The Curse Prince Domination

Inside, the village was alive with energy. The narrow, cobblestone road bustled with pedestrians, stalls, and shops on either side. Merchants shouted their wares, while customers haggled over prices. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and roasting meat, mingled with the earthy scent of leather goods.

The people were a mix—some in simple linen clothes, others clad in leather armor, their weapons clinking as they walked. The lively chaos felt worlds apart from the quiet forest they had just left.

"Quite the place," I muttered in tone light but my eyes scanning everything carefully.

Ruby twirled on her heels, spreading her arms wide. "Welcome to the village, Oppa!"

I smirked at her enthusiasm. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope this 'Oppa' thing doesn't catch on," I muttered under my breath as we ventured further into the bustling streets.

As Ruby and I strolled through the lively village streets, the buzz of a crowd caught my attention. People were gathered around a brightly colored caravan parked in the middle of the square. The chatter was loud and excited, and my gaze fell on a group of women with green skin and tall pointy hats, waving their arms dramatically as they sold all sorts of peculiar items.

"What's going on over there?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes.

Ruby perked up instantly. "Oh! That's a Witch Merchant Caravan!" she said, practically bouncing in place.

"A Witch Merchant Caravan?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep! They're witches from the Queendom of Moors." Her tone shifted into what she probably thought was her 'teacher voice,' though it sounded more like an excited child explaining her favorite toy. "Queen Maleficent let them travel outside the Queendom a few years ago. Some witches became merchants and sell magical things from their homeland!"

I blinked. "Wait—did you say Maleficent? As in… the Maleficent?"

Ruby nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah! Queen Maleficent of the Moors, Mistress of All Evil! She's super famous for cursing King Stefan's daughter!"

"Oh, great." I pinched the bridge of my nose. This world just keeps getting weirder.

Ruby tilted her head at me. "You look surprised. You didn't know about her?"

"Not… exactly," I said. "How do you know all this?"

"Oh, it's all in the newspaper!" she said proudly, pulling a slightly crumpled sheet from her bag and handing it to me.

"A newspaper…" I sighed, unfolding it. Somehow, I already regretted this.

The front page headline read: Lord Farquaad of Far Far Away Seeks a Wife!

I stared at the words, my jaw tightening. "Lord Farquaad? That guy?" I muttered. The image of that pompous little man from Shrek popped into my head, and I couldn't stop myself from grimacing.

Flipping the paper, my eyes landed on a wanted poster:

Wanted

Dead or Alive

Flynn Rider

Thief

I stared at the smirking face in the illustration. "Flynn Rider? Really?" My mind briefly wandered to my previous life, remembering the articles about how Disney had held a 'Hot Guy Meeting' to design him were animators call a meeting with women to Frankenstein together the 'perfect hot guy'? Yeah, that guy. That smirk that caused an entire generation of girls to swoon.

"Oppa, are you okay?" Ruby asked, tugging on my sleeve.

I looked down at her big, curious eyes and managed a tight smile. "Yeah, yeah. Just… processing."

Ruby squinted at me suspiciously but quickly shrugged it off. "So! Where do you wanna go next?"

"Does this village have a library?" I asked, eager to learn more about this world. There had to be some history here that could help me make sense of… all this. The castle's library was full of useless novels and knight biographies only a few of them contain the history of the world and the continent.

Ruby tapped her cheek thoughtfully, her finger making a little smudge on her freckled face. "Hmm… Oh! There's one by the plaza. Wanna go?"

"Yes, please. Lead the way," I said, gesturing ahead.

She beamed and skipped off, humming a cheerful tune. Her energy was boundless, and for a moment, I envied her ability to just exist without overthinking everything.

---

A few minutes later, we entered a small but cozy library. The smell of parchment and wood filled the air, and the warm light from the windows made the place feel almost magical.

"Ah, Ruby," an elderly voice called. I turned to see a kind-looking old man approaching us. He had glasses perched on the end of his nose and carried a thick book under one arm.

"Good morning, Mr. Robert!" Ruby chirped, giving a little wave.

"Here for another book?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Nuh-uh!" Ruby shook her head. "I'm just showing Oppa around. He's a guest of Miss Agathe!" She pointed to me proudly.

The old man's gaze shifted to me, his eyes lingering on my white hair. "Ah, I see. You must be new around here. Are you related to Agathe?"

"Not exactly, Just… someone she knows," I said, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Well, any friend of hers is welcome here," he said warmly. "Feel free to browse."

"Thanks," I replied, already scanning the shelves.

Ruby plopped down in a nearby chair, happily sipping tea that Mr. Robert handed her. I, meanwhile, wandered the aisles, letting my fingers trail along the spines of books.

One title caught my attention: The Cursed Prince.

"Well, isn't that fitting," I muttered, pulling it from the shelf. Opening the first page, I noted the author's name: Goth-El. The writing style was old-fashioned, but something about it drew me in.

Suddenly, a voice whispered near my ear. "That book doesn't have a happy ending."

I jumped, almost dropping the book. Spinning around, I came face-to-face with a woman I hadn't noticed before.

She had long brown hair tied back with a ribbon, captivating hazel eyes, and an air of confidence that made her stand out. For a moment, my brain short-circuited.

"Hermione?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.