The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 830

An hour later I enter the banquet hall at Gabriel’s side, my hand perched quaintly atop his as the Prince escorts me forward. I’m again wearing the diamond collar that hides Luca’s mark, though I’ve got no crown today, which is fine by me. Pippa dressed me in acres of pink satin overtop another corset which does nothing to aid the cramps that torture my back and my stomach. At every moment, I avoid the urge to scowl for more reasons than one.

But my face shows none of it, a pretty smile and vacant look in my eyes as my head swivels around, nodding to everyone who sits at the tables which are arranged in a wide horseshoe before the small King’s table at the front so that all of the courtiers can get a good look at us.

And not just the courtiers, I realize as I smile around the room. It takes a great deal of control to keep my face bland as my eyes sweep over the table of Moon Valley ambassadors who have been included in this event. Their table is tucked away behind the table of Atalaxian nobles and heavily guarded, but they’re here.

I let a little surprise and fondness show as I give them a tinkling little wave, as if seeing an old acquaintance about whom I don’t particularly care. My eyes find Ben’s, though, and he smirks at me, shaking his head a bit, onto my game. But the rest of the ambassadors just look terribly confused, clearly wondering how I’ve fallen this quickly under this Atalaxian spell.

I quickly turn away from them all, wondering what the hell is going on. Why does Gabirel want us all here for dinner? And why would he invite the delegation from Moon Valley – what does he want them to see?

Gabriel predictably leads us immediately to that front table, even as Elias and Pippa fall to the side, taking seats of honor closest to the high table. I frown as they sit, wondering where Elias and Gabriel’s father is. Calvin – my mother’s friend – the King’s brother. I haven’t seen sign of him at all since I arrived. Is that odd? Should he be here? I don’t even know.

The King gives Gabriel a loud, formal welcome as we finally reach our destination. Gabriel bows, answering in a bored way as I dip into a deep curtsy, ignoring their words and concentrating instead on the fact that neither the King’s Luna nor the Prince’s are here. And, indeed, that there is no chair for me.

But I can’t help, a few times, the cruel little pinches and squeezes that make Gabriel growl quietly but which he cannot allow to show on his face either. Because he, too, is bound by the ridiculous gender roles of his nation and couldn’t ever let anyone know that his pretty little Luna could hurt him.

So instead I just rub until my hands ache, well aware that I’m being humiliated, that the whole thing is in service of showing just how completely he’s tamed me, and that photographers have captured the entire scene to print in the world-wide press tomorrow.

But whatever. Anyone I care about will just see these images and laugh.