Chapter 3

He walked with her at a leisurely pace back to the manor, partly not to rush her and partly seemingly to delay when they would have to part. She didn't say anything and he didn't volunteer any words further till they were inside.

"Thank you." She said when they got to her room, her voice was smooth and more even than it had been in the woods. She felt a soft blush colour her cheeks as she wasn't sure if the calm she felt now was more attributed to the walls of the palace or the safety of her rescuer still allowing her to hold his arm.

"I don't know what would have happened with that bear if you hadn't shown up." She wanted to look up at him, but kept her eyes down hoping he'd miss the hue of her skin.

"I'm glad I was able to make it in time. I advise against making a habit of wandering into forests, lady." He smiled politely to her, even though she couldn't see it with her eyes downcast. "Do I want to know what you were doing out there?" He was careful to keep his tone casual, if only a little concerned

"I was... um... looking for you." She admitted before she could think better of keeping her mouth shut. Pink turned to red, as the embarrassment increased her blush and she dared to ever so slightly look up to meet his penetrative stare. He was scanning her face as if searching for something. She was both excited and terrified that he may find whatever it was he was looking for there.

"May I ask why?" He prompted further, his voice even, betraying nothing but a tender politeness, his causal smile slipping to reveal a more honest expression.

"I-I'm not sure… I was supposed to be helping with flowers for my wedding…" She trailed off a moment, before continuing. "I thought I saw you in the trees but that couldn't have been… I suppose our first meeting left an impression on me. It felt... unfinished." She silently held her breath, watching his face and its unreadable expression. She was taking a huge risk, speaking so openly with a man that was not to be her husband, in the halls of her husband-to-be's home. He didn't say anything for a moment, just continued to look at her. Dawn was about to look away and apologise for taking his time when he spoke up.

"Do you have something you want to discuss then?" The hesitation in his voice made her pause now. Did he regret his offer to her? Did he even remember it? Maybe he did that to all the new women that joined the palace. Maybe it was just a test. A thousand more maybe statements rushed into her mind and when she opened her mouth to answer him, even she was uncertain what would come out.

"Dawn! What happened to your dress!" She tensed and her mouth snapped closed and looked to her feet sharply. Thomas was walking over to them with a foul expression on his face. Atlas's smile tightened into a hard line seeing the prince.

"She was nearly attacked by a wild animal in the gardens. Luckily, I was nearby and took care of it." He explained, a hardened mask taking over his expression, gone was the honest look from moments before.

Thomas stopped when he was close enough to them and crossed his arms in front of himself. He was trying to be intimidating and, while he was still taller than Dawn, he was molehill to Atlas's mountain.

"An animal in the gardens? The ground's keeper would never allow it." He dismissed the explanation quickly and with little consideration. He turned his eyes to Dawn directly, who held her hands in front of her obediently. She didn't lift her gaze but she could feel his attention on her. Atlas clenched his jaw hating how he looked at her like he owned her and hating more that, in a way, he did.

"Even if it is true, you'll have to explain to the seamstress why your reckless nature ruined your dress." He chided and Dawn nodded without looking up, accepting the punishment without a word. The seamstress was not an unpleasant lady but that made it all the worse as she took pride in her work and Dawn had ruined a dress she had crafted for her.

"Now go and clean yourself up." Thomas wrinkled his nose in disgust as he looked down to her mud covered skirt. "You look like you've rolled in a pig pen." She almost imperceptibly flinched at the insult, but Atlas fisted his hands seeing it anyways. Having been dismissed, Dawn turned quickly, retreating into her bedroom. She wanted to speak with Atlas more, perhaps thank him again for the rescue, but she would do no such thing in the presence of her finance. Thomas had made it abundantly clear that she was not to socialise with any man aside from him and his father and she had already disobeyed him once. She closed the door behind her, sealing herself in and Thomas and Atlast out in the hall.

"You won't even ask her if she's alright?" Atlas practically growled, trying and failing to keep emotions out of his words.

"Why should I?" Thomas asked, turning his attention back to Atlas, superiority written on his face. "I should ask you why I continue to find you in compromising positions with my fiancé."

"You should care for her well-being because she will be your wife. She was positively shaken up when I found her. White as a bedsheet. At the very least, it would not bode well for your father if it comes to light that you're not treating her well." The threat was hardly concealed and Thomas puffed up his chest in defence.

"My father has nothing to do with my intimate affairs. Her father paid a hefty sum for me to take her off his hands. She is nothing but a bonus to the dowry." He attempted to wave his hand in a casual dismissive motion, but it came off forced and awkward. "The only condition was that we must marry, to not shame him further, which, clearly, I agreed to." He stepped closer to Atlas, close enough so he could hear him whisper.

"If there truly was an animal encounter today, you would have done your prince a favour by not interfering." He spoke hushed and smiled at him still posturing like a peacock. Atlas was taller than him, but Thomas knew he was protected by a crown he was born underneath. He couldn't touch him and both men knew it. Atlas silently clenched his fist at his side wanting to do something, anything, but couldn't

Dawn had her ear pressed against the wood on the other side of the door, listening. She couldn't hear Thomas whisper, but she'd heard everything else and her tiny fragile heart inside broke again. Any hope she'd had of a safe home and, at very least, a disinterested partner was gone. He cared nothing for her but to use her. She did her best to hold back the tears, but a quiet sob escaped. She was once again unwanted, unloved, and alone. She pushed off the door and went to the washroom to clean her dress and cry in peace. She wasn't even married yet and she was mourning her life as a wife.

She left her post by the door before she could hear the conclusion to the conversations between the two men in the hall.

"Unlike you, I don't give a damn about my pride." Atlas's voice was low and dangerous. "If I find her injured by your hands, status be damned there will be consequences." He warned and turned on his heels to walk away before he did something he couldn't take back. Thomas looked at the sculpted muscle of Atlas's back and smiled with pride, feeling a victory that only a fool would celebrate.

"I don't believe you, friend." His cocky retort chased Atlas down the hall but it didn't even make him pause. His mind was only on one thing and it wasn't the ego of the second prince but rather the sunset curls of the woman with the vixen eyes.