The Luna Choosing Game

I blinked, stunned into silence. Me? A front runner in the competition?

No. Clearly those people didn’t realize how much Nicholas hated me. Once the cameras were allowed

into the palace, and they saw the two of us interacting, they would learn the truth.

Nicholas hated me.

Julian only wanted to use me in his games.

And Joyce seemed utterly disinterested in the whole thing.

I wasn’t a front runner. I was someone barely hanging on.

Regardless, I thanked my maid for the information.

“Now,” the maid said, turning toward the closet. “It is time to prepare you for the banquet.”

The banquet. Right. Tonight was the first official banquet with all three princes and the candidates. We

would formally dine in the dining room.

The trainers had reinforced the required etiquette for mealtimes that I had forgotten over the past three

years. I felt comfortable enough to eat with the others casually, but to do so in front of the royal family and potential cameras, made me nervous.

A nanny had been hired for her,

soon, I had

leaving her here, but she seemed content enough, playing with her dolls under

fort.

until you see your dress,” the maid said, and led

wasn’t sure why I needed another dress. I liked my pale green one with the

velvet evening gown. Deep emerald in

the last time I had worn something like this. For work,

and black pants. On days off, I wore slacks and t–shirts, with an

Nothing like this

maid noticed

it on she said. And you won’t

She was right.

the mirror, I barely

comically wide eyes. “Mommy, are you

know,”

seemed certain. “You

gave me the confidence I needed to keep my head high as I entered

a spot near the center of the table. Joyce claimed a seat at the far end. Nicholas wasn’t in the room yet. The King and Queen took opposite ends at