Amelia bit her tongue. She suspected the prince had feelings for Penelope, but she didn’t know it was so bad he would threaten her.
Amelia stepped forward just as Tyrion turned around to leave. "I would do anything as your wife," she offered. "I can be the kind of woman you want."
Tyrion was tired of the repeated offer. "There are places around the kingdom where you can go to become what men want. Why do all of you come bothering me when the red light district still exists?"
Amelia blushed, surprised Tyrion would mention such a place so easily. It wasn’t what she meant. "I am a lady-"
"You’re not much of a lady right now. Stop bothering me," Tyrion said and then walked off.
This time, Tyrion didn’t care if Amelia tried to follow him. The dungeon had plenty of room for Amelia.
Amelia stomped the ground with her right foot, annoyed she didn’t get her way. She had dressed up solely to grab Tyrion’s attention, but she had managed to get the attention of every other bachelor at the ball.
"Why her?" Amelia muttered, trying to understand Tyrion’s interest in Penelope. "My father has money too."
Amelia saw only herself as the perfect one to become the next queen. She was social, unlike Penelope, who kept to herself. She carried herself as a refined lady and helped those in need to get the palace’s attention.
Amelia watched Tyrion until he was out of sight. His feelings for Penelope didn’t matter since he hadn’t officially picked a wife.
Amelia decided to return to the ballroom to find her parents, but first, she had to meet with someone else.
"King Castro," Amelia greeted Tobias, curtsying as perfectly as she could. "I am Amelia Prescott."
Tobias didn’t know who the young woman was, but he smiled. "It is nice to see you, Lady Prescott. All the guests are leaving, so you should find your escort and be on your way."
Amelia tucked her hair behind her ear. "I was looking for my father, but I was distracted by a talk with the crown prince."
This sparked Tobias’s interest.
"I hope your talk with the crown prince went well. Excuse me," Tobias said, going around Amelia to get to his wife.
Tobias found it odd that his son would speak to another young woman when his gaze always went to Penelope.
Amelia watched as the king walked off to the guards and the queen. A little bit more and she would join the Castros.
"Amelia," Ronan Prescott called out to his daughter.
Amelia smiled as she ran to her father’s side.
"It is time to go," Ronan announced.
Ronan was irritated that Amelia was given the chance to get close to the crown prince and present herself before the queen.
He grumbled about it from the moment he left the ballroom to the moment he entered the carriage.
"That bastard arrived late, and that death happened before he could pick someone to dance with. Of all the times for someone to die, they picked the worst moment. If you’re going to kill yourself, why not do it in your own home?" Ronan rambled, letting his frustrations out.
Amelia looked out the carriage window. "I don’t think the crown prince was going to dance with anyone tonight. He rarely dances."
"No one has caught his eye. You weren’t given enough time for him to get a good look at you," said Ronan.
"I spoke to the crown prince before I came to you. Right now, Penelope Collins already has his attention. She must not be returning his advances. Can’t you get rid of her?" Amelia asked, her hands gripping a handful of her dress.
Ronan stopped to look at his daughter. "You’re asking for the impossible. If I try to touch a single strand of hair on her head, her father will be coming at me with every gun in Lockwood. You don’t need me to get rid of her. Just be better than her."
Ronan hated to lose, and he would hate for Amelia to be second to anyone else. "Men are simple, Amelia. You get his attention with your beauty, and then you do whatever is needed to keep it. Times are changing. Prim and proper won’t get you far anymore."
Amelia hated what her father was suggesting since it aligned with what Tyrion mentioned. It was an insult to suggest she go so low, but she couldn’t object to her father’s wishes.
"I gave you everything you wanted from the moment you were born. It’s time you repay me by becoming the next queen. I trust that you’re smart enough to get his attention off of her and onto you," Ronan said.
Ronan stared at the neckline of Amelia’s dress. How was she to get Tyrion’s attention when she was so covered up?
"I’m going to call the dressmaker to the mansion tomorrow. Your dresses are a little childish. Don’t look at me like that. He has far too many options not to be sleeping around before he picks a wife, and many of your peers were dressed the part for it. Catch up," Ronan advised Amelia.
"If you lose the prince to that Collins girl, prepare to be sent off to the man who offers the highest price for your purity. I don’t care about the age," said Ronan.
One way or the other, Ronan intended to gain something big from Amelia’s marriage. He was in luck that there were plenty of men wanting to have an innocent young woman like his daughter where they could be her first.
"Don’t worry, father. I won’t ever lose to her. I’m going to knock her off her high horse and place his attention on me. Anyone can be ruined," Amelia said, plotting how she would do it. "Even a duke’s daughter could fall from grace. Isn’t that what happened with her mother?"
"No. Her mother didn’t have any grace to fall from. She was only noticed because of the duke, but she is a beauty," Ronan muttered.
It annoyed Ronan that Edgar had everything. A wife whose beauty could never be questioned, a daughter who captured the prince’s attention, and a son who was sought after by wealthy young women.
Just once, Ronan wanted to be the one who had everything.