Chapter 280

That evening, after preparing for dinner, I stopped to chat with the guards at my door. By now, they had all become friendly, familiar faces, and though I wouldn’t consider us friends exactly, it was always a pleasure to stop and say hello.

It was also a relief knowing the people in charge of mine and Elva’s protection actually, genuinely liked us.

Today, however, they seemed stressed. Their smiles were tighter than usual. Their eyes, worried.

“Is everything alright?” I asked them.

“Oh, nothing to do with your safety, miss,” said Carl on the left. He’d been with Nicholas’s guard the longest, and had a long graying mustache.

“But something is worrying you,” I said.

Carl glanced at his partner at the door, William. William was much younger, newer to the guard, and likely because of that, his heart seemed purer. He had yet to be jaded by the things around him.

“We’re worried about Prince Nicholas,” William said.

Carl shushed him. “It isn’t any of our concern. And certainly not something we should be bothering the young miss with.”

“But they are close,” William said to Carl. “Maybe she can help him?”

“You need to learn to mind your business,” Carl said, though not unkindly. He was gently chiding. “The royals deserve their privacy.”

While I could appreciate Carl’s position, I desperately wanted to know more about Nicholas. Was he okay? What was wrong?

“Why are you worried about Prince Nicholas?” I asked. A direct question wouldn’t be refused, not by William or Carl.

Carl sighed.

William answered, “He’s been overworking himself in the gym. He’s there all of the time, except to take meals. I’m not even sure he sleeps anymore.”

“He’s been polite,” Carl said. “As always.”

“Polite, sure. But tense as a coiled spring,” William added. “He’s already broken five different punching bags. New ones arrive daily now. He’ll likely break those too.”

“William,” Carl scolded.

William shot him a glance. “Tell me I’m lying.”

Carl sighed again, louder. To me, he said, “It’s nothing you should worry about, miss. Whatever he’s working through, I’m sure he’ll reach the other side of it soon.”

I tried to process this new information, but I didn’t know what to think. It tracked with how I personally knew Nicholas to be acting: the fight with Julian, the way his fists clenched as he stood in the garden.

I couldn’t help but be worried about him, more now than I even was before.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said.

They both nodded in reply.

I really should keep my distance. Bridget had made clear that my closeness to Nicholas only served to make things difficult for him, and it was well past time for me to let him go.

But if he was clearly hurting, clearly dealing with something that made him this full of rage, I really needed to talk to him.

So after bidding good evening to the guards, I hurried down the hallway, down the stairs, and out the door, eager to reach the barracks containing the gym where I knew Nicholas worked out. It was the same place where we had practiced our self-defense lessons.

I was nearly there, when I spotted Bridget holding a basket of food. She laughed with the guard at the door.

“Don’t worry,” Bridget said. “I’m sure a full meal will help him to relax.”

The last thing I wanted to do was walk in on Bridget and Nicholas having a moment, so I turned on my heels and retreated back toward the palace in defeat.

I still worried for Nicholas, but…

I couldn’t approach him with Bridget so near.

And she always seemed to be near.

The next morning, the candidates were called down into the foyer for another meeting with Nathan. He seemed bright as he took to the stage. It had to be an act, knowing how rude he had been to me the moment the cameras were turned off.

I tried to smile as well, at least when the cameras were facing me. Constantly being filmed was beginning to be exhausting.

“I recently announced the results of the theater event,” Nathan said. “Well, today, I am excited to announce the rewards.”

Suddenly, everyone perked up, like our coffee had all kicked in at once. Rewards hadn’t been discussed beforehand, so this was all new to us. What would it be this time? Another private date with a prince?

“I’m happy to announce that the top ranking candidates, one for each prince –”

Sighs sounded throughout the room.

Nathan continued, unperturbed. “—will accompany Nicholas and Julian on a special trip to the royal family’s private island along our southern coast.”

Jessica spoke up in the silence. “Prince Joyce will not be there?”

Nathan, nervously side-eyeing the cameras, cleared his throat. He knew then, as well as I did, that Joyce was locked down in the dungeons for being a brainwashed traitor. Veronica had been working with Joyce, but unlike with teleportation, I don’t think she had made any progress yet.

“Unfortunately, Prince Joyce is still under the weather,” Nathan said.

Jessica frowned, but didn’t press further. We all knew better than to question the King’s Beta in front of the cameras.

Nathan consulted the paper he held. “Now. As this trip is only extended to the top candidate for each prince, only three individuals will be invited.”

This was a lavish reward. Glancing at Bridget, I wondered if the royal family had designed it exclusively to impress her. Or to get her and Nicholas alone in a romantic place, so as to help develop their bond. The other two candidates were likely an after-thought.

Misery bubbled up inside of me. I was not high on the rankings. I had no shot of going on this trip. Instead, I’d have to stay here and drive myself wild thinking about all the romantic things Nicholas could be up to without me.

Poor Julian would have to go, though. He’d have to endure every terrible moment. I tried to think about the rankings, wondering which of us three would join him. Tiffany and I scored poorly in the event. That meant that –

“Congratulations to Bridget, Veronica, and Jessica,” Nathan announced, and then hammed for the cameras.

Jessica lowered her head. To herself, she muttered, “What am I supposed to do there without Prince Joyce?"

“Enjoy yourself,” I said to her. A free vacation to the beach? “Get a tan, swim in the ocean, have boat drinks with the umbrellas.”

My words seemed to lift her and she laughed. “Maybe a curly straw?” she asked.

“And fruit slices hanging on the glass,” I added.

Bridget watched our exchange. She laughed. At first, I thought it was in union with Jessica and me, but then she began to talk. “It must be hard staying behind, Piper. Why don’t you help me pack my bags tonight? That might help lift your spirits.”

I had no idea in what universe helping someone else pack their bags for a trip would make me feel better about not going on it, especially when that person was Bridget, who was actively in a relationship with the man I cared for more than any other.

That sounded more in line with my worst nightmare.

“She can’t help you tonight,” Veronica said, suddenly appearing beside me. Her cool gaze sliced into Bridget. “She has other plans.”

Bridget shrugged and walked away.

I looked at Veronica. “I do?”

“Trust me,” she said.

I did. But I didn’t understand what she meant…

Until later that evening, when I opened my door after a knock to find Veronica and Julian chatting lightly with the guards.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Julian turned his smile on me. “Come on vacation with us.”