#Chapter 10: Forming Alliances

When Nicholas said my name, I stopped where I stood and internally cursed. I was so close to my door. As far as I could tell, I had two options: apologize for having overheard or deny, deny, deny. I swiveled on my heel, facing him. “Your Royal Highness! I was looking for you.” His brow lowered, skeptical. “Why?” “I… uh… oh! I wanted to tell you about Elva’s allergies.” Nicholas listened quietly as I explained the things she couldn’t eat, the types of materials she couldn’t have around, and the medicines that gave her reactions. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, when I was done. Over his shoulder, standing in the doorway of her room, Lena looked at me, a cold gleam in her eyes. I shivered. Over the next few days, I went through intense training to prepare for the game. Both Elva and I were provided with professional stylists to assist in every detail, from our hair to our gowns to the color of our nail polish. Trainers helped me correct the dip of my curtsey, and