Chapter 174


    I didn’t want to think about Nichs anymore, so I made my way over to Joyce instead. I knew his two


    brothers well but not him, and that seemed a shame.


    When I drew near, Susie nced up to smile at me. “Oh, Piper. Have you met Prince Joyce? Should I


    introduce you?”


    How could I say that if I met him, I didn’t remember? That would be unbearably rude.


    “I don’t remember if we’ve met,” Joyce said in my silence. He looked at me eyes of burnt umber,


    watchful and calcting.


    “I’ll introduce you, then,” Susie said. “Prince Joyce, this is Piper. Piper, please meet Prince Joyce.”


    “Nice to officially meet you, Prince Joyce,” I said, giving a small curtsey.


    He nodded.


    We both didn’t move for a moment, me standing with Joyce gazing up at me. Then he motioned toward


    one of the chairs near him.


    “Please, sit,” he said.


    I did as he asked, taking the chair. Then there was silence again. Prince Joyce didn’t seem to care for


    small talk. Meanwhile the quiet was making me anxious. I worried my fingers together in myp.


    “How are you enjoying thepetition so far?” I asked him.


    “It’s okay,” he said.


    I nced at Susie. She shrugged.


    “Have you decided who you are going to select for the elimination ceremony?” I asked.


    Jessica perked up, eager for the answer. Meanwhile Susie seemed a bit downtrodden. My heart went


    out to her. If only Mark could make a choice himself, but thepetition wasn’t for Beta’s.


    “I haven’t given it much thought, honestly,” Joyce said. He quickly covered a yawn with his hand. “If it


    were up to me, we wouldn’t even be doing thispetition.”


    “Oh, no?” I asked.


    “How am I supposed to find the perfect person for me during a poprity contest? No one cares about


    ne anyway. They didn’t before the contest, and they won’t after. I have no hope of wearing the King’s


    not true that no one cares about you,” Jessica said softly.


    He didn’t seem to hear her.


    “Let my two brothers fight over it. I just want to be left alone.”


    ncing at Jessica, and the way she frowned, I prompted, “Wouldn’t it be nice if you did find love


    though? I admit it’s not an ideal situation for love to spring from, but imagine if it did.”


    “No one is going to be interested in me with my brothers around,” Joyce said. “I wouldn’t even bother


    with this, except my parents would nag me to death if I didn’t put in appearances.”


    Jessica worried her bottom lip with her teeth. Her previous attempts to gain his attention and dere


    her interest had gone unnoticed. She took a breath, maybe to muster her courage, and said too loudly,”


    I’m interested in you!”


    Half the room turned to look at her. When she noticed, her face went as red as a cherry tomato.


    But Joyce had looked too. He had heard her this time. His eyes were wide and his mouth ck.


    He said, “You are?”


    Jessica hid her face behind her hands. She nodded.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    Joyce continued to stare at her for a long time.


    Susie and I traded quick smiles.


    Jessica and I weren’t close friends by any means, but I still felt proud of her. It was difficult to admit


    feelings for anyone, let alone a prince. Especially one as purposefully oblivious as Joyce.


    I admired their connection for a moment, before a soft cough behind me imed my attention.


    Charlotte had found her way to my shoulder. Her dire expression immediately spiked concern into my


    chest.


    “What is it? What’s wrong?” I asked.


    She leaned in closer to whisper/“Elva has another fever.”


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