For a moment, I wanted to take her hand and beg her to accompany me; instead I turned and walked out of my room.
I was glad that my mother had forced me to wear heels in the last few weeks. When I arrived in front of the door to the fireplace lounge on the first floor in the west wing, my heart was beating in my throat.
I wished my sister was at my side, but Mother was probably warning her to behave right now. I had to go through this alone. Nobody was supposed to steal the show from the bride-to-be.
I stared at the dark wood of the door and considered running away. Male laughter rang out behind it, my father and the King.
A room filled with the most powerful and dangerous men in the country and I was supposed to go in.
A lamb alone with wolves. I shook my head. I needed to stop thinking like that. I'd made them wait too long already.
I gripped the handle and pressed down. I slipped in, not yet looking at anyone as I closed the door. Gathering my courage, I faced the room. Conversation died.
Was I supposed to say something? I shivered and hoped they couldn't see it. My father looked like the cat that got the cream.
My eyes sought Prince Nikos his piercing stare rendered me motionless. I held my breath. He put down a glass with a dark liquid with an audible clank. If nobody said something soon, I'd flee the room. I quickly scanned the faces of the gathered men.
From Atmos Kingdom there were Prince Mateo,Crown Prince Nikos and even the King , and two Army head : Alexander a young man I didn't know.
From the Aroma Chantelle there were my Father, Our King , and his son, the future head King of Aroma , as well as Uncle Raven and my cousin whom I hated with the fiery passion of a thousand suns.
And off to the side stood poor Emyrs who had to wear a suit like everyone else. I could see that he wanted to run toward me to seek solace, but he knew what Father would say to that.
Father finally moved toward me, put a hand on my back and led me toward the gathered men like a lamb toward slaughter.
The only man who looked positively bored out of his mind was Aroma's Crown Prince; he had only eyes for his Scotch. Our family had attended the funeral of his wife two months ago. A widower in his thirties.
I would have felt pity for him if he didn't scare me senseless, almost as much as Crown Prince Nikos scared me.
Of course Father steered me straight toward my future husband with a challenging expression as if he expected Prince Nikos fall on his knees from awe.
Going from his expression, Crown Prince Nikos might as well have been staring at a rock. His blue eyes were hard and cold as they focused on my father.
This is my daughter, Fourth princess Arabella."
Apparently, Crown Prince hadn't mentioned our embarrassing encounter.
King of Aroma spoke up. "I didn't promise too much, did I?"
I wished the ground would open and swallow me whole. I had never been submitted to so much…attention.
The way My cousin that cheap pervert looked at me made my skin crawl. He'd been initiated into the royal army only recently and had turned eighteen two weeks ago. Since then he'd been even more obnoxious than before.
"You didn't," Crown Prince Nikos said simply.
Father looked obviously put off.
Without anyone noticing Emyrs had snuck up behind me and slipped his hand into mine.
Well, Nikos had noticed and was staring at my brother, which brought his gaze entirely too close to myself. I shifted nervously and Crown Prince looked away.
"Maybe the future bride and husband want to be alone for a few minutes?" King Rousseau suggested.
My eyes jerked in his direction and I didn't manage to hide my shock fast enough. Crown Prince had noticed but he didn't seem to care.
My father smiled and turned to leave. I couldn't believe it.
"Should I stay?" Uncle Raven asked. I gave him a quick smile, which disappeared when my father shook his head. "Give them a few minutes alone," he said.
King Rousseau actually winked at his son Nikos. They all filed out of the room until only Prince Nikos, Emyrs and I were left.
"Emyrs," came my father's sharp voice. "Get out of there now."
Emyrs reluctantly let go of my hand and left, but not before sending Prince Nikos the deadliest look a six-year old could manage.
Prince Nikos's lips quirked. Then the door closed and we were alone. What had his father's wink meant?
I peeked up at Prince. I had been right: with my high heels, the top of my head graced his chin. He looked out of the window. He didn't spare me a single glance.
Dressing me up like a hooker didn't make Nikos any more interested in me. Why would he be? I'd had heard rumors about women who pleased him in Atmos Rousseau . They would have filled out the bustier better.
"Did you choose the dress Princess?"
I jumped, startled that he'd spoken. His voice was deep and calm. Was he ever anything but?
"No," I admitted. "My father did."
His jaw twitched. I couldn't read him and it was making me increasingly nervous.
He reached into the inside of his jacket and for a ridiculous second I actually thought he was pulling out a knife on me. Instead he held a black box in his hand. He turned toward me and I stared intently at his black shirt. Black shirt, black neck scarf, black jacket. Black like his soul. Except the blue diamond on his scarf.
This was a moment millions of women dreamed off, but I felt cold when the Prince opened the box. Inside sat a white gold ring with a big diamond in the center sandwiched between two marginally smaller diamonds. I didn't move.
Nikos held out his hand when the awkwardness between us reached its peak. I flushed and extended my hand. I flinched when his skin brushed mine. He slipped the engagement ring on my finger, then released me.
"Thank you," I felt obligated to say the words and even look up into his face, which was impassive, though the same couldn't be said for his eyes. They looked angry. Had I done something wrong? He held out his arm and I linked mine through it, letting him lead me out of the lounge and toward the dining room. We didn't speak.
Maybe the Prince was disappointed enough with me that he'd cancel the arrangement? But he wouldn't have put the ring on my finger if that were the case.
When we stepped into the dining room, the women of my family had joined the men. The Rousseau Royals hadn't brought female company.
Maybe because they didn't trust my Father and the Chantelle Royal enough to risk bringing women into our house.