Chapter 129


    1 felt the warmth of her hand long after she had removed it.


    I followed my father away from the dining room and to his rooms. He did not look back at me once, nor


    spoke to me until we were behind closed doors.


    Once the door had shut behind us, however, he swiveled to glower at me.


    “You’ve ignored my summons these past days.”


    I had. “There have been many things that required my attention.”


    “Matters more important than respecting your King?”


    “More important than humoring the tired whims of my father, yes.”


    The King’s face went bright red. “How dare you! Who do you think you are?”


    I stood my ground. “Tell me you have some reason to want to see me other than Piper.”


    He thrust his finger into my chest. “She is a danger, Nichs. You are not taking this seriously.”


    He huffed out a frustrated breath, then turned on his heel again. He ced some distance between us.


    “You could have better handled the revtion of your past rtionship. You nearly made us the


    laughing


    stock of the kingdom.”


    “Piper is popr with the people,” I said. “No one wasughing. If anything. It helped us gain their


    respect.”


    I hated that it was true. I had no intention of using my rtionship with Piper in such a way. I had only


    wanted to protect her. But if it would help appease my father and therefore get him toy off Piper, I


    was willing to use anything to my advantage.


    I would apologize to herter.


    The King crossed his arms. “We need her gone, the sooner the better.”


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    I crossed the room, closing some of the distance between my father and I. He stood near the firece,


    staring down at the mes.


    “I’m doing everything you want. I’ve asked Lilliana on another date. Piper is not a threat to you.”


    “But she is. Can’t you see?” He looked back at me. The flickering mes cast shadows across his face.


    The way you talk about her, Nichs, is very peculiar. I know she was special to you once, but


    sometimes


    Don’t be ridiculous.


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    “You know you can never be with her, don’t you? You are my oldest son. Regardless what we told the


    producers and the promoters, you are most likely to take my throne when I pass. As King, you cannot


    allow somemoner –”


    “You don’t need to over–dwell on this, father. I know better than anyone how much Piper doesn’t


    belong


    here.”


    “Then why do you insist on allowing her to stay?”


    I shook my head. “The people adore her


    “The people would adore any of our choices. Lilliana, for example. Think of ways to bring her up in the


    people’s eyes. They don’t need Piper to rally behind.”


    In my mind, I tried to rece my shared moments in Piper’s presence, with Lilliana instead. It was


    almostughable.


    She would never go with me to an orphanage to feed the children. She wouldn’t smile at me like Piper


    did. If it had been her in the kitchen the night before, I would not have been tempted to kiss her by the


    oven.


    “You need to reassess your priorities, Nichs,” the King said. “I’m only looking out for you.”


    I knew, in his own way, that he meant those words. The kingdom was important, and so was my ce


    in


    1. it. Any lingering feelings for Piper threatened to unravel everything he had nned for me.


    I tried to keep that in mind. I tried to be strong.


    I would be.


    But that didn’t mean Piper had to leave.


    “My priorities are in order,” I said. “Piper is good for ratings and to garner the people’s good will, but I


    have no remaining feelings for her,”


    It was a lie, but, I would take the truth to the grave with me.


    “Good,” the King said. “Let’s keep one thing very clear…”


    The King looked once more into the fire.


    “Piper will never be Luna. Not so long as I live