The Cursed Prince

"Come here," said the man in a deep voice, pointing at the chair across from him. Emmelyn nodded and walked closer, then plopped her butt on her designated seat.

Soon, two male servants came with food and served them for breakfast. Emmelyn almost cried when she saw all the good food before her. It's been an awfully long time since she last had a decent meal. Being a servant in this castle meant she only ate the worst food available as they were the lowest in the food chain here.

Sometimes, if the devil was busy with his state duties and had to go to the royal palace for days, she could take a breather from serving him. She would hunt in the forest nearby and ate roasted meat if she were lucky.

"You have to let the cook know whatever food you like, so he could make them for you," said the devil while lifting his cup and the servant quickly filled it with tea.

"Eh?" Emmelyn didn't expect the devil would say such things. Was she dreaming? Maybe she was asleep and dreamed the whole thing.

There was no way the devil from the Draec Kingdom asked her to name her favorite dishes so his cook could make them for her...

"I have an exquisite palate. He might not be able to make my favorite dishes," Emmelyn rolled her eyes. The truth was, she had been missing her mother's apple pie for months. Sometimes she would cry alone, just thinking about it.

But.. she shouldn't trust any food from the devil. She would only eat anything that he ate, nothing else. What if he poisoned her?

"Are you looking down on my people?" The devil narrowed his eyes dangerously. "It means you're looking down on me too. Are you saying I'm not capable to provide for you?"

Emmelyn narrowed her eyes too. She didn't understand what did the devil actually want from her.

"Why do you want to feed me? Are you trying to fatten me up before you sacrifice me to the devil?" she scoffed.

"Tch..." The devil rolled his eyes in response to Emmelyn's words. "You are too skinny to give birth to my children. I need you to gain weight a little bit more."

Emmelyn spouted her tea when she heard him. Alright... it looked like she wasn't dreaming. She heard the man said the same thing last night.

He wanted her to be the mother of his children.

If he wasn't the devil incarnate himself, Emmelyn might have considered his 'indirect proposal' as something romantic. However, no... he was her mortal enemy, and she shouldn't let those charming golden eyes sway her from her goal.

So, did this mean... he was serious?

"So shameless! What makes you think I will give birth to your children? You know I came here to kill you..." Emmelyn stared at the man daringly.

Yes, she was no longer a princess after her kingdom was attacked by this scummy prince's army and her family was removed from the throne, but she still had her pride. She wouldn't let anyone reduce her into a breeding cow.

Prince Mars looked at Emmelyn intently and the corners of his mouth twitched a little as if holding back a grin. He was the devil, after all. He shouldn't let this lowly servant think he had turned soft. That's why he held back his smile.

The truth was, this girl was so pretty and her pout and her aggressive behavior only added to her charm. The devil was smitten, but he wouldn't admit it. He cleared his throat.

"Name your price," he said finally. "Everyone's got their price. I don't think you are that special that you don't want anything in life."

Emmelyn furrowed her brows. "My price? How dare you!"

"You can either tell me your price or I'll find another woman to carry my children and I will order the castle guards to take you to the plaza for beheading."

"..."

[Unbelievable. This devil is too slick.]

Emmelyn was rendered speechless. So, she basically didn't have a choice. It was either her head or her womb.

Finally, she sighed and looked away. She hated this man for forcing his will on her. However, she was well aware of her position. She was not in a place where she had bargaining power.

The devil might need her to give birth to his children for whatever reason, but she couldn't push her luck. He could also toss her away and find other women to bear his children, then... she could kiss her head goodbye.

Better to just say yes for now, and later find a way to escape.

"Fine. You win." Emmelyn put her cup down. "I do have my price."

"Name it."