Nicholas didn’t say a word. He simply turned and left.

“Bye, Nick–lass!” Elva called, before happily returning to her waffles.

Deflated, I corrected my chair and flopped down onto it. None of the girls spoke to me during the rest of

breakfast.

Susie might have, but she was still too embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze never lifted to

mine.

The longer I sat there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves, the more suffocated I

began to feel in the palace.

The girls‘ conversations had more or less returned to the same topics as before, as if I had not spoken

up at all. I hated being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness. It made me worry that I was

becoming that way too.

By the time Elva and I had finished breakfast and were on our way back to our room, I felt like I might

vibrate straight out of my skin. I was uncomfortable and unhappy.

The looming threat of my punishment weighed on my mind too.

Mark was still waiting outside of our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped in front of him and tried

to gather my thoughts.

“Something wrong, Piper?” he asked.

“Not wrong, exactly. But I do have a question.”

He nodded, encouraging me.

7f1 wanted to go somewhere during my off–time, would I be allowed? Somewhere off the palace

grounds. With Elva, of course.”

Of course! Elva chimed in

be able to arrange something.” Mark said. “But where would you want to go?

omewhere I could center myself, and maybe do some good? I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking

ything I rubbed my forehead.

looked at me curquely, like i was a puzzle yet to be completed.

“Somewhere like an orphanage, perhaps?” I suggested. “I could help serve lunch later, and Elva could play with the kids.”

Elva gasped. “Yay! Let’s go there! I want to play!”

Mark’s eyes went a little wide. Had I surprised him? Maybe he spent too much time in the palace too, if he was thinking the worst of everyone like I was.

should

“But?” I prompted.

me. “Never mind. I’ll take you myself. Meet

minutes.”

and this

arrived at the orphanage, Elva went running to the playground to meet

other kids.

the head caretaker, an older woman who was exceptionally sweet. She

many times

to have another helping hand,” she said. “So many generous spirits

moment to

cannot escape from being intruded

Nicholas was

his gaze slid to

You didn’t tell me you were coming

narrowed marginally,

as well. He hadn’t mentioned that Nicholas

too. “He comes here sometimes

be here today, or I wouldn’t have brought

to get out of the palace for a while. She asked if there

where she could help out. Of course, I would

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart with his

to Nicholas, but he was already heading back

smiled. “Prince Nicholas is truly a good man.” She patted my arm consolingly. “Don’t be

the hard shell he wears.

I didn’t want

Sometimes the kids are

handle.”

a word. He simply

Nick–lass!” Elva called, before happily

flopped down onto it. None

breakfast.

embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze

mine.

silence, with the girls

to feel in

had more or less returned to the same topics as before, as if I had not

hated being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness. It made me worry

becoming that way too.

finished breakfast and were on

out of my skin.

threat of my punishment weighed on my mind

still waiting outside of our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped in front of

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

I do have

He nodded, encouraging me.

wanted to go somewhere during my off–time, would I be allowed?

With Elva,

course! Elva

said. “But where would you want

could center myself, and maybe do some good? I don’t know. Maybe

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