The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

While the Queen was almost going crazy in the palace, the oblivious group were getting out of their rooms one by one.

If it wasn't the nice smell of roasted meat that woke them up, it was the heavy knocks on their doors by the innkeeper, inviting them to come out for breakfast.

Alicia and Harold had already left their rooms and were outside using sticks to brush their teeth, so they were the first to sit down around the table on the front porch of the inn.

Only this morning did Alicia notice that the innkeeper also ran a restaurant by the side of the inn, and some guests or customers were having rather simple meals as well.

Seeing how they were sitting around a grand table in front of the porch, some of the customers were rather curious and watched them while they were still engaged in their conversations and gossip.

Paulina came out next and just stood back awkwardly, not sure what she was supposed to do now. She felt rather uneasy because she hadn't done any chores at all today, and now they were about to eat, and there was no way in hell she was going to sit down with them. So was she just supposed to stand back and watch guard or return to the room?

"Why are you just standing there staring at us?" Harold asked as soon as he noticed her presence, and Alicia turned to face Paulina.

Paulina was startled that Harold was talking to her and when he pointed at her, she almost had a heart attack until he made a gesture with his hand to the other seat beside Alicia.

"Come sit here," Alicia said, tapping the seat beside her. Hesitantly, she went to sit down just as some maids came and started serving meals on their table. Unconsciously, she jumped up from the seat and tried to take the plates from one of the maids, but Alicia grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.

"What are you doing? You came out to relax, not to serve," Alicia cautioned her softly. Just what kind of life was she used to that it was even embedded in her subconscious to serve?

"I... am so uncomfortable, my lady," Paulina said in a quiet voice as she shifted in her seat.

The two maids who were serving them paused and looked at both Alicia and Paulina curiously.

"You are ladies?" one of them asked.

"Yes. Why?" Alicia asked with a slightly raised brow.

"Didn't the king agree for women who dress like men to be punished? Aren't you scared?" The other one asked in a hushed voice.

"We are, that's why we are wearing straw hats to disguise ourselves. You couldn't tell at first glance, could you?" Alicia asked as she tilted the hat away from her face and winked at the maid, who giggled.

"We couldn't," she agreed, and Alicia grinned while Harold's gaze was fixed on her as she spoke with them.

"Don't worry, we will keep your secret and not tell anyone," the first one promised, with a mischievous look on her face.

"That will be very much appreciated," Alicia said with a wide smile.

"Your meat will be served shortly," the other said as they turned to leave, but she noticed Harold.

"You are a really tall lady," the first one said, and Alicia was wondering why the girl was saying that when it appeared they were the same height, but she noticed that the maids were staring at Harold.

Harold's head slowly turned to face the maids, and from the look in his eyes, it seemed like he was trying not to react to her words.

"Enjoy your meal, my lady," the second maid said as she tapped Harold on his shoulder, and before he could burst from anger, the oblivious girls had already hurried away to go serve other guests.

Paulina slapped a hand over her mouth, trying so hard not to laugh, but when Alicia burst into unrestrained laughter, Paulina could no longer hold it in again and she laughed out loud too.

Williams came out to find Alicia and Paulina laughing loudly, while it seemed like Paulina was making a conscious effort to stop but could not. Harold, on the other hand, was gripping his spoon with so much strength that it broke into two.

"They must want to die," Harold said in a dark voice, and that just set off Alicia and Paulina again, totally ignoring how he had snapped the spoon into two.

It took a while before they were able to tone down their laughter while Williams joined them with a questioning look on his face, wondering what had happened.

"I think I am going to die!" Susan said this in a loud, dramatic voice as she came out of the inn while cradling her head with both hands.

Harold turned his displeased gaze on her, startling her and making her stumble backwards before giving the others a questioning look, wondering what was wrong with him.

She moved stealthily and sat down beside her brother just as Luciana came out, looking even worse than her.

"What happened last night?" Luciana asked in a cracked voice that made Williams snort.

"You two did a good job of annoying me last night," Williams said in an annoyed tone.

"Last night? What happened?" Luciana asked Williams in confusion, but Lance's loud groan distracted them as he stepped out.

"This was the worst night of my life. I could not sleep well." He complained with a hand on his neck as he found his seat beside Luciana.

"You slept very comfortably and your snores could not let me sleep." Williams pointed out, making the others chuckle. Except for Harold, of course.

"That's a lie. I don't snore and I could not sleep well either." Lance said defensively and looked at all the vegetables and fruits on the table.

"Where is breakfast?" He asked, hoping this wasn't it.

To answer Lance's question, the innkeeper and another man brought a full-grilled pig that caught the attention of other customers, making them pause their gossip.