Chapter 13.
When Demian shifted in his mattress, he found it hard to move. As if his body was wrapped around something soft. He opened his eyes, and as he tilted his head to his side, the first thing he saw was freckles. Like a sprinkle of red sand scattered on the peacefully sleeping face. Seraphina lied beside him deep in her slumber with audible hoarse noises.
There was a moment of silence before the sight could properly register in his head. The loud noise he had been hearing in his dream was Seraphina's snoring while her hands had encircled him.
"What the hell are you doing here?" He growled in a throaty voice but some incoherent words left from her mouth as she moved slightly. It seemed, she wasn't going to wake up soon.
When did she come? He thought to himself as his eyes moved to her hands. He wondered if his heat had burned her or not. However, there weren't any scabs or burn marks on her skin, just plain pale skin. He was certain his body would grow hot enough to the temperatures that a normal human wouldn't survive being this close to him. Then, how was she holding him? And, had they been in this same pose for entire night? The question brought the redness to his cheeks and he eyed her.
He didn't quite remember anything about her coming to his room other than the excruciating pain he had all over his body and each day it was growing that at some point he wanted it to end.
He tried to unclasp her hands but found it was tight and he was shirtless. The scales on his skin grew to his left shoulder and had spread across his waist but it didn't hurt like before. The blue spirals had also spread across his chest and suddenly all the consciousness rushed upon him. She had seen him in his weakened state!
He looked at her sleeping body angrily but found it evaporated the moment his eyes landed on her innocent looking face. He was so close to her that he could almost see the light twitches on her brows and the mumbling. Was she having a dream?
Her red hair wasn't tied back with any pins or bands like yesterday. The curls were long and scattered across their pillows. For a moment, he could not resist touching it as he took a few strands in his hands, twirling it in his fingers. He rested his chin on his hand as his eyes took in her face. Then his eyes moved to her lips. They were plum and full and unconsciously his other hand left the curl strands and reached for her lips.
He paused, startled by his action. He bit the inside of his cheek. What was he going to do?
He moved his hand to her nose and pinched it hard choking her snores. She opened her eyes immediately with a squeak.
"What was that for?" She cried and jolted up on the bed, her hair fell on her shoulders. She soothed her nose and glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" His cold gaze held her as she halted while taking a yawn.
"Err... I thought I should give you a good lecture on why you should not make your bride wait for you in our quarter." She stretched her back.
"Are you that desperate for my attention?" He cocked an eyebrow and her cheeks turned to the colour of her hair.
"I am certainly not!"
"Why are you here then?"
"Like I said, I was here to give you an earful on your bad conduct but then–" She stopped and looked at him and he raised his eyebrows.
"But then?"
"But then I saw you had fallen asleep here so, I thought I'd just sleep here too." She said and he resisted the urge to smack his forehead.
"Are you awake now?" He asked and she yawned widely.
"Yes."
"Get out then. I have works to do." He got himself out of the sheets.
"Of course! Who would want to stay with a cold brat!"
Demian paused as he fisted his palms. He turned to her and found she had a smug smirk on her lips and he wanted to wipe it off.
"How the devil did you get in here?" He hissed.
She blinked and looked at the door and said the obvious, "Through the door?"
"You don't say." He said dryly and added, "I believe, I have forbidden anyone— specifically the uncouth ogres to enter my private chamber."
Her cheeks heated with anger, "What do you mean by uncouth ogres?"
She stood up fuming at him, her jade green eyes sending daggers. Somehow he found it very amusing to see her riled up. Her anger had always stayed at the tip of her nose.
He took his robe and with a straight face he stated, "Well, it is just as it sounded."
"Ah! Then it must be very difficult for a young child to handle an uncouth ogre." She threw right at his face and he could no longer hold his anger at its bay. The nerve of her! This woman was the only one who dared to throw insults at him. He disposed of anyone who'd ever disrespected him yet, she was doing it in broad daylight and in his room.
"You... You don't fear for your life, do you?" He cast a threatening glance at her but she had disregarded it while taking her leave.
"Wait right there! Who gave you permission to enter?"
Before vanishing, she said, "Someone very important person. And he said I can come here any time as I please."
Demian could not understand how could anyone give her permission when the guards would never allow anyone even if they had to die. They were very obedient. She possibly hadn't fought with them, had she? Given in the memory he recalled from the lotus garden incident, it could be possible.
He reminded himself to have a conversation with Master Valentine regarding her. He had told him to watch her closely. The more he thought the more his suspicion grew as she had less etiquette than an ideal lady should have.
"Your Highness, a very good morning." Master Valentine's voice bloomed as he entered and saw the prince a bit baffled.
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" He asked and Demian demanded, "Who gave her permission to enter my room?"
Master Valentine was certain he would be facing this scene after letting Seraphina into Prince Demian's room the other night. He had told the wizard to not to bother him much yet she stayed here until morning. Had his suggestion been no good? He would have to restrict the wizard then.
"Certainly, I have given her permission."
Demian's eyebrows twitched but he didn't explode or throw anything at him yet.
"Did you find anything suspicious about her?" Demian asked and Master Valentine's brows furrowed. He had warned her not to do anything that would harm the young prince. It seemed his decision on trusting a wizard was surely a mistake.
"Did she do anything? Please tell me." Valentine avoided the question as he had taken an oath and he could never lie to the Prince. It was better to turn the way of the conversation.
"Other than snoring loudly and mumbling in her sleep, she didn't do anything," Demian thought for a moment then added, "Well, if you count throwing insults after waking up wasn't really an offensive act, then she certainly didn't do anything."
"She disrespected you?" Master Valentine was now in shock. He perfectly knew the Princess was a wizard and he expected she would be more civil after their deal but turned out she was doing exactly the opposite.
"I shall talk to the Princess—"
"No."
"Pardon?" Valentine cocked a brow. He must be ageing really fast that now his auditory sense wasn't working properly.
The corners of the Prince's lips curled up in a small smirk and Valentine thought now his visual sense was in doubt as well. As far as he knew the young prince would throw tantrums but he didn't, instead he said, "Let her be like this."
***
As Seraphina headed toward her room a few maids who crossed her while chatting among themselves. The bowed to her as soon as their eyes fell on her.
"Congratulations Princess." They said.
Seraphina didn't know what to reply as she scratched the back of her neck and said, "Th—thank you. Can you lead me to my room?"
Well, it was the new chamber she was given and it was hard to find the way as every turns left new sets of rooms.
"Of course, Princess."
As they led her, they chatted behind her in whispers and Seraphina could not help but evesdrop her way into it.
"Oh, it is my day off tomorrow, I'm going to see my family."
"Ah, that's great. Your little brother is enlisting in the military, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is. What about you? How is your family?"
"They're good, sometimes I think I should've stayed home and worked at fields and at father's shop that would've been less tiring."
"I know, right? Prince Demian's temper is just too much to handle that I am almost scared for Princess."
"Me too, I wonder if he'd changed now that Princess is here."
"I just hope it doesn't take a bad turn."
Seraphina heard a smack and a low moan and the hisses behind her she didn't turn.
"Idiot, don't talk about bad things, Princess might hear us."
"She is quite an unfortunate maiden though. Trapped in this huge cage now, I wonder if they'd allow her to see the outside world now."
"That's true... I had heard she couldn't even see her father or anyone from her nation anymore."
"That's too cruel."
"Too heartless."
The more Seraphina heard the more sympathetic comments came and her stomach started feeling uneasy. Everyone saw her as nothing but a sacrifical lamb here, and it made her furious.
Seraphina reached her room and there she found an angry Celia waiting for her. The maids once again bowed before taking their leave and Seraphina eyed the furious lady in front of her.
"Where were you?" Celia tapped her foot on the ground as Seraphina entered her room and gulped. Of course, she hadn't done anything stupid if that's what she wanted to ask.
Seraphina eyed her for a moment before answering, "Err...to the Prince's chamber."
Celia's footing job came to halt and she demanded, "Why?"
"To give him a good idea of how he should treat a woman." Seraphina said proudly however, she said nothing and instead she got angry and returned.
"Shouldn't you have to be a woman first to be treated like a woman?" She asked and Seraphina felt like her head would explode.
"The hell do everyone say I behave like an uncouth ogre!" She fumed and Celia raised her eyebrows.
"Uncouth ogre? That's quite a precise comparison." She said and Seraphina's jaw dropped.
"But still, why are doing this?" She asked and Seraphina blinked.
"What do you mean why? He is my husband now and I have all the rights to see what's wrong with him."
"Oh, have you forgotten you are not the real princess? Or have you forgotten that you are wizard? If His Highness even got an inkling that you are not his rightful bride then he won't miss a second to behead you right then and there."
"But Master Valentine hadn't told him anything about our deal." Seraphina tried to divert the conversation.
"That doesn't mean the prince could not get a hint."
"He's a child. Don't worry." Seraphina tossed on the bed and it rocked with her weight.
"He is a Dragon. There is a difference between a human child and a dragonborn." Celia added.
Seraphina shrugged but she knew the prince must have been suspicious about her. She had to be careful. But what can she do if he continued to rile her up?
Celia started preparing Seraphina for the day and Seraphina recalled the conversation of the maids.
"Hey, Celia. What are you doing today? Shall we go and see the town today?" She asked and Celia gave her an incredulous look.
"You must be jesting. We can't set a foot out of this castle."
"Heh? Why?"
"Because you are a human in the dragons land and that itself is enough to make you a target, not to forget you are a royalty. Anyone would try to abduct you to get anything from the dragons and I hope you haven't forgotten about the attack in the Lotus Garden."
"We'll disguise ourselves and if anything did happen then I can protect you and me."
"Don't think so high of yourself, you are just a human woman as of present without your magic and even if you would be strong enough you will never get permission to leave the castle."
"And why is that?"
"Because Prince Demian would never allow it."
"Then I will take him out as well."
"At least think before speaking. He is the Prince and after that attack why will he set his out of this castle?"
Seraphina scowled at that but then she gave it a thought and suddenly an idea struck her and a big grin appeared on her face.