Don't Save the Prince-Dog

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I was imprisoned in a gilded cage, while Silas, the Seventh Prince of the Empire, knelt to kiss the cold chains around my ankles.

I looked at him with nothing but pure hatred and asked, I saved your life. Why did you murder my entire family?

He gently stroked my cheek, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

"Sera, I've tasted your food and felt your warmth. I am your dog for all eternity. If you won't marry me willingly, I'll kill everyone you love and turn you into a puppet that stays by my side forever."

It all started because I threw a leftover bone to a shivering stray dog that was about to freeze to death.

I never imagined that the dog was actually Silas, the Seventh Prince, transformed into a beast by a lethal curse.

After he regained his human form, he stood in the imperial hall and pointed at me.

"Father, Seraphina has already shared the intimacy of flesh with me."

He ruined my reputation and destroyed my engagement.

Finally, he slaughtered my kin and locked me in this deep, dark palace.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I first met him.

Looking at the filthy dog whimpering at my feet, I didn't hesitate. I called out to the servants.

"Find me ten female dogs in heat! Now!"

The servants worked quickly, and it wasn't long before ten female dogs were dragged into the backyard with iron chains.

The females had bloodshot eyes and were panting heavily. As soon as they saw the mud-covered, shivering stray in the corner, they lunged.

The stray dog howled in desperation, dragging its broken hind leg as it tried to hide.

It craned its neck, its cloudy eyes staring straight at me.

That was no ordinary animal's gaze. It was filled with disbelief, horror, and a very clear sense of resentment.

In my past life, I was fooled by those very eyes. This time, I leaned down and let a smirk spread across my face.

"What's wrong? Uncomfortable?"

"You're just a dog about to freeze to death. I'm being kind by finding you some company to warm you up. You should be thanking me."

The stray made a low, guttural sound in its throat. I stood up and brushed the dust off my hands.

"My Lady!"

My maid, Phoebe, was pale. "What... what are you doing? Why bring all these dogs here for no reason?"

I replied expressionlessly, "Spring is coming. When beasts are in heat, they need an outlet."

"But..."

"Shut up and stand back. I don't want you getting bitten."

Phoebe immediately went quiet and retreated behind a pillar.

The female dogs chased the stray around the courtyard, smashing flower pots and shelves in the chaos.

I pulled over a wooden chair and sat down to peel some sunflower seeds.

"Oh, dear sister, what on earth are you doing?"

The voice of my half-sister, Rosalie, drifted in from the moon gate. She stepped into the yard, dabbing her nose with a silk handkerchief.

She scanned the scene of the crazed dogs and the stray cowering in the corner, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Heavens, Sera! How can you be so cruel to a poor little puppy!"

She leaned over and reached out her arm toward the stray.

"Come here, don't be afraid. Come to me..."

I spat out a seed shell.

"Oh, since you're so soft-hearted, Rosalie, that's perfect."

I jerked my chin at the servants.

"Take that filthy mutt and those female dogs over to the Third Lady's courtyard. Let her take good care of them."

Rosalie's expression froze instantly. "Sera, that's not what I meant..."

Before she could finish, the servants let go of the iron chains.

The ten female dogs turned and lunged straight at Rosalie.

Rosalie screamed as she was knocked to the ground. her skirt was shredded, and her hair became a tangled mess.

In the confusion, the stray dog bit her sleeve, using her as a springboard to leap over the wall and escape.

"Sera! You... you're a monster!"

Rosalie crawled up, covered in mud, her dress stained with dirt and dog hair.

I dropped the remaining seeds and stood up, looking down at her.

"Weren't you being kind, Rosalie? What's the matter? Don't like it when a dog gets close to you?"

"You..."

"Listen carefully."

I looked at every servant in the yard and spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.

"From this day forward, no stray animals of unknown origin are allowed in this manor. Anyone who sneaks one in will have their legs broken and be kicked out."

"I'm talking about dogs."

I paused and looked directly at Rosalie.

"And people."

Rosalie was shaking all over. She limped away, leaning heavily on her maid.

Before she left the yard, she turned and glared at me. It was the exact same look she gave me in my past life.

In that life, she told Silas that I was head-over-heels for him, which led my entire family to their deaths.

I turned and went back to my room, slamming the door.

The bronze mirror reflected a young, vibrant face.

In my past life, I was locked in a cage, forced to look at the severed heads of my thirty-seven family members.

I clenched my fists. In this life, no one touches my family.

Three days later, Phoebe ran into the room, panicked.

"My Lady! Something terrible has happened!"

"A messenger from the palace says that the Seventh Prince has recovered from an assassination attempt. He heard someone in our manor saved him, and he's coming tomorrow to thank us in person!"

I closed my book. So, he was coming after all.

He did the same thing in the last life. Back then, I thought it was a blessing from the heavens. This time, I let out a dark chuckle.

"Tell the kitchen to prepare some extra bones for tomorrow. When a distinguished guest arrives, we must have something to feed him."

The next day, an eight-man carriage arrived outside the manor.

Silas, the Seventh Prince, stepped out and stood before the entrance screen. Every maid and old woman in the yard was staring.

"Oh my, is that the Seventh Prince? He's so handsome..."

"I heard he was attacked by assassins and almost died. He looks perfectly fine now..."

I stood at the threshold of the main hall and watched him approach.

"Lady Seraphina."

Silas bowed with extreme grace. His tone was incredibly gentle, but I knew exactly what was hidden under that skin.

"I have come to thank you personally for saving my life."

"That day, I was poisoned and on the brink of death. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't have lasted until the imperial physicians arrived. I will never forget this debt."

He spoke loudly enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear.

My father, the Prime Minister, stood to the side with a respectful smile.

"Your Highness, you flatter her. If my daughter truly did such a thing, it is her honor..."

"It is more than that."

Silas suddenly raised his voice and turned to my father with a bow.

"Lord Prime Minister, I must be honest. Your daughter and I have already shared the intimacy of flesh."

The hall went silent. My father's smile froze, and several old nannies gasped.

Rosalie, hiding behind the crowd, smirked and chimed in.

"Sera, you and the Prince... oh my heavens!"

Everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

For an unmarried woman, those words were a death sentence. I calmed my breathing and spoke.

"Your Highness."

I looked Silas straight in the eye.

"Have you lost your goddamn mind?"

The crowd erupted in whispers. Silas's smile twitched for a fraction of a second.

I continued.

"Recently, I only encountered a mangy stray dog in the back alley. It was covered in sores, had a broken leg, and was riddled with fleas."

"May I ask, Your Highness, are you saying that you are that stray dog? Are you saying I had 'intimacy' with a flea-bitten mutt?"

A few maids couldn't help but snicker.

Silas's eyes turned cold instantly, but he forced his smile back.

"You're joking, My Lady. I was poisoned and hunted. I was indeed in a pathetic state. But your kindness was real..."

"Furthermore..."

I turned my gaze toward Rosalie.

"The one who was tackled by that stray dog and had her skirt torn to shreds was my sister, Rosalie."

"If you want to repay a debt, Your Highness, you should be looking for her."

Rosalie turned deathly pale.

The people in the yard looked at her, their gazes shifting to something more judgmental.

"Sera, you're lying!"

Rosalie stamped her feet in frustration.

"That was just a wild dog! What does it have to do with the Prince!"

I widened my eyes at her.

"Oh, Rosalie, didn't you say you cared for that dog the most? You even wanted to hug it."

The old nannies began to whisper, looking at Rosalie with pure disdain.

Rosalie was shaking with rage, her body swaying.

Silas's look of tenderness was gone, replaced by a dark, icy chill.

"It seems... Lady Seraphina is determined to deny this debt."

He smiled, and that smile sent a shiver down my spine.

He flicked his sleeves and turned toward the gate. As he passed me, he stopped and leaned in close, whispering a single sentence.

"Sera, you can't run from me."

He strode away.

I let out a breath and unclenched my fingers. My palms were soaked with sweat.

Half a month later, it was the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

I followed my father into the palace.

The moment I stepped into the grand hall, I felt eyes on me.

Silas was sitting at the end of the princes' row, holding a wine cup and smiling at me from across the room.

I looked away and took my seat with the other ladies.

Halfway through the banquet, I stood up to freshen up.

As I passed the gallery in the royal garden, a hand suddenly shot out from behind a rockery and gripped my wrist like a vice.

"Sera."

Silas emerged from behind the stones, a few withered leaves clinging to his shoulder.

"You've been hiding from me for half a month."

"Let go."

I hissed through my teeth.

Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip.

My wrist turned white, and the bone-deep pain made me wince.

"Sera, I wanted to marry you with dignity."

He leaned into my ear and whispered.

"But you insisted on being difficult."

"After the banquet tonight, I will ask my father for a marriage decree. Once the edict is issued, you will marry me whether you want to or not."

"You belong to me, Sera. That was settled the moment you threw me that bone."

I shoved him back with all my strength.

"You're sick."

He nodded, smiling.

"Yes, and you're the only cure."

"But you should know, I always get what I want."

He toyed with the jade pendant at his waist.

"Silas, in this capital, you're nothing but a disgraced prince with no powerful maternal family. You're nobody."

"My father is the Prime Minister. His influence is everywhere. Who do you think you are? What makes you think you can ask for a decree?"

"With a face like yours that even a dog wouldn't bite?"

Silas's smile vanished completely. His eyes turned bloodshot.

"What did you say?"

"I said you're not even as good as the guard dog at my gate."

I took a step back, twisting the knife in his heart.

"At least the dog knows how to wag its tail. But you? You crawled in the mud eating my scraps, and now you want me to marry you?"

"What kind of dog thinks eating a woman's leftovers means he gets to own her for life?"

"You're a pathetic toad dreaming of swan meat. You're truly shameless."

Silas's chest heaved. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles were white.

Suddenly, he lunged for my throat.

"Stop!"

The sound of heavy boots approached quickly. Lord Protector Alaric stood there, his face like stone.

Silas's hand froze in mid-air.

I immediately backed away and raised my voice.

"Your Highness! What are you doing?!"

The patrolling guards rushed over at the sound.

Silas instantly let go and adjusted his collar, putting back on his mask of gentleness.

"Lady Seraphina misunderstood. I merely saw a leaf on her shoulder."

"The Seventh Prince is certainly bold."

Alaric's voice was low and dangerous.

"Harassing a minister's daughter in the royal garden right in front of me."

He narrowed his eyes at Silas.

Silas's fake smile faltered. He glared at Alaric, then shot a final look at me.

He lowered his voice.

"Sera, I will remember this insult."

He turned and stormed off.

After thanking the Lord Protector, I returned to the banquet.

It was nearly midnight when we returned to the manor.

My father called me into his study.

"Sera, are you alright? You disappeared for a while at the banquet."

I looked at the new gray hairs at his temples and felt a sting in my nose.

In the last life, Silas framed him, and the Emperor had him beheaded.

"Father."

I walked over and knelt by his knees, resting my head on his lap.

"Someone is harassing me. I'm scared."

Father's hand gently stroked my hair.

"The Seventh Prince?"

His voice turned grim.

"I've heard the rumors. That little bastard has been after you repeatedly."

He helped me up.

"Listen to me, Sera. Even if I have to lose my position, even if I have to take the whole family back to the countryside to farm, I will never let you marry him."

I bit my lip.

Father had said the same thing in the past life, but mortal men cannot fight the crown.

"Father,"

I whispered.

"The Lord Protector, Alaric... he helped me in the palace today."

My father blinked in surprise.

"I think... if I can enter the Lord Protector's household, Silas won't dare move against us."

Father was silent for a long time.

"The Lord Protector commands the entire imperial army. He is second only to the Emperor... if he protects you, no one can touch you."

He sighed.

"But he's known as the Cold-Faced Yama. He never shows interest in women. It won't be easy."

"It's not about social climbing."

I gripped my sleeves.

That night, I tossed and turned. Silas's parting words haunted me.

He wouldn't let this go. He was like a wolfDonce he bit down, he'd drag you to the grave with him.

The next morning, as I was washing my face, Phoebe burst in.

"My Lady! It's a disaster!"

"Imperial guards are outside! They've surrounded the manor!"

My heart hammered against my ribs. When I reached the front yard, my father was already kneeling on the ground.

An official holding a golden scroll shouted.

"By the grace of the Emperor! Seraphina, daughter of the Prime Minister, is virtuous and refined. She is hereby granted in marriage to Silas, the Seventh Prince. The wedding shall be held on an auspicious date."

My head buzzed. I couldn't hear the rest of the decree.

I saw Rosalie standing in the back, a poisonous smirk on her face.

Then Silas walked into the yard. He came straight to me and looked down at me as I knelt.

"Sera."

He smiled, just like he did when he locked me in that dark room in the past life.

"I told you,"

He leaned down to my ear.

"In every life, you can only be my puppet."

My nails dug into my palms.

Behind me, my father's voice rang out. "This old servant dares to refuse. I cannot obey this command."

The official snapped.

"Lord Prime Minister, are you defying an imperial edict?"

My father's body swayed.

I closed my eyes. Scenes from my past life flooded back.

The feeling of Silas kissing my ankles. The thirty-seven severed heads.

I will not let history repeat itself.

I opened my eyes, slapped Silas's hand away, and stood up.

I kicked the incense table used for receiving the decree, sent it crashing to the ground.

Everyone in the yard was stunned.

"I'm not marrying him."

I stared Silas down.

"Silas, you've been cursed with the Twin-Soul parasite. You don't want to marry me to repay a debt."