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.

should be okay,

“But?” I prompted.

mind. I’ll take you myself. Meet me out front

minutes.”

this time I joined

soon as we arrived at the orphanage, Elva went

other kids.

head caretaker, an older woman who

times in a

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

words took a moment to sink

here, I cannot escape from being intruded

open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at

before his gaze

Highness! You didn’t tell me you were coming here!” Mark said,

narrowed marginally, in

faced Mark as well. He hadn’t mentioned

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

be here today, or I

“She wanted to get out of the

out.

A coincidence? I asked.

crossed his heart with

turned back to Nicholas, but he

a good man.” She patted my arm consolingly.

hard shell he

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

Sometimes the kids are more

handle.”

a word. He simply

called, before happily

my chair and flopped down onto it. None of the girls spoke to me during

breakfast.

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

mine.

in silence, with the girls chattering

feel

had more or less returned to the same topics as

hated being surrounded by so much

becoming that way too.

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

my skin.

punishment weighed on my mind

talking to the new guards. I stopped in front

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

wrong, exactly. But I do have a

He nodded, encouraging me.

my off–time, would I

With Elva,

course! Elva chimed

Mark said. “But where would

I could center myself, and maybe do some

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