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.

my attention. She recovered quickly this time, thank

is frail and sick often. I have to work hard to care for her. I

to his chin. “Piper, you

“Yes, but-

to all the royal resources? Including our medical staff and

I froze.

thought of that. Would the royal family truly be willing to use their

have seen the disbelief on my face. “While you are here, you are under the care of my family. We

Turning away a sick child would

be horrible, be said, smile adding

so generous with what

know the real

light danced in his eyes. They were different

brown than gold,

than I

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