Chapter 306


    Chapter 0306


    The next morning, as Elva yed with her toys, I sat and drank tea with Charlotte and Mark.


    Per thepetition rules, I wasn’t allowed to watch television to keep up to date with current events,


    but Charlotte and Mark were, and oftentimes, we would sit, just like this, and go over the thoughts and


    rumors of the public about me or thepetition.


    Today was a special kind of exception.


    “Every channel is still discussing Terry’s arrest,” Charlotte said. “Arresting him so publically has caused


    something of an uproar.”


    “It was necessary,” Mark said. “Only with the public’s support, will we be able to take down the


    underground. Everyone has to help.”


    “I get it,” Charlotte replied, “But that’s not how the public sees it. They see a royal family with corrupt


    connections. If Terry was this deep in the organization, then maybe the others are too.” At Mark’s


    growing frown, she quickly held up her hands. “That’s what they think, not me!”


    Mark frowned deeper, but at least looked away this time.


    “You know I’m right,” Charlotte said. “You’ve seen the demonstrations out front same as me.”


    I had seen them too. Crowds of protesters were appearing just outside the gate. They held signs with


    slogans disparaging the royal family. Someone had a bullhorn.


    “They’ve lost faith in the royal family,” Charlotte said. “They need to build it back.”


    “There may be some difficulty with that,” Mark said. He nced at me. “There is some talk among the


    royal family and the producers that thepetition be ced on hold.”


    “What?” I gasped.


    Since Terry’s arrest, the previous event had been called into question. Terry’s inappropriate behavior


    had not gone unnoticed by the public, and people were calling any standing gained or lost in that event


    to be thrown out.


    The royal family and the producers would need time to determine their next move.


    Still, I was surprised that the royal family would actually take that time, considering the tensions


    growing just outside their front gate.


    “cing thepetition on hold is the worst thing they could do,” Charlotte said. “The only way to turn


    around the public perception is to continue to build goodwill through thepetition. Cutting it short


    only hurts them.”


    “The royal family can’t make any decision rashly,” Mark said. “They would risk doing more harm than


    good.‘


    I nodded along with both. I could see both sides. If I allowed myself to consider fully, I would likely


    agree with Charlotte. Thepetition could generate the goodwill necessary to bring the public away


    from Terry’s corruption.


    However, I was tired. Lately the events had brought only danger down on me. A break to rx and


    regather myself sounded awfully nice.


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    “What do you think, Piper?” Charlotte asked me. Mark looked at me too.


    I slouched down in my chair a little. “I really don’t know.”


    That opinion wasn’t very Luna of me. Luna’s were to be decisive and strong–willed.


    But I was exhausted. From my sister nearly killing me to having to push away the man I desired more


    than any other, I didn’t want to do much other than crawl back under my covers and forget the world for


    a while.


    I only wished I could be that selfish.


    Later, as I walked through the hallways, I caught sight through the window of the driveway, and the


    growing crowd beyond. The number of protesters had doubled since I hadst seen it, and it was no


    small amount before.


    The sheer number was startling. They stood strong, taking up all of the street, nearly as far as I could


    see in both directions.


    They seemed angry too, chanting and jeering. Even through the walls, I heard their angry voices,


    cheering as one. “Liars! Cheaters! Thieves!”


    Someone screamed at the top of their lungs, “Death to Tyrants!”