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.

It should be okay, but…” He

“But?” I prompted.

mind. I’ll take you myself. Meet

minutes.”

Elva cheered, and this

went running to the playground to meet and play with

other kids.

caretaker, an older woman

times in a row.

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

a moment to sink in. Another

here, I cannot escape

up to the open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at me expressionlessly for

his gaze slid to

me you were coming here!” Mark

narrowed marginally,

He hadn’t

nervous under my stare, too. “He comes here sometimes to help, but I swear

here today, or I wouldn’t

the palace for a while. She asked

nearby, where she could help out. Of

A coincidence? I asked.

crossed his heart with

back to Nicholas, but he was already

is truly a good man.” She patted my

shell he wears. It’s the

too, but I didn’t want

you both here is a blessing. Sometimes the kids are more than

handle.”

word. He

before

and flopped down onto it. None of

breakfast.

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

mine.

silence, with the girls chattering

feel in

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

being surrounded by so much

becoming that way too.

I had finished breakfast and were on our way back to our room, I felt like

my skin. I was uncomfortable and

of my punishment weighed

our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped in front

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

wrong, exactly. But I do

He nodded, encouraging me.

during my off–time, would I be

Elva,

course! Elva

“But where would you want to go?

maybe do some good? I don’t know.

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