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.

I continued to care for Elva and

always be divided.

Elva enough to fully move on. I would try,

some way I could continue to make sure they were comfortable, even if I never got

be my intermediary, perhaps. Or someone else I trusted, though

on Piper and Elva without anyone knowing about it even them that would be ideal. It would all have to be very secretive.

father’s personal rooms, I found my family tucked

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

at me when I walked in. Unfortunately, the

cat dragged in he teased: “Brother, you

myself into the seat and tried to

what has you so

start,” I grumbled.

Luna was scrolling through something on her phone. The King was berating the servant for adding too much sugar

coffee

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