Chapter 138


    Joseph’s smile was twisted with cruelty. It deeply unnerved me. This man was not a noble himself,


    simply employed by them. He must have been like Lena, a traditionalist. Someone who wanted to


    uphold the way things had always been, rather than epting necessary changes.


    I hated that such ideals constantly ced me in danger. I was merely a girl caught up in it all. I had


    been chosen by the selection. It wasn’t like any of this was my direct choice.


    ncing across the room, I noticed Nichs locked in conversation with Lilliana. He seemed entirely


    bored but dutifully gave her his attention anyway. He hadn’t noticed the intimidating way Joseph was


    clutching my arm. I couldn’t expect a rescue this time.


    I cleared my throat, attempting to gather my courage. Joseph was making threats. I couldn’t simply


    cower under them, or he would know how much they affected me.


    “Don’t I have to do something wrong to be sent to the dungeons?” I asked.


    His eyes narrowed. “It’s only a matter of time.”


    “No, I’m fairly certain that Piper is right,” Julian said, suddenly appearing beside me. “Unless they


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    changed the rules in the past few minutes while I was in the bathroom?” Brow raised high, he looked at


    me and then at Joseph. “No? Didn’t think so.”


    “Prince Julian, perhaps you misheard me,” Joseph began.


    Julian shut him down straight away. “No, I don’t think I did.” He pointed to where Joseph gripped my


    arm. “No, maybe you’d like to release Piper and move a few feet away. Or more.”


    Joseph’s face scrunched up like he wanted to argue, but what could he say to one of the princes he


    was


    charged with protecting?


    I somehow manage to hide my own smirk as Josephplied. He dropped my arm like it had burned


    him and backed away exactly three feet. He continued to re daggers at me.


    “I don’t think he likes me,” I whispered to Julian, whoughed, bright and boisterous.


    I


    “No, it doesn’t seem like he does. I had better stay near you, then, to help fend him off, as it seems my


    brother is otherwise upied.”


    I nced at Nichs again. He was rubbing his forehead now.


    “I feel bad for him,” I said.


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    “Ah. So you’ve spoken with Lilliana then.”


    That remark wasn’t kind to Lilliana, though it was absolutely the truth. Still, I decided it better not to


    agree or disagree.


    Julian just looked at me and thenughed again.


    Nathan signaled it was time for Linda to begin, and she moved at once, collecting her supplies. She set


    the stove to boil the eggs.


    “Nothing quite like watching water boil,” Julian whispered to me. “Except perhaps watching grass grow.”


    “You aren’t a chef then,” I said, looking at him.


    He pressed a hand to his heart. “If I made a meal, it really would be poison.”


    Nichs, I remembered, had worked hard more than once to prepare meals for me, when we had been


    together. I wondered if he maintained his skills after all this time. It wasn’t like he had much need to


    prepare his own meals nowadays.


    “Your stuffed mushrooms were delicious though, Piper,” Julian said.


    ‘Thank you, but my cooking skills are alsocking. I do what I can, with what few ingredients we have


    at home. A lot of the time though, my roommate Anna makes the meals for Elva and I, since I work so


    much.”


    “That’s kind of her.”


    “It is.” I missed Anna so much. I wondered all the time if she was watching the televised portions of the


    competition. What she must think of everything! Sometimes I could almost hear her voice, chiding me


    for not chasing Nichs.


    “The man needs love, and you have love to give!” she would say, as if anything was that easy. Love


    wasn’t the only thing keeping Nichs and I apart