Chapter 137

Nathan led Nicholas and me into a sitting room where the King sat upon a chair. All other chairs had been pushed to the back of the room. It was clear he meant for the rest of us to stand.

As we entered, the King narrowed his eyes in Nicholas’s direction. Nicholas lifted his chin.

“Nathan, I believe I was clear in my orders that Piper arrive alone,” the King said.

Nathan bowed his head. “My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“It’s my fault,” Nicholas said. “I refused to allow Piper to face you on her own.”

The King frowned deeper. “And if I ordered you to leave?”

Nicholas squared his shoulders. “You would have to have be forcibly taken from this room.”

The King and Nicholas stared at each other for a moment, as if in silent conversation. Then the King sighed, long-suffering.

“Stay then,” the King said. “I will be amused to hear how either of you can defend Piper’s actions from tonight.”

I spoke at once, “I deeply apologize –”

“Apologize?” the King scoffed, cutting me off. “You honestly believe that a mere apology will fix all that you’ve done? You called one of our benefactors tonight a ‘fat cow.’ And I won’t dare repeat the things you said to Mrs. Maple.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to redeem myself,” I said.

“I don’t care about your redemption! I want to know what possessed you to speak and act as you did to start with! Did you temporarily lose your mind? Has the pressure of the contest addled your senses?” The King’s voice slowly rose.

I lowered my chin down to my chest. “I have no excuses, Your Majesty. I surrender myself to your punishment.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Nicholas snapped. He stepped forward and half in front of me, shielding me from some of the King’s glare.

“Nicholas, you are treading on thin ice,” the King said through his teeth.

“I will not allow punishment to fall on her when she has done nothing to deserve it.”

“You don’t believe her actions are worthy of punishment?”

“No.”

The King was flabbergasted. “Why ever not?”

“Nicholas, please,” I whispered. Was he planning on revealing the truth about Jane? He couldn’t do that!

Nicholas hesitated.

“Answer me, Nicholas. Explain to me why she does not deserve punishment.”

“She just doesn’t,” he said, haltingly, like each word pained him.

“Your Majesty, if I may.” I sidestepped around Nicholas. “If I may ask, Sir, please allow me a list of everyone who I offended so that I may personally apologize through letters.”

“That won’t be enough. Many of the nobility are fiercely angered. Even those you did not directly insult.”

“I understand, Sir. But I would like to try anyway. My behavior tonight was truly out of line, and I will make amends. This I promise to you.”

The King considered me a moment. “That’s very good of you, Piper, but this should never have been necessary.”

“I understand and agree,” I said.

Silence filled the room for a long moment.

“I still require a reason. Despite the misunderstandings you’ve created, Piper, you have generally been harmless. I would know what drove you to make such a fool of yourself, and of me, for hosting you.”

I swallowed hard. I did not want to lie to the King, but I couldn’t tell him the truth. I searched through my thoughts and feelings, and pulled out the most logical, honesty-adjacent reason I could find.

“Elva wasn’t feeling well again,” I said. “I fear my worry for her drove me to act irrationally.”

The King watched me with a hard expression. I stood tall and proud, accepting his judgement. Then he shook his head.

“I can understand your concern over your ailing child. But a Luna would never allow her personal worries to interfere with her royal duties. Tonight has displayed your weak character not just to me and my Queen, but to the entire Kingdom through the television.”

I nodded, grim.

“I should send you home tonight,” the King said.

“But, father –” Nicholas began.

The King held up his hand, stopping him. “But I will wait for the public’s reaction. They have protected you thus far, Piper. Tonight you showed them your true colors. We’ll see if their love for you persists.”

I bowed. “Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty.”

“Nathan will procure you a list for your apology letters,” the King said.

“Right away,” Nathan agreed.

“Don’t let this happen again, Piper. There will be no leniency a second time.”

“I understand. Thank you, Sir.”

The King waved his hand, dismissing us.

Nicholas offered me his arm and then led me from the room.

When we were safe down a lonely hallway, Nicholas stopped, released my arm, and turned to face me.

“We could have told him the truth.”

“No,” I said.

“He’s the King. If anyone could help us—”

“Remember what Julian said? We don’t know who to trust! And even if the King himself isn’t in on it, who knows what lies Terry has been feeding him over the years?”

“Then let’s go to the public instead,” Nicholas said. “They’ve always supported you before. If they knew the truth –”

“And what of Elva? If the whole world knows the truth, how would we keep it from her?”

Nicholas crossed his arms but fell silent. He didn’t have an answer.

After a long moment, he spoke again. “If we don’t do something, you will become a victim in the court of public opinion, Piper. My father did not expel you from the contest simply because he believes he doesn’t have to. He expects the public to come for your head.”

“I know that.” Of course I knew that. The King has always made his disdain for me clear. Even from the beginning, Julian had told me I was only here as a publicity stunt. I’d always only been here by the grace of the public. If they were to turn on me, I would be out the next hour, if not the next minute.

Nicholas exhaled. “Piper, I want to protect you.”

His words made me soften. “I know, Nicholas. But I’m trapped. Don’t you see? Jane has me cornered and she knows it. And once I’m gone from the palace…”

“Is that what Terry talked to you about? Did he threaten you?”

“It was less a threat than a promise. He made clear I’d come crawling to him.”

“That bastard.” Nicholas’s voice took on a dangerous growl. “As if you would ever.”

“But I might have to…” When I spoke, I taste bile. “When I’m out on the street, who else will help me with Elva?”

“Not him.” Nicholas gripped me by the upper arms. “Never him. He takes things, Piper. He doesn’t give back. You’re worried the underground organization will come for her? If you go to him, he will deliver her straight to them.”

I worried about that too. But what else could I do? If no one would help, she could die. “Maybe I’ll be able to convince him… If I’m compliant enough…”

Nicholas pulled me into his hard chest and wrapped his arms securely around me.

“I won’t let that happen. I don’t care what I have to do. I will never let him have his way with you or with Elva.”

I clung onto Nicholas’s shirt. I wanted to believe him so badly, but what could he do? His parents trusted Terry implicitly. If he betrayed his uncle, it wouldn’t go unnoticed by the crown.

“Give me time. I’ll think of something,” he said.

I didn’t have much time to give, but… “Whatever time I have left here, it’s all yours.”

Nicholas kissed the top of my head. The anchor of his embrace was the only thing keeping me from washing away in despair.