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.”

and worries. I struggled to think

I had to

wouldn’t make her leave the palace, would he? She was just a

certain of that. Especially when I thought of how gently he had held her when she ran to him

where would he

in the palace was

grave offense. Nathan had made clear that

strong for Elva. I

to think I wanted

I

the door, I glanced, and

had told

much less troubled now, looking fully at me. “Miss Piper, you

I’ll show

my urgency, he maintained a fast pace as he led me through the back hallways

allowed if I’d been summoned, right? I didn’t have time

if it brought me to

few beds and a wall of bookcases.

equipment and microscopes.

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