Double Life Of Him

le the princes chatted and laughed, except Lucian, the princesses just glared at each other. There was some kind of hostility between them. Lucian didn't go up to his brothers, he just stood b

in front of us. "You must have heard the rumor about our brother, about him being the devil. What do you think about that?" He asked, cruel mirth clear in his tone. I could see Lucian clenching his fists under the table. "It's as you said Your highness, just a rumor" I replied. I didn't know why I defended Lucian, but I felt a strange protectiveness over him. The crown prince sent me a scrutinizing glare, but he wasn't willing to give up. He was probably thinking of other ways to insult his brother. He had no right! "So you don't believe them?" He looked at me skeptically. "Should I, Your Highness?" I said in a challenging tone, mock sweetness coloring my voice. Clearly, the crown prince was not succeeding with his insults so he got some help from his brother sitting in front of us. "Even his mother didn't want him after she gave birth to him," he added. I couldn't believe my ears. How could he say something so cruel to his own brother? Beside me, Lucian's entire body tensed up, ready to spring at the brother sending cruel taunts to the both of us. I quickly reached out under the table and gently laid my hand atop his, willing him to stop and consider his actions. Lucian still. He raised his incredulous gaze up to my eyes, clearly surprised by my contact. I gave him a reassuring smile, and by intuition, I could tell he had calmed down significantly. Turning to his brothers, I was furious. I hadn't known Lucian for that long, and I hadn't chosen to be married to him, but now he was my husband and I couldn't change that. I had only one option: to make this marriage work. His brother looked at me, calculating. He must have guessed what I was thinking. "Well, I hope he t