Page 25 of Fit for a Prince (Fit For A Crown #1)

Chapter twenty-four

“ H ow did it go with Prince Atlas?” Mara barely let me step through the door before peppering me with questions. “You met at the library, right? Did he read to you? Did you read to him?”

I kicked off my tight slippers before moving to my array of notes I’d tucked away neatly on my desk. I had a lot to get out of my mind and down onto paper.

“Was anyone else there?” Mara continued badgering me. “Were there other officials like when you were called to see Prince Lochlan?”

“It was only us,” I finally replied as I settled into my seat and reached for my quill. “And we did read to each other a bit.”

Except it was all obituaries and criminal records.

“Oh, how romantic!” Mara clasped her hands together, a truly joyous smile lighting up her scarred face. “I was so hoping Prince Atlas would be the one.”

The one ?

“I thought you said Prince Cedric was the one?” Beckham stepped out from behind the bed canopy where he had been dusting the curtains.

“Well, today is a new day,” Mara said brightly. “And Prince Atlas clearly cares enough to give our lady the attention she deserves.”

“Since when do I deserve anything in this palace?” I asked under my breath, my eyes already drawn to what I was putting on the page. “I’m no better than either of you. We’re all facing the same fate if I fail.”

“But you’re the only one who can change that fate, my lady,” Beckham said with his own touch of cheeriness. “Your victories are also ours. A good afternoon with any of the princes is a step toward a better life for us all.”

Mara nodded in agreement, and I looked up from my notes long enough to take in the sappy moment. It was the first time I’d seen genuine excitement on the faces of any of the Ivalonian servants. I put down my quill and pushed my notes aside. Atlas wasn’t the only one I needed to be researching.

“What kind of life would you hope to have here?” I asked them, catching them off guard with my question. “I know things will never be the same as they were back home, but how do you hope to live if I succeed at marrying a prince? ”

And which prince do I need to marry to achieve their dreams?

“Equal treatment would probably be the most I could ask for,” Mara said, her smile dipping as her fingers fluttered toward her scar before pulling away.

“I don’t mind being a servant. In fact, the job is quite satisfying when you’re not afraid of making little mistakes.

I should like a life where I can work without fear of losing my life or being treated as a lesser being. ”

My heart jolted as I thought back to the threats made against Mara. She had no idea how much her life truly hung in the balance, but if I did my job right, she’d never know at all.

“And you, Beckham?” I asked. “How would you hope to live?”

He reached for his neck, his fingers hooking around the chain for a brief moment before he cleared his throat.

“I agree with Mara, but I’d also want justice for those we’ve lost.” His expression hardened.

He may not have had a flashy scar like Mara, but the pain he’d endured was just as clear.

“I don’t want to simply forget the lives that were stolen.

I know that’s selfish of me, and something I can hardly ask of you in your current position, my lady.

But if I could have it all, I’d want justice too. ”

I couldn’t have agreed more .

I took in a long breath, glancing at the two stacks of notes on my desk.

One was for Cedric and one was for Atlas, and Lochlan’s was stuffed under my bed and out of sight.

Beckham couldn’t have been the only person who wanted revenge, and while my priority was survival for me and my people, I couldn’t help but concur with Beckham’s desire for more.

I wanted justice, and if my people did too, then there was only one way to accomplish it all.

I needed to become more than a princess. I needed the power of a queen.

“Then I will marry Prince Atlas,” I said plainly, causing both of their eyes to dilate.

“As you said Mara, he’s the one .” I forced a smile while the gears in my head spun at full speed.

A thousand plots and plans raced through my thoughts, even as part of my brain told me I was being foolish for narrowing down my choices so soon and picking the higher-risk prince.

But I didn’t care. It was time I decided how to take back my people’s lives.

“A-are you sure?” Mara gaped. “I know your visit today went well, but do you truly believe he’ll be the one to marry you?”

“He has to be,” I said coldly as I pushed Cedric’s stack of notes to the side. “No one else will be able to grant me the power needed to restore Ivalon.”

“Restore Ivalon?” Beckham stepped forward. “You mean like the Guardian?”

What?

“You know about the Guardian?” I rose out of my seat, and Beckham paled the moment he realized the words had left his lips. It had been days since I’d heard that name come up.

“I-I uh...” Beckham bit his lip. He looked down at the hidden pendant under his cloak, as if reminding himself of the secrets I had already proven I could keep.

He released his lip and lowered his voice.

“I don’t know much, but some of the other Ivalonian servants have heard of him.

He’s some sort of rebellion leader over in the remains of Ivalon who has been protecting the remaining people and the vault. ”

“The vault?” My heart skipped a beat, and I nearly tripped on the corner of my chair. “W-what vault?”

It couldn’t be the same one...only King Leopold knew where it was located. At least, as far as I knew.

“It’s supposedly some grand treasure room filled with all of Ivalon’s magic,” Beckham said, lowering his voice.

“A few servants have been receiving secret letters from surviving loved ones across the border. They claim that the Guardian has been protecting them and plans to rebuild the kingdom. Forgive me, I thought you knew this considering your position.”

I paused to collect myself as a dozen new questions fought for dominance on my tongue.

“I knew parts of it, but I can’t say I knew the extent of this Guardian’s involvement.

” I wasn’t sure how to feel about a nameless man who was trying to rebuild a kingless kingdom. “How do they intend to restore Ivalon?”

I thought back to the papers I’d found on Cedric’s desk, all the soldiers they were sending in to fight the rebels. Could the Guardian fight that? And if so, how were they accomplishing such a feat?

“I couldn’t say for sure, but I have a good guess,” Beckham said softly, his hand pressed against the pendant hidden under his shirt.

I have a guess, too...

“The power from the vault.” Every part of me went numb at the thought, but it made perfect sense. If the Guardian had discovered King Leopold’s vault, he would be unstoppable. Rebuilding Ivalon would be completely possible, but who was the man doing the rebuilding?

And if he knew where the vault was, did that mean Leopold had trusted him?

I didn’t like any of this. Not for Ivalon, not for my people, and especially not for me; my secrets were stashed away in that vault too. If the Guardian found them...

“I need to marry Prince Atlas,” I said again, my voice firmer than steel. “When can I see him again?”