Chapter 6: The Maltreated Prince

Serina's POV

He's the crowned prince, yet he's treated poorly. "Care to tell where you went to?" I instantly rolled my eyes. "Care to stop bugging me? What are you? A bee?" I take a deep sigh, I need to be calm. 

"Huh?"

"Seems like your ears are in a bad condition, you should have clean them per week, okay?" he glared at me. This jerk really have some guts. Even if he has a knack on pissing me off, I will let this go.

"Whatever, the King is summoning me, I'll be going." now he's showing me his worried face. Haa, I thought it was 'girls' whose hard to understand, but...it turns out to be boys.

"Don't worry, everything's under control." I wink at him and walked away. I followed the head maid and she lead the room all the way to the King's personal library. She knocks the door for three times and it opened from the inside.

He believes that the poison is starting to take its effect inside my body, so he seize the opportunity while I haven't passed out yet. Interesting. "Please have a seat, Princess Serina of Sapphire Kingdom." I smiled and nodded.

"Your complexion doesn't look too good, are you alright?"

I smile like 'it was nothing' "Yes, I think I'm just tired." his smile is ears to ears, what a joke. "Then I'll cut to chase so you can take a rest." I want to rip that mouth of him, so he wouldn't be able to smile like that again. I'm itching to do that ugh.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."  

"I heard that Sapphire Kingdom is falling behind, I'm here to lend a hand." am I supposed to be shock? Buti like his gut that he's still smiling, meaning he's not sympathizing about the circumstances we have huh, oh well it's not his business, why would he care. 

"I see, so the news got here, Your Majesty." 

He nodded with the same mocking smile. "However, I don't think if I'm suited of this favor, Your Majesty." I'd like him to pursue me further. Even though I know what he's going to offer, though I can't agree too early, because I wouldn't be able to get something more.

"Seems like you haven't heard the war that will soon break from the West? Won't you be at the disadvantage, the same with your Kingdom and title?" oh, I didn't expect him to be mindful of my business. I smirked. "I'd like to hear the offer."

He's sneering that perfectly matched his greedy eyes. "Very well." 

 _____

"Your Highness, please wake up."

"*groans* Al--Ches, are we going home?"

"I'm sad that we aren't, Your Highness."

I sighed, and he lend me a hand to sit down. Ughh--"Wait, you aren't even my maid, what are you doing here early in the morning?" he's giving off a feeling of a butler. I even thought he is Albert earlier. 

Oh right, the gamble last night turnout well. I received five-hundred golds, if I'll convert it in dollars it will be 400 million dollars. I didn't expect that I'm good with acting. I leeched out almost half of his money last night. I'm feeling good.

"You'll be meeting the crown prince, you have to start preparing, Your Highness." I happily nodded and escorted him outside. The maid I brought with me tends to my needs. The engagement will be held in my Kingdom of course, he will be crowned as the King. My only problem now is, what if that prince dislikes the idea of marrying me and leaving his homeland?

"Now that I think of it...it Ain't even my problem."

"Your Highness, His Majesty is requesting your presence now." I flipped my hair with a smirk on the mirror. This face is too pretty. I'm falling on it.

"Are you escorting me there?"

"If not, what am I supposed to do?" Ugh he's going to ruin my good mood. "Next time, I won't bring you in my affairs anymore." He smile so happily that made me annoyed.

"That will be hard when I became the Empress's right hand." I frowned, "And why would I even make you my right hand?"

He smiled even more, "That's for you to find out, Your Highness." I rolled my eyes, "Seems like I don't even need to find out."

He gave me a 'why' look, "What do you mean?" He asked, "Because, I don't have a least motivation on seeking the reason that I don't even have."

"You're joking--"

"We've arrived." I said excitedly, and walked inside like we're not conversing at all. Forget him. He's going to speak nonsense.

"I greet His Majesty the Emperor." I said as I bow down my head. Well let me do this since he gave me a huge sum last night. "Raise your head Princess Serina, I'm presenting you the second prince of Liesel Kingdom, Prince Hunter Reign Lincoln."

I lift up my head and turned my back to see the prince ag--"Your Majesty..." my good mood, my stunning smile, my nice vibe suddenly...vanish. I'm going on a rampage. Just how--

"Do you like my present Princess Serina?" Present?! What the f*ck? You call that a present!? Have he gone insane? Oh no--I am the one who will lose sanity in here. I want to f*cking clear cut his neck right now.

I force a smile on my face, "Your Majesty, correct me if I'm wrong, but last night you told me that I can do whatever I want to the second prince, right?"

He nodded with that annoying smile of his. I have to control myself, or else I might assassinate that vicious King right now."I see."

"Do you like it?" I nodded. Let's see until when you can hold that smile on your f*cking face. "That's good to hear."

"Oh right, will you still plan to leave or --" I bow down my head, I'm going to use the excuse I've just come up.

"I'm sorry Your Majesty, something came up in my Kingdom, I'd love to stay for a couple of days, but something really urgent came up. I'll bring my fiance, and I'll send you the invitation once I've decided the date."

"I guess Princess Serina is really busy, that can't be helped then, inform me the time of your departure." I nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."

I held Hunter's hand all the way to my assigned room. "Se-Seli--" I pushed him inside my room and I locked the door. I removed his mask and saw--

"J-just how did you endure this torture?" His body's complexion, his breathing, his heartbeat, it's all abnormal! He's even suffering from a fever. And yet-- he still wishes to protect this country whose residents looked at him like he's a garbage.

He averted his eyes on me. "H-how did you know?" He asked with a sad face. "Let me put my mask, brother said that I'll scare you and it will bring shame on your country if--"

"I like your eyes."

"That face won't even bring any bad omen let alone shame nor tanish my reputation." I pushed him to sit down on my bed. This feeling... it's like a déjà vu. I remember Stephen on him. My childhood friend. "You're tired aren't you?" He smiled, a pretty smile with pain written behind it.

I don't know how, but this pain that he has, is putting me in tears that made me hugged him so tight. "I don't think if I'll even let you come back here."

I don't get why I'm so soft to this guy, but he's the only person I'm comfortable with. "Selena, you'll catch my cold."

I stand up and lend a hand to him. "Endure it, we will leave this hell right this instant, then I'll treat your fever there." he smiled genuinely.

"Thank you."