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.

place. It should be okay, but…”

“But?” I prompted.

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

minutes.”

Elva cheered, and this time I joined

arrived at the orphanage, Elva went running to

other kids.

the head caretaker, an older woman who was exceptionally

hand many times in a

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

moment to sink in. Another

cannot escape from

open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He

his gaze

tell me you were

narrowed

Mark as well. He hadn’t

too. “He comes here

here today, or

“She wanted to get out of the palace for a

could help out. Of

A coincidence? I asked.

heart with

back to Nicholas, but he was already heading

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

the hard shell he

me too, but I didn’t want to

Sometimes the kids

handle.”

say a word. He simply

called, before happily returning

down onto it. None of the

breakfast.

still too embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze

mine.

silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves, the more suffocated

feel in the

had more or less returned to the same topics as before,

so much vanity and selfishness. It made

becoming that way too.

the time Elva and I had finished breakfast and were on

straight out of my skin. I was

looming threat of my punishment

room, talking to the new guards. I stopped

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

But I

He nodded, encouraging me.

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

With Elva,

Elva

Mark said. “But where would you want to

myself, and maybe do some

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