Inspired by: Howl's Moving Castle, various Wendy Howl and Irene Sophie artworks especially Mel unnie's (credited as per below)

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, (hint of Politics) 

Character: Irene as a Princess, Wendy as a Witch/Wizard/Mage

Irene did not know when she started becoming so hyper aware of the presence of another. Every wearied look on Seungwan’s face whenever she came back from god-knows-where from one of those wretched magical doors in this moving castle. Every flicker of movement Seungwan made with those enchantingly deft fingers of hers, especially when she was making breakfast for them at the magical fireplace. Every groans of frustration Seungwan made when she claimed that Irene had messed up her potions bottle in that dusty old cupboard and causing her spells to go wrong. Irene simply could not help but notice and tune her attention towards that witch.

Never was Irene one to pay such notice to an individual, it was always the other way round. Everywhere Irene went, people would shower her with all the attention for she was the princess of this land. The most beautiful princess of all, she was told until she was cursed by a witch out of jealousy. Irene sighed at that memory. It had not even been her fault to begin with. Now, she had scars, marring the right side of her face, as if she had suffered a burn injury.

Turning baleful eyes toward Seungwan who was looking into the mirror and marvelling at her handsome male form, Irene sighed again. It was neither Seungwan’s fault as well. The witch who had been disguised as a wizard to the public all these times was the heart throb of numerous ladies and witches alike across the lands, including the witch that had disfigured Irene because of darned jealousy.

“It is Seungwan! It is Seungwan!”

The ladies would chant wherever he went or when they had sighted a magical ruinous-looking moving castle, famously referred to as Seungwan’s moving castle. Looks of jealousy would be plastered across the men’s faces whenever the handsome wizard was mentioned. Who could fault them, really. Even Irene whose heart had not been moved by any men had been unsettled during their very first encounter in the market where Seungwan had been disguised as a street rat. So much for Seungwan’s fondness for disguising as someone which she was not. If only they had not met and Seungwan had not given her that disarming smile. Till now, even that memento which Seungwan had gifted her was still kept, near her , as if it was the most precious thing Irene had ever received. Irene wondered why, it was really just a piece of cheap-looking iron pendant which Seungwan had given her as thanks in turn of Irene sparing her some copper coins to buy a bun.

The next time they met in the market, Irene was left befuddled as her wrist was grabbed forcefully by the very same street rat and before she knew it, she was running with him. Behind her, she heard angry shouts from grocers and patrol guards alike. Then, just as sudden as her wrist had been grabbed, the street rat had ditched his dirty cloak to reveal his fine clothing and a headful of luxuriant blonde hair beneath it. Irene had gasped. The princess recognised this gentleman very well, it was the famed Seungwan whose murals were all over the city’s walls and whose figurines were sold in many shops. In person, Seungwan was really so much more handsome