Page 24 of Dueling the Suitors

A street performer, a practicalbeggar, had beaten her in her own game.

The arena fell into a pin-drop silence. No one breathed. No one made a noise.

Astoria gulped. She could sense their shock.

And then, a voice shattered the hush.

“Our victor!” It was the king. “We have a victor!” Her father had never sounded so ecstatic before. “People of Daliston! Behold him! Princess Astoria has finally chosen her suitor!”

6

The Infuriating Victor

Astoria wanted to demand another round. But considering she had denied the same request of her suitors after Wizard Orion, she knew it wouldn’t be a wise move.

It wouldn’t give the audience a good impression of her after the greatness she had performed in front of them.

Had this nightmare truly befallen her?

Mr. Silas offered her a hand, but in her fuming rage, she ignored him.

He withdrew his hand and smiled. “I told you, Princess, you will be mine once this duel is over. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She glowered at him.

Footsteps sounded behind him. Mr. Silas moved aside, and Astoria met the shocked but concerned faces of her grandpa and Skylar.

Grandpa Cassius spared Mr. Silas a glare before he knelt in front of her. “Honey, are you hurt?”

“Only my pride,” she grumbled.

“Sir Cassius! What is the delay? Announce our victor!” her father called out from the royal box.

Grandpa Cassius clenched his jaw in displeasure. He met Astoria’s eyes ruefully, got to his feet, and turned to Mr. Silas. He seized Mr. Silas’ wrist and lifted it.

His words blurred together in her ears. All she could think about was the last few moments of the duel and her failure. On repeat.

The crowd’s applause for Mr. Silas was sparse.

Emmett’s running footsteps neared her. Astoria pushed herself to her feet and stomped towards the exit without sparing her brother a glance. Emmett and Skylar called after her, but she didn’t stop until she reached the carriage and ordered the coachman to take her back home.

* * *

A knock sounded at her door.

Astoria didn’t answer.

The knocking continued.

“Go away, Emmett!” She was sure it was him. No one else would bother to check on her.

“I think I heard you say, ‘Come in, Emmett’.”

The door opened, and Emmett entered. Skylar was at his heels. Astoria propped herself up on her elbows, grabbed one of her pillows, and threw it at him. Emmett caught it in mid-air. He closed the door behind him and approached her bed, sitting on the edge.

Skylar hopped over and snuggled by her side, likely trying to offer her some sort of comfort.

“How are you?”

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