Chapter 156

Waking up in bed alone, with Nicholas nowhere in sight, I felt rejected.

I adamantly fought against the feeling, telling myself everything was fine, Nicholas was a very important and busy man. But the hurt was persistent, rooted deep within me.

Worse, I was now also humiliated. It was early, but still late enough for the servants and other candidates to begin to rouse and wander the halls. I had none of my own clothes, only Nicholas’s pajamas or Julian’s jacket.

I kept on the pajamas, but pulled the jacket into my arms to return to Julian later.

Then, with my cheeks burning red, I began the long trek back to my room. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this, so I checked around corners and hid in alcoves to avoid all people.

I was nearly caught once, by a pair of servants dusting the picture frames along the hallway, but I ducked into a dark closet until they moved past.

Then, mortified, I rushed the rest of the way. The guards lifted a brow as they asked the identifying question, but they didn’t say a word when I answered correctly. They merely stepped aside.

I exhaled a loud, heavy breath. Finally I was safe.

Was what I thought…

Until I saw Piper standing in the middle of my bedroom.

“Where’s Elva?” I asked.

“The Nanny and a guard took her down to breakfast.” Julian glanced at my attire. A mischievous smirk tugged at his lips. “Long night, Piper?”

I looked down at myself. My blush spread down my neck and over my chest, disappearing under the top of the pajamas.

“I slept well,” I said.

“I bet you did,” Julian said. “Those princely pajamas look rather comfortable.”

I tugged at the cuff of one sleeve. “They are.”

“That’s good.” He sauntered closer. “Is that my jacket?”

“Oh, yes.” I held it out for him. Was this why he had come by room? To reclaim his jacket?

He didn’t reach for the jacket right away. Instead, he just stared at me, but I couldn’t quite discern the look in his eyes. There was an edge to his playfulness.

“Maybe you’d be happier if it was Nicholas’s jacket,” he said.

I blinked.

He looked away. “Never mind. Sorry.” He grabbed the jacket.

“Julian…?”

“I’m glad you are okay, Piper.”

Oh. So that was why he was here. Under the jealous and the teasing, he had just been worried about me.

“If you’ll excuse me,” he said, and sidestepped me.

“Julian, wait.”

He stilled.

I walked up to him, put my arms over his shoulders, and pulled him into a hug.

I hadn’t forgotten his part in saving me last night.

His gift was the only reason I had been found in time. His skill at picking locks had freed me from those terrible handcuffs. His jacket had protected me from watchful eyes. And his levelheadedness had helped snap Nicholas back to the present enough to take me home.

“Thank you, Julian. I mean it.”

Slowly, his arms came around my waist and he gently returned the hug.

“Don’t scare Nicholas and I like that again,” he said.

“I didn’t think you could get scared,” I said, teasing lightly.

His arms tightened around me, a reply on its own.

“I’ll need another necklace,” I said. “Terry destroyed the last one.”

“I’ll gift you a hundred of them.”

After another quick squeeze, Julian pulled back, ending our hug. He winked at me. “Better get dressed, Piper. If people see you like that, they might make assumptions.”

I rolled my eyes. “Get out of here.”

He laughed all the way through the door.

When he was gone, I hurried to change clothes.

Down at breakfast, I was reunited with Elva.

“Mommy!” she cried and rushed into my waiting arms, abandoning her chair and her half-eaten waffle.

I carried her back to her chair. Then I took the chair beside her.

Tiffany and Veronica were sitting on the other side of the table. Tiffany gave me a soft, sad-looking smile. Veronica just flatly stared.

I pulled a waffle from a stack at the center of the table onto my own plate. As I began to prepare it with butter and syrup, I realized just how quiet the rest of the table was.

Usually the girls were boisterously sharing rumors and gossip, especially the morning after an event. This morning, however, everyone was quiet, even Lilliana and Olivia.

I noticed Susie’s absence. I hoped she was okay. I would have to remember to check on her later. She might have had too much socialization yesterday – the unwelcomed kind. It wasn’t unusual for her to hide in her room when she was exhausted in that way.

Even Elva seemed quieter than usual, as if she was feeling the downtrodden vibe of the rest of the room.

I quietly ate my waffle.

“Are you okay?” Veronica asked suddenly, startling me. I glanced up and found her looking at me. “Last night was…” Her gaze shifted to Elva, who had lifted her head, clearly listening too. “I just want to make sure you are okay. You disappeared.”

I’d worn a long sleeve dress this morning, but even those sleeves couldn’t entirely cover the ugly bruises around my wrists. Veronica undoubtedly noticed. She glanced at them again, now.

I lowered my hands down into my lap.

“I’m…” I didn’t know how to answer. I wasn’t okay, not fully. I was hurt and felt a bit broken. The very thought of Terry made me shudder in fear. “I’m getting there.”

Veronica nodded grimly.

“Nicholas and Julian bolted so fast when they realized you weren’t in the room,” Tiffany said. “Susie said Terry was taking you on a private tour… That seemed kind of odd, given that we’d already been on a tour…”

Veronica gave Tiffany a telling look. Tiffany shrank in her chair.

“Sorry,” she said.

“Don’t apologize,” I said. I understood where she was coming from. To someone who didn’t fully understand what was happening, the action would seem odd. Terry was respected. People’s first thought might not be that he was dangerous.

A notion I wanted to correct. At the very least, I could give those listening a warning.

“But…” I said. “If Terry invites you to be alone with him, don’t go. Do not be alone with him, not if you can help it.”

Tiffany nodded grimly. Veronica stared.

“So the rumor was true,” said a strong feminine voice from the dining room entryway. I looked up to see the Luna standing there, frowning at me. “You seduced my brother, and now you deign to badmouth him.”

My eyes went wide. My heart sunk down into my stomach. Exactly what had she heard? Had Terry told her this lie?

“I can assure you that wasn’t what happened,” I said.

“Spare me your false explanations. I know what kind of girl you are. The video evidence is clear enough,” the Luna said. She openly glared at me. “Everyone saw how you flirted with Terry.”

I flirted with him?! No way! He flirted with me! Not the other way around.

But I had to be careful here. I couldn’t just yell at the Queen, no matter how much I wanted to defend myself. I had no power here. She could expel me from the competition for simply raising my voice.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten the rules, Piper,” the Luna continued. “You are not to flirt with anyone but the princes. You are treading on dangerous ground, the kind that could have you removed from the palace.”