Chapter 42: A Favor

When she thought of this, she lost all her energy. Why does she struggle so hard? The future won’t change no matter what she does. She was tied to him. For a time, Rihannan stared forward absent-mindedly ‘till a sudden flick of wings buzzed in her ear.

Chirp, chirp!

A shrill cry of the bird rang out. The bird, who earlier fought with the snake, circled around her. It sought Rihannan’s help after seeing her familiar figure.

Rihanann turned around and looked at the bird’s nest. Only two baby birds were left, the rest swallowed by the snake.

Chirp, chirp!

The bird chirped again, hurriedly and anxiously. Understanding its intent, Rihannan picked up a wooden stick lying on the ground and ran straight to the tree. She threw the stick at the snake whose venomous fangs crept closer to the baby birds.

Wack!

The snake, hit right on the head, fell off the tree. It was unconscious for a moment before it crawled quickly into the grass. It disappeared and peace was found once again. The bird circled around her and returned back to its nest.

“Ha…” Rihannan exhaled a deep sigh.

She had found her answer.

Originally, Rihannan intended on visiting the crown prince to offer all she had for concession – her intent was to free Dimitri from prison and protect her uncle and his family. The wealth she had was the vast wealth of the future and knowledge only she knew. She planned to sell that knowledge in exchange for the protection of her family and to prevent herself from being sent to Arundell as Chrichton’s tool.

But now she understood. It was all useless. She would only give her head to a natural enemy who sought to eat her and the crown prince was the hungry snake who would eat her even after she gave all that she had to offer.

“Lady Rihannan.” The voice of a man disrupted her thoughts. It was the watchman guard assigned to follow her every move. “It’s time.”

Rihannan who had found her answer no longer wore a look of hesitation. “Yes, let’s go meet the crown prince.”

*

The crown prince’s palace was luxurious from the expensive rugs laid bare on the floor to the marble-like walls. It was splendid. There was not a place to be found without decorations. Everything was covered in gold and splendor – even the railing was painted gold. Gold… the color was used to show off Chrichton’s mighty power.

She was immediately escorted to the crown prince’s bedroom. The crown prince’s bedroom quarter was a private space whose location was privy only to the royal family and their closest acquaintances. That the crown prince brought Rihannan to his room held a certain notion that he treated her as a figure of importance.

“Come in.”

At his signal, Rihannan entered the room and saw the image of the crown prince lying on the huge bed covered with only silk and velvet. A blonde woman beside him clung to his shoulder bare naked. She was his lover, this much Rihannan knew. Fortunately, the prince was dressed.

“I see your tastes have declined, Your Highness,” the woman purred.

The crown prince smirked and slowly pulled himself out of the bed. He looked at Rihannan appreciatively before whispering to the lover by his side. The woman smiled slightly and covered herself with a blanket before disappearing into the small door behind.

The crown prince had not the mind to tidy up his disheveled clothing and proceeded to sit on the bed with his legs crossed.

“You wanted me, is that right? Let me hear your reason.”

Rihannan bowed politely. “I have a favor I would like to ask the crown prince.”