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.

scary guards are

of the closet. Elva followed, but I

room. One stood at the door while the

anything!” the maid

hand, keeping her safely out of the

the meaning of this?

door, stepped forward. “Apologies, ma’am, but your maid has been

Miss Piper,

says she didn’t do it, and

“It’s not up to you, ma’am. She’ll need

investigated.”

investigate her. You don’t have to take her

each grabbed one of the maid’s arms and tugged her toward the

do,” the guard told me. “She’ll need to be interrogated

someone away without knowing for sure they are

fault.”

his head. “We can if it is on palace grounds. These are palace affairs. I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is just how

pale, with wide frightened eyes. Still, she said, “Don’t

“But –”