White Prince and the Maiden of Prayers

[kozvme]

White Prince and the Maiden of Prayers

 
Once upon a time there was a peaceful country called "White Country". This country was run by 7 princes close to each other on behalf of the sick king. However, at one point, the demon defeated by the former king cursed and turned the 7 sons into swans, taking over the country.

The brothers scattered to the four corners of the earth, and when the prince, barely escaping alive, decided to heal his wounds by the lake, a young lady came to him. When she noticed the injured swan, the young lady tore off a piece of her clothing to treat it. What a sweet-natured lady, thought the prince. The young lady explained to the swan prince that she lost her family in a battle against the demon and that now she was all alone in the world. 

「The 7 princes also lost against the demon and are now missing. It is the end for this country... but run away once your wounds have healed. Unlike me, you have wings, so you can take flight anywhere.」 

 

When thanks to the lady's care his wounds completely healed, without revealing his identity, the swan prince swore to the young lady:

「I won't run away. I will defeat the demon for you. If you return my feelings, then wait for my return here tomorrow.」 

 

Thanks to the prayers of the maiden, the princes defeated the devil together with their brothers. After taking back the castle and the country, before anything else he headead to the young lady waiting by the lake.  

 

My beloved... thank you.

 

 

White Prince, the Maiden of Prayers and Black Dragon

 

― It might also be noted that the defeated demon had 5 sons. They lived in hiding in the poor northern land with a few people when the former White King destroyed their motherland, the "Black Dragon Country". The eldest son of the Black Dragon vowed revenge on the white princes in order to fulfill his father's vengeance on the white princes and to rebuild their motherland.
 

 「It probably would be better if we, descendants of a demon, perished as it is. However, as the latest king of the Black Dragon, I must live up to the remaining citizens' expectations.」

 

The 4 young brothers followed the eldest as he headed toward White Country carrying a sword. They were called the Demon's sons, but they had the same strong, fraternal bonds as the white princes.

 「Wait. Stop your revenge and live here peacefully. Even if you're poor, if you continue to endure it, you will surely be happy.」

The words of the maiden who is thinking of them did not reached them... The time for the battle between the white princes and the black dragon was approaching.

 

And the maiden continued to pray. Oh my beloved, be safe――