Chapter 44

Chapter 0044

“I should have the girl forcibly removed for ruining Prince Nicholas’s date,” Lena said, voice sharp. “I’m

sure Prince Nicholas himself is furious.”

“Nick–lass is mad at me?” Elva sniffed.

“No,” I said at once.

“He should be, if he isn’t,” Lena snapped. “You are a very nasty little girl, who

That’s enough.”

“-shouldn’t even be here.”

“I said, that’s enough!” I stepped forward, approaching Lena. “You will not talk to my daughter like that.”

“Fine,” Lena said, shifting her rage–filled gaze onto me. “Then why don’t we talk about you instead, Piper. You know you and your daughter don’t belong her but you insist on wasting everyone’s time and efforts by continuing to stay.”

I could easily defend Elva until my dying breath. It was much more difficult to defend myself.

What she said wasn’t wrong, either. I didn’t belong here. I was wasting everyone’s time. But, while I was here, Elva would get the treatments she so desperately needed.

These past several days, she had been the healthiest she had ever been, and that was only thanks to the care and attention of Nicholas’s personal physician.

If we left, Elva would go back to receiving base–level care, and only then if I could afford to pay the bills.

For Elva, I would stay. I would face any amount of humiliation or degradation or indignity. I would waste everyone’s time.

“You would do everyone here a favor by leaving, especially Prince Nicholas,” Lena said. “He deserves better than to have his every moment intruded upon by you and your… baggage.”

Even though Lena was rude and crass, in this, I could understand where she was coming from. Nicholas and the princes had much to lose or gain with this competition, more than anyone.

For Elva and I to purposefully put ourselves in the way of him finding the perfect Luna was unfair.

We’ll be more careful in the future,” I conceded. “We’ll make sure not to bother Prince Nicholas while he is on his dates.

Lena grunted. “At least you can see some reason. If I can’t convince you to leave, I’m glad you can see how bothersome you are. Hopefully soon, none of this will matter and you will be eliminated.”

I knew I would be eliminated the first round, but I felt nothing but distain for her pointing it out so crudely.

“T’ll leave when either the rules of the game dictate it, or the royal family asks me to,” I said. “Not before.”

Lena narrowed her gaze. “I hope you enjoy your last few days in the palace, then.” Without another word,

‘she turned and marched out the door.

The maids that had stood at attention in her presence quietly returned to work. A subtle look of understanding passed between the quiet maid and I. At least I knew she was on my side.

The newer maid, however, remained suspicious. In Lena’s absence, she smiled and smiled, as if the

head maid hadn’t just tore me down.

Elva near the window began to cry in earnest. I rushed to her at once.

When I was before her, I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms.

“It’s okay, Elva,” I whispered. I stroked her hair, hoping to soothe her. “The cranky lady is gone now.”

“She said such mean things…”

“She did, but it’s not your fault. She’s upset at me, that’s all.”

“And Nick–lass..?”

“We’ll have to give him some space, okay? Not all the time. Just when he’s.. spending special time with

other people.”

I’d only wanted to gently tell Elva that we needed to not bother Nicholas while he was on dates, but Elva

began loudly sobbing and trembling.

I held her tighter. “What’s the matter, honey? It’s only sometimes.”

“Nick–lass… doesn’t… like me… anymore.” Her voice shook, words broken with sniffles and sobs.