*: The following content may contain sexual content.*

By the third day without food, I could barely sit up when the maids come. While they help me put on a new dress, I nearly fainted. Unable to stand steady on my feet, I asked the maid to send my apology to the Prince. They were clearly afraid to relay the message but I didn't have the strength to care. I was too weak to go anywhere. With the accessories still in my hair, I went back to my bed.

Only sleep could help the hunger go away.

I was waked to the loud bang. My weakened body shot straight up seeing the angry man at the doorway. When he suddenly went toward me and grabbed me down onto the bed, my eyes widened.

"If this is your plan to get my attention, it worked" He bit out coldly.

Before I could react, he already ripped open the dress I wore, exposing the pale green fabric that covers my breast. I had been too stunned and weak to understand what was happening. My face flushed red when he pulled the thin fabric, exposing my breast before him. Then I felt his mouth on my neck and his hand on my breast.

I rarely spoke so when I suddenly screamed, he was startled. At his loosening grip, I pushed and pulled away. Even when I fell hard onto the floor, I gathered the ripped dress back onto my shoulders and crawled to the underside of the table. In fear and pain, I trembled at the sight of his shoes under the table.

"F_ Forgive R_ Ruyi" I pleaded, holding onto the ripped dress. "R_ Ruyi didn't mean to offend the Prince. R_ Ruyi wasn't feeling well_"

I covered my lips when tears rushing down my face. I have never cried. Even with all the pain in my life, I never cried. While my mother and half-sisters use their tears to get whatever they wanted, I grew up resenting tears. Biting down on my lips to stop the cries, I buried my face down onto my folded arms. While I focused on calming my emotions, the Prince had already lifted the small wooden table and moved it aside.

The Prince stood over me and saw the ripped dress that barely hanging on my shoulders. The braids and accessories on my hair was a mess. When he bent to his knees, I felt that he was right in front of me. Scared, I wanted to move far away but he grabbed hold of the back of my head. He kept me still with one hand while the other was wiping at my tears.

I didn't understand his gesture or his quiet expression. Pulling away, I wiped at my own tears not letting him see any more of it. I was already weak. I didn't want to be pathetic. In that very moment, my stomach growled.

"If you're hungry" He said with amusement. "Why did you refuse to go the Main Hall this morning?"

I kept silence.

"You're silence will only anger me" He warned.

"The Prince has not eaten the morning meals the last three days" I answered softly. "What difference will it make if Ruyi goes or not...? In the end, Ruyi will not be fed"

When he suddenly cupped my cheek, I was forced to look into his blazing dark gray eyes. No matter what I do or say, he will always be angry. So why couldn't he allow me to remain silent?

"What do you mean you will not be fed?" I trembled to his deep voice. "When was the last time you ate? Did the servants not bring you your meal?"

My confused expression made him even angrier. Before I knew it, he lifted me up and carried to the bed. I had been too stunned to react while he shouted for someone to come help me change. When he stormed out, I was left with a group of frightened maids.