The Crowns Choice

❦ Chapter Twenty Two: Atlas ❦

I'm pacing again, a habit I've picked up since all this began. The tension in my muscles refuses to ease, even though there's technically nothing for me to do but wait. The conversation with the king still echoes in my mind, his words replaying on a loop, taunting me. I know I've got one last chance. One more slip-up, and I'm out.

I rake my fingers through my hair, trying to push down the frustration building in my chest. The boys had been out for some fancy dinner date with Charlotte, and now they're probably laughing it up about who impressed her the most. Meanwhile, I'm here, stuck in this room, counting the minutes until I'm free again.

The door swings open without warning, and I'm snapped out of my thoughts as Jameson, Oliver, and Sebastian stroll in like they own the place.

"Ever heard of knocking?" I grumble, but there's no heat behind it. These guys are the closest thing I have to friends in this place, though I'm not sure how much that's saying.

"Relax, Everheart," Jameson says, flopping onto the armchair like he's been invited. "We come bearing gossip."

Oliver's right behind him, a grin plastered across his face. "You wouldn't believe the night we had."

"Care to fill me in?" I ask, trying to sound casual. I lean against the desk, crossing my arms as I wait for the details.

"First off," Sebastian starts, looking smug, "the princess is going to have to narrow down the group soon. From eighteen to six."

"And?" I prompt, trying to keep my voice even, though the thought of Charlotte making those decisions tightens something in my chest.

"And," Oliver continues, "we're pretty sure we're all safe."

Jameson nods, stretching out his legs. "Yeah, it's obvious. The four of us are in good shape. The princess clearly likes us."

"Right," I say, raising an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure?"

"Well," Sebastian leans forward, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "let's just say the date went pretty well."

"Until Jasper showed up," Oliver cuts in, his tone dropping. "That guy's a real piece of work."

I feel my jaw clench at the mention of Jasper. "What happened?"

Jameson waves a hand, trying to downplay it, but there's tension in his posture. "Nothing we couldn't handle. He was just being his usual obnoxious self. You know, trying to get under our skin."

"More like under the princess's skin," Sebastian adds, his voice hardening. "He made things... uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable how?" I ask, my tone sharper than I intended.

Oliver exchanges a glance with Jameson, then says, "He was being overly familiar. The princess wasn't having it, though. She walked away, but... yeah, it was tense."

I run a hand over my face, feeling the tension in the room shift. "She's going to have to deal with him sooner or later."

Jameson shrugs, though there's a flicker of concern in his eyes. "She will. But that's not our problem. We just have to stay focused."

I nod, though my mind is still spinning with thoughts of Charlotte. "So, you guys think you're safe, huh?"

"Look," Jameson leans back, a smirk playing on his lips, "we've all got our strengths. Oliver's the charming one, Sebastian's got that whole brooding, mysterious vibe, and me? Well, I'm the total package."

Sebastian snorts. "Modest too."

"Hey, I'm just being realistic," Jameson shoots back, grinning. "What about you, Atlas? Think you've got a shot?"

I pause, considering my words. "I don't know," I say finally. "It's hard to read her sometimes."

"True," Oliver agrees. "But don't sell yourself short. You've got that rugged, underdog thing going on. Girls love that."

I can't help but chuckle at that. "Yeah, well, we'll see."

The conversation drifts to other topics, but my mind keeps circling back to Charlotte. To the way she looked at me the last time I saw her. To the weight of the king's words hanging over my head.

As the boys talk about their chances, I find myself wondering how much of this is a game and how much is real. How much of Charlotte's attention is genuine, and how much is just playing the part of the perfect princess? The uncertainty gnaws at me, making it hard to focus on the banter around me.

But one thing is clear—if I want to stay in this, I'll need to be ready for whatever comes next. And I'll need to watch my back because, with Jasper in the mix, nothing is certain.

The boys continue to talk, laughing about their different interactions with Charlotte. They joke about who made her smile the most, who got the closest to making her blush. I listen, throwing in a few comments here and there, but my thoughts are elsewhere.

When they finally leave, the room falls into a heavy silence. I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the door they just exited. One more day until I can see her again. One more day until I'm free to figure out where I stand in all of this.

But even as I tell myself that, I know it's not that simple. Nothing about this situation is simple. And with the king's warning still fresh in my mind, I know that the next few days will be crucial.

I just hope I'm ready for whatever happens next.