But Julian would know, because he was there.

In another life, being near Nicholas would have given me enough reason to want to stay.

But he’d made his feelings about me clear. And I had other priorities.

My gaze slid to Elva, playing with her dolls at the foot of the bed.

“I don’t want to play house,” I said. “Nor do I want to partake in this game of undercutting nobles and

chasing princes.”

I had been away from nobility for a long time, but I hadn’t forgotten their cutthroat politics, where an action as small as selecting the wrong utensil at dinner could start a blood feud. Backstabbing, betrayals, pretending to be nice just to make someone vulnerable…

The memories made my already tired body even more exhausted.

attention. She recovered quickly this time, thank

so that she wouldn’t overhear, I said to Julian, “My daughter is frail and sick often. I have to work hard to care for her. I can’t

a finger to his chin. “Piper, you realize this is the

“Yes, but-

are here, wouldn’t you have access to all the royal resources? Including our medical staff

I froze.

the royal family truly be willing

under the

away a sick child would surely

horrible, be said, smile adding

so generous with what were

to know

laughed. A roguish light danced in his eyes. They were

more brown than gold, with no flecks of

than I was in the Academy,”

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