1. A Pact With The Witch

Triana

A brilliant smile graced those charcoal-black lips. Angular cheeks, a crooked nose, and a jutting-out chin elongated her wrinkled face. Her white-haired head was left uncovered by her worn-out hat this time, perhaps only to make her look more fearsome.

Triana stood on the side of that messy, foul-smelling room. She was the opposite of the witch across from her. Her slender body, which was wrapped in an intricately embroidered dress, was emitting the scent of flowers and dried fruits. Her eyes reflected the bright spring sky, and her blonde hair represented the best-quality white wine.

"Immortal beauty?" A laugh escaped the lips, encasing rows of sharp, rotten teeth.

The shrill voice startled Triana from her focus on the condition of the dilapidated, tiny house. She was even certain her uncle's chicken coop on the farm was far better than this.

Clasping her hands together, Triana nodded. "Yes, ma’am. Can you possibly do that?"

"Your question belittles me, young lady. I am even surprised you and your dozens of guards managed to reach my nest! Hahaha..." The skinny, hunched witch rose from her creaky rocking chair. "Wasn't your arduous journey an assertion that I am the greatest witch here?"

"You're right, ma'am. You are the greatest. Well, that's what my mother said," Triana murmured.

"Mm..." The witch glanced at the girl. Then she stepped closer, standing right in front of her.

The witch's bony index finger lifted, touching Triana’s chin with its sharp and dirty nail. "What was your name again, sweetheart?"

Holding her breath, Triana swallowed and answered, "Triana. Triana Rexa Galev."

"Oh... what a beautiful name for a beautiful girl!" The witch sniggered as she left Triana.

"My husband is Duke Stefanus Galev. He has aided in many wars and is one of the king's favorites," said an elegant middle-aged woman standing beside Triana.

"Impressive. But... did I ask? Hahaha..." The witch replied.

Triana glanced at her mother, who wore the same expression of horror as hers. The witch was truly peculiar, even more so than the rumors.

"Then, can you grant it to my daughter? We will offer a satisfying reward for you," said Triana's mother. Her name was Catherine Rovenia Galev.

"Money. Money is happiness; that's what you greedy folks always rely on. Even the beauty..." The witch turned to Triana. She smiled broadly. "... you use it to gain happiness, don't you?"

The witch's words made Triana bite her lower lip. She didn't know if that was just a coincidence, but she just realized something.

Being born with enchanting beauty made many admire Triana, even when she was just a baby. At that time, a king from a prosperous kingdom agreed with Triana's father to marry her to his third prince when she reached the age of 22. Unfortunately, by her 23rd year, the prince had not returned from his grand mission to conquer the neighboring kingdom.

Her mother, siblings, aunts, and even her father told Triana that she was at her peak. But like a flower, it didn't bloom forever. Afterward, it would wither and fall.

If Triana's beauty faded when the prince returned, he might cancel their marriage because he was dissatisfied with Triana's appearance, which was not meeting his expectations anymore. He would seek a younger and more beautiful girl. When that happened, all of the Galev family's hopes would crumble.

Triana realized that her beauty was the source of the happiness and affection she had received so far. She didn't want to end up like those who had unattractive looks and were always marginalized. She wanted to maintain her beauty and her happiness.

"God has blessed me with beauty so that I can be useful to my family. Not just to myself, this beauty is also a source of happiness for the people around me. This beauty holds more meaning than what you mentioned. Only those who possess it can understand." Triana said.

"Oh, dear... you didn't have to say that to her," Catherine whispered.

Triana furrowed her brow. "That's what my father told me. He said I should take pride in my blessings. And I'm doing it."

"But you need to understand the situation," Catherine sighed.

Suddenly, a burst of high-pitched laughter made both of them turn with wide eyes.

While wiping the drool off the corners of her moist mouth from her hearty laughter, the witch nodded. "You're a brave girl, indeed. Your words are true. You've been blessed to be born so beautiful. Surely, you must utilize, maintain, and take pride in it," she said. Then the laughter faded, and she continued, "To honor your beauty, I will grant your wish. But it takes one condition."

"What's the condition? Whatever the cost, we'll pay," Catherine jumped in.

"Khekhekhe... I already said that I don't need money, didn’t I? I want you to do something, beautiful lady," the witch pointed to Triana.

She then took a tiny glass bottle containing a bright green liquid and stepped closer to Triana. "Amid the Forest of Death lies an abandoned castle that imprisons a vampire, a son of Count Dracula. Your task is to make him drink this potion."

"A vampire? Weren't they slaughtered in the wars a hundred years ago?" Catherine asked.

The witch grinned. "One remains. The strongest of them." Then she waved her hand in front of her nose and continued, "But you need not fear. He is chained with very... very strong magic chains. I have a grudge against his family and wish to make him suffer. But I cannot do it alone because the castle is protected with anti-witch spells. And you… beautiful lady… you will do it for me."

Triana and Catherine exchanged glances for a moment. Then Catherine nodded once before turning back to the witch.

"Very well. I will do-"

"Oops!" The witch withdrew her potion as Catherine's hand reached for it. "I said the beautiful lady must do it. Who here wants eternal beauty?"

"Oh, should it be… her?" Catherine murmured.

The witch narrowed her eyes. She looked at the mother and daughter in front of her. "Must this be done or must it not?"

"I will do it myself. But I need you to swear that my beauty will truly be eternal." Triana said, clenching her hands.

"Well... Khekhekhe..." The witch smiled. "I will swear if you swear," she said, opening the bottle in her hand.

"I swear to do it myself," Triana said, though there was a thin tremor in her voice.

Still with a smile on her face, the witch extended her hand to Triana. "Your hand, sweetheart."

After exchanging a glance with her mother, Triana placed her smooth, small hand on the rough, wrinkled palm of the witch.

Turning Triana's hand within her grasp, the witch pressed one of her sharp nails into the tip of Triana’s index finger.

"Ouch!" Triana bit her lower lip as the nail pierced the soft flesh of her finger, drawing blood.

Blood leaked out of Triana’s finger as the witch pinched the blushing flesh under her clean nail. Then, the witch directed her finger toward the mouth of her potion bottle. The blood dripped into it.

The smile returned to the witch's face. She released Triana's hand. Then she went to her potion shelf and added a drop of purple liquid to it.

"Your oath is now infused into this potion. If you don't give it to the vampire directly, not only will you fail to obtain eternal beauty, but you will also become hideous for fifty years."

"What did you say?" Triana and her mother exclaimed.

"Hahaha!" The witch laughed at the pale faces of the two arrogant women.

"Why would you do this?!" Catherine demanded while Triana began to cry in her chest.

The witch shrugged her shoulders as she returned to her creaky rocking chair. "Didn't you swear to do it? If you didn't intend to deceive me..." she pulled a wide smile, looking at the two women alternately. "... you wouldn't be afraid now."