The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 43

At first glance, she appeared friendly enough, smiling peacefully. She curtsied to me and introduced herself.

Tm looking forward to serving you,” she said.

But I found it strange. Surely she had passed my other maid being taken away down the hall. What kind of person would be smiling so calmly after having witnessed such a thing?

icholas.

I

I

Today was the day for Nicholas’s solo date, and I was trying my very best not to think about it.

Ever since receiving Joseph’s threatening letter, I’d been hiding out in my room as much as I could to

avoid him and the mean–looking guards.

With the First Ball fast approaching, I used the extra time in my room to help my maids work on me and

Elva’s gowns.

The dress had to be perfect. The order of introductions for the girls at the ball was to be determined by

the princes‘ preferences of the dresses.

Once the gowns were finished, pictures were to be taken of them and given to the princes, who would

then select their favorites. Those favorites would be the first ones introduced at the ball, and therefore

given the most time with the princes.

And with the cameras.

A major component of the Luna Choosing Game, was earning the public’s favor. I had a small advantage

with the common people, being one myself. But people like Lena and Joseph existed in every class.

believe that even with my

mean I wouldn’t

and I had split the design for my dress into

Now, we were ready to combine the three elements into a

already finished Elva’s matching

maid insisted on doing the final work, as

maid began arranging the mannequin for the dresses photo shoot. Elva’s dress was not to be included in the

looking at something outside the window, likely

I

sure why, I kept thinking about Nicholas’s solo date, but it shouldn’t be enough to bother me like

I were

the room, nervousness and trepidation

called to me.

the distraction, I joined her at the

Elva pointed down toward

Lilliana stood near the entrance of the stables as horses were brought to them

hands.

that greedily accepted a sugar cube

was a brown and white mare that seemed nervous around her.

whenever Lilliana

own horse to approach Lilliana. He

her head,

this distance, I couldn’t hear the exact words spoken beyond some mumbled voices, but with the way Lilliana held

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

wondered how she

I

horse himself. In his presence, the

Nicholas’s help, lifted

near her waist,

we had gone horseback riding together. He had helped me then,

same way.

I let myself remember, I could still feel the

“Tell me when you are okay, and

given him a playful smile. “What if I want to stay like

I

had been fond, green sparkling brightly under the sun. “Then we should give up on horseback riding for today and return to one of our rooms instead. If you want me to hold you, I’d like

properly

saying much the same thing to Lilliana, But, no. They didn’t seem to

at all. Nicholas moved his hands away from her

two did not seem to like each

I couldn’t imagine why Nicholas had chosen her, out of all

left her then and mounted his stallion. He waited for Lilliana to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together they started to ride forwards at a

at the window.

gasped when she realized, “He’s coming

she was going to do, she shouted

She waved both arms.

Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s stern expression seemed to

a hand and waved