Chapter 36

Elena watched closely as her husband took a spoonful of soup and pushed it to his lips, letting it spill into his mouth. Her stomach tied a nervous knot, as she wondered what his thoughts were. She gazed intently seeking a reaction, but her stoic husband stayed the same, eating her first meal so casually. The princess didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that moment.

It was only when he had gone midway that he cleared his throat and spoke up, "You shouldn't eat this." He noted then continued eating, Elena shrugged her shoulders, acknowledging that she had made a blunder!

"What does his highness reckon I eat then?" She rested both palms on her stomach, gesturing that she was hungry.

"I don't know, but with the poison in you, I don't recommend eating more poison will help matters." He replied in an overly calm manner.

Elena bit her cheeks in anger, anger arising from the fact that one, he wasn't wrong, and two he wasn't even looking to spite her. Yet, her eyes softened when she realized he continued eating, despite the food not matching his palate.

She then pouted her lips in distress and proceeded to whine like a child would, this protest went on for about ten solid minutes, before Alixandre finally let out a sigh and deflected his gaze to her.

"What?" His irritated tone asked with gritted teeth.

"I'm hungry." She groaned, rubbing her stomach.

'For some with poison running through her veins, she is quite vigorous.' he mused to himself then stood up and marched towards the carriage.

"What is he going to do?" She thought out loud in a puzzled tone, Alixandre returned swiftly with another pot and some more ingredients, dried up meat included.

Elena wanted to raise a question but when she stared at her own food she let it slide and decided to watch and observe. 'A sheltered prince couldn't possibly have better skills than me.' she resolved in her heart, assuring herself that he would be equally as bad as her.

If not even worse.

*Twenty minutes after*

Though the dish he served her wasn't as grand as what she usually ate at the castle, it was edible. Something the princess could not boast about for her own food.

"Eat quickly and let's continue the journey, we've wasted enough time on breakfast." He announced, leaving no room for debate.

Elena frowned at the thought of having to continue the tiresome journey, but agreed with his logic. She quietly ate breakfast, mortified by the possiblity that it might have been his highness's first time cooking for someone.

But then again, she also couldn't help but smile when it occurred to her that he had cooked a meal just so she wouldn't remain starved.

As she ate, her eyes leisurely settled on his highness, who was busy with washing the dishes and rearranging the items in the carriage, cursing under his breath while he did so.

"Who knew his highness could be so cute while he worked?" She said underneath her breath, flattening her lips into a smile.

After she had finished eating she opted to change her clothes, but soon realized that she had no maids to set up a space to do so. Elena desperately wanted some privacy to do so, but didn't know how to go about it.

Alixandre who sat at the coachman seat watched from the corner of his eye as the princess paced about, holding in her hand a change of clothing. He could only guess that she had wanted to freshen up but was somewhat shy.

"Just go into the bushes and do it." He stated from where he sat, avoiding her gaze intentionally.

The princess shook her head, she was stunned that he was able to read her thoughts so accurately. "What if someone were to see me or a wild animal were to..."

"There's no such thing, and if there were, none would even dare to when I'm around." Alixandre said with a small glint of pride in his eyes.

'Aish.' Elena thought and pinched her forehead, 'he acts and talks like a child, who does he even think he is?' she flickered her eyelids then pursued her lips.

"Alright, but you'll have to do something for me." She said in a hurried tone, looking around for any passerbys and travellers. It wasn't long ago since they encountered bandits, and the princess didn't want a repeat of that incident.

Alixandre didn't ask what she wanted from him, he closed his eyes painfully, fully aware that whatever it was, he would end up hating himself for it.

*********

"Hurry it up." He chided with folded arms, resting his back against a tree, his eyes were trained on the grass underneath his feet.

"I'm trying to, his highness should try and exercise some patience." She replied in a sultry tone, groaning as the princess struggled to singlehandedly wear a corset.

The more she moaned and groaned, the more awkward the situation became for Alixandre, who desperately fought back the urge to look behind him to confirm if she was fine.

Meanwhile, Elena had purposely groaned so loudly, in hopes to catch his interest and maybe trap him into offering to dress her up. But sadly, he remained unfazed for the most time, and just wanted to continue the journey.

"Ouch." She yelped in pain, she had mindlessly tried to run the zipper on the corset up, but ended up catching her skin as well as the fabric

Elena didn't mean to let out such an unladylike cry, if anything she wanted to seem defenseless and innocent in her husband's eyes.

"Does it hurt?" A familiar voice asked from behind her, accompanied by his large fingers sliding up and down her nipped skin, gently caressing it.

Elena's ears reddened at his abrupt contact with her skin, it took the princess a great resolve not to let out a moan. "Not as much as it should." She answered, and took a step forward, leaving some distance between them.

However, Alixandre took a step forward and grabbed both sides of her corset, "isn't this just suffocating?" His distaste towards the tight piece of fabric was quite evident.

The princess chewed on her lip in embarrassment. "I like how it hugs my body." She retorted sharply, praying inwardly that he would just leave and pretend not to have seen anything.

"I see."

It seemed to be that he was saying one thing but doing another, because as soon as he said that, Alixandre ripped the corset into two and tore it off her body.

Elena widened her eyes and with flushed cheeks she tried to run away, "stay still or you'll catch a cold." He said in a stiff tone, sliding off her body with somewhat messy hands.

"I'm capable of doing this myself..." Elena was miserably cut off by a cool breeze that caressed her sides and lower back, the corset was now off her body and on the grass beside her.

Alixandre pulled her light green dress together and tugged on the zipper, he effortlessly slid it up then turned to take his leave first.

Elena turned around with fully flushed cheeks with every intention to scold him for ripping her corset, but found herself speechless instead.

Right before her husband retreated, she was fortunate enough to catch the flustered expressions drawn across his face and it set the young princess's heart ablaze.

'I don't understand this man at all...but I don't think I mind.' she concluded with a small smile dancing around the corners of her mouth.