Chapter 144


    Nichs


    I was trying my absolute best to feel good about this hug I was currently having with Lilliana, but I


    couldn’t keep my full body from cringing away from it. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t get my chest and


    my legs to cooperate.


    Inside, I wanted to be as far from Lilliana as possible, not holding her closely like this.


    I knew as well as anyone that Lilliana’s entire personality was fake. She always agreed with me, or said


    what she thought I wanted to hear. It was frustrating and oftentimes insulting. But I couldn’t me her


    exactly.


    I also wore a mask, hiding my true feelings underneath.


    Yet our reasons for shielding ourselves was different. I hid because the kingdom needed someone in


    control, who wouldn’t make foolish choices based on feeling alone. She hid because she hoped to


    convince me that she was someone worthy of being Luna.


    But I couldn’t be sure. Not until I had seen past her shell and knew the true her underneath.


    As it was, I knew next to nothing about her, really.


    I pulled back from the hug, enough to speak to her. She averted her gaze from me, likely in an attempt


    to be demure. I guessed she would have no way of knowing that I actually preferred woman who could


    hold their own against me.


    I did not want a weak–willed partner who would bend to my every suggestion.


    But Lilliana was the person my father had chosen for me. Unless something earth–shaking were to


    ur to change his mind, I’d likely be stuck with her for the rest of my life


    I had to try to get along with her, if only to attempt to keep my future from being excessively miserable.


    “Maybe you could tell me something about yourself,” I suggested.


    “What would my prince like to know?”


    1 frowned at her use of ‘my prince,‘ but pressed on. “Oh, I don’t know. What’s your favorite color?” I


    only needed one real thing to hold onto, however tiny.


    My favorite is whatever my prince prefers,” she said.


    Favorite food?


    +16 BONUS


    “Whatever you prefer.”


    Thuffed out a frustrated breath. “Favorite season?”


    “Which is yours, Prince Nichs?”


    1 rubbed my forehead. I was getting nowhere fast with this conversation. “Surely you have some


    opinions of your own.”


    “What need would I have of those, sir? I exist to ever be your second. I will spend my life supporting


    your rule.”


    “Yes, sure. But you are your own person. Shouldn’t we at least try to see if some of our preferences


    align? If we are well–matched, we might even begin to like each other.”


    Finally, she nced up


    at me, but only to cast me a curious look. “Why would we need to like each other? We would be


    married.”


    How… depressing. “How foolish of me.” My hopes had not been high for Lilliana, but somehow they


    sunk even further.


    I truly was looking forward toward a life of loneliness with such a wife who would deny me even her


    honest opinions on her favorite color.


    A sh of movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. Further down the hallway, Piper had


    knelt beside Elva, Elva appeared to be crying.


    At once, I stepped away from Lilliana. “If you will please excuse me.”


    I rushed to Piper and Elva.


    “Prince Nichs,” Piper said, spotting me. Elva turned away from me, breaking my heart a little.


    “Elva? What’s wrong?” I asked.


    Elva sniffed. When she finally nced up at me, it was with shiny damp eyes. “Do you like that other


    girl?”


    I dropped to one knee,ing down to her level to look her in the eye. “Lilliana is…” I didn’t know how


    to exin. “Special.” Vague seemed best.


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    That didn’t seem to help. Elva openly sobbed.


    “It’s okay, honey.” Piper rubbed her back. “He’s allowed to have other friends.”