Chapter 13

Nicholas and I continued to stare at each other, neither of us saying a word. We both glanced down at the empty chair and back at each other again.

Every other spot at the table was filled. Unless Nicholas were to excuse himself, he would have to sit here to eat. But to leave in the middle of his own competition would be unbearably rude.

Weren’t the royal family trying to win the hearts and minds of the common people?

Nicholas must have had the same train of thought, though his face revealed nothing.

He sat.

The King cleared his throat. After a pointed look to Nicholas, who avoided it by staring hard at the table, the King spoke loud enough for the entire table to hear.

“Once again, we welcome all the ladies here, chosen by our royal magic at the ceremony.”

Though he was addressing the girls sitting at the table, his eyes were on the cameras on the corners of the room, which the cameramen had clicked on. The red lights indicated they were recording.

“We eagerly look forward to the coming days, where you will be asked to showcase your virtues and your talents. Both will be needed in excess to become the kind of truly capable Luna that our pack deserves.”

Some of the girls at the table nodded.

“In addition, of course, you will be able to spend time with my sons, developing friendships that could progress into more. A successful King needs someone at his side that he can trust.”

Nicholas crossed his arms.

I looked away from him toward the other end of the table, where the Luna – the Queen, sat with perfect posture. Her back was flat against the dining chair. She held her head tall, her chin lifted, proud and dignified.

She watched the King speak with quiet poise, her attention never wavering from him.

I tried to mimic her posture, but I couldn’t manage it for long. All the other girls seemed to, however.

All the girls here, even Susie beside me, had trained their entire lives for events like these. Wearing gowns and attending formal dinners like this were a common occurrence for them.

With my calloused fingers and the slump in my shoulders, I didn’t belong here, even with the training they’d tried to give me the past few days.

When I had been at the Academy, I had felt like a bit of an outcast. And when I had been with Nicholas... I had known I was on borrowed time, even without knowing he was a prince.

A noble was a noble. A commoner was a commoner. We could interact. We could even try to be friends. But romantically, what kind of future could we have? No one in his life would have ever approved of me.

Even now, I was only here because of a publicity stunt. Julian had said so himself.

“Thank you, for letting this old man talk your ears off,” the King said.

A few soft laughs sounded around me. Realizing I had missed much of what he’d said, lost in my own thoughts, I lowered my head in guilt and shame.

The King continued, “Now, let us enjoy this meal and each other’s company.”

“A fine speech,” said the girl on the King’s left. Everyone else spoke quickly to agree.

I still felt like a jerk, for missing most of it.

The servants brought out the first course, a soup with a side of bread. It smelled heavenly. I had to remind myself not to eat too eagerly.

I hadn’t had a full course meal since the Academy, and had to reorient myself with the cutlery. It had only been three years, but it felt like a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then: raising Elva, working job to job, stressing over bills and Elva’s health…

It was difficult to remember such trivial things as formal table manners.

The trainers had talked me through this, but now, in the moment, my mind was completely blank.

Susie nudged me with her elbow, then made a show of lifting the correct spoon. Grateful, I nodded and followed her lead.

Around us, the girls were speaking with each other and the royal family. Only Nicholas, Susie, and myself were silent.

The King gave Nicholas a hard look, and Nicholas’s lips twitched like he wanted to frown but didn’t.

I thought he might talk to me, but instead, he leaned forward to see Susie around me.

“It is a pleasant evening, wouldn’t you agree, Susie?”

Susie paled. “You… know my name?”

“Of course. I know the name of every candidate.”

“I… oh…” She audibly swallowed a spoonful of soup. “Of course. Sorry to offend.”

“I’m not offended,” Nicholas said. “But, to my question. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Susie’s face shifted from white to red so fast, I worried she might be lightheaded. I placed an arm beside her, ready to catch her if she tilted.

“A-Agree?” Susie stuttered.

“Yes.” Nicholas’s brow furrowed slightly. “That the weather is pleasant?”

“Oh! Yes. Yes, very pleasant.” Susie pushed her chair back. “If you’ll excuse me, I… I, uh… I have to use the bathroom!”

She jumped to her feet and started walking away. Halfway to the door she turned around, seemingly having realized she was still clutching her cloth napkin. She dropped it onto her chair, and then scuttled away, pressing her hands to her face.

Nicholas blinked a couple of times. He hadn’t moved at all otherwise, like he couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.

“She’s very shy,” I said.

He recovered then, glancing at me. He sat back in his chair and focused on his soup.

The girls across the table were watching the scene curiously. Nicholas had gone back to not speaking. I knew he was furious with me, but if he continued to be so unwelcoming, he would earn a negative reputation with the girls, and with the cameras.

One camera seemed to be zooming in on him.

I forced a laugh, bringing the attention to myself. “I, personally, find the weather very pleasant.”

Nicholas glanced at me again, his frown clear this time.

Subtly, I tilted my head toward the camera.

He noticed the camera and immediately schooled his frown into a passive expression.

“Have you ever studied birds, Piper?” he asked me. He didn’t wait for me to answer. “I’ve taken to raising some. Beautiful, majestic creatures. But there is one bird that I cannot help but actively dislike.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“The cuckoo bird,” he said. His gaze sliced into me. “They lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. A clever tactic, but shameless.”

The blood pulled away from my face. He was talking about me. I had a child, yet here I was, still participating in the Luna choosing game. Did he think this was some clever ploy of mine, to seek out an uneven match? To aim higher than I had any right to?

I dabbed at the corner of my mouth with my napkin, giving myself a moment to recover from the insult. Then I spoke.

“Actually, I love birds,” I said.

“Oh?” he feigned interest. He lifted his soup-filled spoon.

“My favorite bird is the swan. They are so pure, loyal. Monogamous. Among swans, you would never see multiple females having to fight over one male.”

He choked on his soup.

Some of the other girls immediately noticed. “Are you well, Prince Nicholas?”

“Fine,” he said, clearing his throat. He absolutely refused to look at me again, focusing solely on his soup bowl, even after he’d finished the contents within.

Yet I barely had any time to feel smug over the reaction, before Susie walked quickly back into the room. Oddly, she didn’t return to her seat, but leaned over it to speak to me.

“Piper, the maids caught me in the hall. It’s about Elva.”

All good feelings vanished. “What is it?”

Susie brow crinkled. A small line creased above her nose.

Whatever the news, it wasn’t good.

I braced myself, but worries over Elva’s health punched the air from my lungs like a physical blow, no matter how prepared I’d thought myself.

Susie spoke. “Elva has a high fever.”