Substitute Bride To The Alpha.

was gentle and cool, rustling the leaves of the nearby trees and carrying the scent of blooming flower

rrow in his hands. As soon as I laid eyes on him, my smile faded and my he

is face. I tried to ignore him, but he stopped in front of me, his presence loomin

aid, his voice de

o talk to him. I didn't want to be anywhere near him. Reluctantly, I

Roberto?" I asked, my vo

he gazed at me for a long moment, his e

to join me in archery?" he

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I replied. "But I'm n

" he said, still smiling. "Your father said you loved

t I kept a calm facade. "I'm sorry, but I ha

, Cassandra," he said. "I'm sure I can impress

iosity. Was he trying to prove something? Did he think he could

Cassandra as possible. "No, thank you," I said

overed. "Very well," he said. "I'll just have to go and do

he could win my affections with his archer

Maybe I should have gone with him, just to be polite. But then agai

thing about him made me uneasy, even though he had been nothing

range, bow in hand, ready to make his shot. He to

imself. His posture was perfect, and his focus was un

eady to release the arrow. He held his breath for a

llseye with a satisfying thud. I couldn't help but gasp in awe at the

face, clearly expecting praise, "Impressive,

It was okay," I said with a shrug, trying

used to being criticized. "Is that so?" he ask

urge to show off my skills. "Yes, it is," I said, a smug

early intrigued. "Is that a challenge?"

es, it is," I said, grabbing a bow and arrow from the n

could feel the tension mounting. I took a deep bre

. I smirked, feeling proud of my shot. "Your turn," I said to

determined. He aimed his bow carefully, h

y as I watched Roberto's arrow fly off course,

smile. "Maybe you should stick to ruling your k

d I could see him bristle with anger. "You got l

Luck had nothing to do with it," I said, "I'm just a better archer than you are.

ntrol himself yet he still managed to sound calm. "I don't ne

rto '' I said, my voice dripping with venom, "I'm my person. You may soon be King, but that

Roberto's face at my words, and

nnoying, but he didn't deserve to be made to feel like a fool in front of me. "Look, I'm sorr

ood afternoon, Cassandra." He simply said, his tone measured and I could tell that I m

er, and went back

:

rd a noise coming from the hallway. Looking up, I saw an old woman

d, a bit more rudely

ria," she said, "I am the Prince's nanny, and

from Roberto, but I had never actually met her. "Oh, I see,"

o meet you too, Queen," she said, "I'

to be Roberto's Queen, I didn't want to be here at all."Pl

d, a small smile on her lips. "His Majesty would b

and asked, "Speaking about him, how i

me. "Well, he's alright. It's been

ws in concern. "W

. He demanded perfection from his children and didn't hesitate to punish them severely if they mad

evelation. "That's horribl

but unfortunately, she passed away when Roberto w

ke for Roberto to grow up in such a harsh en

. Despite everything he's been through, he has a kind heart

verything, she uses all of them as strings in her master plan. He has suffered so much and never felt love from anyone, I just wish you could be merc

believed I was one at this point. I stopped my thoughts and turned to her. She had

rkable person," I said

gone through, and the amount of trauma he had faced. And in that moment, I felt ash