The Crown of Shadows

Clover and Titus stepped out from the protective barrier that he had crafted the moment they left the mortal realm, only for Clover to realize that they weren't instantly teleported to the palace of the Dark Kingdom. Instead, she found that her husband had teleported them to the edge of a dense, eerie forest. 

The trees stood bare, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, shrouded in a thin veil of fog. Titus took the lead along a narrow path that wove deeper into the unsettling woods. Clover shot a questioning glance at her husband, wondering where he was taking her. 

As if sensing her unease, he explained, “This lifeless forest acts as a shield for the Dark Kingdom—a living one at that. It's home to creatures like reapers and shadows. But don’t worry; they won’t harm us unless we pose a threat,” he reassured her, noting the tension in Clover's posture. 

"Are we really going to walking to the Dark Kingdom?" Clover asked unease creeping into her voice. She certainly didn't like the idea; the atmosphere was unsettling, and it felt as if this eerie trees were watching her every move.

“No, my knights are waiting for us by the river,” he said, drawing her nearer and lifting her into his arms in bridal style. Clover blushed, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her; she hadn’t anticipated her husband would carry her in such a manner, especially with his knights awaiting them somewhere. 

“I… I can walk,” she insisted, trying to avoid the awkwardness of being carried. 

“Don’t be ridiculous; you can’t navigate the forest with those shoes on. You’ll end up with sore feet later,” he chuckled. “So just relax—I’ll carry you.” 

“But I might be too heavy for you to lift,” she argued. 

“What?” He looked at her in disbelief before bursting into laughter. “No way! You’re light as a feather—I could run for miles like this!” 

Clover pouted playfully, aware that while she was slender, she didn't consider herself thin. 

“I think I should make sure you eat more to gain some weight. Here, you won’t have to worry about your diet like in other kingdoms,” he teased her. 

It didn't take long for them to reach the location where his knights were waiting. Raphael, the senior knight, spotted them right away and approached to extend his greetings. 

“Welcome back, Your Highness Prince Titus, and a warm welcome to the immortal realm, Princess,” he said, bowing respectfully, with the other knights following his lead. 

Prince Titus quickly gathered his knights to introduce them to his wife. “I understand we are on a tight schedule, so I will be brief,” he stated. “This is my wife and your princess. As a human, she deserves your utmost respect. Any form of disrespect towards her, I will view it as a direct challenge towards me, and I will not ignore it. Should she require assistance, I expect you to offer your help without hesitation, regardless of the situation. Is that understood?” The knights nodded in agreement, acknowledging his words. 

Persephone scoffed, “I hope so.” Matthias didn't say anything, he just looked at the demoness and shook his head. 

The carriage crawled along at a sluggish pace, and Clover wasn’t accustomed to traveling this way—she doubted she ever would be. She couldn’t help but wonder why the immortals had never introduced any form of technology into their world. Sure, it could lead to some problems, but it also had its benefits. 

As she looked out the window, the view of the passing landscape was breathtakingly beautiful, but it only made her yearn for home even more. She missed it already, even though it hadn’t been a full day since she stepped into the immortal realm. Fatigue weighed on her; they had left the mortal realm late in the evening, but here it was still morning, not yet noon. She couldn’t help but wonder—was time moving faster or slower in this place? It was something she hadn’t considered when she first crossed through the veil into this realm. 

Her thoughts were disrupted when the carriage finally came to a halt and Prince Titus opened the door to assist her. Taking his hand and looking around curiously, she asked, “What is this place?” 

“It’s an inn,” Titus replied. “I had my knights make a reservation so we could freshen up before we reach the palace. We can’t meet the king looking like this; we need to be presentable,” he explained to her. 

“Oh, okay,” Clover responded with a nod. 

They were both shown to their respective rooms to prepare, and as soon as Clover stepped inside, she was greeted by a maid. 

“Hello, Your Highness. I’m Aurora, and from this day forward, I’ll be your chambermaid. I’ll help you with your baths, prepare your meals, and keep your room tidy,” Aurora said, bowing her head respectfully. 

Clover felt her cheeks heat up. While she appreciated the offer, she was confident in her ability to bathe herself. “I can definitely manage that on my own,” she replied. 

Aurora's eyes widened in alarm. “Your Highness, if I can't help you with your baths, I might lose my position.” 

“You mean fired, right? I can help you find another job,” Clover responded, completely missing the point. 

“No, milady. I meant 'disposed of'—as in killed,” Aurora explained, her panic growing. 

Clover stood frozen, her expression one of disbelief. She had never imagined that such a brutal law could still be active in this timeless realm. The last thing she wanted was to be the reason for anyone’s demise, even in the slightest way. Eventually, she gave in and let Aurora help her bathe, dress, and decorate her hair, transforming her into a living doll. When Aurora was done, Clover gazed into the mirror and, to her surprise, saw a perfect Barbie doll staring back at her. 

“Your Highness, you look absolutely stunning, like a delicate flower,” Aurora said, her eyes shining with admiration. 

“Thank you, Aurora. I wouldn’t have realized how beautiful I could look without your skilful touch. I really appreciate it,” Clover replied graciously to her maid. 

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Prince Titus entered the room. He was taken aback by Clover's beauty; the gown she wore highlighted her complexion, making her seem radiant. 

After composing himself, he said, “Are you done, Princess? We need to leave now.” 

Clover nodded, her nerves showing, and he gently guided her out of the room. “Did I tell you that you look ravishing?” The prince whispered near her ear, causing Clover to blush hard. 

Once again, she found herself in the slow-moving carriage, but this time it felt more tolerable because Aurora was by her side. 

As their carriage rolled through the lively village streets, Clover was engulfed by the thunderous cheers of the crowd eager to welcome their cherished crown prince. Her heart raced with the overwhelming energy around her. It felt like a tight band was wrapping around her throat, making her breaths come in short, quick gasps. Could she really be on the brink of a panic attack? She had never experienced this before; why now? In a bid to regain her composure and avoid showing any weakness to Aurora—who would only find it embarrassing—she shut her eyes and began to count backward. Just at that moment, the blaring of trumpets announced the crown prince's arrival, and the carriage came to a stop. 

Prince Titus offered her his hand to help her down, and together they walked along the red carpet that led to the palace and straight to the throne room. Clover couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized by the lesser nobles who gathered to welcome them; some gazed at her in shock, while others looked at her with clear disdain. 

“Don’t worry about them,” Prince Titus reassured her. “They’re easily influenced by their feelings, and before long, you'll earn their admiration.” 

Clover could only nod, finding comfort in her husband’s reassuring words. His unwavering support calmed her nerves as they approached the designated room. As they arrived, one of Prince Titus's knights heralded their entrance. 

“Crown Prince Titus of the Dark Kingdom and Princess Clover Levine from the mortal realm have arrived,” the knight announced. 

The room went quiet as everyone absorbed the knight's announcement. When Prince Titus appeared alongside his human bride, Clover was struck by the opulence of the grand hall that doubled as a throne room. It was a strange mixture of beauty and eeriness. 

The dark, obsidian royal chairs towered over the stage like props from a play, casting long, twisting shadows across the polished black marble floor that resembled two snakes entwined in combat, each one emblazoned with the royal crest. Flickering torches mounted on the walls bathed the space in a soft orange light, which only drew attention to the array of disturbing portraits of former monarchs. Their eyes seemed to follow her, filled with a mocking sense of judgment. 

As Clover moved through the crowd of nobles, she couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized; it was as if everyone in the opulent hall was sizing her up like prey. 

Her hands trembled slightly, and Prince Titus quickly noticed. "Just ignore them," he advised, his tone light. "Think of them as annoying little pests. Focus on what lies ahead. Remember, my dear wife, I’m always here for you.” He flashed that infuriatingly charming smile that made her heart race. “Just keep dulling your aura, so no one, including my father, the king, finds out about your… magical abilities.” He leaned in closer, whispering into her ear with a playful wink. The mischief dancing in his greyish-blue eyes made her heart skip a beat. Yet, beneath the playful facade, she understood that her situation was anything but trivial. 

The nobles were already assembling, their hushed conversations buzzing through the air like a swarm of agitated bees. “It’s just wrong,” one noblewoman whispered, her tone dripping with contempt as she fiddled with her delicate silver tiara, which was meant to secure her hairstyle but resembled a warped spider’s web. “How can we tolerate a mere mortal among us?” 

What on earth was the Prince thinking, bringing this commoner into their realm? Is he purposely challenging the king? pondered another nobleman, who was eager for his daughter to win the Prince's affection. The expressions on the nobles' faces were a mix of shock and disbelief. As the newlyweds approached the throne, the crowd parted, and King Devon's jaw nearly dropped in surprise; however, he quickly regained his composure. While he was no stranger to his son’s rebellious nature, this felt like an entirely new level of defiance. 

Could it be that his informant had gotten it wrong? He had been told that this girl possessed great power, but as he looked at her now, she appeared to be just an ordinary human. Nothing about her seemed extraordinary. So his son had actually married a human? Was this some sort of elaborate joke? The king studied Clover closely again, taking note of her shy demeanour and understated presence. What could his son possibly be thinking? This was intolerable; he needed to assert his authority and push for a union with Princess Annabeth, no matter what. 

Clover cast her gaze down at her dress, a flowing midnight blue garment that fit her figure well enough to seem elegant without overtly revealing her human nature. She did so to avert her eyes from the king's intimidating stare, feeling as though she was an object being assessed for her worth. The fabric, a gift from her husband, carried a faint scent of earth, grass, and, oddly, sulphur. It concealed her feet, and she was surprised she didn't trip as she walked. 

“Hello, Father,” the Prince greeted his father as courteously as he could manage. “I appreciate the chance you’ve given me to find my mate, and I’d like to introduce her to you now.” Remaining bowed, he continued, “Please meet my wife and partner, Clover Levine, from the human world.” 

Feeling annoyed, the king ignored his son, and focused his attention on the mortal, “What is your name, my dear daughter?” the king asked. Yet, as he uttered the word 'daughter,' he felt an uncomfortable lump in his throat, as if he had swallowed sand that wouldn't go down. 

“My name is Clover Levine, Your Majesty,” she responded, her voice feeling louder than it should, while her heart raced as if desperate to escape her chest. 

“Is there anything noteworthy about the Levine family?” the king inquired. Clover was momentarily taken aback by the question, unsure whether to divulge details about her family. She glanced at her husband for reassurance, and the Prince gave a subtle nod. 

“No, your majesty, but my family is part of the Guardian System established by the government to ensure safety,” Clover said, her voice trembling slightly. 

“I’ve heard about this system,” the king replied, “but I’m curious—what kind of threats does it protect people from?” 

“Well, as we all know, the mortal realm can be quite perilous. The government created this secret system to shield innocent individuals from hard-core criminals, and there are also cases where rogue supernatural beings prey on mortals for their own amusement,” she explained. 

“But mortals are fragile. How do they manage to capture or defeat immortals?” King Devon asked, intrigued. He studied Clover closely, sensing that she was holding back something, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. 

Did the king really just insult her kind? A wave of anger started to rise in her, but she fought to keep her cool. “We depend on technology, your majesty,” Clover replied, keeping her tone steady. She was careful not to share too much on her first day in the realm of immortals, and she almost shot the king a glare that could have spelled trouble.