Chapter 183


    I continued to hold Susie’s hand as we were led into the staged area for the ceremony. The 14 of us


    that


    were left were lined up into three rows.


    Camera crews were setting up in front of us. On the other side, three small stages were arranged side


    by side, each with their own set of stairs. A throne was arranged at the far end of the room for the King


    and


    Queen.


    Sometime after we arrived, the royal family came in together. I tried to catch Julian’s eye, but he


    wouldn’t look at me. He didn’t look at any of the candidates. His typical bored fa?ade was in ce.


    I worried about him for a moment. Just what had the King wanted to talk to him about?


    But then I saw Nichs and all other thoughts flew straight out of my head. I hadn’t seen him since our


    kiss in the hallway outside Julian’s door, when I’d lost myself and wanted to be ravaged.


    He wasn’t looking at me either, but this one, I understood. I only hoped he didn’t regret it. Our


    rtionship was…plicated. Impossible, probably. But the way he held me in that moment… I


    wouldn’t


    trade it away.


    The King and Queen moved to their thrones. The producers then directed the princes up onto the


    stages. Each had their own.


    Nathan stood in front of us and exined, “If your name is called, move up the stairs of the stage


    belonging to the prince who selected you. You will be expected to thank them personally.”


    The girls all nodded. I did too.


    When the cameras were set up, the producers nodded to Nathan. We waited a few minutes until the


    clock hit 7pm, then the camera lights turned red.


    My heart was in my throat.


    The elimination ceremony was about to begin.


    Nathan turned on his 1000–watt smile and faced the cameras, his microphone in hand.


    “Wee to the main event,dies and gentleman. Tonight, your three princes will each select three


    ladies of their choice to stay through the elimination. This will bring our count down from 14 to 9! Who


    will survive? We’re about to find out.”


    One of the cameras panned over the candidates and we all smiled. The other cameras zoomed in on


    each of the princes. Joyce looked bored. Julian winked and waved. Nichs was entirely stoic.


    When the cameras returned to Nathan, he continued to exin the rules. The princes would submit


    their three names and then one by one, the chosen candidates would be called until all 9 were


    announced.


    The princes were given scraps of paper and a pen. They each wrote their selections and handed them


    in to waiting servants. The servants then brought the names to the producers.


    Nathan sent the audience tomercial, and no sooner, one of the producers started yelling at the


    other.


    “There’s only 8 names!”


    The second producer hushed the first. “Think of the drama, man. This is going to make for great TV.”


    “What are they talking about?” Susie whispered to me.


    “I don’t know,” I whispered back. Only 8 names? Could that mean only 8 girls were going to be picked?


    But how could that be? Didn’t it break the rules?


    When the producers spoke with Nathan, he immediately seemed confused.


    “We should speak with the King,” he started to say, but the producers were insistent.


    “There’s no time. We’reing back frommercial in 3… 2… 1…” They pointed at Nathan.


    Nathan’s eyes were wild with panic, but he pressed on regardless. “W–wee back! We will now


    begin with the ceremony! Each prince will read the names of their selections, one at a time. Prince


    Nichs, we will begin with you. If you could please say the name of one of your selections.”


    Nichs cleared his throat. I held my breath.


    “Lilliana.”


    ”


    My breath came out a long, low exhale. I wasn’t surprised, but I still wanted it to be me.


    Lilliana stepped forward without any outward reaction. She crossed the floor, walked up the stairs in


    front of Nichs, and said, “Thank you.”


    He nodded, and she moved to stand behind him.


    “Very nice,” Nathan said. “Prince Julian, you are next.”


    This was it. This was the moment. If Julian didn’t save me here, no one would.


    Julian opened his mouth with a smile, but it wasn’t my name that came out of it. Some of the girls


    gasped and looked at me for reaction. The cameras zoomed in close to my face.


    I kept a smile on my face but it wasn’t genuine. Inside, my heart was breaking. How much time would


    they give me to pack my bags? Would Elva have time to say goodbye to Nichs, or would we simply


    be


    whisked off into the night like we’d never been here at all?


    The ceremony continued. Joyce selected Jessica. For his second round, Nichs picked Olivia. Julian


    and Joyce picked girls who pped in excitement and hurried forward when they were called.


    When it was nearing the final round, Susie and I looked at each other. We said goodbye with our eyes.


    We both knew our moments were numbered here, and soon we’d be sent home.


    The producers pulled Nathan aside quickly to whisper in his ear.


    “For the final round, we’d like to change things up and start with Joyce,” Nathan said, when he was


    back


    on camera.


    Joyce nced at us remaining girls. Then his gaze fell on Susie.


    “Susie.”


    She inhaled sharply and looked at me. I smiled and nodded, urging her forward.


    “Go on, then,” I said. I was so happy for her, even as my heart was breaking for myself. Joyce had


    saved her for another few weeks, and in those weeks, she could be with the man she truly loved, Mark.


    Susie moved forward, weaving through the remaining girls. When she finally reached Joyce, she was


    crying.


    “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you so much.”


    Joyce seemed ufortable by her attention but he shook her hand all the same. “Of course. Sure.”


    Susie moved to her spot behind him.


    “Now,” Nathan said, reiming everyone’s attention. “We have a special circumstance for our final


    selection.”


    “Final?” whispered one of the girls. “They’ve only said 7 names, not 8. There should be two more.”


    Nathan continued, “Prince Nichs and Prince Julian have both selected the same candidate for their


    final choice.”


    “What?” the King gasped, rising from his throne. A producer immediately stepped forward to intercept.


    him.


    Nichs and Julian nced at each other. Julian smirked. Nichs glowered.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    My heart pounded so loudly I could hear it in my ears, but I didn’t dare dream that I was the one they


    had chosen. Too much had happened to convince me otherwise. Julian’s disappearance. Nichs’s


    cold


    shoulder after our heated kiss.


    So many people wanted me gone. The public wanted me to stay, but I wasn’t so foolish to believe that


    would make much difference now as we neared the midpoint of thepetition.


    “We ask Prince Nichs and Prince Julian to together name the person that they have chosen. I will


    countdown to 1,” Nathan said.


    I held my breath.


    “3…”


    I twisted my hands together.


    “2…”


    I felt sick in my stomach, like I might throw up.


    “1…”


    Nichs and Julian nced at each other once more. Then they both looked at me.


    Together, they said, “Piper.” 9