The Crowns Choice

❦ Chapter Sixteen : Atlas ❦

When I woke up the next morning, the remnants of the previous night lingered like a shadow in my mind. My fingers brushed over my lips, the faint memory of her soft kiss still lingering. "Pretend," she had said. I didn't want to pretend. As much as I hated to admit it, that kiss wasn't just part of the act. It felt too real, too electrifying.

I rolled out of bed and made my way to the common room, trying to shake off the disconcerting thoughts. The palace's early morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. But as soon as I walked in, I was hit with an unexpected wave of attention.

Everyone's eyes were on me, a mixture of curiosity and amusement. My brow furrowed in confusion. What was going on?

I noticed the newspapers spread out across the room, their headlines blaring with startling clarity. There, in bold print, was a photograph of Charlotte and me. Our kiss was captured in a full-page spread, the image striking and intimate. The problem? Those weren't the photos we had taken.

My stomach churned with a mix of irritation and confusion. How had these images gotten out? The photographer was supposed to be discreet, hidden away. I hadn't expected the photos to leak so soon or in such a sensational manner.

"Morning, Atlas," Jameson's voice cut through my thoughts as he approached with a wry grin. He was holding up a newspaper, the headline almost mocking. "Looks like you made quite an impression."

I barely managed a nod, my eyes still fixed on the image of Charlotte and me. I could feel a familiar tightness in my chest, a blend of anger and uncertainty. "What's with the papers?" I asked, trying to keep my tone steady.

Jasper sauntered over, his expression smug. "Oh, you didn't hear? Seems like someone had a little chat with the press. Your kiss with the princess is all over the news."

"Really?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant, though my mind was racing. "And just how did that happen?"

Jasper shrugged, feigning innocence. "No idea. But it's not every day you see a contestant scoring front-page news. Quite the coup, if you ask me."

Oliver and Sebastian joined the group, both looking amused. Oliver leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "Didn't expect you to be the one making headlines. Thought it'd be me."

Sebastian chuckled, glancing at the paper. "Seems like things are heating up. Didn't take you for the type to stir things up like this."

"Yeah, well," I said, trying to deflect, "it wasn't exactly planned. Someone must have leaked the photos."

Jameson tilted his head, studying me with an almost speculative gaze. "You don't seem too thrilled about it."

"Can't say I am," I admitted, feeling a bit exposed. "I didn't expect things to get this out of hand."

The conversation was interrupted as I spotted Charlotte entering the room, her expression a mix of determination and unease. She quickly scanned the room, her gaze meeting mine. There was something almost apologetic in her eyes, though she masked it with a façade of composure.

"Good morning, gentlemen," she said, her tone carrying a hint of forced cheerfulness. "I see you've all had a chance to catch up on the latest headlines."

"Morning, Princess," I said, my voice laced with a mixture of formality and guardedness. I was still processing the implications of the photos and what they meant for both of us.

Charlotte's gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned to address the others. "I hope you all found the papers informative. I wanted to let you know that we'll be having a meeting later today to discuss the next steps of The Crowns Choice."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as she continued. "Until then, please try to stay focused and keep any distractions to a minimum. The Crowns Choice is still in full swing, and I expect everyone to keep their priorities straight."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps echoing in the now-quiet room. The others exchanged glances, clearly trying to gauge my reaction.

"Quite the entrance," Oliver said with a smirk. "And quite the mess we're all in now."

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "Looks like we're all going to have to adjust our strategies."

Jasper shot me a glance, a mix of amusement and challenge in his eyes. "So, what's your plan now, Atlas? Gonna try and turn this into an advantage, or are you gonna let it blow over?"

I met his gaze with a steely expression, feeling a surge of determination. "I'm not letting anything blow over. I'll deal with this in my own way."

The morning had taken a turn I hadn't anticipated. The photos, the attention, and the unexpected focus on my interaction with Charlotte had thrown me off balance. But I wasn't about to let it dictate my actions.

I needed to regroup, understand the full extent of what had happened, and figure out how to use it—or combat it—to my advantage. The Crowns Choice was far from over, and if anything, the stakes had just been raised.

As I turned away from the group, my mind was already racing with strategies and plans. I noticed Charlotte standing near the centre of the room, her gaze sweeping across the contestants. She approached Rylan, one of the less prominent contestants, and with an air of deliberate nonchalance, she asked him, "Rylan, would you do me the pleasure of going on a date tonight?"

My chest tightened as I watched. The pang of jealousy was sharp and unwelcome, and I forced myself to shove it down. It wasn't my place to feel anything about this. Still, seeing her move on so easily, so publicly, stirred something inside me that I couldn't quite shake off.

As Charlotte continued to chat with Rylan, my thoughts churned with a mix of frustration and determination. Whatever the fallout from the photos, I was going to navigate this storm with everything I had. The Crowns Choice was more than just a game—it was a battleground, and I intended to come out on top.