If the prince is feral, he should be killed

Chapter 2

Ellie pov

Panic lived and breathed in my veins at the woman's words, whose name I learned was Lefika.

She continued. "And his curse would only be broken if he mounted a bride who was a firstborn and a virgin, but it seems that every one of those kingdoms was deceiving - those girls ended up being torn apart before the beast prince would even mount them. Or perhaps the prince's cure didn't require a virgin firstborn at all; maybe there's another antidote we haven't discovered yet."

"So that means I might die in seven days if I'm being sent to the prince's chamber?"

The woman covered the distance between us, and her hands rested on my shoulders. "Dear. We can't tell but hopefully, the moon goddess used you as leverage to cure our prince."

The tears strained at the rim of my eyes. "Why didn't they just end his life? They are suffering him."

The woman's hands quickly covered my mouth. In a low voice, she spoke. "You shouldn't be caught saying that. That's treason, and you'd be flayed alive." she arched a brow. "Understood?"

I nodded my head as terror wracked my body at the way she'd jumped to shut me off and the weight of her words.

"Be careful, mortal princess," she warned. The wall has ears. There's no secret in this palace. In fact, in the whole of Anthrika, there is no place for secrets. Your sister might betray you over political appointments or the consort's favor." She withdrew her hand. Be careful who you confide in."

I nodded.

"Be careful," Lefika cleared her throat. "The Alpha King won't allow anyone to kill his son because he's the son of his deceased childhood lover, his favorite child. The Alpha King felt the best way he could honor his wife's memory was to keep the beast prince alive, continually summoning sages and healers to heal him. Some days, the Prince shows improvement, but on others, he goes berserk and kills hundreds of people before he walks back to his cell, with blood dripping from his mouth and claw-like talons."

Gosh! The mere imagination of Lefika's description terrorized me.

"Another question." I raised my hands in the air.

A scowl stole across Lefika's pretty face. "No more question, mortal princess!"

"Just one," I persisted in a pleading tone. After a moment of silence and pleading she finally succumbed.

"Just one, and there won't be any entertainment of me answering you today again until tomorrow."

I nodded.

"Or," my heart broke at the thought that she was changing her decision. "How about you don't ask any more questions but tomorrow you can ask me three questions."

"No, I want to ask you now."

"And if I answered you tonight, from tomorrow onward you can only ask me one question?" she fixed her gaze on me.

"Yes," I responded and she gestured I go on. "The prince, what sort of man was he before he turned into a beast?"

Lefika leaned in closer to me. "The prince, before his unfortunate fate, was a man who appeared blunt on the surface, but the other side of him was as sharp as the edges of a Golgotha sword. It could slay and pierce without a second thought.

Even in his feral state, he's ten times more intense than he was before. He hated women before his feral state and wouldn't allow any woman to serve his drink or touch him."

"Thank you Lefika  for this response."

"You're welcome mortal princess," she answered swiftly, her words accompanied by smiles that could mend a broken bridge.

"I'm Ellie," I corrected her because I hated it when she called me "mortal princess." The title made me feel like a second-class citizen. "You mentioned some ritual baths and royal rites, right? So, can you tell me more about them?"

"Before you meet the prince you'll have to perform some ritual bath, the herbs and potion are being prepared by the consort's physician. It says some of the herbs when bathed properly would assist in curing the prince when he mounts you."

"Hmm," I mumbled. "Sounds great." Though at the mention of the consort, my instincts caught a whiff of something foul and malicious, I hadn't even met her in person, so I shouldn't assume anything. Besides, I couldn't ask Lefika about the consort anymore because I'd exceeded my question limit.

"I'll be resting tonight right? Tomorrow I'll meet with the rest of the royal family for a proper introduction?"

Lefika nodded. "I might not be here tomorrow, but I'll send two maids to prepare and teach you about etiquette. The day after tomorrow, you'll meet the queen consort. Please, I beg you, take your etiquette lessons seriously, as ignorance isn't an excuse in this palace, so you won't face the consort's wrath."

Lefika said and before I could adjust and respond to her words, the door slammed gently against its hinges.

A deep, frustrated sigh escaped my lips as Lefika's words replayed in my head. "I should take my etiquette lessons seriously? Then I will." I murmured to myself, climbing down from the king-size bed. Just then, the door pushed open, and two maids entered, trays in hand.

"Greetings, mortal princess. We are here to give you your food and prepare your bath."

I nodded. My demeanor was calm as the maids soaked me in a hot bath, and scrubbed my soul out of my skin. I strived to suppress the pain and the groan which were going to escape from my lips.

A sigh of relief escalated from my lips the moment they were done scrubbing and had arranged me into a Swiss green gown.

"You should eat your food, mortal princess." they urged. "Tomorrow the lesson will begin and we will be here as soon as the cock crow," they said and bowed before leaving.

As I was about to eat, a tense, chilled breeze washed over me and that was the last thing I remembered before I found myself in a dark tunnel.

A chilling sensation and suspense hung in the air, punctuated by the steady dripping sound of water.

"Hello?" I said, my voice laced with panic. "Is anyone here?" I moved silently, fearful of making a sound, and inclined my ears to catch any noise.

Suddenly, chills seeped into my spine as I felt a dreadful presence behind me. A whisper echoed: "Watch out and stay safe, Princess."

I flinched at the whisper behind my ear, and in reality, I flinched as the food in my hands dropped to the stony floor. Wait, I wasn't in the dark tunnel- I was in my room. How was that possible?

What was that?

What just happened?

Was I dreaming? Was it an illusion or some kind of dark magic?

The room suddenly grew cold, and the hair on my skin stood on end, as tentacles of panic gripped my shoulders.