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“Release her at once or I’ll be forced to use violence!” Through my blonde curls, I see Phillion pointing his sword at Castor.
“Come at me with that sword and see what happens,” Castor taunts. Oddly, the room feels hotter all of a sudden. Sweat beads on my forehead.
“Castor. Enough,” Lux’s growl is dark enough that I shudder.
His laughter slows as he marches around the table. “You’re all so boring.” He drops me roughly into the seat opposite where I used to be.
Chest heaving, I push the hair out of my face.
“Are you alright?” Lux takes my hand.
“I-I’m fine.” I can’t look at him. Embarrassment covers my cheeks. Embarrassment and red-hot anger. How dare Castor manhandle me like that! I’m a princess!
Without a care in the world, he sits down in my original seat, swatting Phillion away as if he were a fly instead of a guard who looks as furious as I feel.
“I’m so sorry, Eden,” Lux growls to the table. “Castor will be dealt with.” He glares at his brother, who’s helping himself to my plate of pasta.
Castor just winks when he notices me staring.
I frown. “It’s not your fault you have a pig for a brother.”
Castor tilts his head at me before turning to Lux. “Does she know the full story of our parents?”
“She does,” Lux huffs. “Now eat please, so you may return to whichever woman has captured your affections this week and leave us in peace.”
Castor sighs. “Only trying to make conversation.”
“Well don’t.” Lux glares at him.
My gaze flicks between the princes. Lux had explained in one of his letters that while their parents are married, he and Castor are not technically related. Castor was birthed by his father’s mistress, while Lux was conceived during a romantic night his mother spent with a cook.
Still, even without sharing any blood, they grew up together, just like my sisters and I did. And Lux clearly cares about Castor, even if I’m not sure if the reverse is true.
We eat in near silence, the only sound in the room being the angry scraping of our cutlery. My discomfort is made worse by Phillion’s heavy stare. Now I’m sat facing him, the only time I get a break from his staring is when Lux looks his way.
Eventually, the servants clear our plates away and each of us is presented with a slice of chocolate tart, decorated with cream and a plump red cherry.
Another one of my favourites.
“Chocolate tart.” I smile at Lux. “You even remembered how I liked it served.”
“I wanted today to be perfect.” He smiles too, but there’s a hint of anger in it as he glances at Castor. “Truly.”
Wicked brother or not, my heart flutters anyway. “Thank you, Lux. You’ve been so—”
“Have you told her about Maxine?” Castor says.
“Maxine?” I repeat as Lux shoots him another glare, this time even more lethal. “Who’s Maxine?” I ask them both.
“You haven’t told her yet?” Castor clutches his chest in mock offence. “How could you not tell her about the other woman in your life?”
“Other woman?” My face scrunches up.
Lux shakes his head. “You’re misunderstanding, I promise.”
“Well, go on then,” Castor urges. “Tell her about Maxine.”
Blood roars in my ears. Not once in his countless letters did he mention anyone by that name. An awful thought creeps inside of me that maybe, like Castor’s father, Lux would keep a mistress too.
