Staring at the butler who was now preparing tea, Hassiba, who was anxiously waiting on the couch couldn't stop fiddling with her hands and feet. Hassiba's heart was beating at a speed where it could compete in horse racing. Everything was so sudden that she didn't even know how to react. Because Hassiba knows that she can never turn down the royal family's request—command. Whether it is beneficial for her or not, the fact that she can never oppose it is giving her an unlimited headache. The only thing that soothes her is the expensive things around her.
It has been a day since Hassiba made up her mind and decided to face her situation firmly. 'You should act naturally. Do not let them think that you are terrified and could melt anytime . . .' Trying to convince herself and mask her cowardly stone face. She also mumbled some things that only Yahweh knows nobody can understand but her. Her mind was also calculating how much she would earn if she could just sell one of the items in the place.
"Have tea, Miss Hassiba." Even though Hassiba was observing the butler's slightest movement, still her body subconsciously does things that are embarrassing. Her body jolted like she was being electrocuted which displayed her pathetic emotions.
"Tha-thank you, sir . . ." she whispered. Then Hassiba's thin lips pursed and awkwardness began soaring. As she was consumed by her decreasing confidence, she could also feel that the huge place where she was in is getting smaller, making her unable to put up breathing her own body rhythm.
"You can call me, Deither, Miss Hassiba." She nodded and absentmindedly sip the tea.
"Ouch!" Her hands trembled and couldn't stand the temperature of the spilled tea resulting in making a bigger mess. Her lips were sore but she only cared less about it. "I-I'm so-sorry . . ." Hassiba stood, then bent her knees and started picking the glass pieces. 'I said act naturally, but not naturally clumsy!' She didn't know where to hide from all the embarrassment. It was like the universe was doing it on purpose. 'Just how much does this tea cup cost?' looking at the poor cup full of regrets.
"It's okay, Miss Hassiba. We'll clean it up for you. You mustn't hurt yourself from now on. You no longer owned your body . . . I'm sorry to inform you of this," the butler said apologetically. But Hassiba on the other hand was feeling angry and anxious. She might know that this could happen but still wasn't able to contain herself with her anger. Her fist was clenched and so was her awfully tested patient.
"Wha-what do you mean? What do you mean by I no longer owned my body? You know that it's not even possible right? You mu—"
"Yes. That is right, darling . . ." The lovely voice rang around covering the tension that started to fill her heart.
"You-your Grace." Hassiba bent her knees and kowtow. She was angry and might not be properly educated when it comes to royal etiquette, but still, she has her stock manners and knowledge on how to treat royalty commonly. After all, she was living in the Parallel city without even paying her taxes due to the royal family's grace to its people—helpless people like her.
"Oh, not too formal, my dear. You can just call me Miss Rita from now on. And you sit on that chair. I will be giving you a short and direct notice." The woman smiled and shyly hid from her fan. Though the act was cute, still Hassiba finds the woman's smile creepy and frightening. She has seen this scene in one of her favorite movies before. One thing that is certain . . . Her life must be in danger.
"Does the crown prince still in slumber, Deither?" Hassiba might look naive, but her hearing talent can surpass the ability of a walking radio—Marites and Karen people. She looked helpless but her eyes were twitching, trying to gather some useful information regarding her situation.
"Yes, your grace," answered the butler who was now cleaning the mess that Hassiba made.
"No, I'm not." Everyone's attention shifted to the door, especially Hassiba. Again, her heart started to beat like someone is playing the gong. But it's not only because of the gorgeous human she's looking at. One of the reasons is the sparkling stone on the ring that was placed on the prince's long and slender middle finger.
"My niece? Is that you? Yo-you just got your period treated, it's only after a day and now you're fully awake!" exclaimed the woman and directly stood while facing the prince. Hassiba also stood and couldn't take her eyes away from the ring.
"My omega seems beyond capable . . ." said the prince while staring at Hassiba. When she heard the prince's words, Hassiba shrugged and accidentally met the prince's gaze. The prince's gorgeous pair of eyes were piercing the deepest part of her soul. In an instant, Hassiba's knee wobbles she almost tripped if the butler didn't catch her on time. 'I—I was marked?' she questions.
"Yes. I marked you. Such a rare omega can never fall to someone else's hand." It was voiced casually that making Hassiba feel that she was an object, ready to be given away to those people that would gain tons of benefits from her mere existence.
"But you marked me without my consent, your highness." Hassiba felt that her bravery will be put to a test from now on. 'If they will use me . . . Might as well gain some benefits. This gorgeous face in front of me, the fame, power, and money . . . Will also be mine, haha!' She raised her hands and gestured like she was praising above. Again, she's drilling a hole into the prince's ring.
"Does the ring on my finger look more appealing than my face?" Hassiba opened her eyes and began aggressively nodding. She was salivating and was lured like a little kid. Hassiba wasn't aware of the prince's smile towards her that anyone would say, full of malice.
"You're weird." Hassiba nodded again without breaking her gaze at the prince's finger.
"Ca-can I touch it, your highness?" Hassiba wasn't thinking and was aware that she was asking a ridiculous question. All she could think about was the shining glimmering magnificent stone.
"Insolence!" the butler exclaimed and began summoning the royal soldiers around.
"It's fine, Deither. Come here, Hassiba." When Hassiba notices that the prince is asking for her, her brows furrow and she's hesitant. After all, her experience with the prince in bed is exhausting and it wasn't a secret for her that she is terrible in bed. No experience with awful stamina. So in short, she slept in—collapsed perhaps during the mating.
"I won't bite . . ." So Hassiba started moving and stopped just when she was about a meter away from the prince.
"You'll get to touch and wear this if you get a little closer." When Hassiba heard these, she immediately moved as fast as the light passed through a certain object.
"I wasn't expecting this close . . ." mumbled the prince who was smiling ear to ear. On the other side, both the king's sister, the butler, and the guards were dumbfounded. Looking at the prince who has terrible character and temper is now smiling, they couldn't help but think if the prince is up to something.
"Haaa . . . This is gorgeous," Hasiba said while holding the prince's soft hand and was focused on the ring. She wasn't aware of what she was doing. All her attention was fixed on the black stone-stamp-like seal. Not even bothered by how she was sitting on the prince's lap carelessly.
"Would you like to wear it?" Hassiba's jaw almost hit the ground and looked at the prince with eyes wide open.
"Ca-can I, yo-your highness?" She directly stood with a bewildered face. But the people around them were focused on the prince's disappointed face.
"Sit on his highness's lap again . . ." someone whispered. But Hassiba didn't hear it.
"Give me your hand," said the prince. Hassiba's hands were cold and trembling. 'Focus, Hassiba. This ring on your finger is power! Do everything to make this yours. Make your mama proud. Stop hiding like a stupid criminal. Make a change or you'll forever be hiding in your hamper!' Her mind was so full that she didn't notice how the prince made her sit on his lap again.
"This is a bit heavy and uhm . . ." Hassiba smelled the stone. "Smells power."
"Marry into my family, and you can have everything that your heart desires."
"Is this my engagement ring, your highness?" Everyone gasped but the prince smiled and was holding his laughter. "Your audacity is quite unique, Hassiba." The ring was the official stamp of the prince. It was not a design that can be sold. Because the ring was made for a certain kind of dominance. As long as someone has it, then everything that person desires can be brought to reality. If that fate falls to Hassiba, then she can change everything of her own accord.