To chose a wife

"My Lord, His Majesty has asked for your presence in the court," One of the King's guards stepped inside the room. Other than the King and a few of his personal servants, no one else had the permission to step inside the Prince's room unless they were asked to.

Aleister averted his gaze from the girl in the crystal cage as he turned around to look at the man, ''Why? The pigs have been prepared to be slaughtered?"

The guard choked on his saliva as a conflicted expression appeared on his face, not knowing how to respond to the Prince. He quickly tilted his head to look at the Prince with his upper body slightly bent, "It is his Majesty's order. The Princesses and other noble ladies are waiting," He said after thinking about it a bit. All the ladies arranged this time were top beauties of their kingdoms with incomparable wealth and status yet the Prince managed to compare them with pigs, "My Lord, you must choose one of them this time around."

Although he was speaking to the Prince, he could not control himself from looking at Esme from the corner of his eyes.

From her plain white gown, he concluded that she was a maid here but he did not think he has seen her before.

Esme who was now sitting on the bed after getting rid of those stubborn velvety sheets frowned a bit under the guard's gauging eyes. All this did not faze her anymore but she felt a bit uncomfortable about it no matter how she tried not to.

"She is beautiful, isn't she?" Aleister stepped closer to the man as he spoke beside his ear.

"Yes, she is," The guard could barely control the lust in his eyes as he looked at her from head to toe. Since she was a maid and was sitting on the Prince's bed, it meant the Prince must be done playing with her and she is his discarded woman now, "My Lord, can I…Ahhh…"

Esme's eyes widened when that animalistic growl resounded in the room. She glanced at the guard who had his palms pressed on his face, his eyes were gouged out ruthlessly. Her throat tightened as she turned to look at the Prince in disbelief while he stood there with an emotionless face.

"Is she beautiful?" Aleister repeated his question in a soft voice.

"I-" The man toned down his growls as he panted, the pain was making him feel like his head was about to burst, "I don't know. I have not seen anyone, My Lord," He spoke politely, enduring the pain which gradually decreased.

"Good."

And that was enough for him to know that the Prince wanted him to leave. He placed his palm on his face as blood seeped between his fingers. Bowing to the Prince, he turned around and left relying on his instincts before he could lose any other body part after his eyes.

Aleister glanced at Esme who was looking at him unblinkingly, ''Are you scared?"

"You are unreasonable," Esme mumbled under her breath but he managed to catch it.

"Why would you say that?" He asked while glancing at the pale-faced Princess.

He just asked you to go to the court to select a wife for yourself under the King's order but you dug out his eyes. As much as she wanted to say, but it was not her place to do so. She was just a maid here whom he was entertaining because he probably found it fun to play at this moment. Once she tested his limits, it would be her limbs or head getting chopped off just like the guard's eyes were gouged out. The ghastly sight of it was still imprinted in her mind.

"You can't cage me here…" Esme softly said, "…My Lord."

"I can cage you here, My Lady," Aleister smiled as he snapped his fingers and the crystal cage disappeared, "But I won't. Stay here until I am back. Be obedient."

Esme speechlessly looked at him. Did he think she would listen to his commands and sit here on his bed until he comes back? What made him so sure that she won't leave?

And why was he addressing her in such ways which sounded so intimate?

He chuckled as if he was well aware of her thoughts, "Your elder brother won't let you escape. Don't worry."

"Yes?" The corner of her brows twitched slightly as she asked in confusion, "Elder Brother? I don't have one…." After the death of her Elder Brother Adrian, she did not have one.

"Oh? No, I am not talking about the one you share blood with," Aleister clicked his tongue, "Rather the one you share the same temperament with. He is equally wild and untamed but that makes me more fond of him just like I am fond of you," With that said, he turned around and walked ahead only to pause near the door, "I will be back soon, my dear moon," And this time, he left without looking back.

Esme blinked as she tried to understand what he meant. Elder Brother? Fond of him? And fond of you….?

Her thoughts settled on the last phrase as her face grew warm. She patted her cheeks and shook her head before pushing herself out of the bed.

'Roar'

Her long tresses flew to one side as she lost her balance and fell back on the bed.

Craning her neck, she glanced blankly at the majestic white beast standing near her feet.