by Vivian Wood
I smiled in response. I was wearing a black velvet dress with long sleeves and ruching in the front, which exposed my legs, longer in a pair of peeptoe booties from Manolo Blahnik. The dress itself had a line of buttons down the front, pretty silver ones that were almost like brooches. I loved that they didn’t match.
“Thanks,” I managed to get out before snapping back to reality. “So, about this challenge. What do we have to do?”
“You haven’t figured it out yet?” he asked, grinning wickedly at me. “You have to win a royal subject’s approval, of course.”
Did I imagine it, or did a shadow of doubt cross his face for just a second?
“Well, what do I need to do?” I asked, giggling. “I think I’m doing a pretty stellar job so far, don’t you?”
“Indeed,” he replied, raising his brows at me. “But let’s stay a little while longer, at least for pretense’s sake. I can’t let you go quite yet.”
Something about his tone excited me, and I found myself nodding at his words, saying, “I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t you show me around the library? I’d love to see more.”
“Of course.”
He took my hand and helped me up the spiral staircase onto the upper floor. There, the ceiling was even taller, and the bookshelves covered every bit of wall available. There was even a ladder so one could reach the upper shelves without trouble.
“It’s very romantic that the King had those doors made just for your mother,” I muttered to myself. “She must have meant a lot to him.”
“She did,” Bruno replied, his voice unwavering and deep.
“You don’t let yourself slip for a second, do you?”
He turned his eyes to mine with question marks written all over them, and I looked away, blushing.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry, truly. I just… observe things about people.”
“And what else have you observed about me?” he asked, his eyes darkening as he took a step closer.
I turned to face the bookshelves, admiring several editions of A Little Princess while being aware of his presence right behind me. His scent lingered in the air between us, pine needles and wood on the fire. I wanted him to come closer, intensely aware of just what I was thinking.
Olivier would kill him, I thought to myself as guilt washed over me. This is ridiculous. I’m in love with another man.
Yet the spark between us was undeniable. It was right there, jumping between us, daring either one of us to make a move. It was hard to fight it, but I knew I’d remain loyal to Olivier until the end.
I offered Bruno a shy smile before stepping aside, muttering, “No matter.”
“It does matter,” he growled, his hand wrapping around my arm. I looked up at him, surprised by his sudden show of interest. “Amber, don’t walk away just yet.”
I looked up into those stormy eyes, saying, “Why the sudden interest in me? You didn’t seem very excited about my presence when you picked me up at the airport.”
“Well, rumor is,” he replied, smirking. “You’re quite popular with the prince.”
“And?” My eyes implored him to go on. “What, are you like little children? You must have your brother’s favorite toy… or else?”
“Are you really just a toy, Amber?” Bruno said, raising his hand to my face. I flinched, but he merely tucked a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “Don’t fear me, little girl. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“But you will?” I asked, raising my chin and looking him in the eyes.
“I might,” came the answer.
I pushed past him, realizing just how weak I was when his firm hand on my arm stopped me.
“Don’t leave just yet,” he growled. “Your test isn’t quite over.”
I looked up at him, and he leaned in. My body stiffened, and I froze on the spot.
“Don’t,” I whispered just as his lips almost touched mine. His breath was cool and mint-fresh against my lips, but I didn’t want his kiss, as tempting as the idea was. “Don’t kiss me.”
“What makes you think you make the rules?” he asked in a low whisper. “What makes you think I’m going to do as you say, little girl?”
I shivered beneath his gaze. His fingertips brushed my arm, where they’d tightened moments ago, touching the spots I knew would bruise the next day.
“Still so innocent,” he growled in my ear. “Still so sweet.”
I pushed past him this time, and he let me.
I descended the stairs two at a time, struggling to keep from falling over. My breaths were short and ragged, and I was eager to get away, but Bruno caught up with me before I made it to the doors I’d admired what felt like moments ago.
He appeared in front of me, tall and towering over my frail body. I’d never felt as vulnerable then right then and there, and I shivered in fear when he stepped toward me.
“Why don’t you let it happen, little girl?” he ground out. “Why don’t you let me take what I want?”
I cried out when he cornered me against the bookshelves. The copies of the stories from my childhood mocked me from the walls, watching on as the lumbering man before me smirked at my shivering form.
“You sure you’re cut out to be a princess?” he grunted. “There’s a lot more to the role than you might think, little girl.”
“Leave me alone,” I managed, but instead of coming out strong and determined, my voice was small, scared and raw. “I don’t want this.”
“Sometimes you don’t have a choice.”
With those ominous words, he crowded my space. He was touching me everywhere, his hands on my skin, my clothes, on my inner thighs where my dress was ruched.
I raised my eyes to his then, silently begging for him to stop.
Silver met gold when our gazes connected, and I willed him to stop his cruel assault on me.
And then, something switched on inside him. The change was barely noticeable, but I saw it because I was watching him so closely. It was almost as the monster retreated back into the shadows, and the man appeared in the spotlight.
He was questioning it. It was a matter of seconds – but enough time for me to get away.
I shoved past him, my elbow meeting stone hard abs through his blazer as I fled the library.
Bruno didn’t go after me.
I ran down the hallway, sobs starting to wrack my body when I stumbled into a small figure. We both cried out and nearly fell to the floor, holding onto each other to stop the fall. Our eyes connected, and I paled when I realized I’d just collided with the Queen.
“Where are you going in such a rush?” she huffed, and I smoothed down the front of my dress, curtsying like I’d been taught to do. “You shouldn’t run around like that, insolent girl. You could break something of importance! This castle is filled with priceless art.”
From the look she gave me, it was safe to assume I was closer to garbage than a treasure.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” I managed weakly.
Now, she turned her head to the side and regarded me with newfound interest.
“Are you quite alright, dear? It looks like you’ve had a fright.”
It was the nicest, most personable she’d ever been with me.
“B-Bruno,” I spat out despite my better judgement. “He… He touched me.”
She stared at me for a second before letting out a small laugh and waving her hand dismissively. “It’s just a part of your test, silly girl.”
“Test?” I asked. “It was part of the challenge?”
“Of course,” she replied, nonplussed. “All the girls will go through it.”
I thought back to that library. To the way he’d cornered me, hurt me.
“You can’t be serious,” I told the Queen. “Some of those girls aren’t even eighteen years old, and you’re sending them in with that… that monster?”
“Bruno is not a monster!” she spat out, and for a moment I was certain she would slap me. Then, she collected herself and sighed
before touching her hair to make sure everything was still in place. “Look, girl. It’s just a challenge.”
“How is being felt up by him a challenge?” I asked, not even attempting to disguise the anger in my voice. “How is being forced to endure his… attention… a test?”
“It seems like you still don’t have a clue,” the Queen smirked at me, taking a step closer and snarling in my face. “It’s your royal duty to do as you’re told, stupid girl. And after all… you’re nothing but entertainment for the court.”
Chapter Twelve
Olivier
My chérie was pulling away. I could feel her drifting from me, sliding out of my grasp while I desperately tried to reel her back in. But she wasn’t coming, wasn’t budging. She was slipping away.
It was now three days after the women’s last challenge with Bruno. It was organized by my mother, and I didn’t even want to think about it for too long. But the Queen insisted the girls needed to show how they’d interact with a member of their court, to prove their loyalty to Luxuria. I hadn’t asked her for details, and none of the girls had elaborated.
I’d spent the past three days spending time with my women, getting to know them better. And even though I was eager to dedicate most of my time to Amber, she didn’t seem to share the need to be close to me. She dodged me on several occasions, throwing icy glares in my direction when I spoke to the other women. And while her jealousy was adorable, I didn’t appreciate the cold shoulder. She’d need to be on her best behavior once she became Queen, and this childish attitude wasn’t helping matters much.
During breakfast on that Tuesday, my mother explained how the next elimination process would work.
“Your brother Bruno will pick two girls to send home,” she said, buttering an English muffin and refusing to meet my eye. She knew I wouldn’t like this one bit, and I set down my fork, glaring at her from my seat across the table.
“I didn’t agree to that,” I said.
“It’s part of the royal traditions, darling!” she quipped, batting her lashes at me.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. I knew I’d been impatient with her lately, demanding too much of my mother when she already had her hands full with the whole contest. But I was upset she didn’t like Amber and worried about what would happen when the two would inevitably be forced to live in proximity. I didn’t want a catfight on my hands. I just wanted them to get the fuck along. Is that too much to ask for?
“Mother, what if he sends home someone I really like?” I asked. “What if he sends home…”
“Amber?” My mother rolled her eyes, having already guessed my answer. “Well, then so be it, Olivier. It’s Bruno’s decision this time, not yours. This is part of the tradition your father wanted you to honor. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I hissed. “But it doesn’t mean I’m not going to fight his decision if I don’t like it.”
“For goodness’ sake, Olivier,” the Queen muttered, dabbing at her lips with a thick embroidered cream napkin. “You can be so stubborn sometimes. I just don’t understand how you have managed to convince yourself that girl is princess material.”
“There’s no such thing as princess material, mother,” I got out through gritted teeth. “She’s the one I want, so she will be a princess. Whether or not she’s appropriate for the title is my decision. Mine alone. Do you understand?”
She looked at me, her eyes wide and hurt, like I’d hurt her. She raised a hand to her chest and stared at me.
“You really think she’s appropriate for this kind of position?” she asked. “She’s a commoner, Olivier. All the other women… they have titles, money, an education! And what of this girl? She’s a nobody. A no one!”
“That doesn’t make her any less of a woman,” I replied, seething. “Or human, as a matter of fact. Now I’d appreciate it if you stopped questioning my judgement, mother.”
I stood up from the table, throwing my own napkin on the table before walking away. The maid, Fleur, stepped aside with a polite smile thrown in my direction, her eyes cast downward. I liked Fleur. She didn’t take any nonsense, and she did her duties without complaining, adding even more to her plate than she had to do just to please my mother. I rewarded her with a grateful smile as I passed.
Once out in the hallway, I let my simmering anger get the better of me. I was already upset because of Amber, and the news about Bruno overseeing my fate didn’t help matters much. My mother’s rudeness only served to put me in an even fouler mood.
The elimination ceremony was scheduled for that night, and I had a whole day to kill before that happened. I wanted to see Amber, but with the way she’d been acting, I wasn’t so sure she wanted to see me.
But I wasn’t going to let her go that easily, and there was someone I had to talk to before the evening’s elimination.
My feet carried me down the hallway and up the stairs until I reached the help’s wing. This was where my half-brother lived, the poor, unlucky Bruno.
We’d never been close, despite our father’s best efforts. Even my mother, who had despised Bruno as a child, softened up to him when he lost his mother. It surprised me but didn’t change my opinion about the guy.
There was something creepy about him. Something strange that put me off him. I’d never taken a liking, and I’d never tried to get to know Bruno better, and I knew he resented me for it. But it was too late to make a change, and I’d grown accustomed to the idea of the strange boy who always tried so hard with me himself.
Now, as I stood before Bruno’s door, I knew full well what awaited me on the other side. A whole lot of resentment and anger that I was responsible for. But my need to keep Amber in the competition made me stand up taller, knocking on the door.
A moment later it opened, and my brother stood before me, just an inch taller and making me feel every bit of it.
“What do you want?” he snarled when he saw it was me, and I returned his hard glare.
“We need to talk,” I barked in response, pushing past him into his small apartment. No, there’s no love between us.
“What about?” he asked, closing the door behind us and standing in front of it in a classic defensive pose, with his arms crossed in front of his body. “I don’t appreciate you just barging in here like that.”
“You’d better remember who you’re speaking too,” I glared at him. “I am still the crown prince.”
“And don’t you act like one,” he replied with a saccharine smile. “Like a spoiled little boy. Just what you’ve always been, right, Olivier? A brat.”
I took a step forward, but he didn’t even flinch as I got into his face. He just smirked at me, like a wolf does to a puppy, knowing I could never hurt him.
We were born only a few minutes apart to different mothers. I felt those few minutes like a lifetime separating us. And not just that, but an unsurmountable precipice that we could never cross. So we were destined to be this – rivals. Brothers. He was my nemesis, just as I was his.
“Watch your tongue,” I reminded him again. “Mother told me you’re doing the elimination tonight, is that correct?”
“It is. What of it?”
“I don’t care who you send home,” I told him. “But there’s one woman that needs to stay.”
“Let me guess,” Bruno drawled out. “The pretty redhead with the golden eyes. Little Miss Amber Jonathan.”
I glared at him, but he just shrugged, adding, “I heard you got a thing for that one.”
“Whatever,” I got out through gritted teeth. “Just do me a solid and leave her in the running. She’ll be the one standing at the end of this fucking… charade.”
“Charade?” he repeated with disgust. “Is that what you call our father’s dying wish?”
The idea that my dad was his, too, still repulsed me. I didn’t want to be related to someone I’d hated since we were both boys. But if I was being honest with myself, a lot of that hatred came from being jealous of Bruno. He had my fathe
r’s attention, after all, splitting Dad’s time for me in two. I’d never forgive him for the moments Dad wasted with him.
“You can send the twins home,” I told him, ignoring his question. “They’re too young to be here. I didn’t know they were seventeen until a couple of days ago.”
“We’ll see.”
His response filled me with anger, and I wanted to smash his face in.
“Just do as I said,” I told him. “Keep Amber in the running.”
“No worries about that,” he scoffed. “But if I were you, I wouldn’t be worried about me keeping Amber around.”
“Why?” I hissed.
“Well, let’s just say you’re not the only one whose eye she’s caught,” he winked at me. “I like the look of her myself. How could I not? That pale porcelain skin, that hair, the shyness mixed with her almost vulgar body, Christ, you don’t expect me to resist her for long. Do you, brother?”
Our eyes connected as I came closer to him, pushing him back without saying a word.
He stumbled backward and started laughing out loud, and I bit back the insult I wanted to hit him with. What did it help to remind him of the fact he was only a bastard? His life was already in shambles, while I always got what I wanted. Always.
I walked out of there, the sound of his laughter ringing in my ears as I walked down the hallway.
I walked into the grand ballroom feeling the bottle of wine I’d polished off in the afternoon.
Drunk off my ass, angry at the world and forced to spend an evening in my mother and brother’s company… Like a fucking recipe for disaster.
“Your Highness?”
A gaggle of girls was standing before me, and I had no idea which one was which. I laughed at the thought to a group of very confused faces.
“What’s so funny?” one of them asked.
I ran my fingers through my hair, grinning to myself, and when I looked back at the women, they were all wearing matching expressions of awe.
“You ladies keep me alive,” I told them with a smirk. “I could jack my dick off in front of you and you’d all line up to swallow, wouldn’t you?”