The Cursed Prince’s Bride

Lily was cleaning a large wooden table as she spread her hands around the rag. She began to think of what the Prince had said to her. She scoffed when she remembered what his proposal was about.

Three heirs? What did he need them for?

She continued as she coughed, the dust getting into her mouth. She then continued cleaning as her lips began to move.

"Who does he think he is?" she whispered, "What if, I kill him before he is able to sleep with me?"

That idea seemed bold and reckless but she was determined, nevertheless. She sighed in relief when she noticed that she was done cleaning the table which was a heavy task for her since it was big, wide and dirty. 

She rose to her feet and was about to turn when she felt something wet touch her boots. She lifted her head and noticed that Ristos and another guard was holding a bowl that had dirty water in it.

"Why are you looking at us like that? Do you want me to put it in your mouth?" Lily heard Ristos say as the other guard began to laugh. 

She clenched her fist as she recollected what he did to that woman the other night. That woman's name was Cora, she could hardly walk properly since that night and she kept saying she was alright even though she cried at night.

"I heard he wears that because his face got burnt in a fire." The other guard stated and Ristos began to chuckle once more.

Lily then decided to walk away but as soon as she took a step, she was called back.

"Come clean my boots. Do it with that rag or if you're bold enough, use your teeth. " Ristos laughed. Lily grounded her teeth as she was angry and upset at the way he laughed and acted. He was so happy being a bully and someone who harrrased women under him.

Lily crouched low and closer to his feet as her hands touched the dry sand. She nearly retched at the smell coming from his boots. 

She slowly used the clothe to clean his boots while she struggled to breathe. He thrust his boots even closer and Lily was even more irritated.

Her heart raced when she felt Ristos's hand touch her cloaked head and before she could recover, he hit her with his fist, not once and not twice either. 

"Do it better. Do it better, you idiot. " Ristos growled.

Lily felt the pain pierce through her as she struggled not to lift up her head. She didn't want to cry. Not in front of this bastard. He didn't deserve to see or know her pain s she endured, she kept going and neither did he stop.

Then Lily felt Ristos and the other guard, take turns in spitting on her head. Lily has had enough of it as even grime,dost and blood seemed impossible to clean off his boots.

She then muttered without thinking, "His boots stinks of his soul. "

And before she could say anything, they both had drawn out their swords.

"I heard what you said, say it again. I dare you. " Lily heard Ristos say as he poked her stomach with the sword. 

Lily looked at his boots and that of the latter. She could grab his sword from him and stab them. She could do it and get rid of Ristos.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. " Lily then whispered and she heard Ristos laugh before he pushed her down on his boots.

Lily almost fainted and as she struggled to breathe, she felt the sharp tip of his sword against her neck.

What was he doing? Is this his way of teaching slaves a lesson?

Lily tried to lift her neck but the other guard used his hand to wrap his hand around her clothed neck and it got even worse because she could hardly breathe, speak or move. 

Her hands pranced around the dry sand and she was certain that there were other servants who would he watching this ridiculous spectacle and would do nothing about it. 

"Beg me to let you go. Just beg me. Say, my Lord and I will let you live. " she heard Ristos bark at her and Lily ground her teeth.

Never. She would rather allow him spit and let her endure the smell of his boots than beg.

Lily calmed herself down but it all went down-hill when Ristos, out of frustration began to hit her with the other side of his sword as he continually shouted, "Beg. Beg , you slave!!!!" 

But Lily remained stubborn and she knew that she had bruised his ego. The stench reaching her nostrils was endurable but she couldn't give in to him.

Ristos was a devil. A devil who trampled on those weaker and tried to manipulate them. 

"Then I would kill you. " she heard Ristos chuckle as the other guard wrapped his hands around Lily's neck even tighter.

Lily knew this was her final chance but she could take the risk. Why would he kill her when she was a slave?

He was obviously trying to threaten her into begging for her life like he wanted. 

Lily heard him scrap the soil with his sword and he made sure she saw it. Lily tried not to panic when he lifted the sword and she shut her eyes but she opened them back when she heard the sound of another sword clashing with Ristos's.

In that moment, she felt the latter's hand around her neck unloosen and she had the chance to escape as she lifted her head and crawled away . Her eyes then darted to Ristos who had his knees on the ground alongside the other guard. She then lifted her head as she looked at the man who stood beside her.

He was breath taking from his head to his toes, Lily thought as her mind wandered.

"How dare you do that? You make slaves clean your boots with their mouth?" Lily heard him yell as he wielded his sword with so much power.

"No, it was merely a misunderstanding, Prince Aros." 

Prince Aros?

Did the crown prince have a brother? She hadn't heard of a prince with that name in Rivera.

"The next time, you make such a misunderstanding, it would your head rolling on the floor, am I clear?" he spoke once more and Ristos and the latter nodded while shaking like leaves in a storm.

"Now flee. Flee before I change my mind." 

Ristos and the other guard walked away swiftly without looking back and Lily looked at them as they ran like kids. A smirk landed on her lips as she watched them.

"Are you alright?" She heard the prince say and Lily was taken aback by his generousity and when she didn't respond, he crouched low and pushed a small clothe into her hands. Lily watched as he shot a smile at her as he lifted his sword and placed it on his left shoulder as he began walking.

Lily rose to her feet in that instant as she watched him.

A smile grew on that face battered by hurt and pain.