The Selection (1x1 with AnnaCat17)

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Karter pressed his hand to his mouth in surprise, frozen as he stared. He couldn't believe it. He felt awful for both Matteo and Romeo, and wished he hadn't seen this. He stumbled after Dacey as she pulled them away, his eyes wide with shock and his cheeks red.

Elliott was making her way down the hall, pulling a cart of laundry behind her. She glanced up at Romeo as he passed, shy.

[AnnaCat17]

Dacey released a shaky breath that slowly made way to a smile. "My friend is going to die when she hears about this." She said softly.

Gabel shook his head quickly, his face also covered in a blush. "no! We can't tell people about this.. We shouldn't have seen that and we need to just keep it to ourselves." But he knew how hard it would be to keep this a secret for all of them.

Romeo glanced at her as he passed, his expression troubled, but he didn't say anything to her knowing that he was the last person she would want to talk to. He didn't know what to do. Instantly he knew it best not to tell anyone. It would crush Ellie and only further upset Pavel to know that Matteo apparently had a crush on him. He struggled to pull his coat on as he walked, his mind too clouded to function properly.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"He's right," Karter said. "We should just keep this to ourselves." He knew Matteo and Romeo wouldn't appreciate it if they went around telling everyone.

"Sir?" Elliott said softly, gently helping Romeo pull his coat on. "Is everything alright?"

[AnnaCat17]

Dacey groaned but didn't argue too much. She would still tell Elliott since she knew she wouldn't tell anyone, but made the guys think she would go along with it.

Gabel swallowed nervously and looked at the door as he heard the Prince leave the room and hurry off. "Do you think he really will end the selection? He sent seven people home today so i thought we were int he clear but after that..."

Romeo looked down at Elliott as she helped him, his expression hardened in thought. He felt reckless and impulsive. He knew once he got home he would be calling one of his girls to come clear his mind for him but as he looked down at Elliott his emotions bubbled over. He hated her. He hated how her love for him had been nothing but a lie to ensure she was always safe to do whatever she wanted. He hated how he couldn't let go of her even 12 years later and after what she had done. He hated how she still looked as beautiful as the day she arrived at the castle and how in no time he would be forced to watch her find someone better, someone who wasn't a washed up, single dad, only good for ruining relationships, and marry them while he continued to break his heart over the wedding dress that hung at the back of his closet. But what he hated her for most of all was how much she made him need her. Without warning he forced her against the wall and tangled a hand into her hair as the other gripped her hip tightly. He roughly pressed his lips to hers and braced himself for the slap or kick that would come next from her and the lecture he would receive for being so pathetic as to kiss her like this.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

"I don't know," Karter whispered. "I can't believe he has a crush on Sir Romeo."

Elliott hesitated as he glared at her, taking a step back. "Sorry," she whispered. "You looked like you needed help." She froze in surprise as he pulled her close, gazing up at him with wide eyes as he kissed her. She sighed softly against his lips, relaxing and wrapping her arms around him as she kissed him back, tightly gripping his shirt.

[AnnaCat17]

Dacey smirked. "I mean, who doesn't have a crush on Sir Romeo? I wouldn't say no if he asked me to dinner or something and I don't know anyone who would. Im more surprised he doesn't like the prince who is also another person who everyone has a crush on."

"I don't think Jakbo has a crush on the prince." Gabel said quietly but flinched as Dacey looked at him confused. "But that isn't the point. The point is we need to keep this to ourselves. The prince was clearly drunk and we dont want to slander him by spreading this around."

Romeo pulled away just enough to shift so he was kissing along the collar of her uniform. "come home with me." He said against her skin, his grip on her tightening as all thoughts left his heads and impulse took over.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Karter smiled faintly at what Dacey said. "Fair enough," he agreed. He nodded at what Gabel said. "We definitely can't tell anyone about this," he agreed.

Elliott smiled, closing her eyes happily as he kissed her. "Okay," she whispered, not knowing Eleanor was at the house.

[AnnaCat17]

Gabel nodded but knew that as soon as they left the room the temptation would begin to grow for all of them. He left the room first and headed straight for his room, not trusting himself among the other selected but already his midn was spinning with who would be safe to trust with something like this.

Dacey left in silence and went back to the servant's level to finish her chores and to hopefully find Elliott.

Romeo smirked and quickly pulled her off. He didn't want to give himself time to think this through and reconsider. For one night Elliott would be his again. The entire drive home he held onto her hand, kissing all over her hand and wrist, aching to have her close again, and once they were safely inside his house he tossed his keys down on the table beside the door and pulled her close again to resume kissing her. He stumbled a bit as he tried to pull her towards his bedroom and kiss her at the same time, making him chuckle as he caught himself against the wall.

[EchoOfShatteredIce]

Karter bit his lip as he walked down the hallway. He felt the need to tell someone about this, but he knew that the Prince and Sir Romeo wouldn't appreciate it if he did.

Elliott giggled as he kissed her hand during the drive, lacing their fingers together. She laughed happily as he pulled her close once their were inside the house, kissing him back and tangling a hand into his hair.

"Dad," Eleanor said exasperated, making her way over to where he was. "I'm sick of you bringing women over. Can you at least not when I'm around---" Her sentence died as she stared at Elliott and Romeo in surprise, dropping the book she had been holding. What was he doing with her?

"Prince! Prince!" Maisie ran over to Matteo as fast as she could, grasping his hand and tugging on it. "Prince! Jake fell!" Her lower lip trembled as tears welled in her eyes, and she tried to tug Matteo down the hallway she had come from.

[AnnaCat17]

Romeo sighed and pulled away from Elliott as his mind was yanked back to reality by Eleanor's annoyance. "i know. Im sorry. Things didn't quite go as planned at the castle and I wasn't thinking. We will go. Call me if you need anything." He said as he walked back to the table to get his keys again, unaware of the horror she was feeling.

Matteo shook his head as he tried to focus on her words through his drunken haze. He wouldn't remember anything of tonight and part of him was grateful for that. He looked down at Maisie confused, trying to piece her words together. "Jakob... ok." he mumbled and followed after her to see where Jakob was, trying to understand what she meant by fell.