I sit on the bench and continue drying my hair. Daniel stands as close enough to the exit as possible while remaining in the locker room.
His build isn’t bad, but he doesn’t work his leg muscles for long. As a result, his stamina doesn’t allow him to play a ninety minute game from start to finish. That’s the only reason why he couldn’t snatch a starter’s position.
He’s fast, though, and he can fit as a right-back or a midfielder. Coach noticed that he did well in the summer camp. It only took a word from me to convince him that Sterling could use a shot as a starter in the next game.
“Are you ready for Saturday?” I ask in a friendly tone.
“Yeah.” His eyes light up.
“It’s one of the rarest chances you’ll get so make it count.”
“Will… do, Captain.” He appears relieved and relaxed now.
My chance to strike.
“That friend of yours… A… something?”
His easy-going demeanour disappears as he stiffens. “Astrid.”
“Right. Astrid.” Not that I can ever forget her name considering that she’s able to fuck up my entire future.
“She…” He trails off, seeming to weigh his words. “I’m sorry for whatever she’s done. She’s not bad, she’s just not originally from around here. She doesn’t know the etiquette well.”
I pause drying my hair. “She’s not?”
“She lived with her mum before Lord Clifford took custody about three years ago. She hasn’t lived amongst us since she was a kid.”
So the princess hasn’t been a princess all along. Interesting. No wonder she didn’t exude the rotten, snobbish smell everyone at RES has.
During that party, she seemed so carefree and innocent, and yet somehow shackled down.
“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” Daniel asks with a slight edge when I remain silent.
“Depends.” I stand up until I’m toe-to-toe with him.
“On what?” His shoulders pull back as if he’s about to fight me.
Also interesting. Seems that the princess has a loyal friend.
“I want you to tell me something, Daniel. It’s in her best interest.”
Once Daniel is done with the information I need, he leaves and I change into one of Aiden’s jackets — that’s tighter than mine.
My lips curve in a smirk at the idea of a hunt.
I warned her.
She didn’t listen.
The time has come to punish her.
12
Astrid
If the king drops you, you can only break.
* * *