Chapter 50

Nicholas

I woke up in the morning with a looming sense of dread. Today was the day of the first elimination ceremony. The past few days, I had quietly hated every second of the ticking clock while knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Even now, as I dressed and prepared to meet my family for breakfast, I tried to be regal, but inwardly I was torn to pieces.

Despite my every effort not to, I had come to care for Piper and Elva. I had as little doubt as Piper seemed to, about how quickly they would be sent away. And I worried.

Would they be alright on their own? They had been, up until now. But Piper herself had told me how they struggled more often than not. Would that persist? What if Elva’s sickness worsened and Piper wasn’t able to afford care? What would become of them?

I hated that I wouldn’t be able to know. My duty to the throne would keep me from checking on them as I would like. And my loyalty to my future wife would limit how much I could even ask after them.

My future wife deserved to have my full heart. If I continued to care for Elva and Piper, my heart would always be divided.

Yet I wasn’t sure now, having seen Piper again, that I could forget her and Elva enough to fully move on. I would try, but I doubted my potential success.

Perhaps there was some way I could continue to make sure they were comfortable, even if I never got to see them again. Mark could be my intermediary, perhaps. Or someone else I trusted, though there was no one I trusted as much as Mark.

If I could keep tabs on Piper and Elva without anyone knowing about it – even them – that would be ideal. It would all have to be very secretive.

In my father’s personal rooms, I found my family tucked around a smaller dining table.

Stacks of pancakes and bowls of fruits and eggs were set on the table. A servant was pouring coffee for my father. Joyce had his nose in a paper. Julian, biting into a crunchy apple, was watching the television on the other side of the room.

Julian was the only one to glance at me when I walked in. Unfortunately, the only opened seat was at his side.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” he teased. “Brother, you look terrible.”

I lowered myself into the seat and tried to ignore him.

“I bet I know what has you so down.”

“Don’t start,” I grumbled.

I glanced up the table, but fortunately no one else seemed to be paying attention. The Luna was scrolling through something on her phone. The King was berating the servant for adding too much sugar to his coffee.

“My question for you,” Julian continued, “is what makes you so certain she is leaving?”

“I’m in no mood for games.”

The servant poured my coffee next. His hands were shaky from my father’s tirade, so he spilled a few drops onto the table. I didn’t mention it.

Julian cleared his throat. Loud enough to draw everyone’s attention, he said, “Surely, Piper will be asked to stay. Hasn’t she exceeded at all of the events? She won the Ambassador’s favor, don’t forget. And then, of course, she bagged the boar.”

I glared daggers at him, but he just smiled wider.

The King sipped his coffee. “Everyone knows that one of you two killed the boar. No one truly believes it was her doing, no matter what you claim.”

His denial annoyed me. Piper could have easily hunted that boar alone had she not been set up to fail. Yet, to appease him, I kept my mouth firmly closed.

Julian watched me. When I didn’t say anything, a hint of disappointment crossed his face.

The Queen spoke next, “I would argue that Piper’s many disciplinary failings counteract those achievements.”

“None of those disciplinary measures were allowed to be broadcast on television, don’t forget,” I said, no longer able to keep quiet. The reasons my mother had created to discipline her at all had been outrageous. Even now, my anger made my hands clench.

“That does create a dilemma, doesn’t it?”

Julian picked up where I left off. The disappointed look had vanished now, replaced with an almost… pride? Impossible. He most likely just wanted more mischief.

“If we let Piper go now, wouldn’t the public have questions?”

“What do we care for their questions?” The Queen tapped her spoon on the edge of her teacup. “When the final selections are chosen, Piper’s shortcomings will become obvious in comparison. No one will be able to deny it.”

“Well said, dear.” The King turned in his chair to watch the television, dismissing the conversation totally.

Fury burned in my blood. Yet I was powerless. Ultimately, despite what everyone was told about this first elimination ceremony, the King and Queen made the final choices about who would go and who would stay.

Rankings were arbitrary numbers that they would raise and lower to fit their vision.

The deck was stacked against Piper, no matter how well she had done in the actual events. And she had done exceedingly well.

Beside me, Julian’s usual smile seemed tighter somehow. I still didn’t understand the relationship between Piper and him, or what he hoped to gain from it. Yet, in this instance, I could see him plotting, and I was grateful that it was likely in an effort to get Piper to stay.

Regardless of his reasoning, if he could discover a way to allow her to remain, I would be grateful.

We ate the rest of our breakfast in silence, before we set out to go our separate ways for the day. No sooner had I stepped out of my father’s room, than my phone buzzed in my pocket.

It alerted of an incoming call from Mark. Quickly, I accepted and brought the phone to my ear.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, as I struggled to maintain my rested heartrate. He would only call if there was a problem.

Since he was assigned solely to guard Elva, any problem could be dire.

“Elva ran away.”

My grip tightened on the phone. It creaked in my hand.

“I have eyes on her,” Mark added quickly. “But I thought you would want to know of her attempt to slip away.”

“Return her to her mother at once.”

“Prince Nicholas,” Mark said in a calm way that requested patience. “She is looking for you.”

My heart twisted in my chest. “Give me the location.”

Elva had only escaped so far as the garage. I found her peeking around the many cars.

When she saw me, she shouted, “Nick-lass!” and ran toward me at top speed.

I dropped to one knee and opened my arms. I braced myself as she tackled into me, catching her in a strong embrace.

She had tears in her eyes and sniffled when she talked. “I… finally… found you…”

“I heard you were looking for me.” I gently combed my fingers through her hair, hoping to bring her some comfort. “What’s the matter, princess?”

“Mommy said…” She sniffed. “Mommy said we were leaving and that…” Another sniff. “We might not say goodbye. Is… Is it true?”

Chest tight, I squeezed her in a solid hug. I hated to hurt her like this. “Your mom’s not wrong. You might be going home. But I would have said goodbye, I promise.”

Her arms wrapped around my neck. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

“I’m sorry,” I told her, meaning it with all my heart.

It never ceased to amaze me how quickly I had come to care for this little girl, and how easily she had learned to trust me. Even that first day, when she’d been running from that woman who had pushed her, she came to me without hesitation.

“But we’ll always be friends, okay?” I told her. “No matter how far apart we are.”

“Mommy, too.”

I couldn’t promise that as readily. Things between Piper and I were messy at best. Hurtful at worse.

But then Elva leaned back. She looked at me. And she said, “Mommy has your picture.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it. “What?”

“In her purse. With her money. Mommy keeps your picture with her. All the time.”