Page 43 of The Crownless Prince

That was a problem for later. The current problem was getting through the day without invoking Thorne’s wrath.

After a rushed breakfast of oatmeal, Marcus turned to Edwin as they walked down a hall.

“Don’t,” Edwin said before Marcus could speak. “It’s not your fault. No one could have seenthatcoming.” He glanced over. “How’s your side?”

Marcus winced. “Tender, but that healer’s salve did wonders. Wish he could put it on my throat.”

Edwin touched his own neck with a grimace. “Agreed.”

“Tonight,” Marcus whispered, leaning closer, “come with me. We’ll make a plan.”

To his relief, Edwin nodded rather than arguing. “Whatever he is, he needs to be exposed. But we need to be even more careful, or we might only make things worse.”

“Agreed.” He opened his mouth to apologize for his recent carelessness that had placed them in this position, but he stopped. Edwin was right.

Marcus hadn’t caused Thorne to be wicked, much like he hadn’tcaused his father to be power hungry and start a war. He’d been foolish to rush into serving Lord Thorne, but that didn’t mean he deserved to suffer for his mistake. Thorne could just as easily have turned out to be a good man.

But he did have a responsibility to act when he had the ability to do so to prevent evil, and he had the capability of learning from his mistakes. He’d be more cautious, especially where the wellbeing of those he cared about was involved, and he wouldn’t stand idly by, hoping and wishing for change while not risking himself.

Chapter 20

Stifling a yawn, Adriana entered the great hall to find her father and brother and Lucien already there. Besides staying up to see Marcus, she’d struggled to go to sleep afterward, her mind wide awake thinking of him and how to get rid of Lucien.

Unfortunately, no brilliant ideas had come to her, other than an incomplete plan to slip Lucien a sleeping draught so he wouldn’t attend the wedding. All she really had to show for her lack of sleep were shadows under her eyes.

As Adriana crossed to the table at the head of the room, her gaze fell on Marcus and Edwin standing unobtrusively in the corner. She’d almost overlooked them, and she had to stifle an involuntary smile at seeing Marcus. What would it be like to see him every day and not have to hide her joy? She wanted more than anything to find out, and that meant she needed a reason why Lucien was an unacceptable son-in-law…

Her attention caught on Marcus’s throat, and she stumbled and tensed.

Red bruises encircled Marcus’s neck—actually, both his and Edwin’s throats bore clustered bruises that looked suspiciously like…

Her gaze swung to Lucien. “Did you strangle them?” The wordsspilled out as she motioned toward Marcus and Edwin. Perhaps showing she cared was a bad idea, but fury muddled her thoughts—besides, even if it hadn’t been Marcus and Edwin, she wouldn’t stand for someone strangling their servants.

Lucien glanced at the men. “Does it matter what happened? Their discipline is my business.”

“Father—”

“Sit down, Adriana.” Father’s mouth pinched with displeasure. “They’re standing, aren’t they? They’re fine. As Lucien said, so long as he doesn’t kill or maim them, how he disciplines his servants is his own business and his legal right.”

“Then change the law! You’re the king, use it!”

Had she just said that out loud? In front of all the knights and attendants and servants in the great hall? She wished she could sink through the floor, especially as Father glared at her with the heat of ten suns, but she forced her spine straight.

“I don’t wish to marry a man who treats his servants so harshly.”

Lucien inclined his head. “Perhaps you can tell me what punishments you find both tolerable and effective and I can implement those to better please you.”

Father waved a hand. “There, you see? He’s perfectly reasonable. Come sit down.”

Jairus gave her a pleading look and discreetly flicked his hand in the direction of her chair. The eyes of the entire hall bored into her. Could she leverage the audience against Father? She looked back to Marcus. He gave a subtle shake of his head, and his expression seemedto caution her to wait. Perhaps he had learned something—was that why Lucien had hurt them? If whatever they knew had made Lucien that angry, it had to be significant. But if Marcus wasn’t saying anything, there must also be a reason for his deferral.

Reluctantly, Adriana took her seat at Lucien’s side.

A few times during breakfast she snuck sideways glances at Marcus and Edwin to reassure herself they were still there and all right. Once Marcus caught her looking and sent her a small, quick smile. It brought a tentative smile to her own lips.

After breakfast, they retired to the sitting room, and Jairus challenged Lucien to a game of chess, which turned into a rematch, which turned into best two out of three… It was rather boring, but considering the alternative was talking to Lucien, Adriana didn’t mind. Besides, this way, she could continue sneaking glances at the man she actually cared about.

This time they returned to the great hall for dinner, which she appreciated. It was less awkward, and it meant Lucien couldn’t ask Marcus or Edwin to serve him. She was not in the mood to watch him order either of them around.

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