Translated by MissQ

Chapter 3: The Cursed Prince  

At that moment, the prince felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.  

The onlookers took in his disheveled hair, tattered clothes, and the unmistakable odor of sweat, mingled with the foul stench of urine emanating from his untidy body. His form was gaunt, with bones nearly protruding from his emaciated state. How could anyone recognize him as the ambitious and handsome prince he once was?  

No one could. At that moment, he resembled nothing more than a beggar.  

However, although the soldiers failed to identify him, the madwoman recognized him at first glance. When the Duke’s daughter immediately ordered her guards to bring the “beggar” to her, they complied without question. The guards assumed Ian was simply a homeless man who had stumbled into the mansion by mistake. In their minds, they grumbled that it was an inconvenient time for such a pointless task, especially amidst the current chaos, yet they still obeyed her command.  

The Duke’s youngest son had instigated a rebellion, asserting that the Duke’s eldest son was unfit to be the successor. The young son rallied some of the retainers and knights to his cause, openly challenging his elder brother. Soon, the two siblings were locked in a deadly combat.  

Meanwhile, the Duke’s only daughter remained aloof, showing little concern for the familial strife. Instead, she seemed preoccupied with chasing after a homeless beggar in the mansion's backyard. Some astute knights began to question whether this family was still worthy of their loyalty. After all, if two fools were battling within the family, who could say if this third child was any more sensible? Yet for the time being, they could not defy the woman’s orders. The knights had no choice but to continue pursuing the homeless man. To their surprise, he managed to evade their grasp despite his obvious weakness.  

Ian was determined and refused to submit to his fate. He ran desperately until he reached a lake.  

This lake marked the boundary between the Duke’s Mansion and the outer territories. Known as Crocodile Lake, it served as an effective barrier, which was why the soldiers rarely patrolled this area. Despite the ongoing mutiny, there was no garrison guarding the lake today.  

Now that Ian had finally reached this border, he felt a surge of anxiety as he confronted the placid surface of the water. He knew all too well that the lake was home to ferocious crocodiles.  

Did he really want to cross this lake?  

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, forcing the prince to the very edge of the water.  

“You can’t escape!” The madwoman glared at him, her expression contorting into an ugly scowl. “Return to me now! If you come back, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened!”  

“Never!” Ian hadn’t spoken in a long time, and his voice emerged hoarse, lacking the deep, gentle tone it once had. “I would rather die than go with you!” It was better to perish in the jaws of a crocodile than to be confined by this woman!  

“Knights of the Duke! I am the Second Prince of Galenus, Ian Galen! Remember my words today—beware of this madwoman!”  

He desperately wished to send his father a message revealing that he had been murdered by this devil-like woman! Even if he were to die, he hoped that someone would avenge him. However, even if some of the knights recognized his identity, they might still fall victim to this witch’s wrath; she could easily blind and silence them, condemning them to death.  

Yet perhaps…perhaps one or two knights could escape her clutches and deliver the news to his father, the King. Moreover, if the King received such news, he would undoubtedly reward the messenger handsomely. This possibility gave him a glimmer of hope that his plight might reach the King after all.  

But these were merely thoughts, fragments of hope in his desperate situation.  

“You…!” The Duke’s daughter’s expression twisted further into something grotesque. She reached out, pointing an accusing finger at him. “I don’t want you to die in front of me in this lake!” But the prince ignored her, inciting her rage.  

“The Demon of the Night is under my command, and with it, I will make your life a living hell!” The witch glared at the prince, as if attempting to cast a spell. “You will beg for my mercy in the wretched state of a beast! No human will dare to touch you except for me… Your curse can only be lifted by my hand!”  

In that moment, Ian's suspicions were confirmed—this woman was indeed a witch! As she pointed at him, he had already leapt into the lake, struggling to swim forward. But it was too late. A slick, oily sensation spread across his hand, and his surroundings began to blur and twist. Simultaneously, he felt the changes coursing through his body, reaching his mind in a chilling rush.  

He had no idea what he had transformed into or what he looked like, but exhaustion overwhelmed him. Just as his consciousness began to fade, the prince succumbed to the depths of the water. Through the shimmering surface, he caught a glimpse of the moonlight… It was a full moon.

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