"Weren't you the one eager to deliver gifts?

"Who did I touch this time?" roared Kian and Roan laughed menacingly.

"Weren't you the one eager to deliver gifts? Or is it that you already forgot?" said Roan pressing the tip of the dagger on one of Kian's fingers.

Kian cried out as a long stream of blood flowed on the table. "She isn't even yours! You are already going to marry Isabella so why waste her time?" said Kian as the bangs on the door grew louder and louder like they were about to break it down.

Roan pinched his chin hard and said, "Is that what your mother thinks? She thinks she can control my choices and make me marry whomever she likes. Unlike father I wasn't fed a love potion. I am not so stupid," before letting him go.

He got up just as the door was forced open. Queen Rhea rushed to her son while wailing like he had been amputated.

King Kian didn't mince his words. With a loud pa sound, he slapped Roan's cheek. The slap was so hard that Roan accidentally bit his mouth and blood slowly trickled at the corner of his lips.

The air froze for a second with pin-dropping silence. Roan's head remained tilted to the side for a moment like he couldn't believe that his father had slapped him.

He slowly turned his head back while one of his men handed him a cloth to wipe his lips. He wiped it slowly without saying a word.

"Good... as always you strike without understanding the situation. Everything is always my fault, isn't that right?" he said staring glaringly into his father's eyes.

"So if your good son forces himself on the future queen would you still slap me and say I should learn to share with my younger brother? Is that it?" he said and King Kian clenched his fingers while looking at Prince Kian nestled in his mother's arms.

"At the rate he is going this will come true. When it does I will chop off his third leg and force him to eat it. Don't say that I didn't warn you," he said before walking past his father.

His men followed after him leaving behind an eerie silence. "Father I," said Kian and the king raised his hand indicating that he didn't want to hear it.

He was aware of his youngest son's special hobbies but it never caused trouble. From what Roan said Kian must be eyeing one of the contenders for the position of crown princess.

"She must have seduced him otherwise why would he go for her?" said Queen Rhea defending her son but even she couldn't believe it.

"Kian, you aren't to leave your chambers until I say so," commanded the king before striding out with an ugly look on his face.

The irritable feeling in Roan's heart didn't settle even after disciplining Kian. Whenever someone wronged him he would vent it on that person twofold until his heart was settled.

But today it didn't work. His steps paused and the men following him stopped while bowing their heads. His dark face exuding killing intent suddenly shone with unsettling light making his subordinates light a candle for whoever the crown prince was thinking about.

Freya suddenly felt a chilling breeze travel up her spine and her fingers sliding the broadhead arrow against the portable whetstone paused as she raised her head scanning the garden.

She lowered her head again but a sudden shadow blocked the soft light from the lamp and in her sight were black boots.

She clutched the arrowhead tightly and with her gritted teeth she continued to sharpen it. Only the heavens knew how much restraint it took not to stab him with it.

"Has your anger blinded you into forgetting etiquette," he said and Freya got up to her feet and apologised.

"My humble apologies your highness. I thought it was someone else," she said her words sincere but her lowered eyes were reflecting her true feelings.

Crown Prince Roan curled his fingers beckoning someone over and a loud thud followed as a body fell at her feet.

Startled she raised her head only to see the woman who had attacked her in the maze lying on the ground before her groaning in pain.

Her face was red and swollen from the powder and Freya could finally see the extent of the damage that could have been done to her if she didn't fight. This was only after the woman had applied the elixir she gave to her. If it weren't for that it would have been far worse.

The woman had been battered and beaten, her clothes torn and covered in blood. Freya couldn't understand why she had been brought here so she raised her head with a questioning gaze.

Roan had a blank look on his face as he stared at the slight redness on her cheek. He stretched out his hand and one of his men brought a red porcelain bottle.

While he pulled open the cock of the porcelain bottle he said, "She wronged you so... you should decide what to do with her. Look, aren't I a benevolent prince?"

Freya almost laughed with mockery but managed to restrain herself. What benevolence? His reputation in Odassal was unparalleled and he was nicknamed the 'white dragon' or 'demon' by the bordering kingdom.

Freya glanced back at the woman trembling like a leaf on the ground with a complicated expression when her chin was suddenly seized. She was forced to look into those cold steely eyes that were staring right into her soul. Something cool suddenly rubbed against her cheek completely eliminating the lingering irritation from that powder.

Freya stared into those breathtaking eyes her thoughts as blank as a sheet of paper. She subconsciously swallowed as her long curly eyelashes flattered giving one the urge to caress them.

The crown prince leaned forward making Freya subconsciously lean to the side. He placed the porcelain bottle down on the garden table and said, "Use it three times a day till the redness is completely gone," his warm breath making her ear itch.

After saying this he took a step back giving Freya a sense of relief but before she exhale her wrist was caught and raised to her line of sight.

Crown Prince Roan caressed her soft and delicate skin while asking, "This prince is curious to know where you got this." He was referring to the bracelet on her wrist with the crystal orb swaying from left to right.

Freya's body subconsciously shivered when she met that oppressive gaze. This was her mother's bracelet that Aunt Cara gave to her. Her heart tightened thinking of the irony in this situation.

She collected herself and lied through her teeth. "Answering his highness, it was purchased by my madam as a gift for me," she said and Roan's gaze shifted to the small crystal orb.

He caressed it slowly while saying, "How generous of the Wright family. This is a very unique charm not common in all five realms."

After saying this he let her go and Freya covered her wrist where she had been touched. There was still a lingering icy chill making her very uncomfortable.