Lila's POV
As I gradually fluttered my eyes open, I discovered that I was in a completely unfamiliar environment, an evident contradiction to the rustic cottage nestled in the woods where I had last been kidnapped. It was filled with silky curtains, adorned with a pattern that resembled royalty and grace. Bookcases surrounding the area contained so many volumes that I would have doubted that I would finish them in my lifetime. The bed that I was laying on was clearly worth more than my whole life. Suddenly, a feeling of doubt welled up inside me as I was definitely too mediocre to even dream of this place.
"How are you feeling today?" A husky voice, filled with an enchanting luring tint, interrupted my puzzling thoughts.
It was a voice that could attract even the most stubborn listener, each word generated with a delicate elegance, vibrating like a melodious harmony from the strings of a violin.
Swivelling my head around, I discovered that I was facing the intimidating figure - the Demon Prince, his presence instructing reverence and respect. Even the mere idea of addressing him by Lucian, filled me with an immense sense of inferiority.
His piercing, obsidian gaze bore into me, analyzing my every movement with an intensity that made me feel exposed.
"Why was he looking at me like I am a weirdo?" my ignorant brain had the foolishness to ask that.
Oh wait," I thought, my conscience finally entered my brain, "He asked me a question and is probably expecting an answer."
"Oh, um," I stammered, my words caught in my tongue as I scrambled to reply "I'm... I'm doing okay, thank you."
A chuckle beside me reached towards my ears. In astonishment, I darted my eyes to the side to observe the laughter emerging from His Highness's mouth.
"W-what are you laughing about?" stuttered I as a certain colour enveloped my cheeks, desperate not to make a fool of myself in front of the Demon Prince.
"The fact that you are still fine after getting kidnapped by two atrocious rogues amaze me," his highness stated, a grin stretched across his face.
My mind instantly went blank. Was the Demon Prince congratulating a pathetic human being? He barely even considered me to be a living being, let alone a creature.
"Right," I mumbled, a look of confusion swept over my face, "Wait a moment. Who in the stupid freaking world decided to save me?"
Lucian's face instantly became blank, expressionless as he tried to mask his emotions. His vivid sapphire eyes instantly morphed into a pitch-black one.
"Did you actually want me to be stuck in that place?" I shrieked, my voice probably frightening everyone who dwelled in the palace - not that I cared.
God, just glancing at him made me feel as if I was rooted to the spot, my body shivering against the hard ice.
"It's not the question of whether I want you to be stuck in that place. It's honestly surprising that someone even cared for you at all," his sharp words immediately made my head turn.
"Right," I grumbled, "Since you abhor me this much, perhaps you can let me go."
I gave him my best puppy eye look and was pleading him. Him, being the most stubbornest creature on the planet decided to give me a death stare.
His gaze was so intimidating and I was instantly reminded of the statement my father had made just before I left.
"Hope that a witch would choose you at the auction. They would practically order you to grab some potions and that's it. You would be likely to survive the event but that is extremely different compared to a demon. A demon is ruthless - probably going out for your blood. Pray to God you would not get him."
The look he displayed with was so terrifying that even nature would bend down to it. (No joke.)
Cowering in fear, I instinctively braced myself for his powerful impact. Who I am kidding? This is the Demon Prince, the one that commands the universe, the one that has abilities that no one can comprehend its limits to.
"I am not going to hit you, mea dea," he comforted me with a baffled expression resting on top of his emotionless face. Actually, this was the first time he ever showed any amount of humanly feeling - which astonished me.
"T-T-Then what are you going to do?" I stammered, tripping over my words again like a fool.
"Nothing," he smirked, flashing that fluorescent unblemished mouth at me. Inwardly, I sighed - the kind of sigh that represents love.
Wait what? I am totally not adoring the Demon Prince's appearance. That was like the first way to get murdered - to harbour a crush on a superior creature.
"Μην ανησυχείς αγάπη μου, είσαι τόσο αξιολάτρευτη όταν κοκκινίζεις που θέλω να τσιμπήσω τα μάγουλά σου," the Demon Prince blabbered into an unknown language, creating a force that somehow made my jaw plummeted to the ground.
"Did you just call me fat and ugly?" I whispered, my voice barely audible as I felt my heart plummet. Tears appeared up in my eyes, displaying the hurt that swept over me at the thought of such harsh words.
"תאמין במה שאתה רוצה להאמין," the Demon Prince beamed as he uttered incomprehensible words. His lips were moving in a rhythm that seemed almost sedative.
In my bewilderment, I grabbed a pillow and hurled it at the deformed creature's face, exhibiting my ferocious feelings.
The Demon Prince sidestepped the incoming pillow with his reflexes.. He effortlessly evaded it as if he had anticipated the attack. His movements were swift as his body floated out of harm's way. As it sailed past him, he remained as composed as a statue. Lucian's expression was emotionless but a tint of amusement was visible in his eyes at my fruitless attempt to knock him out.
Wait, who was I kidding? A red colour filled me from head to toe as I realised a fact.
"I am just going to pretend that the pillow was totally a potential killing item," I lied to myself to prevent me from a wave of embarrassment.
"Yeah right," a voice in my head startled me. However, what generated the shivers that was vibrating so fiercely in my body was the fact that the Demon Prince talking to me.
"Get out of my mind," I screamed, hoping that my ear-piercing voice would silence him instantly or maybe even murder him.
"I'm not that easy to be murdered," he smirked. I could feel his presence all the way from here - his laugh, his amusement at my idiotic common sense.
With a huff of frustration, I stormed out of his chambers and made my way to the gardens. Why, you might ask? Well, I needed some time alone to clear my head and dispose of all the ridiculous thoughts including my crush on Lucian. Totally not because I was afraid of the Demon Prince and wanted to find a place to hide. I mean, he technically controls death, right?
Plucking a rose from the magnificent scenery, I couldn't help but compare the exquisite, miniscule masterpiece to him. They were both extraordinarily handsome yet both possess an extremely menacing attribute. The roses' thorns could easily prick uncautious people while he was cursed with powers that no one ever talked about in a conversation - just in case he used it on them.
Very ominous right? See, plants are dangerous - stay clear of them if you want to survive in my world.
Ok, now I am blabbering about random -
My fear instantly increased as my legs gradually turned into jelly. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could just trace the silhouette of a guard. They were practically my greatest dread - I would always tread with trepidation around them due to their unnerving stares and piercing eyes. Somehow, they are even more sinister than the Demon Prince because at least he doesn't treat me as if I was a useless being(which I am).
"What are you doing here?" The guard's voice boomed, shattering my train of thoughts.
My heart raced as fear clutched my chest. The guard's harsh tone was echoing my worst nightmares.
"It came true," I whispered to myself, tears welling up in my eyes. "All my fears, they're all true."
"Did the prince grant you permission to roam the gardens?" the guard's sneered, slicing towards me like a sharp knife as his teeth flashed menacingly in the luminescent light.
I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. There was no use in denying it; I had been caught red-handed.
"Let me bring you to his highness," the guard smirked, his hands forcefully grabbing my shirt while dragging me across the polished concrete.
I was a crying mess. Tears surrounded my eyes as they gradually dropped onto the guard's calloused hands. Why? Why was my life such an unfortunate one? Why did I had to be stuck in the palace? Why couldn't a witch bid for me in the auction? Why did I have to live in a world like this? The air was filled with sniffles as I quietly mourned for myself.
The guards closed in around me like a pack of hungry wolves, their menacing presence sending shivers down my spine. With each step, I felt their eyes piercing into me. They made no effort to lend a helping hand. They instead chose to taunt and jeer at my helpless situation. Their cruel laughter echoed in the air, reminding me that I was never superior than them.
"Stop what you are doing," a voice faintly in the background, but creating a sense of resilience in my body.
The figure sauntered closer as I could distinctly recall her from my memories. It was Princess Celeste! Breathing a sigh of relief, I felt that my heart could finally relax from all the terror around me. Her highness was the only person in the palace who cared for me and I am grateful for her support.
"My brother would be terribly displeased to see his trusted guards behaving this way," Celeste scolded, her arms folded at her chest while her aura began to illuminate more and more.
"Your brother?" I asked, shock enveloping me. Since when did Prince Lucian cared about me at all?
"Of course," Celeste smiled at me, "Afterall, he was the person who saved you from those witches."
Wait, what?