4

Erina stirred the water by grazing her fingertips. The petals of roses moved. She recited a Latin verse until the water started bubbling, the petals were slowly absorbed by its hurricane until it slowly showed the image of Aurora.

"Mother," she whispered carefully.

"How did it go?" Aurora asked, looking at her.

"I'm already inside the palace. The king has chosen me as his bride," she smiled cunningly.

Aurora smirked. "Oh, I really knew it. Always remember, Erina, bare his child... bare the fruit that we'll use to avenge our kind..."

Erina nodded. Someone knocked on the door. Erina abruptly stirs the water and started taking a bath when she heard the servant's voice waiting for her.

"Are you sure about this, Arden?" his mother asked while stalking him into his room.

"I already made up my decision, Mama. Besides, we don't need royalty by blood. The important thing here is someone's gonna bear my child and we can expand our lineage. That's what you want, right?" Arden said nonchalantly while taking off his coat and tossing it onto the bed.

"You could have at least considered the Rockwell's daughter! We also need to expand our empire, Arden! That's important!"

Arden shook his head while unbuttoning the buttons of his dress shirt. He's facing the high windows while he can see the reflection of his mother on the glass windows.

"Once your father found out about this, he's gonna be so disappointed in you!" she spat.

I don't think so. He thought to himself.

When he saw his son unbuckling his belt, she shook her head disappointingly and started marching outside.

"Bring her here," Arden said to the servant who handed his towel.

"Yes, your highness..."

Arden went to the bathroom and showered. Her face lingered on his mind as the water trickled down his body when he opened the shower.

Erina is indeed pretty. Aurora is right about her. There's no man who's not gonna fall for her beauty. Knowing that she looked innocent with an angelic face, it made her more attractive and enticing.

Someone knocked. Arden didn't budge.

"The lady is already here, King Arden," he heard the servant's low voice.

"Leave her there," he answered.

"Yes, my Lord..." the servant replied.

Arden spent an hour showering and went out while wrapping the white towel around his waist and opening the door.

"This is the dress you're gonna wear, Miss," the servant presented as soon as she went out of the bathroom.

The satin white dress looked seductive with its puff sleeve and sweetheart neckline. She nodded defeatedly and started changing.

The servant aided her. She ribboned the laces of the dress at the back while Erina stood in front of the mirror, her eyes gazing at herself.

Erina is aware that she's gorgeous because that's how her mother portrayed her. She's a temptation, like a weapon to kill a man's ego and crushed it into pieces.

But seeing herself wearing a luxurious dress, it almost stunned her. She can hardly recognize herself. It wasn't the life she has used to in the woods, a simple small house in the middle of the thickness of the forest. A simple dress with her basket where she's putting the herbs.

But right now, she can't believe that she's in the palace of the cruel King.

Someone knocked from outside. Erina's head turned to the door and saw the servant peeking its head.

"The king wants her in his room..."

Oh? This is easier than I thought huh...

The servant escorted her into Arden's room. Compared to her room, as soon as she entered, she noticed the intricate details of the antiques and it was two times larger than her room.

Is he occupying this space alone?

The servant knocked on the door of the bathroom and informed Arden about Erina's presence.

Erina's eyes wandered and went to Arden's self-portrait painting on the wall. He looked so ruthless while sitting on his throne.

Oh, I'm gonna make sure you're not gonna wear that confidence anymore once you're head over heels for me...

The door of the bathroom opened. She abruptly wear her innocent face and glanced at him. He saw him walking out of the bathroom while there was a white towel wrapped around his waist, the water dripping down his massive body.

She swallowed when she saw his broad shoulder, his hard rock stomach, and his firm thighs.

Arden raised his brow when she caught her looking at his painting.

"Good thing you showered," he pointed out nonchalantly and went to the bed.

Erina cleared her throat. She saw him pulling off the towel and revealing his nakedness while picking up the clothes on the bed they prepared for him.

Erina shifted her eyes. What a confident alpha...

Arden wore the clothes on while throwing a glance at Erina who was looking at the other side of the room.

"Come here," he ordered.

Erina glanced at him and showed how nervous she looked. She slowly strides towards him.

"Help me button my shirt," he said.

And here I thought he needs a wife and someone who would bear his child, but I didn't know he needs another servant to help him with things.

She stopped in front of him. Now that he has the chance to stare at her closely, he noticed the details of her features. Her freckles covered the bridge of her nose and almost reached her high cheekbones. Her almond-shaped eyes, which were amber in color, enhanced her appearance.

He’s amazed that she’s indeed pretty and of course, someone resembled her a lot. But at the back of Arden’s mind, he doesn’t want to acknowledge her.

“So, you’re a virgin,” he said nonchalantly.

Erina wants to raise her brow and smirked at him, good thing she remembered that she needs to wear an innocent facade in order to trick him that she was weak, powerless, and submissive when it was the opposite.

“Yes… I am…” she whispered nervously.

“Hmm… so you don’t have an experience,” he pointed out.