Nicholas

I woke up in the morning with a looming sense of dread. Today was the day of the first elimination ceremony. The past few days, I had quietly hated every second of the ticking clock while knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Even now, as I dressed and prepared to meet my family for breakfast, I tried to be regal, but inwardly I

was torn to pieces.

I

Despite my every effort not to, I had come to care for Piper and Elva. I had as little doubt as Piper seemed to, about how quickly they would be sent away. And I worried.

Would they be alright on their own? They had been, up until now. But Piper herself had told me how they struggled more often than not. Would that persist? What if Elva’s sickness worsened and Piper wasn’t

able to afford care? What would become of them?

I hated that I wouldn’t be able to know. My duty to the throne would keep me from checking on them as I

would like. And my loyalty to my future wife would limit how much I could even ask after them.

to have my full heart. If I continued to care

always be divided.

wasn’t sure, now, having seen Piper again, that I could forget her and Elva enough to

make sure

Mark could be my intermediary, perhaps. Or someone else I trusted, though there was no one I

it even them that would

found my family tucked around a smaller dining table.

pouring coffee for my father. Joyce had his nose in a paper. Julian, biting into a crunchy apple, was watching the television on the other side of

was the only one to glance at me when I walked in. Unfortunately, the only opened seat

the cat dragged in he teased: “Brother, you

seat and tried to ignore

bet I know what has

start,” I

table, but fortunately no one else seemed to be paying attention. The Luna was scrolling through something on her phone. The King was berating the servant

coffee

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