Tamed the Monster Prince - Chapter 1.1

Upon returning from a two-year expedition to conquer the barbarians beyond the border lands, the First Prince of the Empire, Prince Cesar, immediately inquired about the whereabouts of his wife. As he arrived at the capital, he could sense an unmistakable tension in the faces of his courtiers. Before he could even try to understand what was happening, the chamberlain informed him, “Your Highness, the Princess is not well and is currently receiving treatment.”

“The Princess? What’s wrong with her?”

Prince Cesar had exchanged letters with her several times during the war and she had never mentioned anything of the sort.

Suddenly, his chest felt tight with uncertainty.

“As she has expressed her intention to attend the banquet tonight, Your Highness, you will be able to see her when you come to the banquet tonight,” the chamberlain said.

But Prince Cesar gave no response, one of his guards giving him a discreet glance and placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Right now…”

Throughout the long and grueling war, the only thing that kept Prince Cesar going was the belief that his beloved Irena was waiting for him. The chamberlain seemed to sense his weariness, and gently intervened.

“You will be seeing the Princess soon, but if you go to her in this state, she may be startled.”

Prince Cesar felt himself falter at the words. In his heart, he longed to hurry to her chambers in the Jade Jade Palace and hold her in his arms. Just a little longer. If I can just hold on a little longer, I’ll finally be able to see you…

But the persistent guards and courtiers softly convinced him to change his appearance. “The smell of the barbarians’ blood is still not fully washed off, and Your Highness does not want to frighten the Princess,” they said.

“Me? Frighten her?” Prince Cesar chuckled, knowing that Irena would not be startled by something like this. But he complied with their requests.

Yes, Irena may have appeared strong on the outside, but she could sometimes be surprisingly fragile. He couldn’t bear the thought of causing her even a moment of pain.

***

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was suffocating. Glasses clinked and laughter filled the air, accompanied by the strong smell of perfume. It was so overwhelming that it made it hard to breathe.

A courtier announced his arrival, “His Highness Prince Cesar, the rightful heir of the Holy Cross Crown, the ruler of the dragons and the protector of the Empire of Acesteria has arrived!”

As soon as the announcement was made, the room fell silent, but the false smiles and greetings did not stop.

“That’s him.”

“What a beautiful man. To think he was cursed…”

“Did he completely lift the curse?”

Prince Cesar had the power to hear everything, but he felt no emotion. He was only looking for his lifelong companion, his beloved Irena.

Her hair was the color of wheat in the wind, and her eyes were the color of spring greens. Irena, his only companion.

“Your Highness, we offer you our congratulations on your victory.”

But his gaze was not on Irena. He recognized the woman in front of him. It was Irena’s half-sister, Geovineta.

***

Everywhere one went, the atmosphere was filled with the excitement of a festival. Smiles bloomed on the faces of people as they threw confetti over the terrace and colorful paper flowers littered the streets.

On this beautiful day, with the sun shining and the breeze blowing, one person stood alone with a heavy heart. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest and whispered to herself, “I am terrible…”

With a swipe of her hand, she wiped away her tears and looked out towards the distance. She could see the sand and dust rising as a group of knights approached the gates of the city. Even from this far away, she could recognize the figure leading the group. It was her first husband, the first prince of the Acesteria Empire. Or, as she thought to herself, her ex-husband. After two years of being away on a campaign, Cesar had returned.

Everyone had come to see the face of a hero. They wanted to see the first prince, Cesar, who was the subject of so many rumors. Once cursed and thought of as a monster, he was now praised as the strongest and most beautiful among them all. They were curious to see the change in him.

In his shining silver armor and deep purple cape, Cesar stood tall and imposing, like a god from ancient myths. At that moment, he removed his helmet, revealing his features.

Simultaneously, a roar of applause and cheers filled the air.