When I returned to the bedroom, Elva was missing from the bed. I nearly screamed, were it not for both of maids, who quickly approached me.

“W–where’s Elva?” I asked them, panic quaking my voice.

“You caused a right commotion, running around,” the talkative maid said. “It was enough to catch the

attention of Prince Nicholas.”

Nicholas? “He’s still at the banquet…?”

I remembered looking back at him as I was leaving. He’d been smiling at an eager girl desperate for his

attention.

“The banquet is still occurring,” the maid said. “He must have excused himself early.”

Why would he do such a thing? Surely he hadn’t overheard what Susie said about Elva? Even if he had, he w

wouldn’t have cared… would he?

“Prince Nicholas.came in here,” the quieter maid said. “He felt Elva’s fever, and then carried her out of

this room himself.”

spiral of fear and worries. I struggled to think straight.

had to be

the palace, would he? She was just

wouldn’t hurt Elva. I was certain of that. Especially when I thought of how gently he had held her

where would he

in the palace was off–limits to him. Where would I even

grave offense. Nathan had made clear that it

Elva. I needed to be

bedroom, trying to think I wanted

I

someone knacked on the door,

who had told me they’d

at me. “Miss Piper,

I’ll show you

fast pace as he led me through the back hallways of the palace,

surely allowed if I’d been summoned,

it

beds and a wall of bookcases. Several

equipment and microscopes.

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