Chapter 4: Shock

A huge room was just what Seri needed to feel more alone. Being a puppy and being thrown into a pack of wolves and tasked with pretending to be one is not very easy. It had only started, and she could already feel the difficulty.

At the very least, she could now change out of her gown and into a comfortable, worn-out pair of pajamas, the same ones she always wore at home. She wanted to cry as she felt the cushion of her bed. It's too soft, too perfect; it's not what she's used to.

"Goodness, this sucks," she said to herself. "I can't believe this. I am literally inside a prison disguised as a palace. Great, Seri, just great." She began to shake her head, hating how she was left with no choice but to talk to herself.

Her stomach roared to agree with her. Her hunger is not meshing well with her sadness.

"Now I feel even more useless," she whispered. "Is this all that I can do with my life? Really? As a princess, all I can do is be pretty, sit back, and pretend that I am prim and proper. All I can do is become a part of the selection process for a man. Great, what a huge contribution."

"If you are that mad about it, why are you here?"

Seri jolted up as she heard the voice. A tall shadow appeared from her room's balcony; it was the prince, casually standing outside her door.

"What the hell are you? Oh my goodness!" She rushed to grab her blanket and cover herself up. "Prince Hazan?"

"I forgot to tell you, your room's balcony is connected to mine. Also, this is my favorite spot in the entire palace. Expect me to be out here all the time."

She scratched her head. "In my room?"

"Well, technically, it's not inside your room." Prince Hazan casually opened up the door without any hesitation. "Now it is."

The hunk of a man sat on the couch beside Seri's bed. Wearing his silk pajamas, he crossed his arms and stared at her.

Seri was in shock. She couldn't believe that the prince would walk into her room just like this. But at least she could confirm one thing: the prince still looks like a prince in his sleepwear. His face could light up the entire room without even trying. With his eyes, he looked at her from head to toe. His eyes stopped to fixate on her lips, which made him smirk.

"Why do you always look so shocked?" he asked.

"Maybe because I never expected the prince to be inside my room."

"You didn't?" He acted surprised. "I thought every princess knew. Did you not hear about this?"

"You mate with all the—"

"Woah," he chuckled. "Who said anything about mating?" I can just visit your rooms to talk to you and get to know each of you better."

"What is this?" A freaking dating show?" she whispered.

"Basically, yeah."

Seri sighed. How should she act in front of the prince when she literally has holes, showing her armpits? Although she was not trying to impress him or anything, she sure hoped that he wasn't disgusted by her. It's humiliating, and she is not ready for any of that.

He kept on watching her quietly blink and stare into nothing for the longest time.

"Prince Hazan," she finally managed to say.

"Hmm?"

"Am I supposed to do anything? Is this some sort of quiz or something?" Seri sighed. "I honestly have no idea."

Prince Hazan smirked, "It's not a test. You don't have to say anything."

"How long are you going to watch me?"

He shrugged before he answered, "Oh, right. I almost forgot because I find you interesting."

She buried herself in her sheets, showing only her face. She's blanking out, thinking about what she should say. But her slow blinks were enough for the prince to tell that she's shy.

"You're very interesting, Princess Seri," he commented out of nowhere.

"Uh, thank you, I think."

"If you ever want to go to the library, just feel free. I don't mind. You can also use my secret room; just promise me that you will not tell anyone else about it."

"Thank you, your highness."

"Great then," the prince said. He stood up and added, "I'll be going now. You should rest. There are a lot of things that will come your way, and you have to make sure that you're mentally prepared for it all to hit you at once."

"That sounds... amazing, really."

The sarcasm in her voice made him smile. Her stomach yelled at the exact moment.

"What the hell?" she whispered under her breath. Oh, how she hoped for the prince to go on and never say another word. She wanted to disappear right then and there.

However, when Prince Hazan turned to look at her with a raised brow, she knew. He must think that she's super gross and disgusting; that's all she could think about. She could tell that he was now looking at him with so many questions in his mind. Perhaps he was wondering how someone like her got a chance to be selected as his future wife. It must have dawned on him at that point how doomed he'd be if Seri became the one.

"I knew it," he chuckled. "I see you haven't eaten enough, huh?" Were you shy?"

"I was too scared," she honestly replied.

He laughed without any worry. He's laughing at the cute girl, who's shyly covering her face and now only showing her eyes. That must have been the very first time that Seri saw something in him.

Hazan is not so different after all. He could still laugh and have fun over silly things. He's not as intimidating anymore. Somehow, in the cold night that Seri needed someone, he became her only saving grace.

The prince walked over to the nightstand, making Seri's heart jump. He's getting too close, and she's starting to overthink a bunch. It's not a great mix for her; she might overheat!

"Bring food to this room," he said.

Seri snapped out of her fantasy when she heard that order. She soon realized that Prince Hazan had ordered somebody via the telephone.

"You really did not have to, Prince-"

"Calm down," he stopped her. "I don't want my guest starving. Please, let me save myself from humiliation."

She nodded in silence.

As he walked to the balcony door, he glanced at Seri once again.

"It's nice to meet you, Princess Seri," he said. "Make sure to lock this door."

He began to walk towards his room when he added, "I might not be able to control myself if you don't."