The Luna Choosing Game

He watched me but he didn’t say anything.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness, I

1 didn’t do it for you.” His gaze fell to Elva, who looked so small in her hospital bed. “No harm will come

to any child in this palace.”

“I

“Even so.” I was grateful for his help, no matter the reason he gave it. “Thank you.”

The doctor glanced between us. “If you will excuse me, I will personally take Elva’s prescription to the

pharmacist. It seems safer that way.”

“I

“Thank you,” I said, as Nicholas said, “That would be best.“.

When the doctor left the room, Nicholas kicked off the bookcase and came closer. He peered down at Elva from her bedside, a soft look on his face.

I remembered his interview. Nicholas loved children. He wanted a big family. That kindness must have extended to Elva.

“Truly.” I said, “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

soft look hardened when he gazed up at me. “Children are separate

that he didn’t want me to take this gesture personally. He wanted to maintain distance from me. But he was still willing to help Elva, and that was what

him that

only here as a publicity stunt, then surely Nicholas

his anger for me, and

never warm to me.

at Elva, I knew I had bigger things to worry about

room. When they were leaving, one of them said, “Perhaps leaving the palace

for herr

sald that

to harm

I had

hated me. Would that be enough reason to endanger

on, only my personal physician will tend to her,” Nicholas said. The gold in

Elva stirred. “Mommy?”

inched closer. “How are you

now,” Her curious eyes shifted from me to Nicholas.

a hand on his chest. “I’m

“Nick–lass?”

surged through me. “Oh, no, no, Elva. We address him as ‘Your