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

“But?” I prompted.

at me. “Never mind. I’ll take you myself. Meet me out front in

minutes.”

this time

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

other kids.

the head caretaker, an older woman

times in

have another helping hand,” she

to

even here, I cannot escape

to the open entryway where Nicholas was

before his gaze slid

tell me

narrowed

Mark as well. He hadn’t mentioned

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

here today, or I wouldn’t have brought

out of the palace for a

help out. Of course,

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart

back to Nicholas, but he was already heading

caretaker smiled. “Prince Nicholas is truly a good man.” She patted my arm consolingly.

hard shell he wears. It’s the inside that

too, but I didn’t want to tell

blessing. Sometimes the

handle.”

word. He simply turned

called, before happily returning

onto it. None of the girls spoke to me during the

breakfast.

but she was still too embarrassed

mine.

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

to feel in the

returned to the same topics as before, as if

at all. I hated being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness.

becoming that way too.

and were on

skin. I was uncomfortable and

of my punishment weighed on

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

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

exactly. But I

He nodded, encouraging me.

my off–time, would I be allowed? Somewhere

With Elva,

course! Elva

to arrange something.” Mark said. “But

maybe do some good?

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