Chapter 247


    Chapter 0247


    The guard nodded and went to carry out the task.


    Back inside my room, I couldn’t help but pace, worried about what Jane could possibly be doing in that


    gown.


    Did she decide to go to the g? Was she pretending to be me? What could she possibly be saying to


    the benefactors, or the candidates, or the cameras?


    When I reached one end of the room, I swiveled on my heel and began walking the other way instead.


    I wished I could go down to the g and see for myself, but I would never abandon Elva. She could be


    sick. She would always be my top priority. I only hoped that whatever Jane was doing, it wasn’t so


    egregious that I would be forcibly ejected from the contest.


    I continued pacing until the doctor arrived a few minutester with Mark following quickly behind.


    The doctor, familiar by now of Elva’s situation, nodded at me before immediately going to Elva’s side.


    Mark came to mine.


    He looked at me for a moment, then said, “Elva’s a tough girl, and the doctor is well trained. She’ll be


    okay.”


    I was worried about Elva, but thoughts of her illness weren’t the only thing on my mind. Mark seemed to


    notice, when his words didn’t seem to soothe me.


    “Did something else happen?”


    I wrapped my arms around my waist. “I saw Jane.”


    Mark immediately straightened. “What? Where? When?”


    “In the hallway just now, when I was brining Elva back to the room.” I described the location to him, and


    then gave him the description of her gown from what I could remember.


    “You think she went to the g?” he asked.


    “I do,” I said. “God knows what she’s doing there. Likely trying to ruin my life.”


    “We won’t let that happen.” Mark procured his phone from his pocket and began to text. His fingers flew


    across the screen. I’d never seen anyone text so quickly. “If Jane went to that g, Nichs will stop her.


    before she does any true harm.”


    Remembering how Olivia and Lilliana hung of his arms, iming all of his attention, I doubted he would


    An unpleasant tingling of pain burrowed deep down inside my chest. I hated to admit that I was jealous.


    I knew Nichs had other priorities than me. He was burdened with a crown, and someday he might be


    king. He would always have obligations bigger than his personal love life.


    “Thank you, Mark.”


    Lilliana or Olivia were more suited to be the Luna the kingdom needed. They didn’t have children yet, or


    debts, or a history tied with the underground organization, even if it was unwilling. They were free to fully


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    dedicate themselves to Nichs and the kingdom.


    I would never have such freedom.


    “I’m also activating more of Nichs’s personal guard,” Mark said. “They’ll patrol the grounds, starting


    first at the ballroom. Don’t worry, Piper. If Jane is here, we’ll find her.”


    I wanted to believe that, but I doubted. Jane had knowledge of hidden passageways. She had


    connections with Terry and whoever else. She wore my face, which had others let their guard down.


    Pretending to be me, she wouldn’t seem out of ce.


    None of that was Mark’s fault, and I was grateful for his attempts at helping, even if I thought they were


    foolhardy.


    He continued to text, so I left his side to walk toward the bed. The doctor was checking Elva’s pulse.


    I didn’t dare speak while she was working, but I watched. And I worried.


    I prayed Jane wasn’t in the ballroom trying to destroy what little I had left.