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.

place. It should be okay, but…” He

“But?” I prompted.

smiled at me. “Never mind. I’ll

minutes.”

cheered, and this time I joined

went running to the playground to meet and play with

other kids.

to the head caretaker, an older woman who was exceptionally sweet.

many times

have another helping hand,” she said. “So many generous spirits in

a moment to sink in. Another helping

even here, I cannot escape from being intruded

up to the open entryway where Nicholas

before his gaze slid to

Highness! You didn’t tell me

narrowed marginally, in

He hadn’t mentioned that

“He comes here

be here today, or I wouldn’t have brought

wanted to get out of the palace for a while.

she could help out. Of course, I would

A coincidence? I asked.

his heart with his

to Nicholas, but he

“Prince Nicholas is truly a good man.”

hard shell he wears. It’s

too, but I didn’t

both here is a blessing. Sometimes the kids are more than

handle.”

word. He

called, before happily

I corrected my chair and flopped down onto it. None of the girls spoke to

breakfast.

might have, but she was still too embarrassed

mine.

silence, with the girls chattering amongst

to feel in

to the

hated being surrounded by so much vanity

becoming that way too.

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

straight out of my skin. I was uncomfortable

looming threat of my punishment weighed

our room, talking to the new guards. I stopped

to gather my thoughts.

wrong, Piper?” he

But I do

He nodded, encouraging me.

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

With Elva,

course! Elva chimed

arrange something.” Mark said. “But where would you want

and maybe do some good? I don’t know. Maybe