Chapter 28


    Yes, and the other girls seemed to feel nothing but resentment toward her for it.


    *Julian said Kirsten made him a gift,” I said, “I wonder what it was.


    “A heartfelt one, I assure you,” said a voice from beside us. I jumped. Susie half–hid behind me. But it


    was only Mark, Nichs’s beta. “The prince asked me to check on Elva.”


    I epted his exnation and we continued walking


    “Somehow Miss Kirsten learned of one of the prince’s old wounds and made a personal gift for him,”


    Mark exined. “The prince found the gesture warm and thoughtful. He was very appreciative.”


    There was something in the way Mark exined it, voice monotone almost, like he didn’t think the


    same as his prince.


    “Is there reason to doubt her sincerity?” I asked.


    “No,” Mark said straight away. After a moment, he added, “But the prince’s difort isn’t obvious. I


    hadn’t taken her to be so observant,”


    Then he nced at me and blushed. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s unfitting of my position to talk


    disparagingly about any of our candidates.”


    “I heard nothing disparaging,” I assured him.


    “Neither did I,” Susie agreed.


    He seemed grateful, but he said nothing more.


    The next day, an archery lesson was given by the princes. We were separated into three groups, with


    one of the three princes leading each group.


    I was grouped with Nichs. After an hour, he hadn’t looked at me, much less at the target where I’d


    been hitting my marks. None of the other girls in the group seemed confident which way to even fire, if


    they held the bow correctly at all.


    of their efforts were so poor that I wondered if they were performing a show, pretending to be bad To


    get the prince’s attention.


    I


    cared to admit that I didn’t receive so much as an approving nod from Nichs bored


    His group had beenughing the entire time. Only a few of the girls had even attempted to shoot a


    target, and even then, only when Nathan had looked over, a stern scowl on his face.


    Julian waved me closer. “Shoot with me.”


    “A challenge?” I asked. “What will I win?”


    His grin was wide and eager. “What do you want?”


    The girls of his group swooned. One fanned herself.


    I couldn’t help it. Iughed.


    Abandoning Nichs’s group, I joined with Julian’s. We had our challenge.


    Julian hit the bullseye. He would. The princes were well–trained in archery.


    I went next, firing my arrow. It hit the target directly beside Julian’s.


    “Guess this means we tied,” he said.


    His easy attitude and the girls‘ overall joy made the afternoon pass quicker. In a way, it reminded me of


    the more fun days at the Royal Academy. How many times had Nichs and I goofed off like this?


    Completing challenges and trading kisses.


    A sense of nostalgia pulled at me, and I turned to look at Nichs.


    He was instructing Kirsten, his arms around her, guiding her into a proper stance.


    My heart twisted a little, until I noticed he was wearing the wrist guard I’d given him.


    So he had epted the gift after all?


    over


    As he stepped back from Kirsten, she brushed her fingers handcrafted gift.


    My group quieted down a moment, likely waiting for Julian to tell another joke. It was long enough for


    me to hear Nichs’s next words.


    lifted his right wrist, gesturing to the wrist guard. “Thank you again, Kirsten, for such a useful gift.


    dropped my bow


    thanking Kirsten for the gift I had made for him


    Anything for you, Prince NichojasN?velDrama.Org is the owner.