Chapter 244

The next morning, Julian showed up at my door. I had only just changed out of my pajamas. Elva was still in hers.

“I want to escort you to breakfast,” he said.

I blinked. “Breakfast?” Usually the royal family avoided breakfasts and lunches with the candidates, unless there was an event. The meals were typically entirely informal. It gave the girls a while to let their hair down and get to know each other without having to be on to impress anyone.

Julian’s presence would change that dynamic. Though maybe most of the girls would appreciate more chances to speak with him. Tiffany would like it, anyway. Veronica too. Susie would, just because she thought Julian could be funny.

Yet, I suspected Julian’s sudden desire to attend the informal breakfasts had everything to do with Bridget and nothing to do with anyone else.

In the end, I didn’t even have to confront him about his intentions. All I had to do was lift a single brow.

“I want to try to make Bridget jealous again. This time without Nicholas around.” Julian looked so young when he seemed so unsure. It was difficult to look at him. He was like a different person. I didn’t like it. “Maybe it will work this time.”

“Julian…”

“We have to try,” he said. “It will be good publicity for us, anyway?”

I wasn’t so sure. Our publicity hadn’t looked great since Julian started chasing Bridget around like a lost little puppy. I was willing to bet that his fans among the commoners weren’t feeling so great about his behavior either.

Still, the sooner Bridget flatout rejected him, maybe the sooner he would go back to being himself.

“Alright,” I said, sighing, and went to finish helping Elva get ready.

Julian escorted Elva and me down into the dining room for breakfast. Everyone seemed a bit surprised when Julian entered in beside me, but no one said a word other than hello.

Tiffany slid over to make room for Julian in his usual spot, but as soon as he spotted Bridget sitting near Olivia and Lilliana, he physically dragged me that way.

“Sorry,” I whispered toward Tiffany as we passed. Julian didn’t even glance at her, or at Veronica, or Susie, who were all trying to say hello.

With Bridget around, Julian had laser-focus. I wasn’t even sure he remembered me and Elva.

“Mommy,” Elva said as she hurried along with his. This pace was fast for her little legs. “Susie is over there!”

“I know, sweetheart,” I told her. “But Julian wants us to sit over here today.”

Elva pouted a little. She mumbled, more to herself than to me. “I don’t want to sit here.”

I couldn’t scold her for that. Honestly, I didn’t want to sit over here either.

Julian stopped us at Bridget’s side. Fortunately there were three open spots to her left side. Julian immediately plopped into the open seat beside her.

I rolled my eyes as I helped Elva into her chair, and then settled into mine between Elva and Julian.

“Hello, Bridget,” Julian said.

I leaned forward to see around him. “Hi, Bridget.”

“Hello to you both.” She gave us both a big, movie star smile, bright as flashing camera bulbs. “How are you both today?”

“I’m well, thank you,” I started to say, but Julian talked over me, “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” She started to turn back to Olivia and Lilliana, like she meant to talk to them and not the prince sitting beside her.

Julian glanced at me, a bit of hopelessness in his eyes. God, I hated it. And I hated how it made my heart ache. Julian was not meant to ever have that look on his face.

Yet, even if he didn’t…

How jaded was Bridget for her not to want to engage in conversation with a prince who clearly wanted to talk to her. I understood they were old friends, but how she was acting – ignoring Julian to talk to Olivia instead – was just plain rude.

She was probably used to rubbing elbows with celebrities. But polite manners were polite manners.

I was suddenly very annoyed on Julian’s behalf.

Maybe it was time I really lean into this and give this fake relationship my all.

I leaned forward again. “Bridget?”

Bridget stopped talking to Olivia to glance at me. “Yes, Piper?”

“Did I ever tell you how great of a boyfriend Julian is?” I hadn’t because I had never told anyone because it was all lies. “He’s so attentive and exciting. We’re always doing something new.”

“That’s nice,” she said, smiling kindly. “I’m really very glad that you two found each other.”

God help Julian, she seemed so genuine, like she really was glad her old friend found someone who cared about him and vice versa.

Olivia then pulled away Bridget’s attention again, bringing her back into their conversation.

I glanced at Julian. His jaw was clenched tightly.

The rest of the meal, he only picked at his breakfast.

Afterwards, we said goodbye to Bridget, who was still talking to Olivia and Lilliana, then started to make our exit.

Elva wanted to say hi to Susie, so we stopped there. While Elva and Susie were speaking, I looked at Julian.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

She shook his head. “Don’t.”

The word was like ice. It startled me, being frozen out like that, by Julian of all people. He immediately noticed the look on my face and relented.

“I’m not mad at you, Piper. I appreciate you trying.” He laughed a little, though it was weak. “Honestly, you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had.”

His words warmed me up from the inside out. I smiled at him. “You are a good friend to me, too.”

He matched my smile. “Come on, that’s bullshit. I’m a terrible friend.” He said it so matter-of-factly that it made me laugh.

“No,” I said when I sobered. “I mean it. You’ve been there for me. I haven’t had many people in my life that I can trust, but you are one of them.”

“I’m the same,” he said. He took my hand then, and squeezed my fingers.

I felt closer to him that I ever had before. I kept waiting for him to ruin the moment with some smartass comment, but this time, he never did.

In our comfortable silence, Veronica approached us.

“Prince Julian,” she said. He nodded at her in acknowledgement. “How is Prince Joyce?”

The question startled both me and Julian.

“Joyce?” Julian asked.

Though maybe it shouldn’t have been such a surprise. Having once been in the underground organization herself, Veronica could relate to Joyce in ways that the rest of us would have never been able to.

Julian pitched his voice lower. “What was done to him is not so easily undone. As I’m sure you understand.”

“I do,” she said. “That’s why I asked.”

Julian tilted his head as he studied her. He seemed to be assessing something. She held his gaze steadily, as if she was aware of the silent test happening and was meeting it with confidence.

Meanwhile, I looked between the two of them, terribly confused.

Finally Julian sighed.

And Veronica spoke, “I want to speak to him.”

Julian hummed, like he’d already gathered that, and also already knew which answer he was going to give.

“It won’t change anything,” Julian said.

“It might,” she said. “And doesn’t that make it worth the try?”

I tugged Julian’s sleeve. “Let her. If anyone can help, she can.”

Julian looked at me, then sighed again. “Very well.”