Chapter 0257
I entered the dining room and sat down for breakfast across from Tiffany and Veronica and beside
Susie. Susie gave me a supportive smile.
“How’s Elva?” she asked.
“She was just exhausted,” I replied. “I let her sleep in this morning.” 1
“Oh good. I was worried.” When Susie said something like that, I believed her.
Jessica sat on Susie’s other side. She quietly ate her breakfast without making much fuss. However,
further down the table from her, Olivia and Lilliana were both glaring at me.
“I’m surprised the King let her stay,” Olivia said loudly to Lilliana, who agreed.
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t aware that was any of your business, Olivia. Maybe you should focus on
yourself.” Softer, to only Veronica and me, she grumbled, “Like usual.”
“Did you say something, Tiffany?” Olivia called.
“Nothing to worry about,” Tiffany replied.
Olivia frowned. Everyone went back to their breakfast.
Lilliana, however, did not seem as willing to let things go. “Piper’s behavior from the gala is inexcusable,
no matter what you say. She doesn’t deserve to even be eating breakfast with us, let alone, to stay in the
competition.”
“Let it go,” Veronica said.
“No,” Lilliana snapped. Her wilting flower façade had been crumbling for a while now. I noticed at the
gala last night. She’d glared more than usual when Nicholas’s back was turned. Usually she’d hide it
better.
I wondered if it had to do with how Nicholas had been giving Olivia and me more attention than he had
to her, when she had been the supposed favorite for so long. Lately, it seemed, she had been falling out of
favor.
“Could you imagine someone like that as Luna? Our Kingdom would be the laughing stock of the entire
continent. She’s a disgrace, An embarrassment. Someone should show her the door before she makes
everything worse.”
someone should be you, Lilliana?” said Nicholas
Lilliana instantly paled.
into her
“Oh, Prince Nicholas, you must have misheard me…” She
her eyes
that look on him before. Usually he bought into
This time, he glowered.
you also attempting to judge my hearing, as you have
“N–no… Of course not…”
1
has earned her spot in this competition, and no one especially not you can say she does
her to stay. Or perhaps
to him, desperation in her eyes.
no need. Please, return to your breakfast.” Nicholas glared at her, until she wilted back
turned to me. “I would escort you back
are ready to go.”
am.” I pushed my plate away and rose
to each other, then I
me from
out in the hallway, I said,
no right saying that to you,” Nicholas
talking about
she was,” Nicholas replied. “From what I’ve been able
while.”
him sideways. I didn’t think he’d been
veneer.
hide her disdain as well as she thinks she does,” Nicholas
my assent. “Is she
totally sure why I asked. I didn’t want to know the answer if the answer was yes. Maybe it
somewhat.
was all only temporary, and that I was playing
much
me. “She was never my
to race, the treacherous thing. I had no reason to think that meant I was his favorite instead, except the intense focus of his gaze, the way he stared down into my
I…” I didn’t know
said. I guessed
ever met by fair. Brave
sense of justice.
great
him as both. I
pulled me into an
me into his arms and kissed me
smiled against his mouth.
he said, like that was reason enough. Maybe
kiss me again,” I said.
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