Elara’s POV:

“You-” I started at him. “You’re the Crown Prince?”

Evren’s smile widened. “I was wondering when you would figure it out.”

“When I would-” My voice caught in my throat. Every rude comment I made to him yesterday, and even today, suddenly came back to me all at once. 

I was going to die…

If the mage-hunting man didn’t kill me first, then I would get killed by the Crown Prince for disrespecting him.

Evren stepped forward before I could decide whether running back into the carriage was still an option.

“This is Elara,” He announced to the waiting servants with confidence while standing tall. “She assisted me after the attack outside the capital three weeks ago, and treated my injuries overnight until I was stable enough to come back to the capital the next day.”

I sensed all the servants' eyes bore into me.

“She will be staying at the castle as a guest under my protection.”

A guest? My eyes snapped back to him again. That is not what he told me earlier!

“She is also a skilled herbalist,” Evren continued, completely ignoring my stare. “I have arranged for her to assist the royal physician during her stay.”

There it was: the lie that he told me wasn’t a lie after all.

Unfortunately, he had neglected the very important detail that my new employer was apparently the Crown Prince himself - which is the man I saved that night, which is also the same man to whom I was rude and raised my dagger.

I looked towards my right, and Sir Jake was looking at me with a smug face and mouthed ‘Treason’

Oh yeah, I also said something that can be considered treason. All the color from my face must’ve been drained by now, and I kept my gaze on the floor, not daring to lift my eyes and look at anyone around me.

“Alright then, Ms. Elara.” Evren turned to look back at me.

Yup, I am dying in his hands instead of the other man.

“The Chief Royal Physician is right there; if you can go with him, he will train you for the job.” He pointed at an older man who appeared to be in his sixties, with visible wrinkles around his mouth and brown eyes. His hair was gray with age, and he was wearing a long white robe that reached his feet, wide gold-trimmed cuffs at the ends of his sleeves, gold-embroidered borders along the robe's edge, and a gold-trimmed stole hanging at the front. 

“Adrian, I entrust her in your care.” Evren smiled at him. 

“Yes, Your Highness.” Adrian lowered his head in acknowledgment, then looked at me.

 His brown eyes held hostility towards me. He must hate me already because I didn’t even try to compete for this job.

“Alright, everyone! Get back to work. Winston, get all my paperwork ready for me to review today.” Evren ordered his butler, then walked into the castle without glancing at me. Jake followed him. 

I was left alone with the Chief Royal Physician. We stood in awkward silence for a few minutes until he broke the silence. “Let me show you around the castle, then give you a test to determine how well you are with herbs.”

“A test?” I asked.

“Yes, I can’t just let anyone work with us without knowing your skills and determining if you are worthy enough for this job.”

Oh, he hates me already. It’s as if he is against the Crown Prince’s orders.

We walked into the castle towards the medical ward, and servants were whispering among themselves.

“Did you hear? She got hired with no experience or even education.” One maid said to another.

“That’s crazy! So unfair; even maids who work for the Crown Prince had to jump through hoops to get this job.” 

I received glares from some servants, strange looks, and disgust as well.

Oh, believe me, I was forcefully brought here. I thought to myself.