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.

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

“But?” I prompted.

smiled at me. “Never mind. I’ll

minutes.”

Elva cheered, and this time

went

other kids.

an older woman who was exceptionally sweet.

times

hand,” she said. “So many generous spirits

moment to sink in. Another

I cannot escape from being

entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at me expressionlessly for

before his gaze

Royal Highness! You didn’t tell me you were coming

eyes narrowed

hadn’t mentioned that Nicholas might be

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

today, or I

explained, “She wanted to get out of the palace for a

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

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart with

but he

good

shell he wears. It’s the inside that

me too, but I didn’t

blessing. Sometimes the kids

handle.”

a word. He simply turned and

called, before

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

breakfast.

too embarrassed from her

mine.

longer I sat there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst

to feel in

the same topics as before,

hated being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness. It made me

becoming that way too.

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

skin. I

looming threat of my punishment

to the new guards. I stopped in

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

But I

He nodded, encouraging me.

during my off–time, would

With Elva, of

Elva

Mark said. “But where would you want

I could center myself, and maybe do some good?

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