The Luna Choosing Game

“I should have the girl forcibly removed for ruining Prince Nicholas’s date,” Lena said, voice sharp. “I’m

sure Prince Nicholas himself is furious.”

“Nick–lass is mad at me?” Elva sniffed.

“No,” I said at once.

“He should be, if he isn’t,” Lena snapped. “You are a very nasty little girl, who

That’s enough.”

“-shouldn’t even be here.”

“I said, that’s enough!” I stepped forward, approaching Lena. “You will not talk to my daughter like that.”

“Fine,” Lena said, shifting her rage–filled gaze onto me. “Then why don’t we talk about you instead, Piper. You know you and your daughter don’t belong her but you insist on wasting everyone’s time and efforts by continuing to stay.”

my dying breath.

she said wasn’t wrong, either. I didn’t belong here. I was wasting everyone’s time. But, while I was here, Elva would get the treatments

she had been the healthiest she had ever been, and that was only thanks to the care and attention of Nicholas’s personal

back to receiving base–level care, and only then if I could afford

stay. I would face any amount of humiliation or degradation or

leaving, especially Prince Nicholas,” Lena said. “He deserves better than to have his every moment intruded upon by you and your…

coming from. Nicholas and the princes had much to lose

I to purposefully put ourselves in the way of him finding

I conceded. “We’ll make sure

you to leave, I’m glad you can see how bothersome you are. Hopefully soon, none of this will matter

I felt nothing but distain for her pointing

when either the rules of the game dictate it, or the

her gaze. “I hope you enjoy your last few days in the

and marched out

attention in her presence quietly returned to work. A subtle look of understanding

suspicious. In Lena’s absence, she smiled

hadn’t just tore me

cry in earnest. I rushed to her at