The Luna Choosing Game

They both nodded, finally in agreement.

They removed the dress they had been working on and added it to the scrap pile.

“What are you doing with that?” I hurried to the discarded dress.

“It’s all wrong,” the talkative maid said. “The color’s too dark, and it’s not shapely enough. We can do

better.”

“Don’t throw it out.” I held the dress protectively to my chest.

They both looked at me. “Why not?”

“It’s beautiful, and you both worked so hard on it. Let me keep it. I don’t have to wear it to the First Ball, but I’d like to wear it at some point.”

They glanced at each other.

“It’s up to you, Miss Piper,” the talkative maid said. “Everything in here is a gift to you. If you would like to keep it, that’s your decision.”

I smiled, relieved. I really didn’t want such a beautiful gown to go to waste. I went to the closet and hung it inside.

As I admired it, hanging among the other beautiful gowns, Elva came running into the room.

The scary

Elva followed, but I

at the door while the other two closed in around

do anything!” the maid

nodded to the quiet one, who took hold of Elva’s hand,

is the meaning of

forward. “Apologies, ma’am, but your maid

true, Miss Piper, I

she didn’t do it, and I believe her,”

guard seemed sympathetic, despite his harsh words. “It’s not up to you,

investigated.”

investigate her. You don’t have to take

guards each grabbed one of the maid’s

guard told me. “She’ll need to

take someone away without knowing for sure

fault.”

on palace grounds. These are palace affairs. I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is just

Still, she said, “Don’t

“But –”