The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

"Her maid was brought to her?" Harold asked, trying to hide his amusement as Alvin related all that had happened at the maiden's chamber earlier to him.

"Yes, milord."

He had to admit that he was relieved to know that his bride was smarter than the average human being. Although she tended to talk a lot, which he didn't like, it was good to know that she wasn't just all talk, but could actually get what she wanted to be done. He was impressed.

'I still don't like her' his wolf informed him with displeasure.

'Neither do I, but she is ours,' Harold reminded it.

"Still keep an eye on them both. She is up to something." Harold gave the order, and Alvin bowed to him before departing.

Just as Alvin opened the door to leave, one of the king's guards knocked on the door. "The King requires your presence," he informed Harold, whom he could see through the crack of the door.

What did the king want to discuss this time? He wondered as he stood up and walked to the door, "Where is the king?"

"He's at the royal garden," the guard informed him with a bow before walking away, and Harold left to join the king.

Once he got to the garden, the King was seated with a goblet of wine in his hand as he waited for him. "You are here," he said, looking at Harold with a fond smile.

"You sent for me," Harold said as he stood before the King, and he pointed to the seat next to him for Harold to sit down.

Once Harold sat down, he looked at his father questioningly, "Why did you send for me?"

"Your bride, you should talk to her. I understand that—"

"I didn't ask for a bride. You chose her yourself, so maybe you should talk to her yourself," Harold interrupted with an indifferent shrug.

"That is no way to speak to the King," the queen chided as she joined them.

"We are having a father and son discussion, not as a king and subject," the King informed her dismissively.

"May I be excused? Or is it going to be a family gathering?" Harold asked his father politely since he knew that her presence implied that whatever private conversation they were going to have was over.

The king gave him a nod, and with a bow to them both, Harold left.

The king turned to look at the queen, who had taken her seat, and his eyes held a touch of disapproval in them as he watched her, "Were you aware of the state of her chamber?" He asked, referring to Alicia.

"I had no idea," the queen said, bowing her head meekly. There was no need to pretend not to know who the king was referring to, as it would only further annoy him.

"You are supposed to know everything going on within this court, are you not? Or am I to assume that you failed to show interest in her wellbeing only because she is Harold's bride?" He asked again, and she quickly shook her head.

"I'm sorry I neglected my duties. I will see to it that her chamber is well decorated and organized," she promised.

"I do not want her to undermine my abilities or my kingdom again. Make sure she has no reason to do that," the king warned before standing up and walking away.

The queen's hands balled into fists as she watched him leave. Of course, her anger wasn't directed at him, but rather at Alicia, who couldn't seem to control her mouth. She hadn't expected the bride to be so talkative or mannerless, considering how humans usually cowered before them when they were in the presence of werewolves.

"Is there a problem?" Prince Ivan asked when he saw his mother sitting alone and moved to join her. He had been told that his brother was in the garden with the king, and he had been coming to join them.

"Harold's bride," she said between gritted teeth, and Prince Ivan smiled.

"Why are you so concerned about her? Her behaviour suits our purpose," Ivan pointed out.

"Not if it makes the King question me in this manner. We have to tame her," she said with pursed lips.

"Do not worry about her, mother." Ivan promised, "Luciana will take care of her."

"I hope so," The queen said as she signaled to one of her maids, who was standing some feet away, "Ask Beth to meet me in my chamber," the queen said as she stood up and walked away.

******

Alicia could swear she had been standing there for more than three hours. Her legs were already giving away, but surprisingly, Susan remained still in her spot without shaking. How did she do it?

"When the first bell rings, it signifies the start of a curfew. It means no one should be seen outside before the second bell rings. An exception can only be granted to the members of the royal family. And even the members of the royal family are not allowed to be seen outside as soon as the third bell rings. Anyone seen outside the palace... will die."

Beth said coldly, causing goosebumps to rise on Alicia's skin. The weakness fully left her as she pondered on what she had just heard. That explains the bells last night, even if she had been too sleepy to make much sense of them. What was she going to do now? How was she supposed to escape at night if there was such a rule?

Beth was about to recite another rule when Alicia put up her hands to interrupt her.

"NO INTERRUPTION!" Beth said coldly.

"Hold on. As a member of the Royal family, I can be outside just before the third bell rings, right?"

Beth gritted her teeth in anger. "NO!" She spat out irritably, displeased by the interruption.

Alicia waited for her to explain further, but it seemed she had no intention of doing so.

"No one recognizes you yet as a royal. You are simply a royal's bride." Susan said casually, while still looking ahead.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Alicia asked.

"You can ask Beth. This place has crazy laws and rules."

At least they both agreed on one thing: this place had senseless rules. Alicia turned to look at Beth, expecting an explanation.

"Until you do something worthy of recognition, no one here thinks of you as a royal. You are only known as Prince Harold's bride, and that is within the royal family."

"I was a princess before I was brought here." Alicia reminded her.

"You were a princess there. Not here." Beth sneered at her. Something made her happy at least, no one was ever going to recognize her.

"There will be a recognition ceremony for you when they think you are worthy." Susan spoke up in her usual calm voice.

Meanwhile, Paulina paid close attention to the conversation from where she stood with the other maids, her head down.

'Are you a good runner?'

'Soon, the bell is going to ring. And when that happens, you are going to be in trouble.'

'If you hope to see your mistress again, run as fast as you can back to your quarters before the bell rings again.'

'RUN!'

She recalled the gentleman's voice that had saved her. Hearing this now, she realized she would have died last night if he hadn't saved her. He had also protected her from a danger she didn't know about last night. Did he get back safely before the third bell? She started to get worried as she thought about it. What if he hadn't made it before the third bell rang?

"So I have to do something exceptional to be recognized?" Alicia's voice cut into Paulina's thoughts.

Alicia could not believe it. Whoever drafted out the laws that these people followed here was a psychopath. Otherwise, how would they explain all this? No wonder people here looked down on her.

"You are neither permitted to talk nor move while the king is speaking." Beth gave Alicia a pointed look as she continued reciting the rules without answering her question. "The punishment for doing this varies. You could be whipped until your back breaks. Royal or not."

Alicia shivered when she heard that. She had to keep that one in mind.

"Whenever the king enters, you must stand up and bow. No movement until he sits down and permits you to sit. Otherwise, the punishment is severe."

"Wow!" Alicia breathed out.

"For people not directly related to the royal family, the punishment can be the death penalty. And for those directly related, including their spouses and children; it is banishment from the palace."

What kind of crazy kingdom rules were these? Death penalty for not acknowledging the king's presence by standing, and banishment for members of the royal family? Why were they so unreasonable because of something as stupid as not standing up? They could even go as far as punishing a family member with banishment.... WAIT A MINUTE!

Her eyes snapped up to look at Beth. "BANISHMENT? FOR REAL?" She asked eagerly.

Beth gave her the usual displeased look, hating the fact that this girl continued to interrupt her.

"Not death, but banishment, right? So they have to leave the palace?"

"Yes." Beth answered, frowning. "And it would be very easy to kick you out of the palace."

'OH MY GOD! YES!" Alicia screamed in her head. How come no one told her about this sooner? So there was an easy way to leave the palace like this?

'Alicia Queen, you are leaving today. Hehehe!' She did a happy dance in her head.