Chapter 402

The next morning, I awoke feeling groggy. I hadn’t slept at all the night before, too stressed about what the day might bring, especially with Nicholas’s disappearance after the meeting the day before.

He had said that he would talk to me at the elimination ceremony, but I didn’t know that meant I wouldn’t even clap eyes on him for the rest of the day. Not even Julian had seemed to know what was up when I had confronted him about it.

“I’m sure it’s fine,” Julian had said. “Nicholas isn’t going to just ditch you now, after everything you’ve been through together.”

That wasn’t the comfort that he had thought it was. All night long, I tossed and turned. Maybe Nicholas felt bound to me because of what we shared. Maybe our affections toward each other wouldn’t be enough when push came to shove. Maybe Nicholas agreed he needed someone else for the nation.

No. He stood up for me to his parents. At least against Bridget. But what if they were able to sway him to look closer at Olivia or Lilliana again?

By the time my alarm went off the next morning, I reasoned I had slept for maybe about ten minutes the night before.

After dressing and breakfast, Elva and I returned to the room to find our suitcases out on the bed. Charlotte was frowning at them.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Nathan said everyone had to be packed just in case.”

“It’s not your fault,” I assured her as I came to her side. I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a small smile. “It won’t be the first time we’ve done this.”

“I’ll watch the broadcast tonight,” Charlotte said. “The minute Nicholas says your name, I will be right here, putting all of your things right back.”

I appreciated her confidence and told her so. Though, in my heart, I knew the King would be the one with the final word. I doubted even Nicholas would be able to stand up to his will.

The King had given me a chance to bow out gracefully. Since I had refused to do so, now it was time for him to take matters into his own hands.

Meanwhile, Elva walked over to where she had her stuffed animals set up, in her play area. She slowly picked them up one at a time and brought them toward the suitcase. She dragged her feet as she walked, clearly upset.

When she came closer, I put my arm around her and pulled her against me in a sideways hug.

“We’re going to be okay,” I told her.

“I know,” she said in a reserved kind of way that broke my heart a little.

“We’ll survive no matter where we are,” I added, giving her a squeeze. “So long as we have each other.”

“Okay, Mommy.” She shuffled away from my hold and put her stuffed animals in her suitcase. Then she returned to the play area to collect more of her toys.

I felt like a failure of a mother, unable to offer my child comfort. I couldn’t lie to her and promise her that we would stay. But to hear her so monotone, so defeated…

My entire chest ached.

Later, when the bags were packed, and Elva was left in the care of the nanny, I changed into my fancy sequin dress and headed down to the ballroom. There, a familiar state had been erected, facing the thrones. Some invited guests were already there. I recognized many noble families by now.

I quickly spotted Veronica and Tiffany and made my way over to them. Tiffany’s attitude reminded me of Elva’s. Reserved and defeated. Though she still managed a smile, however wobbly.

We hugged each other one at a time.

“My biggest regret,” Tiffany said, “was being unable to find that foster home.”

We had spent the better part of yesterday, making searches and calls. We’d had a few hits that didn’t pan out. We were a far way from being finished, however.

“Maybe Julian will still let us help, even after we are gone,” I said.

Veronica gave me a flat look. Tiffany rolled her eyes.

“Not this again, Piper,” Tiffany said. “You are not getting eliminated today. No shot.”

“You didn’t hear the things the King was saying,” I said.

“Well, it’s not the King who is going to be married to you, is it?” Tiffany said. “Trust Prince Nicholas. He’s going to make the correct choice.”

I lowered my chin, embarrassed at having to need Tiffany’s support in this moment, when she was the most likely to leave.

“Sorry…” I said.

Tiffany lightly punched my arm. “No more frowns, yeah? Oh. There’s your prince.”

I looked over in time to see Nicholas enter. He was sharp in his fitted tuxedo. I thought he might look at me, but he didn’t. In fact, he seemed set on looking everywhere but at me specifically.

Was that just my imagination? I felt sensitive to all things Nicholas at the moment.

Bridget took that opportunity to slink into the open space beside me.

“It will be so much quieter without you here, Piper. Tragic, truly,” Bridget said, though her toothy smile gave away her true feelings.

“You should be in prison for everything that you’ve done and tried to do,” I told her. “Nicholas might not choose me, but if you think for a second that you are going to be the one to stay, then you are more delusional than I thought.”

Bridget glare cut through me. She lowered her voice to a dangerous hiss. “I am not only staying, I am going to be Nicholas’s Luna and this nation’s Queen. Just you wait, Piper. You’ll be watching my coronation on the television from your small town soon enough.”

“Bridget,” Veronica said, stepping closer to me. “I thought I smelled something. Are you sure you put on enough perfume?”

Bridget not-so-subtly dipped her head to sniff herself. Then she lifted her chin. “I smell great, thank you.” Still, she scurried away.

“Thanks,” I whispered to Veronica once Bridget had gone.

“If she wins, we’re all in trouble,” Veronica said. “But she won’t. You’ll see.”

The candidates took our places on the stage while the King and Queen seated in their thrones with Nicholas and Julian beside them.

Nathan stood in front of the nearby camera, waiting for the countdown from one of the crew.

Three…

Two…

One…

“Good evening, ladies and gentleman. Thank you for joining us for the next elimination ceremony! Which of the princes’ candidates will be going home tonight?”

As Nathan spoke, a second camera came closer to our faces, giving us each close-up’s one at a time as Nathan said our names.

When it was my turn, I didn’t know where to look, so I tried looking over the cameraman’s shoulder while giving a shaky smile. My nerves were really working against me now, but I did my best to hold it together.

For me to even have made it this far was an accomplishment. I tried hard to hold onto that hard as my chest squeezed tight.

“Tonight, both Prince Nicholas and Prince Julian will eliminate one of their chosen candidates, leaving only two for each prince, and –”

“Wait!” Nicholas called out. Every eye in the room went to him as he stepped away from the throne.

“Nicholas,” the King whisper-yelled, but Nicholas kept walking. He stopped in the empty space between the stage and the throne.

“I have an announcement of my own to make,” he said, and I held my breath.