Chapter 337

Whether I was in danger or not, I was still likely to be eliminated at the next elimination ceremony. Being more popular than Bridget was not something I ever expected to happen, but now that it had, and now that Selma was confirming it had caused me to draw ire from the King and Queen, I knew the end was near for me in this competition.

Julian finished his conversation with Selma by trying to lift her spirits somewhat. He patted her arm and gave her soft encouragement. Even though I had been the one wronged, I also couldn’t help but feel for her a little.

She was simply trying to obey her king and queen. When they gave her morally questionable orders, she had no choice but to follow them, whether or not she agreed with them.

I wasn’t angry. The most she had done to me so far was to sabotage me into making a poor impression in front of the merfolk. Well, my ruined suitcase might have also been her.

But she wasn’t the one who had dug that pit on the island. She wasn’t the reason I had nearly died out in the rain.

I was mad for Charlotte, but she was being fed.

Selma wasn’t a saint, but she didn’t deserve my hatred.

“If they ask you to do anything else that makes you uncomfortable, please come to me,” Julian said. “I swear I won’t let you get in trouble. I might be able to find a way out of it for you.”

“Okay,” Selma said, her voice was low and sad. “I will. Thank you.”

They said their goodbyes. Julian didn’t move as Selma walked away. When her footsteps disappeared down the hall, Julian turned toward the closet door, opened it, and I surged out of the small space so quickly, I very nearly walked right into Julian’s chest.

He caught me around the waist and held me steady.

“Careful,” he said and offered me a slanted grin.

“I don’t like small spaces,” I said by way of an explanation. My cheeks heated up.

Julian nodded. He understood. Slowly, he lowered his arm and I stepped backwards.

“Let’s get away from this spot,” he said, and I was relieved for it.

We went out onto the deck. A servant asked our drink order. After we gave it, he disappeared inside while we found a more private corner of the deck. We dropped down onto comfortable floral chairs. Julian slouched, relaxing. I continued to sit on the edge, tense and nervous.

“So…” Julian said, watching me. “You’re the most popular candidate again. Congrats.”

“It’s nothing to be happy about. It puts me right back in the aim of the king and queen.”

“Like hell you shouldn’t be happy about it!” Julian leaned forward. He bumped his shoulder against mine. “Don’t forget, my folks wanted you out at the first elimination ceremony. It was your popularity with the public that saved you. It could do so again.”

“I was lucky then,” I said.

“You’re lucky now,” Julian said. “Trust me. We can spin this for sure.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to be a pessimist, but if the royal family really thought I was in the way, they could simply have me removed, one way or another.

I didn’t know if they were responsible for the pit and my falling into it. I wasn’t sure how they would even plan that. But, if anyone could have managed it, it was the royal family.

“Don’t give up, Piper,” Julian said.

I glanced over at him, surprised. He gave me an earnest, caring look in return.

“Nicholas needs you. Hell, the whole kingdom does,” Julian said. “I don’t want to see someone like Bridget become the Luna. She only cares about herself. She’d never put the good of the kingdom above herself. Not like you would.”

“I don’t know anything about running a nation,” I said.

“You are learning, and you’re learning quickly. Think of all the events, Piper. You’ve done so well. And the times that you hadn’t were because there were plots set against you.”

“Plots against me are part of the competition. I should be able to weather them with grace, not let them tear me down like I do.”

“No, Piper. There are advisors who should worry about that. Or people like me. All you would have to do as Luna is care about the Kingdom’s people, which you already do, and about Nicholas. He would be a better king with you at his side.”

I blinked, startled. Here Julian was, talking about Nicholas as if the line of succession had already been decided.

“Don’t you want a chance at the throne?” I asked him.

Julian laughed a little. I didn’t like how hollow it sounded, though it didn’t last long. “My father has only ever looked in my direction long enough to scold me. His first choice has always been Nicholas. I’m not sure my father would ever see enough redeeming qualities in me to think I’m a good enough son, let alone a man fit to be king.”

I didn’t like when he talked about himself like this, as if he didn’t carry the makings of a good king, or a good person.

“I think you would be a fine king,” I said.

Julian’s smiled turned genuine again, quirking higher on one side. “Thank you, Piper. Truly. But we both know, even if I would be an okay king, I’d never be as good a leader as Nicholas. Am I wrong?”

I wanted to argue with him, to continue to help lift his spirits. But the fact of the matter was, he wasn’t totally wrong.

Julian would be a fine king. But Nicholas would make for a great one.

I absolutely refused to say so aloud. Julian still knew the answer. My refusal to say anything was affirmation enough.

“I’m not mad,” he said. “I know my shortcomings and Nicholas’s many virtues. If you think Nicholas would rule better than me, you’re right.”

“I’m sorry,” I said again, because I felt like I needed to say something. Julian deserved so much better than to feel second best, but this wasn’t a topic I could argue.

“I told you I’m not mad,” he said again. “Don’t worry about it.”

A hint of awkwardness fell over us then. We both turned our attention away from each other and looked out toward the water.

There, Nicholas and Bridget were talking, their bare feet standing in the soft wet sand as the waves gently washed over their feet.

Nearby, Nathan directed the cameramen. One came super close to the pair, practically sticking the camera straight in Nicholas’s face.

Bridget, used to cameras and attention, didn’t so much as bat an eyelash at their presence. Nicholas, however, seemed immensely uncomfortable and only getting worse.

When the camera man stepped even closer, Nicholas’s stern features finally revealed his annoyance. His brow pulled together and he frowned.

Usually he tried to hide all emotions in front of the cameras, but it seemed they were finally cracking through.

“Forget it,” Nicholas snapped loudly enough for even Julian and me to hear. “I’m fine.”

Then, Nicholas turned away and stormed down the beach, rushing away from Bridget and the cameras.

One tried to follow him, and Nicholas cried out, “Please don’t follow me.”

Nathan called for the offending cameraman, who stopped. Nicholas continued on alone.

“I wonder what happened,” I said to Julian.

“I’ll tell you what happened,” Julian replied. “They’re finally pushing Nicholas past his limits.”