Midnight Royale

Chapter 8: What Punishment?

Lazarus pulls me in my arm without any gentleness. The ladies were following me in worry so I shook my head at them and hoped, they see that I am going to be okay.

Oh... well.

Yes, I passed on not getting punished by the king. But Lazarus? His eyebrow almost meets each other because of anger. Lazarus is gritting his teeth, not to mention the way he holds my arms so tight.

"Hey, can you be gentle? I don't want my arm to get sliced!" I hissed.

He stops walking. Lazarus gave me a death glare.

"You have the nerves to talk back, huh Genevierre?" He asked me with sarcasm. "Should I tell the Aristocrats to kick you out from here? You are useless from the beginning, and now a disgrace! Aren't you tired?" He didn't even breathe while asking.

What a very rude man! Does he even know that I am not Genevierre that they know?! I doubt that! He is just a vampire who hates humans!

Despite his angry face and loud voice, I looked at him bravely. But before I can answer—he yelled.

"All of you—leave! Leave the palace!" Lazarus shouted to the ladies on my back.

"Prince, forgive us! We... we are careless please, give us another chance!" They beg on their knees.

What!? "Excuse me?!"

Why Lazarus is firing them?! They didn't do anything!?

"What? They let you act stupid in this castle, Princess Genevierre. From the very beginning, I am planning to fire them but I still have my conscience! If these humans cannot handle you which is their duty—then I must remove them for an incompetent service!"

"Forgive us, your highness!" They all cried in chorus.

I shook my head in disbelief. They didn't do anything wrong! So... why?!

"You cannot do this, Lazarus! They are my people!"

His forehead knotted then showed a sarcastic smile. "What? Your people?" He laughed.

The guilt crawled inside me as the ladies groaned and cry. They are begging to stay! Lazarus is heartless?!

"They didn't do anything wrong, Lazarus. I am the one who disobeys some rules and all! So stop punishing the wrong people! Punish me instead!"

The smirk on his face fainted as he took a step forward toward me. Lazarus snatch my jaw and pull it!

"Punish? You? A princess?" He laughed again with annoyance. "How can I punish a princess, Genevierre? You have Aristocrats on your back. One punishment may spread like a fire in Kingdom Amadeo and tell that I am a ruthless prince, deserve to get kicked out..." He said with so much anger.

I winced in pain as I felt his fingers on my jaw. But what surprised me is his theory about what is going to happen if I ever... be punished.

Are Aristocrats that powerful already?

"And have you forgotten? The one who will get punished for your wrong actions is not you, my dear. We are noble and perfect. Wrong actions aren't our fault... It's the people around us, dear," he mocks me.

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My anger filled me up but I cannot put it into any words.

Lazarus is unbelievable! How can he say these words in front of innocent people?! They... didn't do anything wrong!

"They didn't do anything wrong, Lazarus. Don't fire them—"

His eyebrows met. "Why would I follow your order? I am the Prince, Genevierre. You are just a greedy human who manages to enter the castle—"

"Excuse me?" I laughed in disbelief. How can he tell me that!? "Do you even know me?"

He laughed. "I am not an imbecile to not know your intentions, darling."

My mouth hangs open in annoyance. How can I possibly deal with him? I cannot let these people go because... It is my fault!

"Don't make them leave," I ordered him. He just show me a sinister smile.

"Watch me how I do it," he fired back. Now, I don't know how can I possibly deal with him!

"Why are you so heartless! I am the one who should be punished! Leave them alone and take me!"

"Princess... No! Who are we to let you..." The ladies cried at my back.

His eyebrow went up, thinking.

"I cannot punish you," Lazarus said with a grin. "But I know how to make things hard for you."

"Then go. Do that." I accepted.

Lazarus looked at me with amusement. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure," whatever that is—I will just gladly accept it.

"Oh..." He nods in satisfaction. "All of you. Leave us." Lazarus said to my ladies.

The people cried in joy because of what they have heard. I smiled at them and nod my head. They didn't deserve to leave.

From the sound of how they tell the history of Kingdom Amadeo, I think they lived in the castle long enough to know the details.

"Thank you, Princess! Thank you—"

"Leave!" Lazarus shouted when the ladies didn't stop crying because of feeling thankful.

God, he is so rude!

They took a step back and leave us.

"So..." Lazarus said, making me look at him. "Should we talk about your punishment, princess?" He started mischievously.

I don't know why, but I started to feel uncomfortable. What kind of punishment will I face anyway?

He pulled my arm so I flinched.

"Where are we going—"

Lazarus' touch felt like ice. I winced a bit because of the coldness.

"Your arms are red. They will turn into a bruise," he said then remove his hands.

Red? "It's your fault!" I emphasize. He holds me too tight earlier!

"Because you are a disobedient princess," he sighed.

Now, Lazarus looks so cool and as if nothing happened earlier! Wow, how can he act this way?

Lazarus takes his coat off, leaving his polo with puff sleeves. Ah, the style of this era. The white polo hugs his body very well—wait, I am angry with him!

For pete's sake, we just came from a fight!

I was baffled for a moment when he put his coat on me.

"If you only behave and let the court ladies finish their job, we don't have to fight like this, darling..."

Oh, why is he acting so weird right now?!

"Now... Let's get into your punishment," he smiled.

I don't feel good about this at all.

"We will... only talk about my punishment! Why do we have to enter your room!?" I started to be violent as we reached his door!

At first, I am cool with it. I am fine—now, I am trying to act cool and fine! But why do we have to enter his room to talk about the punishment!?

"This is the most... private area in the castle, Genevierre."

My face wrinkled and pull the hem of my coat harder in my body.

"Why do we need to talk privately, Lazarus?"

His forehead knotted. "They may hear us, darling. Now, do you want to talk about this, or just let the court ladies leave?"

Ah. This man is bipolar! He is mad, then sweet, playful, calm—and then now, mad again! He should check himself!

Lazarus left me to open his door. He is not holding me or whatever. I could just run for my life—but the consequence will be the sweet ladies who take care of me... I don't want them to get fired just because of my stupid actions.

I don't have any choice.

I entered his room with heavy feet. My heart pounded. It felt like entering a lion's den.

His room is dark because of the curtain that prevents the sunlight to enter fully. It's dim in his room. A California king bed and the colors were gold, cream, and white. What a royal.

I get back to my senses when I heard him shut the door. I looked at him in disbelief.

"What kind of p-punishment are we talking about?" I asked him immediately.

He smirked and in a very swift move—Lazarus manage to grip my face with a cunning grin on his lips.

"I thought you had an idea already..." Lazarus murmured. His breath kisses my lips because of the small distance between our faces!

My heart went wild! What is he going to do!? I... didn't expect that he will act like this?!

"W-What idea?"

He is a vampire! How can I forget that vampires are... full of desire? God, I really shouldn't make a decision when full of emotions! How did I forget that... the punishment may be in bed?!

I felt my face heat up with the thought. Oh my god, no!

"What are you thinking?" He asked me and slightly reached my face even more. "I can feel your blood rushing and your heart pounding darling."

"I am asking what do you want—"

"I already answered that. I will give you a punishment... that is hard enough to make you feel miserable."