Chapter 0395


    The next day at lunch time, Elva and I walked down to the dining room to have lunch with the rest of


    the candidates. As soon as I walked through the door, I felt the tension in the room. No one was


    smiling, not even Susie as she saw me. She waved as we came closer.


    Per the contest rules, none of us were supposed to watch television or use our cell phones. As such,


    we shouldn’t have any knowledge of what was going on in the outside world. None of us should be


    aware of the news of the dire recent events with the King’s statues being defaced.


    Yet everyone still seemed to know, if their whispered words and worried faces were anything to go by.


    I took the open seat beside Susie and Elva hopped into the seat on the other side of me. Susie gave us


    both a smile then, but it was tight and dishonest. Still, I appreciated the effort and gave her one of my


    own.


    I imagined she heard the news from Mark. Veronica likely heard it from Julian, if she didn’t have other


    means. If any of them were kind to their servants, as I was with Charlotte, the servants would likely talk


    with them. Or maybe a bribe was what was needed.


    “What do you think will happen to us?” Tiffany whisper–yelled to Veronica.


    “No one cares about us,” Veronica said. “It’s the royal family that is in danger.”


    “Unless they burn the whole pce down.”


    “Shh,” I said, scolding them both. Veronica nodded. Tiffany seemed affronted – until I dipped my head


    to Elva.


    “Oh,” she mouthed. “Sorry.”


    “What are they talking about, Mommy?” Elva asked.


    “Nothing, honey,” I said and leaned over to kiss her on the top of her head.” What do you want for lunch


    today?”


    –


    Fortunately, this one time, Elva didn’t seem to want to press. “Grilled cheese?”


    “I think they can do that.” I waved down a servant and asked, “Two grilled cheese sandwiches please?”


    The servant took the order and quietly left the room.


    I had brought a coloring book and crayons for Elva to keep her busy, and set


    +25 BONUS


    them up for her now so she could work while we waited.


    At the other end of the table, Jessica was speaking with Lilliana.


    “Do you think they’ll end thepetition?” Jessica asked. “After everything we’ve all been through, that


    would be such a terrible shame.”


    Her words rankled my nerves. How could she care about thepetition when the royal family’s lives


    were on the line? Hell, all of our lives were, if what Tiffany feared came to pass and the protesters


    burned the ce down.


    But sure, Jessica, worry about thepetition.


    If I didn’t have so much self–control and will, I would have walked over to her and smacked her upside


    the head.


    It didn’t take long for our grilled cheeses to arrive, and Elva and I ate. To distract Elva from the girls‘


    chatter, I talked to her about innocuous things, like different kinds of flowers and if we should y a


    gameter, to see how many kinds of birds we could spot in the garden.


    As we were finishing up, Nathan came into the room. He cleared his throat to gain our attention. When


    he had it, he said loudly, “Ladies, in two hours, your presence is requested at the front entrance of the


    pce for a special announcement.”


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    All of us looked at each other. Some seemed confused. Most looked worried.


    “Even me?” Elva asked.


    Nathan looked at her like he was surprised she had spoken to him. “Yes, even you.”


    She looked at me and beamed. I tried to smile back, despite the nervousness that was brewing up


    inside of me.


    To the rest of us, Nathan continued, “This announcement will be televised, so we ask that you dress


    your best. Do you understand?”