Chapter 23


    When I returned to the bedroom, Elva was missing from the bed. I nearly screamed, were it not for both


    of maids, who quickly approached me.


    “W–where’s Elva?” I asked them, panic quaking my voice.


    “You caused a rightmotion, running around,” the talkative maid said. “It was enough to catch the


    attention of Prince Nichs.”


    Nichs? “He’s still at the banquet…?”


    I remembered looking back at him as I was leaving. He’d been smiling at an eager girl desperate for his


    attention.


    “The banquet is still urring,” the maid said. “He must have excused himself early.”


    Why would he do such a thing? Surely he hadn’t overheard what Susie said about Elva? Even if he


    had, he w


    wouldn’t have cared… would he?


    “Prince Nichs.came in here,” the quieter maid said. “He felt Elva’s fever, and then carried her out of


    this room himself.”


    My mind was a spiral of fear and worries. I struggled to think straight. I only knew that wherever Elval


    was, I had to be near her.


    Nichs wouldn’t make her leave the pce, would he? She was just a little girl.


    No. No, as much as he’d changed from three years ago, he wouldn’t hurt Elva. I was certain of that.


    Especially when I thought of how gently he had held her when she ran to him at the mixer in the parlor.


    But where would he take her?


    He was a prince. Nowhere in the pce was off–limits to him. Where would I even begin looking?


    couldn’t go to his room. That was a grave offense. Nathan had made clear that it could cost me my


    eded to be strong for Elva. I needed to be alive.


    the bedroom, trying to think I wanted to scream in frustration.


    I


    As someone knacked on the door, I nced, and a guard


    d, who had told me they’d been ordened


    He seemed much less troubled now, looking fully at me. “Miss Piper, you are to go to the royal


    infirmary.


    Come with me. I’ll show you the way.”


    I quickly went the guard. Sensing my urgency, he maintained a fast pace as he led me through the


    back hallways of the pce, through ces Nathan had not included on his tour.


    Visiting off–limit ces was surely allowed if I’d been summoned, right? I didn’t have time to worry. I’d


    risk beheading if it brought me to Elva.


    The royal infirmary had a few beds and a wall of bookcases. Several tables were covered in chemistryN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    equipment and microscopes.


    far


    Elva was in one of the beds, with an older woman doctor leaning over her. Nichs was nearby, fa


    enough back to give them space but close enough to be watchful.


    1 rushed to Elva’s side at once. She was still sleeping. I touched her cheek She was warm, but not as


    hot


    as before.


    “Her fever has subsided,” the doctor said.


    A half–sob, half–sigh of relief shook my whole body, I cried as I held Elva’s hand. I made sure her


    nkets were tucked in securely around her.


    Then, after a while, I could speak again.


    “I don’t understand. The other doctors said. They said…” I couldn’t vocalize the horrible words they’d


    spewed. I dared not voice them here, for fear this doctor might agree with them.


    “1 know what they said.” The doctor’s brow lowered, angry. “And they are wrong. Though Elva’s


    condition is tricky, we should not and will not give up on her.”


    She leaned closer to me. “I am Prince Nichs’s personal physician. Ask for me directly if she has


    another need. I will add regr check–ups of her to my routine.”


    Thank you, I said to her, then looked at Nichs. He leaned against the bookcase, arms crossed over


    his chest.