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

“But?” I prompted.

his head, then smiled at me. “Never mind. I’ll take you myself. Meet me

minutes.”

cheered, and this time I joined

soon as we arrived at the orphanage, Elva went running to the playground to meet and play

other kids.

caretaker, an older woman who was exceptionally

many times in

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

to sink in. Another

cannot

entryway where Nicholas was standing.

before his gaze slid to

didn’t tell me you were coming

narrowed marginally,

He hadn’t

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

be here today, or I wouldn’t

to get out of the palace for a while. She

out. Of course, I would bring

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart with

to Nicholas, but he

truly a good

shell he wears. It’s

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

both here is a blessing. Sometimes

handle.”

a word. He simply turned and

Elva called, before happily returning to her

flopped down onto it. None of

breakfast.

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

mine.

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

to feel

conversations had more or less returned to the same topics

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

becoming that way too.

and were on our

skin. I was

punishment

to the new

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?”

But I do

He nodded, encouraging me.

to go somewhere during my off–time, would I be

Elva, of

Elva

arrange something.” Mark said. “But where would you want to

myself, and maybe do some good? I don’t know.

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