Coraline gives him in the matter

"Coraline, what are you doing?" Marcus asked frantically, pulling himself at last from his maid's tight grip. "That man thought I was a girl! And you just let him!"

"Quiet, you stupid boy!" Coraline snapped, her eyes flashing. The young prince froze in shock, his mouth hanging open. She never shouted at him! And why was she mad anyway? He was the one who got dragged out of bed and bullied and ogled by that annoying sergeant while never getting the chance to explain he was a boy! Hold on, she'd been snapping at him the whole evening! That wasn't allowed!

"Hey!" He pouted furiously, stamping his feet. "You can't shout at me! You're just a maid!" Coraline lunged at him, and suddenly she'd grabbed him by the ear! The young prince squealed in pain as she viciously pinched him, dragging him back into her chest.

"Do you even realize how close you came to getting both of us killed?!" The maid hissed, yanking his face to hers. Marcus gasped and wriggled but he was utterly helpless. She was so strong! "Your uncle has the castle, he's overthrown your parents and taken the throne! You think if he catches you he's going to just let you go? He'll have you executed, you witless child! I just saved your life!" She twisted his ear, making him shriek. It hurt so much! Marcus was sobbing now, tears of shock and pain spilling down his cheeks. She was so mad at him!

"Please, I'm sorry!" Marcus whimpered through the pain. "I won't do it again! Please!" At last she let his ear go, but her other hand was still holding him firmly by the shoulder, fingers digging into his skin through the thin silk shift. She stared down so angrily it made him want to go and hide in the corner. His lip trembling, the young prince glanced at her feet, sobbing like a child. This night had been so scary already and now even his favorite maid had turned into some kind of vicious brute who hurt and bullied him!

"Look at me, Marcus." Coraline ordered. Too afraid of her to do anything else, Marcus raised his head, staring at her chin through a mist of tears. "I want to protect you, I really do." Her voice was softer now, but she was still scolding him and somehow that made him feel guilty and ashamed for snapping at her. "That's why I told them you were my daughter, that's why I let that man Castus believe he might have a chance to meet you again. Without his help we'd have never made it out of the castle. Someone would have noticed this..." Her hand brushed over his cheek, one finger tracing through his hair. "And guessed the pretty boy with silver hair was really the prince they're all looking for. Instead, all those soldiers saw was a young girl in the arms of her mother, being escorted out the castle by one of their own. Do you understand that now? Do you understand why you should have just listened to me from the start?"

"Yes." Marcus whimpered. She was gently rubbing his forehead and it did feel nice, but he was still so scared she'd grab his ear again.

"Then there's something you should be saying to me, isn't there?" The maid said expectantly. Marcus froze, a flicker of panic grabbing at his throat. What did she mean? Just as her eyebrow darted up, and her lips started curling into the hint of a frown, it hit him and he hurriedly choked out the words.

"Um...thank you, Coraline, for saving me." The young prince sniffled. "And...I'm sorry again for snapping at you."

"You're welcome." Coraline smiled gently, any trace of that vicious anger vanishing like a bad dream. "So you know you can trust me now, right?" Marcus nodded again. "I'll protect you from all those mean soldiers, but you have to listen to what I tell you. We're not prince and maid anymore. There's just Marcus and Coraline, and Marcus is going to be a good boy and listen to Coraline from now on, isn't he?"

"Yes." Marcus sobbed. He was so anxious and tired and scared. He just wanted to curl up in a ball in the corner and cry. Coraline gently pulled him closer and suddenly she was hugging him tight against her chest, her strong arms wrapped around his shoulders. It felt nice, even if she'd been mean to him before. Sniffling into her dress, the young prince reached up and clung to her with trembling little hands. Maybe she was right. If she hadn't saved him, he really would be in the hands of his uncle right now. And that would have been even worse than just getting scolded and having his ear pinched.

"There's a good boy." His favorite maid patted him on the back as he sobbed into her chest. "Cry all you need to. I'm here for you." And cry he did, until his eyes were sore and the front of her dress was stained wet. When he finally had no tears left, she gently pulled him back, staring down at him with a soothing smile. Her hand reached up and cupped his cheek, wiping away a few stray tears with her fingers. "Poor Marcus, you look so exhausted." She cooed. "It's been such a tiring day for you, hasn't it? Let me show you were we're going to be sleeping from now on."

Her arms still wrapped around him, Coraline led the young prince through towards the back of the small house. He was helpless to resist her, and let his favorite maid do with him as she pleased.