Chapter 184


    After Nichs and Julian said my name, many things happened all at once.


    My breath was so shaky I felt lightheaded.


    The King and Queen both jumped to their feet in outrage.


    Many of the remaining girls descended from their standing ces toin aggressively to the


    producers and Nathan and anyone who would listen.


    “We were cheated!” one of them shouted.


    “How can Piper be chosen twice?” cried another.


    “This is rigged!” said a third.


    One of the producers weaved through the angry crowd to whisper in my ear. “Go on, Piper. Go get your


    prince.”


    I started forward but immediately hesitated. The problem, of course, was that two princes had chosen


    1. me. Now I had to choose one of them.


    If I was true to my heart, I would go for Nichs. But he already had so many prospects. I’d be


    shooting


    myself in the foot by going to him. Julian was the safer choice, by numbers alone, though his


    unpredictability, like his recent disappearance, kept him from being the obvious one.


    I was torn, but in the end, I decided to go with my heart. I walked up the stairs to Nichs. I held out


    my


    hand to thank him and he took mine in both of his.


    “Thank you,” I said. His gaze was steady on mine. Itcked the heat from that night, but not the


    intensity.


    Td never leave you behind,” he said softly, so only I could hear it.


    Behind us, the King’s ravings were growing louder.


    “End the show,” Nathan said at once, threatening a producer. He waved to the cameramen, and the


    cameras shut off at once.


    Nichs quickly ushered me behind him, just in time as the King rushed up the stairs.


    you and your brother have directly disobeyed my orders”


    unfair orders father Nichs said, standing tall


    dred. Hie wyen found mine and he looked at me like he wan


    “Husband,” the Luna said from the floor by the stairs. Her sharp gaze sliced back and forth around


    them.


    “We should discuss this in private.”


    The King straightened at once, though his face remained red as a cherry tomato. “Yes. Correct as ever,


    dearest.” He pointed at Nichs and at Julian. “In my rooms. Now.”


    Nichs nodded and Julian shrugged. Still, they both diligently followed their father. Joyce did too,


    trailing behind. When the royal family exited the room, the tension in the room seemed to lessen, as if


    the


    room itself let out a deep breath.


    In Nichs’s absence, Lilliana and Olivia turned their attention to me.


    “Congrattions, Piper,” Olivia said. “It’s quite the aplishment for someone like you to reach this


    level. You probably couldn’t even imagine it in your wildest dreams.”


    It was a backhandedpliment, meant primarily to insult me.


    “Prince Nichs is such a talented statesman,” Lilliana chimed in. She spoke in her faux demure


    manner


    but her eyes were piercing daggers at me. “He keeps you around knowing it inspires themoners.


    Of course, you must know that he has no intention of keeping you beyond that.”


    “We’re all lucky to be here,” I said, attempting to be the bigger person, even though I kind of wanted to


    push them both off the stage.


    “Some of us rely on luck,” Olivia said. “Others have enough talents and skills that they don’t need to


    depend on luck.”


    “You should enjoy what time you have left, Piper.” Lilliana offered me a fake smile. “Many of the girls


    here won’t be happy with your continued presence. I’m sure they might even work together to make


    sure


    you are not selected this time.”


    “We’ll see.” I wasn’t afraid of Lilliana, Olivia, or any of the girls here, and I’d already survived much of


    their sabotage. I supposed it was kind of Lilliana to at least let me know the target on me was now even


    bigger than before, but I wasn’t going to be intimidated.


    I knew I was lucky to be here. I’d been nning on going home. That Nichs and Julian had both


    picked me made me feel like I was in a dream. I was so grateful.


    The threats of these girls would not ruin this moment for me.


    was lying We all knew they weren’t truly


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    thank you both for your concern, but I’m sure I will be fine


    cerned and I wasn’t truly grateful But it would be rude for me to simply snub them, and though they


    snubbing. I would rather they think they hadn’t affected me at all


    “Ladies!” Nathan called, iming our attention. “If you will follow me to the ballroom, we will have


    another post–ceremony celebration!”


    I noticed then that the unchosen girls had been escorted from the room. I still couldn’t truly believe that


    I wasn’t among them.


    Together, the surviving girls and I followed Nathan down the hallway to the ballroom. Some privileged


    guests were already within it. They pped as we descended the staircase.


    At the base of the stairs, Susie immediately came to my side. “Piper, I can’t believe it! I mean, I can, in


    a way, and I’m so relieved, but both princes! I knew one of them would save you, but both!”


    Her excitement was electric and helped fill the hollow void Lilliana and Olivia’s cattiness had carved


    into me. I pulled her into a quick hug.


    “And you!” I said. “I didn’t know you were that close with Joyce!”


    “I’m not really, I don’t think. I’ve said a few words to him now and then. Asked him how he’s doing or


    what he’s reading.” She frowned a little. “I don’t think enough people take notice of him.”


    “Well, you do. And Jessica…?”


    “She’s so thrilled,” Susie said. “Just look at her.”


    I nced across the room to where Jessica was greeting some of the guests. She was bouncing in her


    heels, her face all smiles. It had been a good long while since I had seen someone so genuinely happy.


    She added a little light to me just from watching her.


    1 looped my arm with Susie. “I think we should celebrate our continued sess and Jessica’s


    happiness.”


    “What did you have in mind?” Susie asked.


    I pointed at the drinks table where servants were beginning to pour flutes of champagne.


    I was a bit nervous to drink again, sincest time Terry hadced my drink and attempted terrible


    things.


    Yet here in the public ballroom with Susie beside me, I felt safe enough to try. This was a party and


    we’d


    both done something no one thought possible.


    What better time and ce to let loose? Within moderation, of course. Cameras still crept through the


    room, capturing everything on film. Getting drunk was totally off the table, lest I end up as a top news


    ory for the rest of my life


    or three, however, was not out of the question.


    Susie and I approached the drinks table, and a smiling servant passed us each a flute. We both smiled


    and thanked her. I took a sip. The champagne was delicious.


    Yet as Susie and I were walking away from the table, an unwee individual stepped directly into our


    path.


    Terry looked down at us with his serpent smile. He nced at my drink, then back up to my face. “Did


    you miss me, Piper?”