The Cursed Prince’s Bride

Kaden stared at the woman in his tarn as he was unable to believe it. After his heated conversation with Aros, he decided to take a  bath to relieve the tension and rage he held within and he was quite shocked to see a cloaked person hovering over him and in that state of urgency, he pulled that figure into the water.

He was surprised at the strength and the vigor at which the figure struggled against him but his most important goal was to, unmask and find out who it was. He was completely taken aback when he found out it was a woman but as his hands reached to stroke her face as he was still ridden with shock, he realized that she lived.

She didn't die, neither did she bleed.

The moment his hands left her face, she had struck him by the cheek. Kaden scoffed as he was surprised at how bold she was.

"Let me go this instant. " He heard her scream.

Kaden shook his head while squinting hard, "That is impossible because your eyes look so familiar. Similar to the ones that woke me up and gave me a scar." 

Kaden watched as she stiffened in his grasp. He recollected the color of the cloak and the eyes that stared at him, that night. There was no way he could forget those blue eyes. 

"What are you talking about?" she responded and Kaden laughed and it echoes throughout the dingy room that only had a small steel window through which that was the only source of light. It spread around the water and made it even more beautiful. 

"Do not pretend not to understand. Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"The crown prince of Rivera. That's who you are." He heard her respond and she smiled in satisfaction.

"If you are a servant, you should know that as a woman, you are forbidden to be here. Then why are you here?" Kaden asked.

"I am poor and I have nothing to feed by family. I then pretended to be a man." He heard her say. In his heart, he was certain she wasn't telling the truth, completely.

"Alright. I understand your plight, " Kaden started as he placed a hand around her waist and when she started to move, he shut her up by placing his Index finger on her lips, "Don't struggle. After all you know who I am. I have the ability to kill you on this spot and bury you under my tarn."

"Then do it. What are you waiting for?" she countered back and Kaden looked into her eyes as he shook his head in pity.

She was stubborn. Too stubborn.

"I would have done it when I pushed you into the water but the fact that you're a woman makes it all better." Kaden whispered into her ear as he gripped her waist even tighter, "I am sure you would have heard already. A woman can't touch me, else she'd die and you did. You didn't die. You were the one who ran away from me that day, after all. I remember the color of your cloak and your eyes as well." 

Lily clenched her fist as she heard him speak and ramble on. She was relieved that he hadn't gone with his plan of killing her but she feared that he might find out about her true mission in Rivera. He saw her eyes the first time she tried to kill him and he didn't forget it.

How insane of him. Lily thought. 

"I have a proposition for you. " Lily heard him say and she shook her head. He had let go of her hand and she tried to swim away from him but his eyes stopped her.

"How can you propose something to a mere servant like me? I have barely escaped death from you."Lily asked as she tried to stop herself from punching his perfect and well structured nose. 

"Then you should be grateful instead of forgetting your manners and your place. " he barked at her and Lily thought within herself. How can the man who murdered her family be this arrogant and selfish?

Why didn't he just kill her off instead of making her endure this torturous conversation?

"My Prince, I'm sorry for my insolent words. I hope you can spare your poor servant and let her go. " Lily tried to force a tear but it didn't work, instead she decided to scrunch up her face in a way that would most likely soothe his anger and ego. 

"I have a secret that nobody knows and you have something I need. " he said and Lily fought the urge within her to kick her legs against his torso but she remained calm.

She couldn't kill him yet. It seemed too easy.

"What do you need from me, your highness?" Lily faked a bow and a desperate smile etched over her face.

What was he going to say, she thought. 

"I need you to give me an heir. " 

When Lily heard those words come out of his lips, her body was still and her eyes was still focused on the water even though she could see his reflection.

How could he ask for a heir from her? How dare he?

Her eyes turned defiant with rage as she lifted her head slowly.

"My Lord, But I am not your mate. How could you ask that of me?" Lily asked in a haste as the corner of her lips sloped into a downward smile.

"Who said anything about you being my mate? I just need you to bear me a—" he shook his head, "Three heirs."

Three heirs? How brazen could he be?

Lily shot a glare at him as she narrowed her gaze at him. She wondered how he got the bravery to say that to her. No one in Navar colony had the guts to ask or demand a heir from her. Not even her parents asked for one.

"Because he is a Prince, he thinks he can tell me to do as he wishes. " Lily whispered the words to herself as she gathered up the strength within her body. 

"Put your eyes down when I speak to you, " His words took her aback as she squinted, "You must never look at me in the eyes." 

Lily sighed as she stared at the water once more.

"What do you say? You just have to give me three heirs and that's all I ask. " he spoke once more and Lily swallowed hard.

"And what if I refuse?" Lily's hands toyed with the water.

"Then I am not certain that your secret would be kept either. You lied about being a man and do you know what the penalty of slaves lying is?" He said as he lifted a brow.

"Flogging?" Lily asked.

"It's death. " he deadpanned and Lily felt as if she had stopped breathing. He was so cruel and hard to stand.

"So you will have me killed if I refuse?" Lily started as a small smile began to dance around her lips as determination and confidence swelled within her as she recollected what he said earlier on, "But you said that I was the only woman who touched you and yet, you did not die. When you kill me, you will be unable to get an heir so it's pointless to kill me when you need me, desperately. "

Lily watched as ripples of laughter escaped from his lips and she rolled her eyes. She had the upper-hand and she had the chance within her grasp to plan his execution. 

"I am the crowned Prince of Rivera. Do not test me, you this mere servant. I gave you a mere morsel and you're grabbing at my entire hand. Who do you think you are?" Lily was a bit alarmed when he grabbed her by the neck and tilted his head to look at her.

While struggling to speak, Lily muttered with a smile on her face, "Kill me. Do it now and let's see who has the upper hand." 

Lily observed as he unloosened his grasp from her neck and banged his hand against the hard stone.

"I will give you three nights to think about it. Your secret and your line hang on the line. Think wisely. " she heard him say as she nodded.

"What's your name, servant?" Lily heard him say.

"Lily." 

"What a pure name for a servant." Lily heard him mutter softly.

Did he think that she would smile or grovel over his words? 

She was barely hanging on with her hand clenched and fighting the urge to lunge herself at him and ask why he killed her parents, ruined her life and her colony.

"Leave," he said, "You have stayed too long in there. Remember your place as a servant and be careful not to run or try to abscond because I will always find you, Lily."

Lily bit her lower lip as she climbed out of the tarn. She picked up her cloak and turned around to bow at him once more.

"Thank you for your kindness, my Prince."

She wore her cloak over her head and walked out with her head lifted and her hand grasping the ends of the wooden bucket. Her heart kept racing even as the wet cloak hugged her body. 

When she sighted a burning fire that could quench her anger and dry her clothes, she sat and crossed her legs as she gritted her teeth while remembering her encounter with the Prince.

The Prince who stole everything away from her.