Nicholas After leaving Piper’s room, I knew what I had to do. What I should have done from the start, as soon as I learned of Piper and Julian’s fake relationship. I went to my father’s rooms and requested an audience. Nathan didn’t seem thrilled about it, but announced me all the same. The King generally had an opened-door policy with his sons, assuming no other matter was pressing, so I was welcomed inside. The King was at the head of his long table, shuffling through some documents I didn’t recognize. At a glance, they appeared to be reports from our border patrols. More unrest in the North? My father lowered the documents as I approached. He did not address them. Instead, he kept his gaze on me. “Something’s bothering you,” he said. My father appreciated straight-forwardness, so