the cursed prince
Emmelyn took a good look at the devil. This was the first time she could look at him properly.
In the past month, she always had to lower her gaze and act unassumingly whenever she was around him. As a 'servant', it was rude to stare at the nobles, especially members of the royal family.
Now, for the first time, she could see Prince Mars from up close and clearly, as the window was opened and sunlight had entered in to illuminate the whole room.
For a moment, the girl went into a daze. She never thought the crown prince of Draec was this beautiful. Not even Prince Albert from Westshore who was famous for his good looks could hold a candle to this devil.
In fact, if Emmelyn didn't know this man was the devil incarnate himself, she would think he is an angel. Well, he was a devil looking like an angel, since he didn't look like a human.
Prince Mars Strongmoor was extremely handsome. He had long silvery hair that fell down to his shoulders gracefully. Whenever he went out to hunt or train with his soldiers, he would tie his hair for practicality.
Normally soldiers wouldn't keep their hair long because it became a nuisance during fights in a battle because enemies could yank their hair and got the upper hand. However, the devil had never lost a fight, or so they said. So, he didn't have to worry about anyone taking advantage of his long hair.
Another thing that made the devil stand out was his golden irises. It was one of the rarest in the world, said Marco the Wanderer in his books about the countries he had visited.
Emmelyn had never seen the queen, but she heard the devil got his looks solely from his mother. So, she could imagine how the queen must be amazingly beautiful.
"Have you had enough?"
Suddenly, the devil's voice moved Emmelyn from her reverie.
She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. Somehow, she was not scared anymore. Something inside her told her that there must be a reason that she was still alive this morning, even though she had committed grave sins.
One, she tried to kill the crown prince, and second, she was apparently a woman, a creature that the devil despised, or so she heard.
[So, why am I not dead yet?]
"What do you mean by 'have I had enough'?" Emmelyn snorted.
The devil smirked. "Admiring me. I can see it in your eyes. You think I'm good looking."
From the day he was born, Prince Mars Strongmoor had experienced being stared at and ogled by the opposite sex. He was just so handsome.
So, being stared at by this lowly servant was nothing new to him. But now, he already had enough.
"Tch... shameless..." Emmelyn rolled her eyes so hard, they almost fell out of their sockets.
"Hmm... you can ogle all you want, tonight in my bed. I will let you touch me and do whatever you want to me," the devil smiled faintly.
"Like hell, I will!" Emmelyn was tempted to spit on the man, but she still had her common sense, so she held back. Yes, there must be something going on that the devil let her live so far, but she shouldn't push her luck.
First, she needed to know WHY.
"Why didn't you kill me?" the girl asked bravely. "You know I tried to kill you. You also know I am a woman. You hate women."
The devil crossed his arms on his chest and studied Emmelyn intently. "I don't hate women. You got your sources wrong."
Emmelyn rolled her eyes again.
[Yeah, right. You killed every woman that came your way. If it is not hate, then what is?]
"I should punish you for trying to kill me, though," the devil pretended to frown and think of a gruesome punishment just to annoy this girl. "but I don't kill women."
It was partially correct. He didn't kill women intentionally. They just died when they touched him. He couldn't help it. He was cursed by an evil witch on the day he was born.
However, this lowly servant—no, this girl, had been hovering around him for over one month and touched him too many times to count, and yet, here she was... unscathed.
This girl might be the answer he was looking for. The devil would turn 27 this year and he must immediately produce heirs to sustain his family's stronghold in this continent. For years, his family had been dreading this issue and had grown hopeless.
How could the devil have children if any woman he slept with would die the next day? This girl, however, was different from the rest. She didn't die after touching him. So, this should make her immune to his curse.
Last night, the devil had tested his theory by sleeping all night with this sharp-tongued woman in his embrace, and this morning, she still didn't die. She even had extra energy to bash him after she woke up.
He was now resolute in making this woman the mother of his children. He didn't need all those other women. This one was enough.
Finally, he could soothe his mother from stress and tell her that he would give her grandchildren soon.
"You... really don't kill women?" Emmelyn's voice sounded hopeful. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe the devil really wouldn't kill females.
[Yep. That must be the reason I'm still alive.]
"Never say never though," the devil smirked. "I won't kill you today. However, if you tried to kill me again in my sleep, I wouldn't be so forgiving next time."
Emmelyn swallowed hard. She wouldn't be so stupid to do the same thing twice. She would think of another plan.
"Alright... thanks for your pardon, Your Highness. Then, I should take my leave..." Emmelyn quickly got up from the bed and dashed to the door.
She wouldn't let this chance go while the devil was in a good mood. The prince had decided not to kill her for her attempted assassination, so Emmelyn shouldn't linger in case he would change his mind.
"I DIDN'T SAY YOU CAN GO!"
The thundering sound from behind her startled Emmelyn and she was frozen right at the doorway. Three guards suddenly appeared from outside with their swords directed at her.
[Shit.]