Monsters

"Don't be stubborn, my blood-haired lady. Do as I tell you. The antidote is only one, as is your life." Lady Tiana said.

"All this time, I think you just didn't like me. But now, you even try to kill me. You hate me. I don't wanna die. I want to live with my Prince Erwin. He loves me. He promises to always protect me. I'll tell him everything, and he will behead you."

"Poor young lady, you didn't know Erwin really is, right? You didn't even know how to survive in this harem. I pity you."

"Or are you afraid that I will outrank you? You afraid that someday I will be the main mistress since you have no prince left."

"Oh, shut up, you idiot. You know nothing about Erwin yet. My youngest son is insane, indeed. He has been insane since he was born. All blonde-haired person in this palace is insane too. The Harlow Royal family are monsters, and so is your Erwin. Let me tell you a secret everyone deliberately hides so you don't run away from this palace. Prince Erwin is a murderer. He likes to torture people until they die. He's obsessed with blood, miss. A monster like him can't possibly fall in love; he's too busy swinging his sword to slit people's throats. And the only reason he likes you is because your hair reflects what he loves the most: blood. He's obsessed with girls whose hair is the color of blood."

I was speechless. So, all this time, Erwin was pretending to be nice to me? Yet, he seemed so sincere. He did seem to love me very much; that love radiated from his eyes. Was he really a monster, as Lady Tiana said earlier?

Lady Tiana walked towards me. Then, she whispered into my ear:

"Want to know an even crueler secret? You have no future in this palace, miss. We are all liars here. No one really cares about you. We think of you only as a child-making machine. If you don't get pregnant after years of living in this harem, we will sell you in the slave market. Such was the fate of the old concubines. The only thing that can at least keep you living comfortably is for you to bear children. Men are stupid regarding crotch, and so is your Erwin. You have to light up the fire in his loin and make your womb planted with his seed. Oh, what am I saying? Living comfortably doesn't mean living happily. So, do as I say. Seduce him. Do everything you can."

"You are wrong, my lady. Prince Erwin has genuine affection for me. You'll see."

****

Erwin returned to the Palace two days later. And as usual, he invited me to his room.

"Miss, look what I brought for you. Oh no, I mean... first, close your eyes. I'm going to give you a present." Erwin said.

I closed my eyes.

And I felt him put something around my neck, something icy. Then, he led me by the hand.

"Open your eyes." He said.

In front of the mirror, I could see that the gift was a shimmering, beautiful, shining, heart-shaped, dark blue necklace I had seen before. This necklace felt very familiar, but where had I seen it before? I forget. Anyway, it was lovely.

"Do you know what this necklace's stone is?"

"Diamond? Sapphire? Rubies? Emeralds?"

I guessed. I actually did not know the difference between the stones. They all look the same for me.

"This stone is called a moonstone. It's much more expensive than diamonds because it was so rare. Myth has it that it only comes from a mysterious land called Hargan. I gave it to you because you are my love."

"But, Erwin, if this stone is rare, where did you get it?"

"Well, didn't I tell you about the easternmost region that rebelled and seceded from the kingdom? We managed to reconquer it. And I found the stone In their castle."

I smiled.

"Thank you very much, my love. You made me very happy, but your safe return is the most beautiful gift." I said as I kissed his cheek.

"I am tired. Let's take a warm bath together." Erwin said as he kissed my forehead.

He is not a monster, never. He was so gentle to me.

 ***

I woke up to a loud roar in the middle of the night. I was still in Erwin's room, but he wasn't beside me. Where did he go at this time of night, I wondered? I quickly put on my dress and looked for Erwin outside the room.

"Erwin... Erwin... Are you okay? Where are you?" I shouted, but there was no sign of Erwin.

Later, from the balcony of Erwin's chamber, I saw several people gathered in the palace courtyard. There was also a lion there. Among those people, I saw Erwin.

I went to the palace courtyard to see Erwin. I wondered what he was doing with a lion at this time of night.

As I passed the harem, I saw the concubines sitting together. Apparently, they had also woken up to the sound of the lion's roar. I approached them, intending to ask them what was going on.

"I'm not sure what happened, my lady. However, I heard the conversation of some guards earlier. They said that a duke rewarded Prince Erwin with a lioness for his success in subduing the rebellion."

"Then? Does he watch lion shows at this time of night?"

"No, he didn't. They said the Prince was told that the lion was pregnant. The Prince was eager to see the lion's womb and the cubs inside. So, he asked for the lion's belly to cut open and the lion's babies taken out. He really wanted to see the cubs."

"For God's sake, what kind of vile wish is that?"

"Prince Erwin is always this crazy, my lady."

I quickly ran out into the palace courtyard. I saw that the lion's belly had already been cut open. And Erwin there sat watching intently. Then, Erwin saw me coming. He got up from his chair and ran towards me.

"Miss, why don't you stay in our room?"

"What are you doing, Erwin?"

"It's nothing. Please don't be afraid of me."

"My prince, we've got the womb." said a boy.

Erwin turned to face the boy. 

"Good. Now, let the lion cubs out. I want to see them."

Erwin suddenly grabbed my face. There was blood on his palm. My cheeks were red with blood.

"How is it, miss? Blood is lovely, isn't it?" he said in a maniacal voice. I didn't say anything. I was scared. Very scared. This was the most horrifying thing I had ever witnessed in my life.

"Blood has always excited me," Erwin said, looking at the lion cubs served on a tray.

"Erwin..."

"My girl, I just realized your hair is red like blood. You make me... wake up, as the blood does."

With both his hands still covered with blood, he squeezed my breasts.