Chapter 0624

The next morning, I headed down to breakfast with Elva per usual. Today, all of the girls were even more animated than usual, their voices quick and cheerful with the latest gossip, their expressions bright.

*Susie and Mark are engaged!" Tiffany said, repeating what the others have said but louder and with bigger hand

movements.

*They must have met here during the competition," Olivia reasoned. "She broke the rules by paying attention to anyone other than the princes. She could go to jail for this."

"No one is going to send her to jail," Bridget said. "Nicholas wouldn't let that happen." For once, I agreed with Bridget.

*A Beta, though?" Lilliana scoffed. "She is a lady of good upbringing. She had the opportunity to marry a prince. Why on earth would she settle for someone of lesser stock?"

*She loves him," I said. I helped Elva into her chair and then sat in mine. Susie's was empty on the other side of me, and would now stay empty for the rest of the competition.

While I would certainly miss her - I did already - I was happy that she had found someone that she loved who loved her. She would find her happiness.

I wished now that I could find mine.

At least most of the other girls seemed happy for Susie too. Tiffany, Veronica, Jessica and even Bridget thought the match acceptable.

"What does it matter if she lowers herself slightly? A love match is a beautiful thing," Jessica said.

"You would think that," Lilliana said, "Since now you have no competition for Joyce's affections."

Jessica's face went a bit red. "I wasn't saying it just because of that. Susie is a nice person. Let her have what she wants."

"I bet she's pregnant," Lilliana said flatly.

Olivia gasped, even as a smile crossed her face. "How scandalous. That would explain why her parents would be so acceptable to the match."

*They are marrying for love," I said flatly. I left no room for argument. If someone wanted to disagree with me on this, I would fight them. Susie's pregnancy did not negate from the fact that the two loved each other very much.

did press the timeline of their romance forward somewhat, but that was

were for life.

one really argued with me. Not even Lilliana or Olivia, who I suspected would argue with me the most. Instead, they turned their sights on

not sure if I should be congratulating you or pitying you," Lilliana said. "You may be the only contender now

idea, Jessica. Maybe you should back out as well." "Don't be jealous," Jessica snapped. She lifted her head up

in

"What happened to

Her cheeks

expression scrunched

about," Jessica

to look down her nose at Jessica.

asked an innocent question," Olivia said. "Where is

chair. I tried to catch her eye and smile at her, but she seemed determined to avoid

I couldn't talk to her about it in front of all these people. For now, I bit my

the girls berating Jessica, however, I wasn't going to sit by and

still a prince. And Jessica will make the best princess consort out of anyone

frowned at me, but they didn't

Lilliana said, and they returned the subject to something

I joined Nicholas, Elva, and the wolves for a walk out in the yard beyond the gardens. Elva was laughing, chasing Silver through the

and I followed

that voice again?" Nicholas asked. "The one you

haven't

See if

again. It had been alarming and unnerving the last time I had heard it. It was much easier to pretend now that I

way to handle the situation. Just because I ignored it didn't mean it would simply go away. It would be like ignoring a medical symptom just because

to face it. Something could be wrong with me. It was better

"But..." I side-eyed where Elva played with the wolves. "Stay near me.

in seriousness. "I'm not going anywhere. You know that. I'll always be at your side, for as long as

didn't want to get into that right

a deep breath, closed my eyes,

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