Holding Elva, I walked further into my assigned room, bringing the man into focus.

It wasn’t Nicholas, but his brother.

“Julian.”

I knew Julian from my days at the Royal Academy, though we hadn’t been friends. Since Julian and

Nicholas were arch–enemies, and I was Nicholas’s girlfriend, I avoided interacted with Julian as much as I

could.

He quirked his lips into a playful smile. “You know, these days I go by, ‘Your Royal Highness.”

I swallowed hard, realizing my mistake.

I had to be careful here. Any perceived slight against the princes could cost me my life. But it was so difficult to reimagine the boys I knew at the Academy into the princes they presented themselves as now.

Nicholas and Julian were brothers, too. I never would have guessed.

I guessed Nicholas had plenty of his own secrets. Funny, back then, I had thought I was the only one with something to hide.

I’m teasing.” Julian clarified.

the breath I hadn’t

long time, Piper,” Julian said, approaching me.

with them.

squirmed in my

ground. “I packed some

cast a distrustful look at Jullan. When Jullan waved at her, she quickly looked away.

over to her suitcase

a moment, before turning

“My brother #77

humming sound. Even watching him, I couldn’t discern what he was

always carried an enigmatic presence – always smirking,

knew.

the type of person I would seek out for answers. But since

me, he

ask, the most pressing was, “Why am

not sure how you charmed your way through the initial selection, but

be so easily undone. Not

BOW

made sense. The royal family had used their

would be to admit

already divisive reputation.

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