The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0564

"If you will please excuse us one moment, Ambassador Zale," I said, and tugged at Nicholas's sleeve. At the same time, I lowered Elva down and took her hand instead.

Ambassador Zale dipped his head in acknowledgement, so Nicholas, Elva, and I stepped back a few feet to speak more privately.

I spoke in hushed tones, not wanting the merfolk - or Elva, particularly to hear. "You cannot stay in our room."

"Like hell, I will allow anyone else to," he said. His voice was also low, but the slight volume did not conceal his conviction in this.

*I'm not suggesting anyone else do it either," I said. Though if it had to be someone, maybe a woman would be a good place to start. "You have to realize what the optics of this are going to be."

"I don't care about optics."This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

I just barely caught myself before I could roll my eyes at him. "If you spend nights in my room, Nicholas, even if you make clear it is only to protect us, even if we say that Elva was there the whole time, people are going to gossip."

"Let them gossip," Nicholas said. Content belong to NôvelDráma. Org.

"Your reputation will be ruined," I said. "It won't be good for the competition, either."

*Piper," Nicholas said, voice softer than before. His eyes were softer now too. He looked at me like he was trying to see deep down into the heart of me. "I don't care about the rumors, the competition, or even my reputation."

That wasn't true. It couldn't be. If Nicholas was going to be king, which everyone knew he was set to be, then he needed a strong reputation. Even my hopes of a future family with him only thrived on our secret being kept until the perfect moment.

"What I care about," Nicholas continued before I could get my thoughts together, "is you and Elva. Your safety is my first priority, and I'm tired of trusting other people with it." A hint of frustration roughed his voice.

"Nick," I said gently. "Nothing that has happened is your fault."

He shook his head, not accepting my words. "If I had kept a closer eye on Selma and the staff, they wouldn't have been able to ruin your clothes or steal them. I never should have left your side at the merfolk event. I'd recognized Prince Ronan would be a problem the moment I saw him."

"Nick..."

*I should have been on one of the boats on the water during the race, not standing on sure. I was nearly too late." *You were watching out for me then," I told him. "It's only because of you and Veronica that I'm..." I glanced down at Elva, who was looking curiously at the soldiers. I didn't trust her not to be listening to this conversation however, and held myself back from saying that I would have died.

Nicholas knew. "It never should have been as close as it was. All of this is due to my negligence, Piper. And if I can't keep you safe, one of the people I care about most in this world, then what good am I as a king? How could I ever be trusted to keep a nation of people safe?"

"That's different."

"Maybe," he conceded. "But if I lose you, I am lost as well. No. From now on, your safety is my direct responsibility. I'll entrust no one else, not even my personal guards at your door."

Now, he was being overzealous for sure. "I will be fine."

"When Prince Ronan is caught, and we are away from this place. Then, I'll trust that. But not now. Not while we are here with him on the loose."

I supposed I couldn't argue with that. Arguing hadn't seemed to get me anywhere anyway. So I nodded. "Fine. But when Bridget finds out, she won't be happy."