Chapter 106

The next morning, all of the candidates were called down into the parlor. I checked with Mark and the guards before I left the room. With my twin potentially lurking around, we’d taken to a password system to confirm my identity. The password would be changed every day and given only once in the morning.

Today’s word was fireplace.

With that set, and Elva sitting with the Nanny, I headed down to the parlor to meet with the others.

Susie was there, thank goodness, and seemed unharmed.

“I didn’t stay at the celebration much longer, after you left,” she said. “Julian walked me back to my room, which surprised me, but I figured you were behind his sudden shift in kindness.”

“I was worried about you.”

“I worried about you too, but Julian told me you were okay.”

We waited for a while, until Nathan entered and moved toward the front of the room. With only 8 of us left, the meeting felt much more intimate than before. He didn’t even use a microphone.

“The events moving forward will be different than before. Since you’ve each been chosen by one of the three princes, it is those princes you will now cater to. To start, you will attend a date with your prince and your fellow candidates chosen by that prince. Piper, this means you will attend two dates.”

“I understand,” I said, ignoring the glares from Lilliana, Olivia, and the girls Julian had chosen.

Nathan nodded. “Nicholas’s first date will be this afternoon in the gardens. You will three will be directed there after lunch.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Thank you,” Lilliana said quickly after.

Olivia simply tilted her head in acknowledgement.

Nathan seemed unfazed. Maybe he was used to the treatment. “Those chosen by the other princes will have your dates soon. Be ready for further announcements.”

Nathan bowed, dismissing them. The girls immediately began to chatter, but even that was not as boisterous with so few people now.

“It seems unfair for Piper to have two dates and the rest of us only one,” one of Julian’s picks loudly declared.

Nathan, who had yet to leave the room, immediately stopped and faced her. “It is not Piper’s decision, nor is it yours. The princes have chosen Piper, and they each have chosen to invite her to their dates. Surely you don’t think yourself of higher judgement than your princes?”

The girl immediately wilted. “No.”

Nathan turned then and walked out of the room. I stood speechless, watching after him. I knew he wasn’t an ally, since he was in service to the King who obviously hated me. But when the rules aligned in my favor, I couldn’t help but be grateful.

“See you later, Piper,” Lilliana said. She said it simply enough, but knowing her, it was probably a threat.

Olivia didn’t say anything, just walked out.

Susie turned to me. “Good luck with those two. I can’t imagine your date is going to be much fun.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “It’s Nicholas who I’m worried about.”

“Don’t worry about him. He’s used to people like them.”

She was probably right, but it still seemed sad to think of it that way. Nicholas has been around too many fake, power-hungry people for too long.

That afternoon, when I was summoned, I walked down to the gardens where Nicholas was waiting. Lilliana and Olivia were already there. I imagined they were summoned first. The King’s favoritism persisted, it seemed, even here.

Nicholas seemed tense, his arms flexed and his shoulders straight. He looked at me and raised a brow.

“Fireplace,” I mouthed, silently, and he marginally relaxed, enough at least to loosen his clenched fists.

“I thought we might walk through the grass,” Nicholas said.

“Forgive me, Your Royal Highness, but did it not rain just last night?” Olivia asked.

“I suppose so,” Nicholas said.

“Then, forgive me, Sir, but I would humbly request you keep in mind that ladies’ footwear is delicate to the elements.” She glanced at me. “At least for those of us that can afford finer things.”

I had more or less the same footwear as her, curtesy of the royal family, so her insult to me was at its base incorrect. But, knowing we would likely be walking through the gardens, I had chosen leather ankle boots rather than frilly and frail pumps or sandals.

“Not all ladies’ footwear is so delicate,” I said. “Perhaps it might have been wise to consider the location of our date and the weather before deciding what to wear.”

“A woman’s appearance is more important than her comfort.”

“Not if it’s so impractical she can’t even go on a date with her prince,” I said.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “There’s clearly much you do not understand about fashion or royalty.”

Nicholas sighed. “Actually, I would prefer you be able to go on this walk. If you prefer to wait here, you can.”

Olivia’s smile twitched. Her face became redder and redder. “To spend time with you, Prince Nicholas, I will sacrifice my shoes.”

“I prefer whatever Prince Nicholas prefers,” Lilliana added, likely feeling excluded.

“Let’s just walk,” Nicholas said.

We started through the gardens and then crossed over into the lawn. Olivia made a disgusted face but eventually pressed her fancy shoes into the soggy grass.

“I like the fresh air,” Nicholas said. “It helps clear my head.”

“I also like fresh air,” Lilliana said.

“I think –” I started, only to be cut off by Olivia.

“I prefer the smell of freshly cut grasses. Don’t you, Sir?”

“I like that, and also the smell after the rain,” Lilliana said, and set Olivia a glare behind Nicholas’s back. “That is, if you also like that, Your Royal Highness.”

“You are allowed to like your own things,” Nicholas said.

“Of course, Your Royal Highness,” Lilliana said.

Nicholas sighed again.

“Perhaps if –” I started, only to be cut off by Olivia again.

“Don’t you love the clear sky, Sir? That color of blue is so beautiful.”

I cleared my throat. “So not so clear over there.” I pointed where some gray clouds hovered near the horizon.

“No one asked you, Piper,” Olivia said. “I was speaking with His Royal Highness.”

“As was I,” Lilliana said.

Nicholas stopped walking and turned to face us three. With his face expressionless, he glanced between Lilliana and Olivia. “A Luna knows when to let others speak.”

Lilliana immediately lowered her head. “Forgive me, Your Royal Highness. I meant no offense. You are, of course, correct in all ways.”

Olivia lifted her chin. She made no apologies, but also no reply.

However, I felt embarrassed. Nicholas already protected me from so much, I didn’t need him to shield me here as well. A few cutting words from these petty girls was not going to hurt me.

In this, I could take care of myself. I didn’t need him to fight all of my battles for me.

I tried not to show how angry I was. I knew, in my heart, he was only trying to look out for me. But I wasn’t made of glass. It felt like he didn’t trust me not to fall apart at the slightest sign of adversity.

Haven’t I proven myself capable by now? At least when defending myself from the girls?

Nicholas noticed my upset, and my quiet. He kept looking back at me as we continued our walk, and seemed distracted when the other girls tried to talk to him.

We made our way around the grounds before returning to the gardens. The entire endeavor took about an hour.

Nicholas dismissed and said goodbye to Olivia and Lilliana before he turned to me.

“Why were you quiet?” he asked.

“You don’t trust me,” I said.

“What?”

“I can stand up for myself.”

“Piper.”

“Tell me you believe me, Nicholas.”

He opened his mouth. Closed it.

He didn’t say the words.