Chapter l125

Chapter 0125

“Thank you,” I said. “Please thank them for me, as well. I wouldn’t want to get them in trouble by approaching them directly.”

Till pass on your gratitude,” Charlotte said.

We continued to work throughout the day. When we finally finished, it was time for me to attend a

banquet.

Elva, who had been patient all day, complained loudly that she wouldn’t get to attend.

“You’d hate it,” I told her, hoisting her up into my arms. “A bunch of stuffy people insulting each other

while pretending to be nice.”

“Why would they do that?” she asked.

“1 don’t know, honey.” But I did know. With only 9 candidates left, everyone was on the edge. We were coming down to the wire soon, and all the girls, except Susie and 1, wanted the crown. “People

sometimes have to cut each other down to make themselves feel more important.”

“That doesn’t sound very nice”

“It’s not,” I agreed.

As I prepared for the banquet, I was startled by an unfamiliar maid sticking her head through the door.

Charlotte immediately intercepted her and then sent her away

“Who was that? What did she want?” I asked when she had gone.

Charlotte seemed unsettled, her brow pulled together. “I’m not sure. She didn’t even ask anything. She

said she had the wrong room but that seems impossible.

“Did you recognize her?”

Charlotte nodded. “She’s tending to Lilliana.” She helped me lace up my silver dress in the back. “Be careful tonight.”

“will,” I promised. Why would Lilliana’s maid peak her head into my room? What had she hoped to see? None of it made sense.

I finished dressing, then hugged Elva. After a quick goodbye to Charlotte and the maid, and Mark outside the door, I headed down to the dining room for the evening’s banquet.

1 felt beautiful in my stunning silver gown with a low–cut bodice and a slit up the side. The fabric sparkled

It was a dress fit for a Luna. I maybe should have felt like an imitator wearing it. Instead, I felt something. like a princess of moonlight.

As I descended the stairs, Julian stood at the bottom to greet me.

“May I escort you to the dining room tonight, Piper?”

I lifted a brow. “Why?”

He laughed. “So mistrustful. Maybe I just want to be the one on your arm.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Fine. Maybe it would look best if we walked in together. You are supposed to be my favorite after all.”

I

That still didn’t feel like the right reason, or maybe, not the only one. For now, however, I supposed I could accept it.

“Very well.” I accepted Julian’s offered arm.

“Beautiful dress,” Julian said.

“It is.”

“Looks great on you.”

I side–eyed him.

He winked at me. “It looks better on you than it does on her. That’s for sure.”

Her? Who?

“Lilliana,” Julian said.

We quickly arrived at the dining room. Julian released my arm to allow me to enter the room first.

Inside, wearing the exact same dress as me, stood Lilliana.

The girls looked between us. Then the whispers started.

Julian tapped his chin. “What came first? The chicken or the egg?”

“You better not be calling me either a chicken or an egg,” I grumbled at him.

So this was why Lilliana’s maid had intruded into my room – to see which dress I was wearing. But why?

Didn’t it make us both look bad to arrive at an event wearing the same thing?

Liliana only gave me a passing glance, seemingly not bothered. But I was blushing fiercely with

embarrassment.

Unfortunately, it was far too late to change.

Perhaps you should change position at the table so you don’t get so much camera time,” said one of

the girls to me.

Julian laughed. “She’s not going anywhere.”

I glared at him, but he just smiled wider.

“Trust me.”