#Chapter 50: Elva Ran Away

Nicholas I woke up in the morning with a looming sense of dread. Today was the day of the first elimination ceremony. The past few days, I had quietly hated every second of the ticking clock while knowing there was nothing I could do to stop it. Even now, as I dressed and prepared to meet my family for breakfast, I tried to be regal, but inwardly I was torn to pieces. Despite my every effort not to, I had come to care for Piper and Elva. I had as little doubt as Piper seemed to, about how quickly they would be sent away. And I worried. Would they be alright on their own? They had been, up until now. But Piper herself had told me how they struggled more often than not. Would that persist? What if Elva’s sickness worsened and Piper wasn’t able to afford care? What would become of them? I hated that I wouldn’t be able to know. My duty to the throne would keep me from checking on them as I would like. And my loyalty to my future wife would limit how much I could even ask after them.