Dinner

Everyone in the hallway paid their respects to Prince Agenor. Again Syrena's grey eyes had to meet the prince's golden eyes. The pair of golden irises looked like a pair of eagle eyes lurked.

"I can explain this incident~" Syrena's words were cut short by Prince Agenor.

"I'm not asking you to speak!" Agenor insisted.

"Why don't you take Princess Syrena to the dining room?" Agenor asked the two maids in the red dress.

"Forgive us, Your Majesty! I've tried to persuade the princess to go to the dining room, but the princess doesn't care."

The white-haired man stared at Syrena.

"Is that right? You didn't heed my orders into the dining room?" Agenor asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't mean it. But, I don't like when innocent people get punished," replied Syrena.

"Then, who should be punished?" Agenor stared at Syrena coldly.

Syrena was silent. A heavy gasp came from the princess's nose. The brunette princess did not expect to get into trouble at Prince Agenor's palace on the first day of her arrival.

"This is my fault. Just punish me. After that, I won't leave the basement again for any reason!" Syrena said with tightly clenched fists. Princess Ruxenia's body seemed to tremble slightly at the thought of having her back ripped apart from the rage of the whip.

"Fine, if that's what you want," Agenor said without thought. The white-haired prince's face turned to the two servant girls in red uniforms. With their faces down, the two flanked Syrena's arms so that the princess rested on her hands and knees.

"Whip her twenty times!" Prince Agenor ordered in a low voice, then turned away from the crowd in the corridor.

"Prepare to receive your punishment!" said the whip-bearing man causing the two maids to move away from Syrena's side.

Just the first lash, Syrena almost cried because she couldn't stand the pain that seemed to sting her skin. Syrena supported her body with all her strength.

"Your Majesty ..." Flynt said hesitantly.

"What's up?" asked Agenor without stared the man beside him.

"Is it okay to punish Princess Syrena? She seems like a very spoiled princess by her family."

"She did it because she wanted to get away from me. Just let her enjoy her choice. She's old enough to make a decision." The prince continued walking without the slightest change in expression even though the echo of Syrena's screams sounded heart-rending.

***

"Au!" Syrena hissed as a female doctor rubbed medicine on her back.

"Hold on a moment, Princess!" said the doctor gently.

"I've been holding on to it ever since! This wound hurts, Agasy!" Syrena whined while holding the blanket to cover her chest.

"Next time, you should think about your safety first. Don't you dare go against Prince Agenor's orders!" said the doctor who had treated Syrena for two days.

"I can't do that. This wedding was too rushed. I still can't take it," Syrena said with her head down. A clear liquid suddenly filled the eyes of King Dione's first daughter.

"I know. However, look at the results like this." The female doctor tried to give Syrena an understanding.

"It doesn't matter. I hope the prince won't ask me to go into his bedroom because of disgust at the sight of my back."

The tears began drops to fall down Syrena's cheeks. Sobs shook her. Agasy's hand gently caressed the shoulder of the brunette princess.

"Calm down, Princess. Don't overthink. Prince Agenor is not as bad as people say. Every human being has a reason behind his attitude and actions." Agasy's words did sound-wise, but not in Syrena's ears.

In the mind of the brunette princess, the second prince Lagardioz only needed her to get offspring and compete with his half-brother Prince Federline. No more than that.

Syrena's stomach rumbled, causing the atmosphere in the room feels awkward.

"Are you hungry, Your Majesty?" Agasy asked curiously.

"Yes, since yesterday afternoon, I haven't eaten. I think Prince Agenor wants to kill me slowly." Syrena smiled wryly.

"Stay cool. After wrapping your wounds, I will bring some food for you," said Agasy immediately.

"No need. Didn't you ask me to do what Prince Agenor said? I don't want to drag you into trouble." The corners of Syrena's lips pulled up slightly.

"knock... knock... knock."

A soft knock on the door startled Syrena and Agasy.

"Who are you?" Syrena asked.

"I'm Evania, Princess." The soft voice of the black-haired maid came from behind the door.

"Come on in!"

The sound of the door opening broke the silence. A maid who was familiar to Syrena appeared with a nervous face.

"What's wrong? How about your wounds? Why don't you rest?" Syrena asked while observing Evania's pale face.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me, princess!" The maid in a green dress smailed.

"I have orders from the prince."

"What did he say?" Syrena asked lazily.

"Prince asked you to be present in the dining room. Soon, the prince will have dinner," Evania explained, still with a nervous look on her face.

[What's with the maids here? Why do they always look nervous when they ask me to go to the dining room?]

Syrena stared at Agasy, the blonde-haired female doctor. Unfortunately, the woman didn't show any expression.

"Please wait a moment! I will bandage the princess's wound first," said Agasy, greeted by Evania's nod.

It didn't take long. Syrena was ready to head to the dining room of Prince Agenor's palace. The princess's stomach was already very rumbling, asking to be satisfied.

"Please come in, Princess!" Evania stopped at a large door. An engraving in the shape of an eagle was on the door, the eagle spreading its wings.

When the door opened, The black-winged man greeted Syrena's eyes with an unfriendly gaze. It seems like the prince was tired of waiting.

After being invited to sit down, Syrena landed her bottom on the chair at the end of the table so that they were facing each other, but it was impossible to reach each other.

"Come closer! I want you to serve me while I eat," said the man across the table with a straight face.

Lazy to argue, Syrena rose from her seat to the seat closest to Prince Agenor. Not long after it, the warm dishes were served on the table.

Again, Syrena's stomach sounded as if it was shameless. The brunette girl kept her cool as if nothing had happened.

"Eat!" Prince Agenor ordered.

Without thought, Syrena immediately filled her plate with food. Hunger caused Syrena immediately devour her food even though the prince did not touch the food on the table.

[What's with this man? Why doesn't he eat but keeps looking at me?]

"Why don't you eat?" asked Syrena.

"Don't ask again! Finish your dinner quickly!" Prince Agenor replied nonchalantly.

Felt neglected, Syrena chose to continue eating until she was full.

"Are you done eating?" asked the golden-eyed prince. Syrena only answered with a nod.

Before Syrena could leave, the second prince's hand gripped the princess's wrist tightly.

"What's wrong? I have done eating."

"Did you forget the order to serve me while I eat?"

Sighing tiredly, Syrena landed her butt on the chair again.

A servant came back with a box covered with a red cloth. Syrena's hearing focused on the noise behind the red fabric.

After the maid removed the red cloth, Syrena's eyes widened because she saw a group of mice crammed into an iron-barred cage. Immediately, the grey-eyed princess's body froze.

"Feed me!" ordered Prince Agenor, causing Syrena's brows to furrow.

"What?" she asked with a confused look on her face.

Agenor stared at the cage on the table with a wide smile. Unfortunately, the white-haired prince's smile was more intimidating than charming.

"Have you forgotten what I said on our wedding day?" asked the black-winged prince.

[Yes, I remember. You said after your shape transformed, you ate the rats raw. At that time, you were joking, right?]

"Get me a mouse and put it in my mouth!" Prince Agenor ordered. Syrena's thoughts focused on the grey rats in the cage.

"Are you deaf? I am hungry. I want to eat! Otherwise, I will eat you!" Agenor threatened with a gaze like a beast. Involuntarily, Syrena swallowed her saliva.