Chapter 0018
I blinked, stunned into silence. Me? A front runner in the competition?
No. Clearly those people didn’t realize how much Nicholas hated me. Once the cameras were allowed
into the palace, and they saw the two of us interacting, they would learn the truth.
Nicholas hated me.
Julian only wanted to use me in his games.
And Joyce seemed utterly disinterested in the whole thing.
I wasn’t a front runner. I was someone barely hanging on.
Regardless, I thanked my maid for the information.
“Now,” the maid said, turning toward the closet. “It is time to prepare you for the banquet.”
The banquet. Right. Tonight was the first official banquet with all three princes and the candidates. We
would formally dine in the dining room.
The trainers had reinforced the required etiquette for mealtimes that I had forgotten over the past three
years. I felt comfortable enough to eat with the others casually, but to do so in front of the royal family and potential cameras, made me nervous.
Elva was requested to stay behind. A nanny had been hired for her, and was set to arrive s
soon, I had
mixed feelings leaving her here, but she seemed content enough, playing with her dolls under her blanket
fort.
“Wait until you see your dress,” the maid said, and led me toward the closet.
I wasn’t sure why I needed another dress. I liked my pale green one with the flowers.
But then the maid held up a velvet evening gown. Deep emerald in color, it was sleeveless with a v- shaped neckline.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had worn something like this. For work, I’d worn white button–up
shirts and black pants. On days off, I wore slacks and t–shirts, with an occasional high–necked sundress.
Nothing like this
The maid noticed my hesitation.
Try it on she said. And you won’t want to take it off.
She was right.
Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized myself in the dress.
Even Elva looked at me with comically wide eyes. “Mommy, are you a fairy princess?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
She seemed certain. “You are.”
Elva’s compliment gave me the confidence I needed to keep my head high as I entered the ballroom.
The princes had priority when choosing seats. Julian selected a spot near the center of the table. Joyce claimed a seat at the far end. Nicholas wasn’t in the room yet. The King and Queen took opposite ends at the head of the table.
When it came time for the girls to sit, Julian instantly called me over. “Piper! Here!”
I was immediately suspicious, but didn’t dare deny his request, especially with the cameras watching from the comers of the room.
Ignoring glares from Linda and Olivia, I crossed the room and took the seat Julian offered beside him.
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
I blushed a little, but mostly wondered what he was up to.
The other girls filed in then, claiming seats. Susie took the open seat beside me. We smiled at each other.
As the last girl found her seat, Nicholas appeared in the doorway.
Dops. It seems I’ve stolen my brother’s seat.” Julian started to rise.
I looked at him in urgency. “What?”
He flashed me a devilish grin “Oh? Nicholas said he was going to be late and reserved this seat. Did t hot mention that?
Not He hadn’t mentioned that!
brother Julian said as he passed Nicholas to take his own seat further up, near the Queen’s end lable Here we are her loyously announced as he plopped down. The girls beside him cheered
atore behind the back of the now empty chair. The one he’d reserved, apparently
