4 Princes

XX

ROOK
"Okay, that was the original plan, but then I met Elaina," I explained. I hadn't even thought about courting someone to prove a marriage and then waiting for the end of the war to break it off. That would have been smart.

Well. Not smart enough, anyways.

My father chuckled as he took a bite of his potatoes. "No. You're getting married. Quickly. I'm not going to wait on you to get married."

I stabbed my piece of lamb, glaring at him. "Why can't you just trust me?"

"Rook," Elaina tried to interrupt me but one quick glare and she leaned back, looking to the side.

My father rose his eyebrows up and then laughed quietly to himself, as though him playing with my life like I was a puppet was funny. "I have not trusted you since you saved the Devil Spawn that killed your mother."

I snapped my mouth shut, grinding my teeth together. I would not let him affect me. I wouldn't. That's what he wanted.

But to dismantle Erik's name like he was nothing? To spit on a dead Prince like that, was heinous. Father would never look at it that way, but it was foul.

"It was my idea," Ella said in my moment of hesitation. "To be courted. Rook proposed and I told him no, that I would only marry him if he courted me first." Her eyes were soft, almost like she was innocent. But she was a liar and a manipulative woman. I couldn't say I minded. As long as it was never against me again.

Father tilted his head at her, his eyes studying her like she was some fascinating new species. He leaned forward a little, although the movement didn't make any difference in his voice level. He was always yelling, no matter how close or far.

He shrugged and then leaned back, not saying anything at all.

Ella looked from me back to my father.

He opened one eye and looked at her, a small smirk on his face. "I like you, Ella. The wedding is tomorrow." On that note, my father stood up.

We all stood up as well. We all bowed our heads and he began to leave. We all sat down save for Jack who stayed standing.

"Weddings, courting, balls... I almost want to wrap my hands around father's neck," Jack growled out.

Here we go.

"How could he start this... during this time. And why? None of its makes sense. Father is up to something bigger and I plan on figuring it out," Jack said.

Adam cleared his throat. "After the war," he muttered.

"After the war," Jack repeated. "Hera, you have 3 days starting tomorrow to find your Princess." Jack walked around the table and held his hand out to Red.

Red. I recognized her as the girl I interrogated. She really was telling the truth. I almost felt bad.

Red took his hand and together they left the dining room. Hera followed quickly after, not wanting to fifth wheel.

Belle and Adam stayed, looking at us blankly.

"Marriage does not mean death, I'm starting to learn that. You can too," Belle said, smiling softly. She stood up and Adam and she left, not a goodbye to be heard.

It was just us sitting at the table, the quiet room around so loud it made my eardrums bleed. For some reason, the quiet was just so filling and obnoxious. I wanted to scream at it.

My fist clenched. "Marriage is worth than death. But not for us," I said, looking up at Ella. "And you know that."

"I do."