A Love Potion For...
A Belated April Short Story
Hello my lovely readers!
I hope you have all been well and had time to get some good rest over the weekend.
It’s been quite a while since the last proper post, but I wanted to finally upload the belated April short story this week, so here I am!^^
As it was decided on the poll last month, this short story is a tad romantic, a lot fantastic and a little bit surprising.
Feel free to continue the story with your own imagination and use it as a prompt as it has an open ending!
And now without further ado, I present to you:
A Love Potion For…
I stir another hazel branch into the bubbling liquid of the cauldron over the fire and hum with satisfaction as the sweet scent of roses fills the air.
I've been an apprentice to the Great Witch of the South for four years, and after my mentor retired two years ago with the words "I'm leaving you my legacy, try not to die too soon!” I inherited the title of Guardian of the Enchanted Forest in the far south of the Kingdom of Flamenia.
I enjoyed my life as the Witch of the South, brewing potions for customers and experimenting with rare plants and hard-to-find substances. My life has been peaceful, save for a few minor hiccups, and as I continue to stir the ladle in my trusty cauldron, I diligently think of the greatest disturbance yet, which has forced me to make one of the most difficult potions in my repartoir.
If I were using it for myself, it would at least be acceptable to take six months to harvest, prepare and brew a love potion, but this one is frustratingly not for me to improve my love life, but for one of the most annoying members of the royal family I've ever had the displeasure of meeting.
The Crown Prince of Flamenia, Aster Lucion, is a handsome but cunning individual who came to me ten months ago, knocking on my door and demanding my services. At first I refused, but after he camped outside my cosy cottage for two weeks, I gave in just to finally get him out of my hair.
Today is the day the potion will be ready and I will be able to reclaim my peaceful life from the claws of that insufferable royal.
I sigh again, but can't repress the proud grin as the potion changes colour from green to purple, a sign of a successful process. Not many witches are able to brew such a difficult potion and I am proud to be one of the best on the continent.
I grumble at the thought of giving such goods to such an annoying member of the royal family. What a sad fate for the poor plants I have harvested, indeed.
As I bottle the purple liquid, there is a knock at the front door of the small cottage and I roll my eyes, already knowing who is disturbing my morning.
A tall build, blonde curly hair, and a beaming smile greet me from the other side as I look at the crown prince with a sullen face.
"You're even more beautiful than the last time we met, lady witch." He holds out his hand in a polite gesture to kiss mine, as he has tried to do every time he has come here.
"And you are just as annoying as the last time we met, Prince." I retort, not bothering to return his greeting, instead thrusting the freshly brewed love potion into his open hand.
"I remind you that I don't sell things that force a person to do something against their will, so this potion only intensifies the feelings of the person who drinks it for a short period of time and makes it known whether they have any special feelings for you or not."
The Crown Prince looks at it in surprise before his grin widens even further.
"As expected from the Great Witch of the South. Even such a difficult request can be fulfilled by your hands."
He waves to his trusted aide, another tall man with dark hair and dark eyes, who has always been the only one to accompany His Highness whenever he came to annoy me.
He hands the prince a heavy pouch, which is then handed to me.
"Your payment. 200 gold coins. And the offer to work for me in the palace still stands."
I wave my hand dismissively and present him with a sticky-sweet smile: "No, thank you. I would rather die hunting dragons than work for a royal like you."
He laughs at my refusal and then sighs, suddenly seeming nervous.
"Tris." I assume that's the name of his companion, because he turns to the prince after hearing his call.
"Drink this." The Crown Prince of Flamenia has just ordered his trusted companion to drink a love potion.
Now that's an interesting turn of events...
Thank you for reading today’s post!
Leave me a comment and tell me how you liked the story and I would be happy if you shared it if you think someone else might enjoy it too.^^
I wish you all a great and relaxed start to the new week.
-Nika.^^
Welcome to TT, Nika! I'm so glad you clarified what the potion actually does 😅
This was a nice read - almost like a slice-of-life piece 😊
Nika, I’m so happy to see that you are feeling better 🥰 and inspired to write again. I believe we have to take care of ourselves first and foremost, and that in turn allows us to take better care of others and feel truly free and inspired to be creative.
I liked your story very much, specially the cute tension you gave your main protagonist toward the Prince. I liked that you didn’t have her just dying to meet him. Instead, I felt she had real personality. I also really liked that you added her saying she doesn’t do things to harm or force others. For me, I feel this is one thing I look for in the stories I like to read, for them to align with the values I have for my life too. Maybe I’m too picky that way, but for me, it is the process by which I can enjoy things and feel at peace at the end of the day. (Sorry if that was long and hopefully it made sense 😌)
Anyway, your story was fun, it reminded me of the movie Hocus Pocus. I’m not sure if you’ve seen it, but it is funny and I could see the tension between your main characters being fun like that. I just had one question: what was her name? He only calls her witch and I feel maybe I needed to know her name in order to feel closer to her as the main character. Keep shining Nika ✨👍☺️