sleep. Another creak followed. Soft footfalls tracked across her bedchamber. A small sliver of light from the full moon split the curtains. Clarissa strained her eyes to see in the darkness.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose. She clutched the blankets to her chin, afraid to even breathe.

She wanted to ask who was in her room, but she didn’t want the person sneaking around to know she was awake and do something mean. Rather, she wanted the person to leave immediately.

Tears filled her eyes as the fear grew inside of her. She wanted to cry for her mother and father, but she didn’t dare disturb the stranger in her room.

The footfalls stopped by her bed. She held her breath. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried listening for sounds. All she could hear was someone breathing close to her. Suddenly, a hand stroked her hair.

She held in a sob and silently prayed the other person would get out.

Through the silence, the person whispered her name…Clarissa. The scratchy voice was of an old woman. Who was she, and why was she here? The voice spoke once more.

“One day, dearie, you shall belong to me.”

###

Clarissa snapped to a sitting position on her bed. The sun streamed through the window. Squinting, she covered her eyes. Her heartbeat still hammered from the odd dream she’d had. Lately, she’d been having that dream quite a bit. At first, she had thought it was because she was missing her family. She’d recently traveled back to her home after an extended stay with her cousin.

Grumbling, she lay back down, curled on her side, and tried to block the brightness covering her face. Where was her maid, and why were the curtains not drawn so she could prolong her slumber? Had the servants forgotten she’d arrived home late last night after being gone for a year? It wasn’t too much to ask for a little sleep, was it?

A slight rustle of skirts caused Clarissa to moan just as her handmaid, Kimberly, moved to the bed. “Wake up, Princess.” Kimberly gently shook Clarissa’s shoulder. “The queen requests your company as soon as possible.”

Clarissa rubbed her bleary eyes, trying to focus on her servant. Why would the queen, her mother, want to speak to her so soon? “Why? I spoke with Mother last night as soon as my ship arrived at the docks.”

“I don’t know, Princess. But we must hurry. I don’t want the queen to scold me for lacking in my duties.”

Clarissa turned her head on the pillow and peeked at her maid through tired eyes. Kimberly couldn’t possibly be serious. When had the queen ever yelled at the servants for not doing their duties? Clarissa’s mother was the kindest woman in all the kingdom. Even if one of the servants happened to make a mistake, the queen calmly instructed them on how to fix the problem. She never criticized, only praised and encouraged.

Clarissa had only been gone twelve months. Hopefully her mother hadn’t changed that much in such a short time.

“Fine.” She pushed away the covers and swung her legs off the bed, resting her feet on the warm and fuzzy russet rug. Mornings were usually chilly in Woodmist, but, as always, the servants had her room heated for when she awoke.

“What would you like to wear today?” Kimberly asked cheerfully, as she hurried to the armoire.

Stretching her arms above her head, Clarissa yawned. She didn’t know the time, but she could guarantee she hadn’t received enough sleep to keep her going throughout the day. “Oh, I don’t know. Surprise me.”

“You have always looked lovely in daffodil.” Kimberly pulled out a yellow gown. “Hmmm, however, lavender is a good color on you as well. Or perhaps the baby blue…” She tilted her head, her gaze still on the clothes. “Then again, most colors look good on you.”

Clarissa flipped her hand. “That daffodil dress is fine for now since I haven’t unpacked all my new clothes.” She stood and walked toward her maid.

“I cannot wait to hear about your adventures while you lived with your cousin in Greenville. And sailing across the sea would have been fun. I’m sure you have many stories to tell.”

Clarissa chuckled. “Oh, I could certainly entertain you with a few tales while I dress. I really wish I could have brought you with me, but my cousin had plenty of maids to spare.”

“I understand, Princess.”

Throwing off her nightdress, Clarissa began her story about the day she arrived in the kingdom where her cousin lived with her husband and three children. But before she could get to the part where her cousin’s husband tripped over his large feet and plowed into her, pushing her face-first into the mud, the door to her bedroom flew open and in walked her mother.

Kimberly gasped and quickly curtsied. “Your Highness, I was trying to get her ready—”

“Yes, I can see that, Kimberly, and you have done a splendid job in waking my daughter. I know how she likes to dilly-dally.”

Clarissa scrunched her forehead. What did her mother mean by that comment? Hadn’t she always obeyed her parents? Dilly-dally? She didn’t think so!

Clarissa held her long hair out of the way while the maid pulled the gown around Clarissa’s waist. She glanced in the full-length mirror at her mother’s reflection and frowned. “Well, considering I’m still exhausted from the trip and arrived late in the night, I think it was inconsiderate to ask me to awaken so early,” she defended.

The queen’s caring smile never faltered—even as many times as Clarissa argued with her. She crossed the room to stand beside Clarissa. “Yes, I agree, but your father is in a terrible fit this morning, and we cannot keep him waiting.”

Kimberly tied the sash around Clarissa’s waist before hurrying to the vanity to snatch the hairbrush. Clarissa sat on the chair and pulled on her stockings while the maid brushed out the tangles in her knee-length tresses.

“Why is Father in such a dither this morning?” Clarissa wondered. “He seemed fine last night when I talked to him.”

The queen shook her head. “He hasn’t said for certain, but I’m assuming he’s upset because the daughter he sent across the sea for a year didn’t obtain the husband he’d hoped she would.”

Clarissa widened her eyes. Her mother couldn’t be serious. “Father is upset because I returned without a husband?”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Why, that is just…just…ridiculous.”

The queen stepped directly in front of Clarissa and arched an eyebrow. “Ridiculous, you say? I don’t think so, especially since that was the main reason your father allowed you to visit your cousin’s kingdom, and yet you returned without a man. Tell me, my dear. In the whole year you were gone, did you find any man worthy of your love?”

Closing her eyes, Clarissa groaned inwardly. She’d forgotten the reason her parents agreed to let her visit Fiona. Well, she’d almost forgotten. In the back of her mind, she had known what her parents wanted. Yet, once she and her cousin had started doing things together, the idea of marriage vanished. Besides, Clarissa hadn’t felt like getting tied down to a man. Now, one year later, she held the same indifference toward the idea of marriage. She wasn’t old. There was still a lot of life to live.

“I met a few men during my stay,” she said hesitantly, “but none who could hold my interest.”

Her mother’s smile disappeared as she rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. “Then I worry what your father will do now.”

The expression on her mother’s face made Clarissa’s heart race. Not often did the queen appear so worried, and, knowing she was to blame, Clarissa felt ashamed. “What do you think Father will do?”

The queen exhaled deeply before opening her eyes to focus on her daughter. “I think he’s going to take control of this situation and find you a husband himself, quickly.”

Panic gripped Clarissa’s chest, nearly suffocating her. “No! He wouldn’t do that…would he?”

“Yes, my dear, he would,” her mother said softly. “Your father’s health hasn’t been the best lately, and he’s looking toward the future: he is wondering who will take over as king once he is gone.”

“He’s…dying?” A sob caught in her throat as tears stung her eyes.

The queen offered a sympathetic smile and stroked Clarissa’s cheek. “Oh, my dear. We cannot live forever. Eventually, both the king and I will grow old and die and the kingdom will go to you and your husband.”