The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas didn’t say a word. He simply turned and left.

“Bye, Nick–lass!” Elva called, before happily returning to her waffles.

Deflated, I corrected my chair and flopped down onto it. None of the girls spoke to me during the rest of

breakfast.

Susie might have, but she was still too embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze never lifted to

mine.

The longer I sat there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves, the more suffocated I

began to feel in the palace.

The girls‘ conversations had more or less returned to the same topics as before, as if I had not spoken

up at all. I hated being surrounded by so much vanity and selfishness. It made me worry that I was

becoming that way too.

By the time Elva and I had finished breakfast and were on our way back to our room, I felt like I might

vibrate straight out of my skin. I was uncomfortable and unhappy.

The looming threat of my punishment weighed on my mind too.

Mark was still waiting outside of our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped in front of him and tried

to gather my thoughts.

“Something wrong, Piper?” he asked.

“Not wrong, exactly. But I do have a question.”

He nodded, encouraging me.

7f1 wanted to go somewhere during my off–time, would I be allowed? Somewhere off the palace

grounds. With Elva, of course.”

Of course! Elva chimed in

be able to arrange something.” Mark said. “But where would you want to go?

omewhere I could center myself, and maybe do some good? I don’t know. Maybe I’m overthinking

ything I rubbed my forehead.

looked at me curquely, like i was a puzzle yet to be completed.

“Somewhere like an orphanage, perhaps?” I suggested. “I could help serve lunch later, and Elva could play with the kids.”

Elva gasped. “Yay! Let’s go there! I want to play!”

Mark’s eyes went a little wide. Had I surprised him? Maybe he spent too much time in the palace too, if he was thinking the worst of everyone like I was.

a place. It should be

“But?” I prompted.

head, then smiled at me. “Never mind. I’ll

minutes.”

and this

orphanage, Elva went running to the playground to meet and

other kids.

head caretaker, an older woman who was exceptionally

hand many times in a

helping hand,” she said. “So many generous

took a moment to sink

even here, I cannot escape from

the open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at

before his gaze slid

tell me you were coming here!” Mark said,

eyes narrowed marginally, in

faced Mark as well. He hadn’t mentioned that

was nervous under my stare, too. “He comes here sometimes to help, but I swear

be here today, or I wouldn’t

he explained, “She wanted to get out of the palace for a while. She

could help out. Of

A coincidence? I asked.

crossed his heart with his

Nicholas, but he was already

good man.” She patted my arm consolingly. “Don’t be

hard shell he wears. It’s

I didn’t

here is a blessing. Sometimes the kids are

handle.”

word. He simply turned and

before happily returning to her

it. None

breakfast.

too embarrassed from her own comment. Her gaze never lifted

mine.

the girls chattering amongst themselves, the more suffocated

to feel in

to the same topics as before, as

by so much vanity and selfishness. It made me

becoming that way too.

breakfast and were on our way back to our

my skin. I was

of my punishment weighed on

was still waiting outside of our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped in front of him and

to gather my thoughts.

wrong, Piper?”

exactly. But I do have a

He nodded, encouraging me.

go somewhere during my off–time, would I be allowed? Somewhere

With Elva, of

course! Elva chimed

“But where would

myself, and maybe do some good? I