Chapter 3 His family

She got into the carriage and looked back at the Dystrya castle until she couldn't see it again

She sighed before her gaze became serious, she knows the real reason she got married to this mysterious man and she needs to fulfill the mission giving to her by her father

Meanwhile, the prince kept watching her every expression and seemed to calculate something

"Your highness" he heard Elaine call in a soft sweet voice earning a smirk from him

"Yes Elaine" she heard him call her name, and she had never heard her name being called in such a mannar that it felt holy

"W-well, can I ask you a question" she asked and he simply nodded

"When we met before, did you know who I was" she asked

"No, I asked Xavier when you left" he said simply

"Your highness-"

"Call me Alex" he said softly and she nodded

"A-alex" she stuttered

"I don't mean to be intrudging but do you have other wives or concubines" she asked

"No" he said simply, and her heart rejoiced.

You seem relieved, I didn't know such a brave and wise princess could be possessive" he said and her face turned instantly red

'why do I feel this way towards the prince, I barely even know him, is he seducing me' she thought and finally put on her serious gaze looking straight ahead to avoid his eyes

"When you asked if I knew who you were..." He drawled shifting her attention to him

"I told you xavier informed me who you were but you didn't even ask who he is" he asked questioningly but Elaine could still see mischeive in his eyes

"W-well I didn't want to be too intrusive" she stuttered

"You know, Xavier also told me his encounter with a girl, in battle years ago..." He drawled

"Um, your highness, are we there yet, how much longer till we get there am starting to feel dizzy" she said holding her head but the prince knew she was faking it

"Okay,not much longer...... it seems..." He drawled and got close to her that she could feel his breath on her face

"My wife just can't wait to be in my arms, on our bed" he said shamelessly making Elaine draw back

"Ummmm...yes your highness...I definitely want that" she said looking afar

They got to the palace and of course Alexander helped her down. She expected to see the royal family waiting for them but there was no one.

Alexander led her into the dining hall where his family had all been sitted. The chattering voices she heard died down upon their arrival

"Greetings father" Alex greeted with sarcasm obviously etched on his voice"Princess Elaine, is good to finally meet you. I have heard so many great things about you" the king said nicely "Elaine stared at the huge dinning room. It had a very long table and chairs on each side. The king sat at the far end single chair while the queen and the crown prince sat on each side. A woman who seems to be the crown Prince's wife sat next to him. The twin princesses sat next to each other beside the queen. And Elaine noticed three empty chairs

'there's two of us, so who's missing' she thought confused

"Ah that seat is reserved for the crown Prince's son prince Zac" the king said noticing the confusion in her eyes she simply nodded and smiled

'wow such a nice family' she thought

"Come" she heard Alex say then he led her to her seat

Elaine sat in between the eldest twin princesses and Alex

"Elaine, enjoy your meal, you must be famished after traveling so far" the king said and she heard Alex chuckle

'why does he have this much hostility towards his own family' she thought and laughed internally remembering her situation They all ate in silence, the only noise that could be heard were the sounds of utensils hitting the plates The king left to deal with a few matters

Cling cling

The crown prince stood up and his glass lightly with a spoon "A toast to my brother, for his first time sitting in the dinning with his family" he said and they all cheered and drank wine except the crown Prince's wife, Alex and Elaine

The crown prince poured wine into his empty glass and raised it again

"Another toast to his wife, she must be really brave, I mean she walked into hell with

open arms" he teased

"What do you mean" Elaine asked confused

"Well am sure you've heard that he is a monster" the crown prince said with a smirk

"That, is just a rumour" she replied with a challenging tone, mock sweetness coloring her voice

"So you don't believe it" he asked with a piercing gaze

"Why, should i? She asked with an arched brow and openly challenging smile

"Seems this princess really is brave enough to talk back at the crown prince" one of the twin princesses said, probably the eldest, making Elaine relax back on her chair and wonder why she got angry at his brother trying to ruin him in her eyes

"Well, I'll tell you the truth if he won't tell you" the other princess said and Elaine looked at her with curiosity and confusion

"Brother here is a monster, even his mom died after giving birth to him because she didn't want him" she said with a smirk

Elaine finally lost it, how could they say such cruel things about him, that is too cruel

Alexander's body tensed in anger and he tightened his knuckles until they turned white, he felt like killing his brother at that moment but before he could react, he felt something warm on his hand

He looked under the table and saw a hand caging his warmly. He looked at the owner of the hand in confusion