"I see you and your wife know each other quite well" The Second prince, Ramun, was the first to talk
"Of course, we do"
"I remember when we proposed a marriage to you, You set the third prince ablaze. He was almost nearly half to death. You insisted on choosing a wife for yourself" The first princess, Yasmine, said
"Do you know he did that, Princess? You probably don't" Lilith, the second princess, said
"How about we tell you a little about Juverl's life, huh?" The third prince, Cueer asked her with a smirk on his face
"He already told me enough. Your story won't be an exception" Anna denied his offer
"Did you just refuse me?"
" Pardon me, your highness, I didn't know your story about my husband is compulsory for me to hear".Anna looked at Juverl's calm face while he ate.
"I will tell you anyway. Pay attention. When Juverl was a kid, he would always go to the stable and eat the horses' poo and play in it. He said it smells and taste nice. He said it looked like chocolate..." Cueer continued to blab on and on. Anna didn't want to listen to him so, she focused her attention on Juverl
"Do they always bully you like this? Why can't you stand up for yourself?" Anna whispered to him with a smile on her face
"Because I figured they'll never learn" He told her while feeding her some pork
"Don't feed me, hubby. You haven't eaten anything since we got here" Anna told him after she chew the pork. Cueer was still talking and laughing while doing it.
"Neither have you, wife"
"No, I've had some soup. I'm already full from eating it"
"Listen to me right away" Cueer became furious. Anna wasn't paying attention to him at all.
"Why should I?" Anna said while chatting with Juverl
"How dare you speak to me like this. Do you know who I am?" Cueer smashed his hand on the table and it almost broke
"No, because you never introduce yourself". Anna took Juverl's plate in her hand "Eat like this hubby. We don't know how long this table will resist the anger of a pained man"
"How thoughtful of you. But, I'm already full. Put it back on the table. Let the pained man you speak of destroy it all"
Cueer went over to the crown prince's seat and held his arm "Nico, they're bullying me. Do something"
"His highness is very wise and thoughtful. He won't help you when you bully your blood brother and his newly wedded wife. Why should he help you when they bully you?" Anna stated
"How can you tell he is wise and thoughtful?" Lilith asked
"Isn't he. With that powerful aura and that strong gaze, how could he not be wise? Don't even get me started on the way he has been quiet. Wise people don't talk too much, do they?"
"Nico, do something. Don't let sugary words get to you. Find justice for me"
Just then, the king entered the room. He was just an old man who had no taste in fashion. They all stood up to greet him. The crown prince helped the king to sit down on his chair before going back to his seat
"Is this my son's new wife?" The king spoke of her
Anna stood up and payed respect to the king by bowing her head to him "Yes, Your majesty. I go by the name, Anna, Your majesty"
"What shall I give you as a wedding present, Anna?" The king asked. He found Anna as an interesting girl
"Your presence is a huge present for me, Your majesty. I shall prepare a gift for you instead" Anna told him, bowing her head again
"Very well" The king said and Anna took her sit "I heard your discussion out there, Cueer. Be nice to Anna, no more bullying. We are a family now"
"Yes, father" Cueer said
"Have your seat, Anna"
"Yes, Your majesty" Anna took her seat and the dining activities commenced.
"Anna, don't be so polite. Call me father like all my children do"
"Your majesty, I shall give honor to whom honor is to be given. But, I shall call you father as you please. Thank you, father" Anna bowed her head to him once again.
"Darling, eat something" Juverl put some pork on her plate
"I'm already full. You know I'm pork intolerant. I get full easily when I eat pork. You told me to eat it occasionally" Anna told him "I think it's poisoned. stop eating it" She whispered to him
"I know it's poisoned. I will give you a poison dissolver. Put it in your wine"Juverl said back to her and took his last bite. "Darling, put this in your wine. Extra sugar, just as you like it" He gave her a blue pill.
Anna did as he said and waited for the dissolver to dissolve the poison before drinking it ; Juverl also did the same.
Soon enough, everyone departed from the room. Juverl then gave Anna a tour of their chamber as he said he would. After a while, Anna became tired and they both decided to stay outside a little bit on a nearby bench
"I don't do this often" Juverl said
"What?' Anna asked
"Thank you. For standing up for me. No one has ever done that for me"
"What about your mother?"
"She fell into a coma giving birth to me, hasn't waken up since then" his head fell
Anna hugged his arm trying to comfort him "You poor thing. You don't deserve this'
"I think I do. I'm ruthless. Paying for my actions now. It must be the witches"
"Witches? What do the witches have to do with this?" Anna raised her head from his arm
"Can you hold a secret? No one can know this.or else you're dead" Juverl became seriously serious
Anna moved a little to the back by his sudden seriousness
"You look trustworthy so I'll tell you what I am. Don't be scared, okay? I won't hurt you". Juverl opened his mouth and his canines elongated into long pointy fangs. Looking at them, Anna almost passed out 'Don't tell me he's a–'
"I'm a demon"
With that, Anna couldn't hold it, she burst into tears.
"I was expecting screaming but okay" Juverl said and stroke her head " Stop crying, I won't hurt you"
Anna raised her head and looked at him. Juverl wiped her tears with his thumb "It's not that. It's in my prophecy that I will be forced to marry a very powerful being"
"You know that already, why are you crying?"
"I'm afraid of sharp ends" she cried out again "Don't ever try to hurt me with it while I am asleep"
"Okay. You took this quite well. My past wives died on spot when I told them what I am. Some of them managed to survive but she was later killed by my sisters for revenge against me, being the most favourable son of my father"
"Some? How many wives did you have before me?" Anna gaped at him
"Not much. You're the ninth in the past three years" he said
"And that's not much? You're so unbelievable" she told him and stormed off.
"What? Why are you angry now? It not my fault I got married to them" He went after her
Anna stopped in her tracks and turned to face him "If I die, you'll take another wife?"
"Of course I will. I can't live for the rest of my life without a wife"
"Flabbergasted" Anna stormed off again