Chapter 91:
Makenna’s POV:
I was still floating on Clayton’s goodbye kiss as I left his villa, my cheeks flushing with a lingering warmth that I couldn’t shake. The way he leaned in, the way his lips met my forehead—it left me with a sweet, electric thrill.
Clayton had kissed me first, and the way he whispered that he couldn’t wait to see me again had my heart doing somersaults.
I replayed those moments over and over, feeling the heat rise in my chest.
Trying to cool my flushed cheeks, I slipped into the training room and plopped down in my chair. That was when Alice practically sprinted over.
“Good morning!” she chirped, way too excited for this early hour.
I jumped, glaring at her like she’d just pulled the fire alarm. “Geez, Alice, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”
She giggled, not the least bit apologetic. “Well, you were off in la-la land. By the way, where did you disappear to last night? I was looking for you everywhere.”
“Last night…”
The words tugged me back to that whirlwind of passion with Clayton, and I could feel my cheeks burning all over again.
“I, um, had a bit too much to drink,” I stammered, hoping to dodge the topic. “Ended up going home earlier than I planned.”
Alice wasn’t buying it. She cocked an eyebrow suspiciously. “Home, huh?”
Then she nudged me with a mischievous grin. “You spent the night with Prince Clayton, didn’t you?”
She had hit the nail on the head.
“Enough already!” I yelped, clapping a hand over her mouth, feeling more embarrassed by the second. “Stop with the wild guesses!”
My flustered reaction only fueled Alice’s excitement. She leaned in. “Right? Oh my god, knew it! You two totally…”
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Whatever else she was about to say got cut off by the sudden opening of the door. Hayley barged in, practically stumbling. Her usually smooth stride was replaced with a limp, thanks to the punishment she’d endured.
“Can you all shut up for once?” she snapped. “Do you even know what quiet means? How long have you been training here?”
The training room fell silent as she swept a glare over us. Still seething, she hissed, “A bunch of useless idiots, the lot of you. Days have gone by, and not one of you has managed to catch a prince’s eye.”
“Hmph!” Alice scowled, pouting under her breath. “Does she really think everyone is that lucky? I’d be grateful just to make it out alive after meeting those princes.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I nudged her hand. “Enough, Alice. Don’t let Hayley hear you. She’s still fuming and might take it out on you.”
Hayley, who hadn’t quite vented her anger yet, continued with a biting remark. “You know what? If just one of you sex slaves catches the prince’s eye, the rest of you will be thrown out of the palace without so much as a goodbye.”
Her words caused an uproar, and the women began whispering among themselves.
I knew what everyone was thinking about—Leonardo’s promise of a grand reward, something dangled before us like a glittering lure on that first day. Then some gazes flicked toward me, some more openly than others.
I noticed the jealousy in those eyes. They hated me because I’d caught the princes’ attention, and now, thanks to Hayley’s venomous words, I was their enemy.
But I refused to be rattled. I met their stares calmly and said, “If you want the princes’ favor, you’d better fight for it yourselves. The princes are your target, not me.”
Hayley cursed, seeing that her taunts hadn’t shaken me. “Sharp-tongued, aren’t you?”
But I simply smiled, unfazed.
Hayley, realizing she couldn’t get under my skin, shifted tactics. “Alright, class starts now. Since you all failed to catch the princes’ eye, it’s time I teach you how to seduce a man properly.”
