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 it didn’t

own anger spi king. “You are

He didn’t have to know about

have seen it on TV? Trust me, Piper. He was

way, it’s more fun.”

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cruel,” I

smirk took on a harsh edge. “He deserves this and more

me pause and ebbed some of my anger. When I opened my mouth again, I half-forgot where I was and what was happening. I so very much wanted to ask him for the truth of what happened between him, Nicholas, and

spoke before I could, and I was

Nicholas said. His hands were in tight

glancing at Elva asleep on the chair. “If someone had

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

eyes

“Were you asked? And you agreed to

He didn’t want anyone to force me to do anything, but so few days ago, I had pushed him away, wanting to shield my heart.

sound. But nothing felt good enough now,

I said. I tried to keep my voice steady, so as not to betray the quaking emotion within me. “It

that he was

couldn’t move. I had to sit very

curled my hands around my knees, holding on to keep from

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

to do this, to protect Nicholas himself. I wouldn’t let the people rebel. I wouldn’t let them tear this palace

Nicholas frowned.

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But it really is the best plan to quell all this talk of rebellion. Come on, Nicholas. You know it’s true. Like this, we win the hearts

talk to Piper

he looked at me. His lifted

you want?

raised myself to my feet and followed Nicholas to a corner of the room where we could speak privately, while

his gaze to me. The green flickered dangerously in the

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