The Crowns Choice

❦ Chapter Fourteen: Atlas ❦

I walked out of the meeting room with a grin still plastered on my face, Charlotte's voice and the playful exchange replaying in my mind. I could still see the way she'd tried to keep her composure, the way her lips curved into a smile despite her best efforts. There was something about getting under her skin that made this whole Selection thing worth it.

I was still mulling over the details of our planned "photo op" when I rounded a corner and nearly ran straight into Jasper Montgomery. The smug look on his face made it clear he'd been waiting for me.

"Everheart," he drawled, blocking my path with an arm casually draped across the wall. "Enjoying a little private time with our dear princess, are we?"

I kept my expression neutral, but my mind was already racing. Jasper wasn't just any contestant—he was from Stratum Two, which made him a big deal in the hierarchy of this whole circus. The fact that he was standing in front of me with that self-satisfied smirk was enough to set off alarm bells.

"What's it to you, Jasper?" I replied, crossing my arms and leaning back against the wall, trying to appear as unbothered as possible.

He chuckled, the sound low and condescending. "Oh, nothing really. Just interesting to see you getting so cosy with the princess. Don't you think you're a bit out of your depth?"

I could feel the familiar tension building in my chest, the kind that always came up when guys like Jasper started throwing their weight around. "I'm doing just fine, thanks. What's your point?"

Jasper took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down. "My point, Everheart, is that you're nothing but a distraction. We both know you don't belong here."

I forced myself to stay calm, even as his words hit a nerve. "Funny, I don't remember asking for your opinion."

Jasper's smirk only widened, like a cat toying with a mouse. "You should be careful, Atlas. The princess may seem like she's playing along, but she's not going to waste her time on someone like you. You're here for the entertainment value, nothing more."

I stared at him, my jaw clenching as I fought the urge to snap back. It was like he knew exactly where to poke to get a reaction out of me, and I hated that he was so good at it.

"And you think you're different?" I asked, my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface.

Jasper shrugged, the picture of nonchalance. "I know I am. This is my world, Everheart. I've been preparing for this my entire life. You, on the other hand, are just here for the ride. Enjoy it while it lasts."

He turned to walk away, but I wasn't about to let him have the last word. "You're awfully confident for someone who's still just a contestant like the rest of us."

Jasper paused, glancing back at me over his shoulder. "Confidence, Everheart, is what separates those who succeed from those who fade into the background. You might want to remember that."

I watched him disappear down the corridor, the tension in my chest slowly easing as the distance between us grew. I knew he was trying to get under my skin, to rattle me before tonight's little performance. But I wasn't about to let him.

As I walked back to my quarters, I tried to shake off the encounter and refocus on the plan for tonight. Charlotte had asked me for a favour, and I intended to deliver—no matter what Jasper or anyone else thought.

But his words still lingered in the back of my mind, like an annoying itch I couldn't quite scratch. He might have been right about one thing: I wasn't part of this world. I didn't have the connections, the pedigree, or the polished charm that guys like him had. But I wasn't here to play by their rules. I was here to survive, to make something out of this insane situation.

And if that meant playing along with the princess's little charade, then so be it. Besides, there was something about Charlotte that made all of this feel less like a game and more like a challenge I actually wanted to take on.

As I reached my quarters, I found myself wondering what tonight would bring. The thought of spending more time with Charlotte—staged or not—was more appealing than I cared to admit.

Whatever happened, I was ready to see where this would lead.