Chapter 0167

I followed Lilliana further into the gardens to a small rod–iron table with two chairs. Lilliana motioned for

me to sit and then sat in the opposite chair.

“I’m glad we could finally have a chance to talk like this,” Lilliana said. She rested both hands on top of

the table.

I’mirrored her for a moment, but it felt unnatural having my hands lifted so high. I lowered them into my

lap instead.

“What was it you wanted to

talk to

me about?” Nervousness prickled at my skin. While it wasn’t unusual for the candidates to talk to each other, this still felt like a special event. Lilliana had called me out in front of Nicholas himself. She very nearly broke character to do it.

She gave me a sour kind of look. The way a disappointed principal would make to a rowdy student in. their charge. “Prince Nicholas. I want to ask you to please leave him alone. You are a distraction to him.”

we are friends.”

“I’m not doing anything to bother him, or at least, not trying to. But we

Nicholas had come to my rescue more than once now. And somehow when I needed things or support, Nicholas was always around to help. But that’s what friends did.

Lilliana narrowed her eyes. It was unusual for her to show any emotion. Tiny alarm bells started sounding in my head.

“What is your problem, Piper?” she snapped, voice suddenly much sharper than it had been before. Her narrowed gaze had become a fully blown glare.

I was shocked silent for a moment. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish.

can’t have both brothers! If you are after Julian, you should

my hands now, palms forward in defense. “I’m not after any of

to believe that.” She crossed

“It’s true!”

all over both of them. They won’t both pick you in the next elimination, Piper. Focus your

was clear. What she failed to understand was that I wasn’t a threat to her so much as she was a threat to herself. Nicholas might say now that he will marry whoever the King wants, but I refused he would

deserved a partner. Not a

am friends with Nicholas. That is all. But because I am

actually likes and not

the time.”

moment, then threw her head back and laughed. “Piper, you are so naïve!

how royalty works. What did you think he was going to marry for love? Cute.”

fun of me but she didn’t have

for love.” She didn’t even look sad about

the sake of the princes, but for the girls

to save us all, huh? Oh, Piper. You need to just accept this is how things are. This

accept that,

a riot,” Lilliana said, chuckling again.

the blink of an eye, she shifted from the haughty laughing

to know that Nicholas had approached us from behind me.

joke,” Nicholas said. “I’ve never heard you laugh so… boisterously before, Liliana

and cleared her throat. “She

to be.”

Nothing I had said was

at me, and that smile dimmed into an expression of confusion. “I know it was probably a

in that statement,

was common.

desire to put me down seemed at war with her

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255