Chapter 196: A Wounded Lioness
Smirking lasciviously, he replied, "You’ve got it wrong, Princess Evelyn. I wasn’t trying to cross any boundaries. I only wanted to make sure you’re alright, since you haven’t had dinner yet. Now, what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t check whether my bride has eaten properly?"
Saying that, he took another step forward, but halted when Eve shot him a vicious glare. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but he saw her beautiful blue eyes flicker gold before turning back to normal. His gaze quickly darted to the bracelet on her wrist, and he noticed the red ruby glowing softly.
He gulped in relief, reassuring himself that the bracelet was still intact.
Taking comfort in the fact that she wouldn’t be able to use her powers anymore, he looked into her eyes again, but this time, he wisely stayed where he was, not wanting to take any chances before every possible escape route was cut off. Tomorrow was an important day, with very important guests arriving, and Eve needed to be in good shape to keep her word. So, he decided to maintain his distance.
But even as he fed himself these justifications, he refused to admit the real reason, that he was terrified. The mere possibility of her somehow breaking the bracelet and unleashing her powers on him again made his stomach twist. Remembering how she had flung him into the wall like a dried leaf back in the corridor made a cold sweat trickle down his spine.
Yes...keeping his distance was a very wise decision. One does not aggravate a wounded lioness. Not if one wished to remain alive.
"Don’t look at me so fiercely. I only came here to ask you to have dinner with me," he said, giving her what he believed was a kind smile. But Eve could see right through it. She knew she was standing in the den of hyenas who would strike the moment their prey grew tired.
"I thank Your Highness for thinking of my well-being, but I currently don’t have an appetite," she replied coldly. Her icy gaze flicked to his neck, which was now half-hidden beneath a green tie meant to conceal the vicious fingerprints Damien had left behind.
"Instead of worrying about me," she continued, her voice dripping with mock concern, "I would suggest His Highness take care of that neck of yours. I’m sure it must be badly bruised from the sheer force Damien exerted earlier. Wasn’t it just a few seconds more before your neck would have been mangled beyond recognition? Tch, tch, tch."
And the smile on Valen’s lips faltered at her words. Reminded of Damien’s death grip, his hand instinctively rose to touch his concealed neck. He narrowed his eyes at her, clearly catching the sharp sarcasm in her tone as she referenced the attack on him earlier. Rage slithered through his veins, urging him to put her in her place right then and there. But instead, he clenched his fists at his sides, forcing himself to hold back as he reminded himself ’why’ he needed to restrain himself right now.
Every time he referred to himself as her husband, her stomach churned violently. But she knew he was doing it on purpose, to provoke her, to give him a reaction, and she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm.
"Like I said, I am not hungry."
Valen’s grin widened before he hummed, "Oh, that’s really a pity, Princess. You see...if you won’t eat, nobody else gets to eat either."
He began to take a slow, leisurely walk around her room, fully aware that Eve was watching him....no, glaring at him like a hawk. He clicked his tongue. "And I had really thought about extending this hospitality to those friends of yours in the dungeon. But how could I let them eat when my bride refuses to?"
Eve’s teeth clenched so tightly her jaw ached, her nails digging into her palms at the blatant threat. He was reminding her that her friends were still in the dungeon....starving.
"You wouldn’t," she hissed in a low and dangerous voice.
Valen stopped and let out a low, dark chuckle. He turned to her slowly, like a predator savouring the moment. "Oh, but I would...my bride. Did you forget that I am the crown prince of this kingdom? The future king who can command an entire army with a single word?" He arched an arrogant brow, and Eve felt a violent urge to strike him so hard the sound would crack through the rotting walls of this cursed palace.
She took a step forward, her voice dropping to a cold, lethal whisper. "Tell me, Your Highness...is this how you plan to win my heart?" Her eyes blazed like frozen fire. "By dangling threats and lives like trinkets?"
Valen’s eyes widened at her retort before he burst into another fit of laughter, one that grated on her nerves even more. He took his time calming down, then looked at her with amusement dancing in his pale green eyes. "This is no threat, princess. It’s simply me returning the same courtesy my beautiful bride is showing me."
He flashed her a charming smile. "Now, if you’ve changed your mind, shall we head to the dining hall?"
’Sure....if you want me to throw that food at your cocky face instead,’ Eve thought, as the words burned at the tip of her tongue.
She forced the insult down, her gaze drifting for a moment to the golden key hanging around his neck. That key was the single beacon of hope holding her together...the only thing keeping her from tearing this entire palace apart.
’Endure just a little longer. Just until I get what I need,’ she whispered inwardly, sending a silent prayer to the Goddess of Light to grant her the strength to face the monstrous trial laid before her.
Steeling her resolve, she stared back at Valen. "Fine. I’ll eat, but only after the food has been sent to my friends as well."
Valen smirked victoriously, "You have my word. The food will be sent to your friends in front of you once you finish everything on your plate. After all, I want my bride to have a full-course meal befitting the future crown princess."
Ignoring the title he kept forcing on her, she replied, "I will need to go to the dungeon myself and see with my own eyes that they’ve received the food."
Valen’s smile stretched wider. "Now that would be a problem. You see, Mother wouldn’t like it if she discovered her daughter-in-law had stepped into the dungeon. I assure you the meals are delivered."
Eve’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile as she repeated softly, "Mother wouldn’t like it?"
She tilted her head as she stared at him with her cold eyes, "I must admit, I’m confused," she murmured. "Because I was under the impression that you, the crown prince, the future king of this kingdom, had the authority to do whatever you pleased."
She looked at him with a gleaming challenge in her eyes as she added, "Or was all that grand talk from earlier nothing more than lip service?"
And once again, the smile faltered on Valen’s face as he narrowed his eyes at her, irritation spiking with every mock she threw his way. "You see...I’m a good son. This has nothing to do with how much authority I have-"
"Then are you planning to be a good husband as well?" Eve cut in smoothly. Her gaze swept over him from head to toe before lifting back to his eyes, arrogance dripping from every syllable. "Isn’t a wife supposed to become a husband’s first priority once they marry?"
She paused just long enough for the words to sink into his dull head, "You keep calling me your future wife...but are you worthy enough for me to call you my future husband, when all you think about is your mother and not me?"
Valen felt the sting of her words like a slap. Not worthy? Him? The crown prince of Dartmouth, before whom most women would willingly throw themselves? It was insulting. Even knowing she was provoking him, her words still struck painfully at his enormous ego.
’Oh, she is good...far too good at getting under my skin,’ he mused, while unable to look away from her.
Taking another controlled breath, he forced his expression back under control, "Fine. You cannot enter the dungeon. But, as your husband-to-be, I will allow you to see the food being taken down there for your friends from afar. You will have to accept this, unless, of course, you want all of them to starve today."
As long as she could see the food being delivered to her friends, she would accept it, even if it was from afar. Letting out a soft hum, she said, "Alright. Lead the way."
That was all she offered, yet it was enough to make Valen smirk again. The two of them headed out to dine together, though Eve knew she wouldn’t be able to keep a single bite down in the presence of the repulsive prince.
