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…”

“But?” I prompted.

smiled at me. “Never mind.

minutes.”

Elva cheered, and this time

the orphanage, Elva went running to the playground

other kids.

an older woman who was

many times in a row.

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

to sink

here, I cannot escape from being intruded

where Nicholas was standing. He stared

gaze slid to

me

eyes narrowed marginally,

hadn’t mentioned that Nicholas might be

too. “He comes here

today, or I wouldn’t have brought

wanted to get out of the palace for a while. She

she could help out. Of course, I

A coincidence? I asked.

heart with his

but he was

a good man.” She patted my arm

he wears. It’s the inside

hated me too, but I didn’t want to

is a blessing. Sometimes the kids are more

handle.”

didn’t say a word. He

called, before happily returning to her

and flopped down onto it. None of the girls

breakfast.

have, but she was still too embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze

mine.

there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves,

to feel in the

conversations had more or less returned to the same topics

surrounded by so much vanity

becoming that way too.

Elva and I had finished breakfast and were on our way back to our

my skin. I

looming threat of my punishment weighed on

waiting outside of our room, talking to the new guards. I

to gather my thoughts.

wrong, Piper?”

exactly. But I do

He nodded, encouraging me.

somewhere during my off–time, would I

With Elva, of

Elva

arrange something.” Mark said. “But where would

I could center myself, and maybe do some

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