"What mistress? Have you not heard anything I say to you today, " the prince was feeling frustrated.


    "I have, did you not spend your time with her last night?" princess Ellen was also a bit irritated by his behavior.


    "No," prince Sébastien shook his head with confidence. He had never been attracted by any female other than his sunshine so he could not have a mistress. He had forgotten about the ointment that followed him to the Palace the previous night.


    Princess Ellen was angry when she heard him deny being with his mistress last night. The fragrant of that woman accompany him home last night. He even boldly accepted to have been with a woman. ''Could this not be considered as keeping a mistress or was it with someone who simply sold herself for money?'' Princess Ellen wondered.


    "You do not believe me?" Prince Sebastian asked. Although the princess did not say anything to fault his claim but he could see it in her action that she did not believe a word he just said.


    "you highness I am no one to question you," princess Ellen answered. Since she could not call him a lair directly she decided it was best to keep quiet.


    When prince Sébastien saw her action he understood that she indeed did not believe him. So he chose to explain everything clearly.


    " last night I have gone to treat my men to a small feast. War may likely break out soon so I had to do something to make them happy. Prince Sébastien said. He was in no hurry, he patiently told her how Eva had tried to sneak into his bed.


    He also told her that the only reason he did not kill Eva was that she had an Evil aunty who forced her to his room.


    Since the beast had eaten up the soul of that woman, he naturally found out about the relationship between the two women.


    So he chooses to let Eva go free. He was giving her a second chance to have a happy life. It was up to her if she wanted to sell herself or live decently.


    When princess Ellen heard his explanation she believed him without a doubt. She could not explain why she had believed him, maybe it was because he said that she wanted to hear.


    "so what happened to the woman you love?" princess Ellen asked. No matter how she tried to act indifferent she could not help herself. At first, she thought it was best she did not know anything but she changed her mind. If she knew who her rival was then she could better prepare herself.


    "she is standing right here," prince Sébastien said and pointed at her image in the mirror. Before princess Ellen could register the meaning of his words the prince lowered his head and kissed her on the lips.


    This contact threw the logical mind of the princess away. The kiss was brief. The moment prince Sébastien let go of her lips he dashed out of the room.


    "such a coward," his inner self mocked him. Prince Sébastien was both feared and respected but he did not dare listen to the rejection that would come from the princess after his confession. He did not think he would have the heart to listen.


    On the other hand, it took a while before princess Ellen could understand what the prince meant but even then she felt her ears must be deceiving her. Unfortunately, the prince already left and she could not confirm.


    "Did I hear wrong?" she asked herself. Princess Ellen was still in a daze when her man walked back into the room. They came with her breakfast since she had said she was not fine and would have her breakfast in her chamber.


    "My princess, you have been wearing so little for a while. Come dress up so you do not catch a cold," Rosa said when she noticed the princess was just staring at her reflection in a daze.


    Princess Ellen did not say anything but she cooperated with Rosa and got dressed.


    After dressing up, princess Ellen sat down to eat breakfast. "did I hear wrong?" she wondered.


    Princess Ellen just finished her breakfast when Grater came knocking.


    "My princess, I heard you are feeling sick. How do you feel?" Grater asked and her eyes fell on the food that was still on the table.


    Since princess Ellen was distracted, she had only eaten very little. When Grater noticed this she was worried. "I am okay, I just have a headache," princess answered.


    She looked at Grater and she had an idea. "Rosa can you go along and get me some fresh apples," she said looking at the two maids who were still in the room.


    Rosa understand that the princess wanted them to leave the room, so she dragged her second along.


    Grater turned and look at the princess. She was worried that the princess was about to scheme again. Not that she hated helping her scheme but she was afraid of the princess getting into trouble.


    "is lady Catherine here already?" princess Ellen asked. This was not the question she wanted to ask Grater but she was too shy to bring up the topic.


    "Not yet, my princess. I will let you know once she arrives," Grater replied. Among all the maids that attended to princess Ellen, Grater was one of the oldest. Plus she had once been married.


    This made princess Ellen believe that she would be of great help. Princess Ellen looked at Grater and thought about her decision. The prince had confessed to being attracted to her.


    So she had decided that since she also realized that she likes the prince then she should get intimate with him. Maybe that will strengthen their bond. It did not matter if there was someone in the prince''s heart. Princess Ellen felt there was a chance she would be able to own his heart if she puts in a little effort.


    Grater noticed the look on the princess''s face, so she decided to encourage the princess to say what she had in mind. "My princess, if you want to ask anything, you should. There is no point to be hesitant.


    "Does it hurt so much the first time?" princess Ellen''s voice come out a whispered. Her cheek burn. She was not so ignorant. Back at Bozoa, she heard two maids talking about it. So she found out that it hurt. But she was not sure how much it hurt.


    So she decided to ask Grater to help her get mentally prepared.


    Grater was surprised by princess Ellen''s question. In fact, she was confused. "do what hurt?" Grater asked but she immediately understood what the princess was talking about.


    Grater smiled warmly. She was still surprised by the question, after all, Grater has concluded that the prince and princess did it the first night the princess shared a chamber with him.


    Grater had even prepared a special soup and hurt bath to make the princess feel better. "it depends," Grater replied.


    "on?" princess Ellen pushed when she saw that Grater stopped talking.


    "if his highness is gentle then it will be less painful, * Grater replied. Princess Ellen noticed the sad look on Grater''s face." Why do you look sad? " she asked.


    Grater sigh," I just feel sad. I have always thought that I will prepare my daughter for her marriage life, but at last, she did not live that long," Grater replied. A single tear dropped down her eyes.


    Princess Ellen sigh, " Then you should just teach me like you would have thought your daughter. After all I did not have a mother to prepare me, " princess Ellen replied.


    " My princess is so nice, but you do not have to curse your mother dead just to comfort me," Grater replied as she used the back of her Pam to clear her tears. Grater was not from Bozoa, so she did not know much about princess Ellen.


    She found out from Rosa and marina that the king of Bozoa had only married one wife. So Grater naturally thought that Queen Regina was the princess''s mother.


    Princess Ellen looked at Grater, for a bit before understanding what the woman meant. "I would never do that. My birth mother is indeed dead. If she was still around she would have prepared me," princess Ellen said.


    Grater was a bit curious but she stopped herself from asking more questions. She also heard from Marina that the Queen of Bozoa did not treat the princess well. So Grater concluded that maybe the princess was the daughter of the king''s mistress hence the queen maltreated her and finally she was offered off to the famous curse prince of Avalo.


    Although Grater was not from a noble family but she had started walking with them from a young age so she was aware that the useless or mistress child is always offered off in such a situation that surrounded the prince and princess marriage.


    Fortunately, the prince treated her well. Grater took a deep breath and smiled at the prince. "it is my honor to serve and guide you.


    Princess Ellen smiled when she heard Grater''s response. She felt blessed.. She could not explain why but princess Ellen had a feeling that she could trust Grater with her life.