Your Sweet Heart | Issue #9

"So Many Secrets!!"

Somewhere unknown, there exists a city, and at its center there is a golden castle where the Demon King lies in wait for something to amuse him as he sits on his throne surrounded by the most beautiful women ever imaginable from across the Kingdom of Mythica. Then, the giant doors of his royal chamber are opened by a girl with red eyes that invoke the taste for blood.

She kneels before him and says, “Father, I’ve received really good news that I’m sure you will find interesting. They have to do with your first born daughter, Princess Cassandra.”

He stands up from his throne and approaches the girl beneath him. This man is tall and built. He wears a white robe, but no crown. He has eyes of a demon craving destruction, his very name strikes fear into the hearts of everyone in the kingdom.

In a very deep and intimidating voice, he demands the girl to speak.

“We’ve finally found her.”

“...”

“Oddly enough, however, she’s living together with the younger brother of Anthony, the last Legendary Knight. A boy who was named after Little Red Riding Hood. Cynthia Abella.”

The Demon King smiles menacingly to this fact. As if he just found a very new plaything.

“What are your orders, Father? Should I kill him?”

“No. Don’t. Not yet.”

“Then, what should I do?”

“I want you to break him first, in front of Cassandra. I want her eyes to fall into despair as she watches the person she loves getting tortured in front of her.”

“As you wish, Father, I’ll do anything to you ask for. I promise I won’t fail.”

“Good, good. And then, after you break Cynthia Abella, I want you to bring Cassandra back to me by any means necessary.”

“Yes, Father.”

Alister waks back to his throne, excited to see the outcome of the catastrophe he’s set in motion.

“Oh, and by the way Camila…”

“Yes, Father?”

“This is your one and only chance to prove your worth to me. To prove if you are indeed worthy of my love. So, if you don’t come back with Cassandra, or if you were to fail and get caught by knights, consider your life no more as my daughter. Now leave.”

This girl, Camila, she can hardly contain her fear. But this is the life she was given, and this is the life she has to live with, whether she wants to or not. It’s not her call. And oddly enough, she's more than happy with it.

“Okay, Father. Thank you.”

The girl exits the royal chamber to prepare herself for the journey to come.

One of the king’s women speaks, “You know, even with an army, that girl will never be able to defeat Princess Cassandra.”

The demon king answers, “Camila needs this to grow. She will most definitely fail and learn that in order to best Cassandra, she will need to figure out her weak points first. And from here, I’ll be able to watch everything. I’ll occasionally guide her if I feel like it. And I’ll be able to laugh as she finally breaks the younger brother of Anthony in half. Hahaha.”

“Oh my, Master, you’re so baaad.”

“I know.”

Back in the peaceful town of Heavenly, Little Red Riding Hood is walking with Belly around the neighborhood in which he lives.

Out of nowhere, she asks Belly an obvious question, “Soo, Belly… you’re living with a girl now, huh? How kinky. Heheh.”

“It- It’s not what you think, Sis! She’s- She’s just staying over for a while, that’s all!”

“Hmmmmm! So, you two done it, yet?”

“No! Geez, we’re just- we’re just friends!”

“Of course you are. Say, Belly, whatever happened to your balls??”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

“You see! That’s what I’m talking about! You’re always so unsure and accepting everything for what it is. Not to mention, you’re sensitive as fuck.”

“I- I’m not sensitive! God! I’ve never been sensitive.”

She jokingly smiles and pokes Belly’s face, “Really? You sure? I swear, all I remember a few weeks ago is you running home crying your eyes out after people made fun of you! You know, like a bitch.”

Little Red Riding Hood has always liked messing with Belly since he was a kid. She’s not that much older than him, but she’s still like the big sister Belly never asked for but still can't live without.

Belly rubs his face and says, “Geez, Sis, unbelievable. You haven’t changed a single bit since I last saw you as a kid.”

“I’m sorry, what was that? Bitch-ass nerd’s gonna have to speak up!”

“N- Nothing! Gosh.”

“You know, Belly, I wish I could say the same thing about you not changing.”

“Huh? What do you wean?”

“Liiiiike, for example, your dumbass actually managed to get accepted into Arpie High all on your own!”

Belly starts to murmur and drone on, “Oh… well I didn't really do that on my own. Cassandra gave me basically everything I needed for the exam. If it weren’t for her training me and teaching me how to wield a sword, I would’ve definitely failed. Still though, I don't even remember what happened during the exam when I took down one of your dragons. It’s as if I fell asleep the second my magic flowed through my body. I’m not worthy of being accepted. And in the end, everyone who took the exam thinks I cheated and only passed because of my brother’s legendary sword. I must have seriously let you and Cassandra dow-”

*WHACK!!*

“OW!”

“God, Belly, you seriously talk too much!”

“Stop it, Sis, that staff really hurts!”

“I don't care! It hurts me even more hearing you talk like that! Honestly, you’re too insecure. Just take the goddamn compliment already and raise your self-esteem a bit!”

“I- I’m sorry, Sis, but I can’t stop feeling like I don’t deserve anything I have. Everyone in town hates me because i don't even know how to even use my own magic.”

“You mean that floating blue ball of light that follows you around everywhere, right?”

“Yeah, i guess, why?”

“Well, simple, because you've always had it since you were but a small child. I was really surprised when I saw it with you again during the day of the exam.”

“Re- Really? But it only recently appeared out of nowhere, I don't even know what it is!”

“Haven't you figured it out already? It's your love, stupid.”

“My love?”

“Yup! You've always had a big heart, Belly! When Anthony was still around, you used to always walk around with the biggest smile and you were always so kind to everyone who walked by. Honestly, it was really adorable and obvious that you should’ve been born with the biggest pussy of all time!”

Belly blushes a bit, “A- Adorable?? N- No, I’m not adorable, I’m ugly.”

*WHACK!!*

“Oww!!! Sis, you hit the same spot!!”

“Just take the compliment! I'm serious, kid. You were filled with so much love and so many sweet emotions that eventually, it overflowed within you and manifested into a ball of light that followed you everywhere. But then, after you lost your brother and everyone around you started to bully you for being a disappointment, it all faded away. As if your love vanished without a trace. And, for a while, it made me really, really sad. But then, when I saw it with you again, it made me really, really happy!”

“Ohhh. Well, I guess me getting back all of the love magic I once lost is also thanks to Cassandra for helping me. She really is an amazing friend.”

Little Red Riding Hood asks with a shocked look on her face, “WhaaaAAAT?!?!”

Regretful, Belly answers, “Aw, geez, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You have a thing for Cassandra!! Hahahaha! Oh man, this- this just made my week!!”

“Yeah, whatever. I don't care.”

“I'm honestly rooting for you.”

“Huh?? WHat do you mean??”

“After the Entrance Exams, and from what she's told me about you for the past few weeks, you seriously sound like perfect wife material!!”

“Oh… You- You really think so?”

“Eh, kinda, you were still born with such a pussy-ass name! I mean, seriously, what kind of boy is named Cynthia??? Hahahaha!”

“I was named after you, you jerk!!”

“Oh, And Belly, since it's Summer Break, how ‘bout I help your pathetic-ass?”

“Help… me? Really???”

“Well, I've got nothing better to do besides training a little girl that walks around with a pixie on his back. My God, you're the definition of emasculation!”

“Well, you- you’re the definition of a- a mean person!”

She shrugs off the terrible insult, “Uhuh. Well, let’s head back to your place! I'm kinda craving something to eat, so I'mma just help myself to your fridge.”

“Geez, thanks for asking my permission.”

“Hahaha, Belly, it’s cute you think that you’re dominant in this relationship.”