Physician to the Dragon Prince

CHAPTER 4 – You will learn to respect me

CHAPTER 4 – You will learn to respect me

Radur’s POV

Pride filled me up when I won over her ego, but my dragon Zammorai wasn’t happy. I could sense it since he was a part of my soul. Usually, he would never let anyone go alive after they spoke to us disrespectfully, but this time, he was quiet throughout the whole time when she spoke to us with her high pitch tone. Instead, I could feel him looking at her in awe. When I approached her, I felt a strange feeling that I had never felt before. Nevertheless, I needed to focus on meeting the generals and the knights. So, I went to the meeting chamber, the one we used when it came to military matters. Everyone was already seated there when I entered and they all stood up with respect as soon as they saw me.

The table was round and made out of wood. In the middle of it was an unfolded map of all the kingdoms with their border. Our flag was pinned on the kingdoms that belonged to us.

“My lord, what should we do now with the captured prisoners?” Sir Barren inquired. He was the most trustworthy knight in my army.

“Women should be made as maids and there is also a newborn baby in the dungeons. Make sure not to give that mother any work until she is fit enough to work. Let her rest and ask the maids to take care of her. The men should work outside, give them heavy work, but make sure that they get their meals on time and ensure they get a proper meal,” I instructed them. I despised seeing people get humiliated whether they belonged to my kingdom or they were prisoners.

“Of course, Your Grace, I will instruct the maids to do so. Your Grace, who delivered the baby in the dungeon since the Royal Physician was out of the castle to see the King’s health?” General Kubota asked curiously and with utmost reverence.  

“There is a girl between the prisoners who we captured yesterday. She served as a nurse under their royal physician back in her kingdom. She was the one who did it, and I was there when she was delivered the baby,” I clarified and everyone looked at me in astonishment.

“Forgive me, Your Grace, but you are not supposed to go to the dungeons,” Sir Barren reminded with his deep voice.

“I wanted to see the prisoners and then this unexpected situation occurred. I’m appointing her as my personal nurse from tomorrow onwards. I think the Royal Physician already has a huge workload, so this will be a liberation for him too,” I explained, looking at them with authority.

“Pardon me, Your Grace, but don’t you think that appointing a prisoner who has just been captured as your personal nurse would be a big risk? She must be stewing in rage and won’t hesitate to take her revenge on you any time. She will be harmful to you, My Lord,” General Kubota advised, worry lacing his voice.

“Don’t worry, it won’t happen. She can’t harm me. Her mother was also captured with her and her father died during the war. It is crystal clear to her that if she takes any attempts to kill me, she is willingly signing the death sentence for her mother,” I said. My lips curved into a winning smile when I recollected the moment she surrendered herself to me.  

“Be careful, Your Grace. The King has ordered us to prepare a feast to celebrate the victory over Dartburry,” Sir Barren informed me.

Sighing deeply, I looked away, “I don’t like to celebrate any victory over bloodshed, Sir Barren. However, my father wishes to and I can’t challenge his decision since he is our king. Hence, you will handle the feast.”

“Take rest, Your Grace. We will handle it,” General Kubota assured and I stood up from my chair, preparing to leave.

“Sir Barren, it’s almost night now. Ask the maids to send dinner for all the prisoners. Also, they need to stretch a little bit, so after their meal, let them go outside with the guards. Make sure that that you have taken the necessary steps regarding the security of the castle,” I ordered and exited the room.

I walked down the corridor, the torches on the walls lighting up and weakening according to the rhythm of my footstep. I entered my chamber and changed something into more comfortable before laying down on the bed. After few minutes, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I invited while sitting on the bed.

“Your Grace, I have brought your dinner.” Agatha and Gillian came with trays in their hands.

“Keep them on the table. Did you send food for the prisoners?” I wanted to be sure that also had their meals. I was responsible for their health since I captured them and am their new lord. Did I actually worry about all of them or just about someone in particular?

“Your Grace, we have sent the meals for the prisoners with soldiers. Your Grace, your food is warm, it’s best if you eat it now. It will help you to have a good night's sleep,” Agatha told me with all due respect. She was the most trustworthy woman among my all servants. She had served me for the past ten years and sometimes she advised me, she was truly more than just a maid.

“I will, Agatha. Have you both had your meals?” I asked, taking a seat at the table. She came forward and opened the large cloche covering the trays. One tray consisted of soup, water, and wine. The next tray held the main meal with bread, roasted meat, and some vegetable salads. The final, smaller tray included fruits and some dessert pastries.

“Your Grace, we will have our meal when we return to the maid’s quarters. You have your meal and have a good night's sleep. You must be tired after returning from the battlefield,” Agatha advised with a humble smile and I nodded in acknowledgment.

“Thank you, Agatha. I will send you the trays with a soldier. You can go and have your meals now.” I picked up a spoon and scooped up some soup to taste it.

“I appreciate your kindness, Your Grace. Good night!” she wished me and they both left my chamber.

I slowly had my dinner, alone in my chamber, the same way every day since the unfortunate incident. When I was almost finished with my meal, all of a sudden the sound of some voices from the garden reached my ears. Since I was dining near the open window, everything was loud and clear to me. I wiped my mouth and looked out of the window.

My eyes caught sight of the prisoners that were outside in the garden surrounded by soldiers and one woman was arguing with them. I clearly realized that it was none other than her. Now, what is she doing? She truly had the characteristics of a rebel.

Curious, I quickly wore my robe over my clothes and left my chamber. A few soldiers followed behind me as I headed to the garden with my long strides.

“Keep quiet, you filthy woman! Do as we say!” I heard a soldier yelled at her. My ears burned and my blood boiled when I heard his words and tone, making me clench my teeth.

Scanning the area, I looked around for them before locating them, but none of them saw me approaching, they were busy arguing with each other.

“What is happening here?!” I roared at them, making the garden echo with absolute silence.

“Your Grace, forgive us. We didn’t want to disturb your sleep. This woman is the one who started a fight with us,” a soldier explained with his head lowered. Glancing at the crowd, I noticed that all the prisoners had their heads bowed and were kneeling as soon as they saw me, but she was the only one looking at me with her feisty eyes and refuse to bow before me. I glared at her with my narrowed eyes.

“Kneel before His Grace! How disrespectful of you!” a soldier yelled and she looked at him for few seconds before bowing slightly to me with her jaw clenched.

“You, tell me, why are you pulling stunts with my soldiers?” I demanded, approaching her, my heart becoming numb with each step I took towards her.

“Your Grace, after our meal they brought us here for a little break from the dungeons but the newborn baby began crying for milk from her mother. She can’t feed her child in front of these men. I politely requested them that she needed a space to feed the baby,” she clarified with a soft voice. Her voice was like a melody to my ears and I yearned to hear it until the sun rises.

“Your Grace, we can’t let the prisoners simply scatter about. I am sure that they are planning to escape here!” the soldier who argued with her, told me.

“Do not interrupt me while I am in a conversation with someone! Haven’t you learned that while serving in the castle all this time?” my dragon voice startled him, paralyzing him in shock.

I signaled Emma to continue, “you can go on.”

“They rejected my request and said that we were looking for a space to flee from the castle. The baby is crying desperately in hunger, My Lord and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer. That’s why I argued with them and I will continue arguing until they arrange a proper place for her to feed the baby,” she voiced out bravely, staring intently into my eyes. No one had ever spoken to me in such a way before. Everyone usually shivered in fear when they speak to me.

“Has your brain stopped working? Weren’t you born from a woman’s womb? Can’t you see that the baby is crying severely because she is hungry and the only option is to feed her?!” I yelled to the soldier and he immediately fell on his knees in front of me.

“Forgive me, My Lord. I was focusing on my duty and protecting the castle,” he begged, his voice trembling with fear.

“Arrange the common room for the woman to feed her baby. From now onwards she will be released to the common room with her baby along with a few women to help her. Others will be sent to the dungeons and my maid, Agatha, will describe each of your duties tomorrow morning. You should all obey and respect her. Disobeying her is equivalent to disobeying me and all of you will not like the consequences of that,” I explained to all the women who kneeled in front of me.

“And you, feisty Tigress, you should learn to show me some respect. Now, because of your feisty behavior, you will be punished.” I wrapped my arm around the crook of her elbow and tugged her towards me as she slapped my chest hardly.

“Why am I getting punished? I didn’t argue with you!” she retorted, struggling to release herself from my grip.

“Until you learn to bow to me properly and kneel in front of me, you will serve me. You need to control your feisty behavior,” I warned, squeezing her elbow. I notice her gulping and her eyes started to moisten with tears. She looked at me, her eyes carrying a hint of hurt and hate, but she managed to hide her tears by looking up.

I released her from my grip and prepared to return to my chambers. I could feel her glaring at me with her vengeful eyes and my lips curved with a victory smile.