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.

know a place. It should be okay, but…” He looked

“But?” I prompted.

“Never mind. I’ll

minutes.”

and this

the orphanage, Elva went running to the playground

other kids.

an older woman who

many times in a

hand,” she said. “So many

a moment to sink in. Another

even here, I cannot escape

looked up to the open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at

gaze slid

tell me you were

narrowed marginally,

faced Mark as well. He hadn’t mentioned that Nicholas might be

comes here sometimes to help,

or I wouldn’t

“She wanted to get out of the

nearby, where she could help out. Of course, I would bring her

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart

back to Nicholas, but he was already heading back

a good man.” She patted my arm consolingly. “Don’t be

he wears. It’s

hated me too, but I didn’t want to tell

a blessing. Sometimes the

handle.”

word. He simply

Elva called, before happily returning

it. None of the girls spoke

breakfast.

was still too embarrassed from her own comment.

mine.

there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves,

to feel

to the same topics as before, as if I

being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness. It made

becoming that way too.

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

straight out of my skin. I

of my punishment

the new guards. I

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?”

exactly. But I do have

He nodded, encouraging me.

during my off–time, would I be allowed?

Elva,

Elva

something.” Mark said. “But

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

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