MATE OR MONSTER

Chapter 3

dungeon. "Do you know her?" he demands.

"Who, my prince?" the maid asks, cowering.

"Don't play dumb! Your fellow prisoner!" Prince Charm shouts, his foot lashing out to kick her.

"No, my prince! I have no idea about her!" the maid cries out in pain.

Inwardly she has some devilish thoughts.

Prince Charm signals to his guards. "Take her out and use the wipes. Maybe that will jog her memory."

As the guards drag her away, the maid screams and groans. But even under duress, she continues to deny knowing Princess Lora.

"I don't know her, I swear!" she begs.

Prince Charm's eyes narrow. "We'll see about that," he growls, his mind racing with the implications.

The maid was dragged out, her back bearing the scars of strokes and marks, her body trembling as she groaned and screamed. Prince Charm reappeared, his voice firm as he asked her again, "Do you know the woman in the dungeon?"

The maid, soaked in tears and bloodstained, pleaded, "My prince, I was just an ordinary maid in the palace. I only had access to the palace once a month. My job was limited to the kitchen, between the pot and the spoon, and the four walls of my room. I had no idea about the people in the palace... My prince, I don't know her, please..." She sobbed uncontrollably.

Prince Charm stormed out, frustration etched on his face. "What am I going to do now?" he muttered, anger simmering within him.

Levy, one of his trusted guards, approached him. "What shall we do with the maid, my prince?"

Prince Charm's anger boiled over. "Are you questioning me? Shouldn't you be focused on helping me secure the throne? Our plan has failed, and you're worried about a mere maid?"

Levy apologized, "I'm sorry, my prince."

Prince Charm's irritation grew. "Why do I need your apology? Why do I even have you as my assistant?" He hissed, "Mtcheeeeeew." With that, he stormed out of the room, leaving Levy behind.

Prince Charm paced back and forth on the balcony, seething with anger as he contemplated his next move. His brother, Prince Finn, sauntered in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, look who's here," Prince Finn exclaimed, chuckling. "No peace for the wicked, huh?"

Prince Charm's anger boiled over. "Shut up, you wicked son of the devil!" he snarled.

Prince Finn merely laughed. "Hahahaha, your plan failed again, bro! Don't worry, You're my brother,

I've got you. " With a final guffaw, he strolled out, leaving Prince Charm fuming.

In a fit of rage, Prince Charm spun around and slammed his fist into the nearby flower vase, shattering it into a hundred pieces. "Ahaaaaaaa!" he bellowed. "I will not spare you, Finn! When I claim that throne, I'll make your life miserable, I promise you that!"

Meanwhile, Prince Finn burst into his own room, whooping with excitement. "Whoo-oo! That was straight fire! I need to plan something, fast!"

IN THE NIGHT - Prince Charm's POV

"Go bring me the maid from the dungeon," Prince Charm said to his guards. "I want to have a word with her."

The guard fetched the maid, who entered Prince Charm's chambers with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "My prince, you asked to see me?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prince Charm rose from his bed and approached her, his eyes locked on hers. "Yes, come in, dear." He guided her closer, his hand on the small of her back, and closed the door behind her.

As they stood together, Prince Charm's breath whispered against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "My beauty," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

The maid's cheeks flushed, and she looked up at him with a hint of shyness. "My prince, what do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Prince Charm's gaze burned with intensity, but he smiled softly. "Oh, I think you know," he said, his voice dripping with gentle persuasion. "You're at my service, aren't you, my dear?"

The maid's heart skipped a beat as she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, my prince."

Prince Charm's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, his gaze never leaving hers. He took a step closer, his movements deliberate and gentle. "I want to know more about you," he said, his voice low and soothing. "What brings you joy, what makes you smile?"

The maid's blush deepened as she looked away, her lashes fluttering. "I...I don't know, my prince," she stammered.

Prince Charm's chuckle was soft and reassuring. "Ah, but I think you do," he said, his fingers tracing the curve of her cheek. "I want to know everything about you, my beauty."

As he spoke, he guided her closer, his movements slow and gentle. The maid's heart raced, her senses overwhelmed by the prince's proximity. She felt like she was drowning in his eyes, like she was melting into his touch.

And yet, she couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity. What did the prince want from her, really? Was it just a fleeting infatuation, or something more?

The maid's thoughts were a jumble of confusion and excitement as Prince Charm's fingers traced the curve of her ear. She felt a shiver run down her spine, her skin tingling with awareness.

"My prince, I don't understand," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Prince Charm's smile was enigmatic. "You will, my beauty," he promised. "You will."

He leaned in closer, his breath whispering against her skin. The maid's heart skipped a beat as she felt his lips brush against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

"Tell me, little one," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "What do you dream of at night?"

The maid's eyes fluttered closed, her mind racing with the prince's words. No one had ever asked her what she wanted, what she dreamed of. She was just a maid, a servant, a nobody.

"I...I dream of freedom," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Prince Charm's fingers stilled, his body tense. For a moment, the maid wondered if she had said too much.

But then, the prince's fingers resumed their gentle caress. "Freedom," he repeated, his voice soft. "I can offer you that, my beauty. I can offer you so much more."

The maid's eyes snapped open, her heart racing with excitement. What did the prince mean? What did he offer?

The maid's eyes searched Prince Charm's face, trying to read his intentions. "What do you mean, my prince?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prince Charm's smile was mysterious. "I can offer you a life beyond this castle," he said, his eyes glinting with promise. "A life of luxury, of comfort, of freedom."

The maid's heart skipped a beat. No one had ever offered her such a thing before. She was just a maid, and a servant.

But Prince Charm's words made her feel like she was someone, like she mattered.

"What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Prince Charm's fingers traced the curve of her cheek, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "You have to trust me," he said, his voice low and husky. "You have to trust me, and follow me."

The maid's eyes searched his face, trying to read his intentions. But all she saw was sincerity, and a deep longing.

She took a deep breath, and nodded. "I trust you, my prince," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prince Charm's smile was radiant. "Then come with me," he said, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Come with me, and I will show you a life beyond your wildest dreams."

As walked into the room, Prince Charm stopped and looked at her, his eyes burning with intensity. "I have a proposition for you," he said, his voice low and husky. "I want you to be mine, completely. I want to use you for my pleasure, and in return, I'll give you anything you desire."

The maid's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words. She felt a mix of emotions: shock, fear, but also a spark of curiosity.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prince Charm's smile was seductive. "I mean that I want you to surrender to me, body and soul. I want to be your master, and you my willing servant."

The maid's eyes searched his face, trying to read his intentions. She knew that she should be afraid, but a part of her was drawn to the prince's words.

The maid's heart raced as she considered the prince's words. She knew that she should be afraid, but a part of her was drawn to the idea of surrendering to him.

"What do I have to do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Prince Charm's smile grew wider. "You have to trust me," he said. "You have to trust me completely."

The maid took a deep breath and nodded. "I trust you," she said, her voice firm.

Prince Charm's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Good," he said. "Then let us begin."

He reached out and took her hand, leading her to a nearby door. The maid's heart pounded in her chest as she wondered what lay ahead.

As they entered the room, the maid saw that it was filled with lavish furnishings and soft, velvet drapes. Prince Charm led her to a large, ornate bed, and gestured for her to lie down.

"The maid hesitated for a moment, but then did as she was told. Prince Charm smiled and led her to his bed.

Meanwhile, Prince Finn visited Princess Lora in the dungeon, bringing food as usual. "How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Princess Lora responded.

"Okay," Prince Finn said with a warm smile.

Princess Lora's eyes locked onto his. "I feel like you're my mate. Don't deny it."

Prince Finn shifted uncomfortably. "No, I am not. Please, let's not bring up that issue now."

Just then, he noticed a familiar mark on her hand - the same mark he had on his own hand. Could it be true that Princess Lora is my mate?

He pushed the thought aside and bid her goodnight, leaving the dungeon.

The next morning, Prince Charm woke up feeling tired and groggy. He rolled around in bed and realized someone was lying next to him. He sluggishly opened his eyes to find the maid still sleeping. His eyes widened in shock, and he immediately jumped out of bed.

The maid stirred, and Prince Charm shouted, "Hey, Littyrag! What are you doing in my bed? Get your stinky body out of my room!"

The maid quickly got dressed and headed for the door. Prince Charm stopped her, pulling out a bundle of money from his drawer. "Take this, but let no one know about last night. If you do, you'll regret it. Clean yourself up, you stink!"

The maid took the money and left the room, feeling a mix of emotions. She was relieved to have escaped the prince's wrath, but also hurt by his harsh words.

As she walked down the hallway, she ran into Prince Finn.