Page 113 of My Five Daddies

13

Nolan

Igruntand finish the set, my muscles straining at the weight. Sweat drips down my skin and although I’m exhausted from the workout, I feel damngood.

Yesterday’s meeting with my mother went great. Afterward, I went to some nobles that I know and started testing the waters, seeing how loyal they are to Julian over me. So far, things seem like they’re going fairly well, though I know I have an uphillbattle.

And then there’s Hazel. She nailed it with my mother. And although I didn’t see her much the rest of the day yesterday, since she was busy with her tutor, I couldn’t get her out of my head. I still keep thinking about that kiss, and how badly I want anotherone.

I grab my things and head out of the gym. I decide to shower back in the apartment. Maybe I’ll even run into Hazel on the way, which could befun.

As I turn the corner, my mind a little distracted, I almost stumble directly into Julian and his twostewards.

He stops a few feet from me, his eyebrow raised. “Hello, cousin,” hesays.

“Julian,” I grunt. “Fancy seeing you here. I figured you didn’t go within a mile of agym.”

He gives me a dirty look. Julian is slightly rounder and always has been. “It’s not going to work, you know,” hesays.

“What isn’t?” I ask, almostsighing.

“Your little game. This coup you have going.” He steps toward me, eyes narrowed. “I’ve worked a long time to get these nobles behindme.”

“Yes, well, too bad you didn’t choose a less pureagenda.”

That surprises him, I can tell, but he quickly gets himself under control. “I see that the court istalking.”

“They always talk. Especially about ideas they don’t agreewith.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have tipped my hand like that, but I couldn’t help myself. The look on his face is almost worth it, actually. He clearly thought his little purity law thing was still some kind of secret, but the whole fucking castle knows. They aren’t talking about it out in the open, because everyone is afraid of Julian. They all worry that if he gets power, he’ll take revenge on people who didn’t supporthim.

And he could, of course. He can’t exactly jail people, but he can give them bad assignments, send them into distant provinces, take away titles, that sort of thing. Nobody wants to risk the wrath of a pissed offking.

But nobody wants these fucking purity laws, either, and I have to use that to myadvantage.

“Unfortunately, you don’t know what you’re talking about. The rumors areunsubstantiated.”

“Maybe, but I think this rumor has some truth to it. What are you cooking up, Julian, and how did you convince myfather?”

He hesitates for a second. “This country is in decline, or can’t you seeit?”

“We’re richer than we’ve ever been. The people are thriving, or at least as much as we’re willing to letthem.”

“Depravity everywhere, sin in the streets. Polovia used to be a moral bastion, the shining beacon of truth and enlightenment for all of Europe, but now we’ve lost that. I want to give that back to ourpeople.”

I narrow my eyes and shake my head. “Sounds like bullshit. Just your way of fooling people into believing your fucked upagenda.”

“Think what you want, Prince Player,” he sneers. “But this marriage of yours won’t work. Your father agrees with me, and that’s all Ineed.”

I grunt, looking away. “We’llsee.”

“Yes, I think we will.” He nods to his stewards and they hurry off. I watch him go, trying to contain myfury.

That bastard really wants to bring this country back to the dark ages, but I’m not letting thathappen.

I walk back to my apartment. Instead of getting into the shower, I head into Hazel’s room and get a drink from herrefrigerator.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, coming from thebedroom.

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