Chapter 0568

The next morning, I awoke slowly. The sun was bright outside my window. It must have been early yet. It seemed as if the sun's rays were coming in strong and undeterred. Even the curtains could not dull their luminance.

I felt stubborn though, and groggy from being up much of the night thinking back on the things Nicholas had said. I would undoubtedly pay for it later today.

For now, however, I could rest. Elva was still dozing soundly beside me

I rolled to the side, enough to peer over, down at Nicholas on the ground. He had his arms crossed over his chest and his eyelids closed. He seemed to be sleeping as well.

Good. Then I truly did have a few minutes to wake slowly. I liked mornings like this, where nothing felt urgent. They had always been a rare gift to me.

Still on my side, I watched the way Nicholas's chest rose and fell with his deep breathing. His face was stern, as if he was having a dream about giving some kind of orders or reprimand.

I wondered what he dreamed about.

Could it be anything like my dreams? Although with that stern expression, I doubted he was dreaming of a blissful family life.

"Mommy...?"

I rolled over, away from Nicholas and toward my daughter instead. She was rubbing her eyes with one hand.

"Is it time to wake up?" Elva asked.

*Soon," I said. "We can sleep in a bit, though. There's no rush."

"Okay," she said. She blinked a few times, then met my gaze. "Is Nick-lass still here?"

I nodded. "He's sleeping, so we should keep our voices low. We don't want to wake him."

She lowered her voice. "He stayed all night?"

"He did," I said, keeping my voice low as well. "Protecting us. Keeping us safe."

She pulled them up higher, closer to her chin. "I like Nick-lass."

widened as she said, "So when will he be my new daddy? Soon, right?" Shock struck through me and for a moment, I simply stared

the very least, temper her expectations. But my own fantasies had been running so

asked her, "Is that something

he'd stay with us

to my own. What I wouldn't give to have Nicholas belong to us as part of our

fantasies, I should still let Elva know that it might not work out that way. I could be eliminated at the next ceremony. Or the King and Queen could simply deem me unsuitable. Or Nicholas could choose someone else. Despite

Elva anything. Nicholas let out a loud yawn and I snap my

out all of his

actually been asleep a moment ago and hadn't overheard

between Elva and me. I held my breath, expecting some kind of

he asked, and I huffed out a deep

Elva said and hopped

and after selected the day's clothes for us both, ushered Elva into the bathroom to change and ready for the

we all headed down to

the stairs, the tension in the air

caused all of the staff to seem more

started walking toward the chaos. "Selma? What is

Prince Nicholas," she said

the matter?" Nicholas

said and covered her face. "I don't know what to do or how to feed them. What do they even eat? I received a list of dietary restrictions from the

looked hopelessly back at me. I nodded at him, knowing and understanding that he was needed here. He

1.

me talk to the Ambassador," Nicholas said. "I'll see if I can sort this all

so

will be alright,"

scene with a curious though somewhat frightened expression. Seeing a grown woman lose her composure

I said. When Elva looked up at me, I smiled down at her. "Nicholas is going to take care of this,

expression. Yes, she knew

hungry?"

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