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Crown Prince's POV

She caressed the outer cover of the tin cup she held in her left hand. The soft pitch of her voice could still be heard, though muffled slightly from the heavy layers of silk she wore on her face.

" Are you speaking negatively about me again?" I asked her, though I was assuming.

With big brown eyes she looked in one direction then another，she was silent for a second then she spoke:  " Were you speaking to me?" She asked as she placed her left hand onto her chest as if she was shocked that I could ask such a thing.

She was already causing a distinct sore on my side. She was clearly one of those types... the ones that acted strong, but were easily weak with no status to illuminate their relevance. While she spoke I couldn't find myself caring long enough to participate rather I was more curious about her hair. Her hair resembled one of a black sheeps's  wool, under the veil they were a bit hidden, but occasionally they were angled towards me.

She occasionally glanced, then finally she cleared her throat and for some odd reason I broke my stare. Her demeanor of push towards me that I felt emotionally set me bewildered.

I scoffed while I straightened my stance and walked towards her. " you erk me, you know?" I questioned of her. She turned away from my position of site to pour me the drink.

" very well, then." She said as she lowered her head unconsidered by my actions. " very well?" I asked surprised by her response.

" If that's the case your majesty, I believe it would be a great gift that from now on you ask for the help of another, rather than me, or specifically request for another." She repeated twice, once she finished as she tasted the tea, as she should with her spoon.

" I'm conflicted." She mumbled. " she looked towards me then back at the cup, while she poured me another.

" It's not poisoned, but at least I'm alive." She whispered lower while she reset things back into order.

She picked up the cup she set aside then lowered her head and out stretched her arms to give me the tea. " You have no fear,do you? " I asked her.

" Fear is for those that don't trust themselves." She responded.

" You have no fear yet you cover yourself up? Isn't it because you fear looking at that tint of yours?" I asked her, knowing the question would give enough of a quick stab.

I slowly took the tea I was being given and observed the young woman with surprise as well as disbelief. She genuinely didn't seem to give care to the distaste I had for her.

Instead she responded; " You're right, but That's a precaution, I don't disregard my hue, But I'm also realistic no one can see my tint in its fullness yet they already question me. In order to survive and give myself ease, I use this to cover up in order to make it easier for those that aren't intellectual enough to  comprehend difference." Her words left  me placed in an awkward field of defense.

I didn't know whether to yell at her for agreeing or to accept her words and walked away. Her method hindered me from having the last words.

Her way of action felt too familiar it only made me dislike her even more.

She kneeled on the pillow on the far left corner waiting for me to finish my tea before she was dismissed. I purposefully refused to allow her movement in order to remind her, who the leader in this situation was, though she challenged me in words, her status was too weak to go against that of a prince.

" you should speak like your level." I mumbled indirectly as I took one sip and stared at her from over the cup placed on my lips.

She didn't look my way once. To finish the tea quickly would be a gift to her, so I decided to lengthen it out, sipping slowly. The morning sun was still avid and alive, while I continued on with my mischievousness I did so for a good portion of time, deliberately yearning for her anger to increase within the amount of times I slurped implying a finish of a tea I was barely drinking. Yet throughout it all she kept posture and kneeled properly.

Before I could say, or think of something to say to there was a knock at the door. Queen mother rushed in, looked beside her toward the servant girl then back at me. The girl quickly noticed the queen and lowered her head, as a method of a low bow, she extended her arms and faced the ground as she greeted the queen.

Queen mother walked over to her and freely walked on her fingers that were outstretched on the ground with her bow. " Took you too long to bow to a queen, you know you need to do better...think of that as a gift compared to what I could've done. " The Queen spouted.

I glanced over towards her direction, in a cunning way I was awaiting her reaction but even still she gave none. She stayed as she was slow to straighten up but even so she didn't change her front. The queen made herself comfortable as we spoke of plans and meetings as she always did, a very strategic woman was what my mother was. She would meet at a schedule in order to make certain I had all in line. " If you trust your mother you will be sure to be a successor. " she smiled.

Finally my mother looked towards the wall where the maiden sat and placed her hands under her chin, observing her.

As annoyed as I was about her lack of emotion the queen seemed more intrigued than I was.

" The last maiden cried ever so often, she's a stern one isn't she?" The queen asked me while she cleared way for her food.  I smirked and simply nodded my head, "I'm testing her durance, for my entertainment." I clarified.

" ah! My favorite son, you take after me. " was the first thing my mother said.

" Do you like her? I asked your sister to go against it but it seems she was gifted with my stubbornness. I don't like her looks even if the staff isn't worthy to eat off our plates shouldn't they at least be worthy enough for us to look at. Her devilish complexion weakens me." The queen continued on, after a sip of tea.

It's a disappointment.

I didn't answer my mother's rant rather I ignored to as I did to most things she said, more than often she would answer her own questions or repay an answer she wants to be heard from the other in her heard.

The maiden sat in the same spot, as the time went on, I looked outside, remembered that when she first came in it was still early morning, the sun had not yet gone down but it was about to.

Even so the stubborn maiden wouldn't back down only her only subtle movement was one of her blinking. Servants came in and out looking over towards her, eventually her body gave in before she wanted to call quits, as her head nodded slightly she then collapsed, in exhaustion.

Her brown body, grew darker as it faced against the sunlight shining into the room. I watched how she tried to reinstall herself back into her prior position but couldn't, because of her aching fingers.

" come in for a moment." I called out towards the entrance, while I watched her foolishness. A young servant  entered as I looked over towards the area where the maiden had fallen tired.

" Get my sister, tell her to come get her servant, she's of no use to me now all worn out." I answered.

I must admit my harsh ways could be deemed distasteful, in a way, though I was aware of that fact I was not willing to recall or transform my methods, only with that method it was possible to attain the control I had.

Furthermore it was what suit me best.

Eventually some time before the midday meal was delivered, and my thoughts could conclude my sister entered my chambers with a nuisance of a parade.

" Is she here?" My sister asked as she stared at me. Unamused I used my eyes to point in the maiden's direction. She laid on the floor, giving soft groans of pain. " Mother came by." I said before standing up and leaving the room. " I couldn't truly interrupt my meeting to tend to her. "

My sister called after me angered as I expected. She placed her emotions all things causing her to be placed on default. I could've waited to hear her rant but I already knew what she'd address there was no need to stay in to hear such a thing.

" How could you let mother,  do that to her? She's a maiden!" My sister  called out chasing after me after looking at her fingers.

" She was selected by you, so as far as I know she's all yours, if mother catches offense to her existence that's a situation she and mother should come to terms of fixing." I responded to her as her pale face gained color of red anger.

I couldn't help but smirk a bit in the reaction she gave me. She took a breath then shook her head in disgust.

the look.

The gaze she gave me pricked a bit, but I ignored it, it was only best to ever do that in my situation. Ignoring the distasteful looks from servants as well as my sister. They hated me but I surpassed their level of worth, I was the prince, all they could do was pout.

I lifted a brow as I observed my sister and before turning to leave as I placed both hands behind my back I spoke: " Just because you force things don't mean they will ever happen, learn to expect your reality as some of us have, you're losing your touch and becoming a nuisance dear sister."

I turned around to walk away before giving her attention again to report a grave matter. " She probably sweated all over that area, have someone wash the pillow, and clean the area we don't want anyone catching anything."

I then walked away, satisfied with myself. Before I could get further away I watched as a young maiden and a court woman raced towards my chamber. The older one running with tears in her eyes and the younger wore a pale face, one given out of confusion and unexpectedness.

" what happened?" I heard a servant ask another. I slowly walked away from their sight in order to listen a bit further.

" That self-centered. Prince... he let her stay in there as half of the day has gone by with no food or water, she probably fainted out of heat exhaustion. He thinks his looks are enough but with a spirit like his, his looks will rot along with him." they finished as the continued to walk, before giving a hand to walk.

" Well I am good looking." I answered myself before departing onto my route. I stared as they rushed to do what they could, but it must've been a fragile life to live, to have no title, or worth to your name. The life I despised more was one just as that such poverty and sadness, but it was forced to be accepted. I could never envy them, therefore I didn't feel sorry towards them. To others I may be a selfish man but it wasn't selfishness it was reality, it was a method of being logical.

I sighed and finally shoved away to annoyance, I returned to my chambers that night after the commotion had died down. As I walked in I was startled suddenly, when in the corner sat the same maiden. " What do you think you're doing here!?" I yelled as I held onto my chest.

"I truly hope it's not for an apology." I cleared.

" you hadn't yet dismissed me, it wasn't by my fault that I grew sick so I've returned in order to finish my duty." She said.

I couldn't help but scoff. " are you acting right now? How annoying, get out of here. Leave now! Or I might force you to stay for two Sundays, what kind of nonsense are you trying to spout it would've been easier to admit you were here for an apology." I scoffed.

" excuse me for the words I'm about to speak but Prince, I wouldn't stoop so low, degrading myself to ask you for an apology, even apologies are standardized why should I ask one of someone whom knows nothing of what it means to apologies." She said. She bowed then acted upon the dismissal I gave her only a few moments ago.

" What does that even mean?" I asked out loud while she walked out the door. She had a way of making everything uncomfortable. Such a pest.