Chapter 0312

“What the hell is going on in here?” Nicholas asked. “Julian?”

I was too stunned to speak, but when I looked over to Julian, I saw that he was smirking.

Nicholas turned his rage on the producers. “Why are you filming this?”

The producer jumped, then bowed much lower than was necessary. “It was approved by the crown, Your Royal Highness. The King himself commanded us!”

“Retract your claws before you hurt someone,” Julian said casually as he rose to his feet. This isn’t their fault.”

Nicholas reared back to him. “Then explain it to me, brother. And while you are giving that explanation, you can explain why you felt it necessary to summon me to witness this.” The way he say this, with such open disgust, made me want to crawl into a hole.

“Our parents thought we should utilize Piper’s popularity for the benefit of the whole,” Julian said. “Because nothing says, we’re worthy of being liked by commoners, than having one of those commoners make out with a prince.”

“A prince,” Nicholas said. “Why did it have to be you?”

I felt like Nicholas too easily accepted Julian’s explanation of why we were being filmed kissing, and jumped straight to why not me?

“Nicholas,” I said.

When he saw me, he seemed to remember the other things too. “Piper shouldn’t need to do this with anyone.”

“Tell that to Dad,” Julian said. “Or better yet, how about those protesters outside? I bet

they’d love to hear from you.”

Nicholas glowered. He frowned so deeply, I thought steam might come out of his ears. He turned to the producers again. “I want to see the footage. Whatever you do, you cannot use

that kiss.”

To Julian, I hissed, “Did you really summon him here?”

casually, like

own anger spi king. “You are trying to stir more

Nicholas. He didn’t have to know

think he wouldn’t have seen it on TV? Trust me, Piper. He was always going to find

way, it’s more fun.”

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cruel,”

a harsh edge. “He deserves

I was and what was happening. I so very much wanted to

I was ashamed and

Nicholas said. His hands were in tight

glancing at Elva asleep

disapproved, and we’d be in the same terrible pit as before,” Julian said. He motioned toward me. “Piper agreed to all this. I didn’t just spring it on her. She was

of eyes fall on

you asked? And you agreed to

to force me to do anything, but so few days ago, I had pushed him away, wanting to shield my heart. Now here I was, so casually kissing someone

my reasons, and they were sound. But nothing felt good enough now,

keep my voice steady, so as not to betray the quaking

him in my kisses until he knew that he was the only man that I held so

move. I

curled my hands around my knees, holding on to

this?” Nicholas pressed. “You don’t have to do this, you know. No matter what Julian or

I said, a lie. I had to do this, to protect Nicholas himself. I wouldn’t let the people rebel. I wouldn’t let them tear this palace apart. Since I wielded influence, I would leverage it

Nicholas frowned.

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quell all this talk of rebellion. Come on, Nicholas. You know it’s true. Like this, we win

to Piper alone,”

as he looked at me. His lifted brow seemed

you want?

feet and followed Nicholas to a corner of the room where we could

Piper,” he said. He dropped his gaze to me. The green flickered dangerously in the golden depths. “Why are you

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