Chapter 268
Chapter 0268
Together, Julian, Nichs, and I walked out into the hallway. We made it down to the main hallway
before Terry himself saw us and stepped into our path.
Julian, Nichs, and I stopped in our tracks.
“There you are, Piper. And I see you’ve run into my errant nephews.”
“Don’t worry, uncle, lost.”
Julian said smoothly. “We found Piper before she became hopelessly
Terry tilted his head. He was smiling, but its edges were sharp and dangerous. “And why would Piper
need to be found? Last I saw her, she was with the tour group. I turn my back for one moment to
correct an ignorant girl, and in that single moment, Piper vanished.”
“I went looking for a bathroom and got lost,” I said, falling back on my initial nned excuse.
“You were gone for an hour.” Terry’s eyes narrowed.
“I got very lost.”
“She’s lucky we found her,” Julian said. “Who knows how long she would have been wandering.
Sometimes I think you forget how big your mansion is.”
“I have not forgotten,” Terry said. His gaze never left me.
Nichs was still holding my hand. He squeezed it, as if saying, I am here. I’m not going anywhere.
The notion gave mefort.
“I’m sorry to have worried you,” I said, hoping to end the discussion. “I’m back now so everything
should be fine.”
Terry watched me for several long seconds, too long to feel like a natural pause. He wanted me to
squirm, to feel ufortable, or maybe even apologize? I tried my best not to have any outward
reaction other than to vaguely smile.
Inside, I wanted to scream.
Eventually, he relented. “Very well. I’m d you have been returned to us. Now, we should
make haste. Dinner is about to be served.”
I nodded. Without another word, he turned away from us. We fell into step behind him. I traded looks
with both Nichs and Julian. Nichs’s face was stern and rigid. Julian winked at me.
Neither helped me settle the growing unease in my gut.
As we entered the dining room, the other guests and candidates were already finding the table.
“You are beside me, Piper,” Terry said, as he found his seat at the center of the table. I was to sit on his
right.
Nichs seemed reluctant to let go of my hand. In my ear, he whispered, “I’ll trade seats with whoever
is beside me.”
Neither of us seemed to have any misconceptions that Terry would ce Julian or Nichs beside me.
Their right as princes would let them have the right to im any seat they wanted.
Except when we moved to my seat, we saw the name on the card belonging to the post next to me.
It read Joyce.
A prince could had the right to im any seat they wanted at the table- unless it was already upied
by another member of the royal family. With Joyce sitting here, there was little Nichs could do.
“I’ll speak with him,” Nichs said. He released my hand and walked away.
Julian, meanwhile, switched seats with the person directly across from me. They were forced to move
down to the other end of the table. I imagined Terry had intentionally ced Julian and Nichs as far
from me as possible.
Terry red at Julian now. Julian just smiled at him, all faux innocence.
When most of the group had found their ces at the table, we began to sit down. I reluctantly sat
beside Terry, with Julian across the table from me.
Oddly, Susie had been ced on the other side of Terry. I would have thought we would want someone
with more standing nearer to him, like Olivia. Susie seemed nervous as she epted her seat.
I waited for Nichs, but was surprised when Joyce arrived to im his seat. Nichs, it seemed, had
been unsessful at convincing Joyce to move. That seemed strange to me. I couldn’t have imagined
that Joyce would care so much. Perhaps it was because Jessica was seated on his other side?
N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
Instead, Nichs imed the seat beside Julian and directly across from Terry. His frown was deep
with displeasure. Whatever the conversation had been between him and Joyce, Nichs seemed
rather irritated about it.