The Prince And His Peasant (book 1)

Chapter 8

I immediately stand up when I see him. He bows his head in respect and glances at me with his infamous smirk, which I never saw during the period we dated. And seeing him in front of me, not even the slightest bothered by the breakup and remembering the lies he has told my parents... it makes my blood boil.

"Are you going now, honey?" my mother asks, looking at my half-touched plate.

"Yes, mother. I think I better go now." I say, looking straight into Prince Plowden's eyes.

"I'll ask a guard to escort you down there," she says.

"No need. I will ask myself."

I leave my food and walk past Prince Plowden without sparing a glance at him. But before I leave the dining room, I hear his voice ask where I am going. Like he cares! Self-pretentious bitch! Aaa!

It is pretty surprising, indeed, how I used to love him so much, but now I am loathing after him. But still, a small part of my mind doesn't want me to hate him...

I walk down a corridor with the maids following me from behind. It takes us a while to arrive at the entrance of the underground dungeon, which has a swirly stairway down with flame sticks attached to the walls. I feel nervous. Am I really meeting the person who bit me? What if he's an old man?? No... I heard he's the son of someone whom mother knows.

But what if he's a complete asshole like Luke?? Obviously... If so, I will make sure he dies. If not, I will kill him myself! (Win doesn't even go hunting with his father :3)

I look behind me and find the maids looking nervous that they will have to follow me downstairs.

"Someone who isn't scared can follow me downstairs," I say as I step down. One among them, who is Prim, as usual, follows me. We walk a few steps downstairs until she determinedly grabs a flame stick from the wall before respectfully asking me if she could go before me, clearing my way. So I let her.

Prim walks before me, lighting the way as I follow the light. It doesn't take us long to reach the underground, and the thick darkness of it sends chills down my spine. I ask Prim to keep the flame stick aside, and we walk deep inside. A guard blocks our way in the darkness and then takes a closer look at me.

"Clear the way. It's the Prince." Prim says to the guard, who instantly bows.

"May I ask why you are here, your highness?" the guard asks.

"Yeah... I am here to..." meet my mate? Meet the one who bit my neck? Meet the one who claimed me? Aaah.

Luckily, Prim covers for me.

"Prince is here to see the prisoner who hurt him," she says. I nod at her words. The guard looks at Prim and me and nods.

"I will take you to the cell, your highness. Though I might have to instruct you to keep the distance because still, we don't know what his purpose was to do something like this," he says.

"Yeah, I'll be cautious. But it would help me if you could give me time to talk with him. And Prim, you can stop from here." I say. Prim nods and stops in her tracks. Meanwhile, the guard takes me into a separate corridor. He opens a door and lets me in.

It is another corridor with three big, separate cells. The guard leaves the wooden door open and stays outside. I look around in confusion. It is hard to spot anyone in the dimness of the corridor. But when another guard appears, I feel relieved.

"Where is he?" I ask about the person who bit me.

"He's inside the second cell, your highness. Are you sure you want to meet him? I will be by your side." he says.

"I am sure, and please don't stress yourself. You can stand right here by the door. Don't worry." I walk past the guard who obliges my order and stays by the door. I don't like him.

I walk past the first cell to the second, and by the time I am in front of the second one, I feel a bit nervous. I feel like this whole thing is a dumb idea, and I should go back. And my heart starts pounding hard inside at the sight of the cell.

He is inside.

I gulp and look through the bars. The dim light from two torches helps with the pitch darkness and... I see a huddled-up figure inside the cell.

So he's the one.

But I can't see his face. He is huddled up, burying his head in his arms. And he is sleeping close to the entrance of the cell that if I put my hand in, I might even be able to touch him. I bite my lower lip and watch the peaceful breathing figure. I hold one of the bars, not knowing what to do. This isn't very easy.

Should I wake him up? What does he look like? What if he turns out to be a pervert?

Sigh.

One part of my mind wants me to slam my hands on the bars and express my anger, give him hard work, hit him and punish him. But the other part of my mind wants me to stay calm and wait till he wakes up.

I think I chose the second one 'cause I found myself sliding down and sitting on the dirty ground, leaning against the bars of the cells.

The guard cannot see me, so there's no bother. I wait for a while, looking around. As time passes, I close my eyes and wait. The air in the cellar stinks like water and dust, and it is so warm. I don't know how the prisoners even live here. And it is only dirty hay inside the cells. What if a reptile hides inside and attacks a prisoner? And why on earth am I concerned about prisoners?!

I sigh and take a deep breath of stinky air. Among them, I feel a sweet scent reaching my nostrils. I don't mind it at first and keep my eyes closed the whole time. But it constantly comes, making me wonder what it is. So I open my eyes and try to find where it comes from... the scent of flowers, freshness and nature...? I have no idea how to explain that scent. What I know is I've never smelled a scent this sweet.

I look around, still seated on the floor and realise the scent is coming from inside the cell. I purse my lips, watching the sleeping person.

It's coming from him.

And I am finding it sweet.

It is all because of the mate bond that is slooowly forming between us, because I am here, near him. I turn back and look away. I bury my face in my knees. I don't want to fall in love randomly just because of this mark. I don't want that to happen...

I open my eyes and look ahead when I remember something. I quickly unbutton the first button of my tank top and take out the necklace that I've been wearing since the day my grandmother passed away. I feel the necklace and look at its pendants—two rings, which are special pheromone stoppers.

I should give one to him.

Because I can't risk falling in love like this.

I messed up my exams😔 but here I am!😃🤚🏻

Ps. If I am late to update, please check my announcements. Usually, there'll be a reason there🐣

-Sunshine👑