Page 8 of Fit for a Prince (Fit For A Crown #1)

Chapter eight

T he steward’s face said it all, but his lips remained sealed as soon as he was done gaping at me. He led me to the dining hall in silence, his steps rigid as the Aemastian servants whispered as discreetly as possible.

It was just like the first time I had been guided through the halls, but this time I welcomed the scathing glares. If the king wanted me to be humiliated, then I would spare no effort.

When we finally reached the dining room doors, I felt my first wave of nerves. This wasn’t an approach that I was accustomed to taking, but I had never been afraid to play dirty.

“ Lady Diaspro.” This time, the steward announced my title like it was the name of a disease, spitting it out before stepping aside to allow me to cross into the prince’s view.

I saw Atlas first. He was seated in the exact same spot he had been the last time, but the moment he saw me he rose to his feet. His eyes went wide as he started to look me up and down but then stopped himself from looking further.

Cedric stood next, his hand clasped over his mouth as he started to circle around the table only to pause halfway and blink. The shock that encompassed all three brothers was truly delicious, but I couldn’t indulge in it.

Lochlan’s shock faded first. His thick brows furrowed together like an ugly little caterpillar, and his handsome face wore his signature stoic frown.

I took mental notes of each movement from every prince.

Atlas had reacted first, but Cedric had moved closer.

There was potential for both of them. Lochlan, on the other hand. ..

“This must be a joke.” Lochlan leaned back into his chair, too self-important to lift out of his seat. “You look repulsive.”

I winced visibly. My shoulders shrank back, but I kept my expression brave. They wouldn’t believe in such a quick shift in my demeanor. I needed to be broken, not shattered.

“Forgive me, Your Highness.” I dragged out the title, still not giving him the satisfaction of my feigned respect. “I was only trying to please you.

“Please us?” Atlas crossed his arms, those wicked eyes burning into my soul. “What game are you playing at?”

I looked down at my ragged attire with a shameful drop of my chin.

Mara had fought me tooth and nail to put on anything else, but she couldn’t persuade me in the end.

Instead of the elegant gown I had been assigned to wear, I had paired my filthy prison smock with loose hair, no cosmetics, and not even a pair of shoes.

I looked exactly as I had the day I entered the palace, just as hungry, but with an appetite for revenge.

“You are the ones insulting me,” I said boldly, forcing a small quiver into my voice.

It wasn’t hard to fake. My body was weak from the lack of food, and once again the walk through the palace had made me feel lightheaded.

“Was starving me not enough? I expected you to be cruel, but forcing me to dress in such a manner...” I brushed my bare toes against my ankle, my cheeks flushing as I caught Cedric’s eyes diverting from my uncovered feet.

“My mistake for assuming there were any souls tucked beneath those crowns.”

“A mistake indeed,” Lochlan said, earning a sharp look from his brothers.

“Was it you, then?” Cedric turned to Lochlan, his disgusted expression redirected. “Did you send a message for her to dress like this?”

“Why would I care what it looks like?” Lochlan snorted .

“ She ,” Atlas interjected, his voice cutting through the air like steel through bone. “I understand that you’ve been against this union from the start, but this is too far.” He glanced back at me, barely able to look at my boney frame that was no longer easily hidden under a gown.

He surprised me. I had hoped that Cedric would take my side, but Atlas had been too difficult to read during our first introduction.

“I don’t see a problem with it.” Lochlan looked at me with a crooked smirk that made my blood simmer. “She’s merely dressing to reflect her personality.”

I shifted my posture to look more closed-off, attempting to hide from his eyes without any true cover. Lochlan didn’t look away, enjoying every minute of my shame as though he couldn’t have planned it better himself.

“You savage brute,” Cedric spat at Lochlan. “She’s meant to become one of our wives and you think this is funny?”

“I’m not marrying anything that hideous,” Lochlan said. “And watch who you’re calling a brute. It’s not as if I was the one who instructed her to dress so immodestly.”

Atlas and Cedric turned their attention to each other, distrust lacing their gazes like a suffocating corset.

“Was it you, Atlas?” Cedric narrowed his eyes.

“Obviously not,” Atlas said stiffly .

“I wouldn’t say it’s obvious,” Lochlan said, tilting his head to give his twin a sideways smile.

“In fact, it was rather well-played. You nearly had Cedric pitted against me. Let me guess, you have a taste for burlap?” Lochlan nodded in my direction, and this time, the shudder that rolled through me was real.

“Watch yourself,” Atlas growled, placing his hand on the back of the chair, wrapping his knuckles around it. “I don’t like this arrangement any more than you, but I would never disgrace a woman like this.”

“What woman?” Lochlan’s smile twisted. “All I see is rubbish.”

Atlas lunged at Lochlan, but Lochlan simply stood up from his chair, halting Atlas by meeting him eye to eye. It was a bit unnerving seeing the twins right in front of each other. They looked so similar, but at the same time they couldn’t be more different.

“What are you going to do?” Lochlan challenged. “Start a fight? Go ahead and eviscerate me. I’m sure Father will love hearing that his little princess-in-training caused another problem. She does look a little too well-fed, don’t you think?”

My mind raced as I watched the unspoken threats pour from Atlas into his twin. It was as if the very air was poisoned and no one dared to breathe. A long second passed, and Atlas finally pulled back, his cutting glare never parting from Lochlan’s triumphant smile until he was back in his seat.

Interesting...it looks like Atlas might have a soft side as well.

“For someone who hates our father so much, you sure act a lot like him.” Atlas folded his hands in front of his mouth, pressing them against his lips as he squeezed his knuckles in silence.

“If this was really you, Father won’t stand for it either.

I hope you’re looking forward to another punishment from him. ”

“Sadly, not this time.” Lochlan leaned against the table. “I truly had nothing to do with this disaster. Perhaps Cedric is finally having his rebellious streak?”

“I didn’t send any messages,” Cedric said sternly, his focus shifting back to me. “Are you certain the message came from one of us?”

“I was only told that the request came from a prince,” I said with an innocent shrug. “I don’t know the names of the servants here, but they wore a blue uniform and had dark hair.”

Just like every other Aemastian in this palace. Have fun chasing down a ghost.

“Did you not ask for any proof of the sender?” Cedric asked .

“And dare question a royal order?” I reached for my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze as I looked down at my shoeless feet. “I’m not foolish enough to do that again.”

Cedric looked defeated, while Atlas appeared to be far from finished. His thoughtful expression drew me in, twinging a tiny bit of nerves in the back of my mind. He wouldn’t presume I had dressed this way by choice, would he?

“Whoever sent the message, it hardly matters now,” Lochlan said, slipping back into his seat. “It’s not like a proper dress would make her any more appealing.”

“Are you done acting like a dog?” Cedric asked.

“Only if you’re done yipping at my heels like a pup,” Lochlan growled. “As I said, it doesn’t matter.”

“Of course it matters.” Atlas pushed away from the table with an aggravated sigh.

To my surprise, he started walking toward me, slipping off his coat as he moved.

“If someone is using our names without our knowledge, it’s only a matter of time before they stir up real trouble.

” He stopped in front of me, his mystifying gaze questioning me more intensely than any interrogation.

“And we wouldn’t want any trouble, would we?

” His low voice was loud enough for my ears only, eclipsing my thoughts with the deep sound .

“Of course not, Your Highness,” I said softly, my tone too mischievously sweet to feel natural. I bit down lightly on my tongue, cursing myself for breaking my timid character so easily. Atlas’s mere presence challenged me, urging me to take control and claim what I deserved.

He stretched his arms around me, placing his coat over my shoulders. The rich silk was scented with expensive fragrances that smelled like bottled cedar and cinnamon.

“Good.” He smoothed the coat out over my shoulders, his touch lingering on me as our eyes met and I willed him not to look away for as long as possible. “Now sit down and eat—that’s a real order from a prince.”