It's always good to see another POV; Nicholas and Nila are more alike than they might think, each thinking they are superior to the other and striving for parental notice and affection. I'm not sure if the guards didn't notice him on purpose or if there's something else going on here.
Interesting that he's so intelligent as to see through Jennsen's attempt to turn him against his father with her story about Hero Richard.
I must admit I'd forgotten about poor Jennsen until now. She's caged - a fairly gilded cage, with fine linens and such as befit her lineage, but still a cage.