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.

know a place. It should be

“But?” I prompted.

his head, then smiled at me. “Never mind. I’ll take you myself.

minutes.”

and this time I joined

we arrived at the orphanage, Elva went running to the playground to meet and play

other kids.

head caretaker, an

many times in a row.

hand,” she said. “So many generous spirits in the

took a moment to sink

cannot escape

up to the open entryway where Nicholas was standing. He stared at

before his gaze slid

Highness! You didn’t tell me you were coming here!” Mark

eyes narrowed marginally, in

as well. He hadn’t mentioned

stare, too. “He comes here sometimes to

here today, or I wouldn’t have brought

to get out of the palace for a while. She asked if there

help out. Of course, I would bring

A coincidence? I asked.

crossed his heart

but he was already

smiled. “Prince Nicholas is truly a good man.” She

by the hard shell he wears.

but I didn’t

blessing. Sometimes the kids are more than these old bones

handle.”

a word. He simply turned

called, before

flopped down onto it. None of the girls spoke to me during

breakfast.

but she was still too embarrassed from her own

mine.

sat there in silence, with the girls chattering amongst themselves, the more

feel

had more or less returned to the same topics as before, as

much vanity and

becoming that way too.

finished breakfast and were on our way back to

skin. I was uncomfortable

my punishment weighed on my

the new guards.

to gather my thoughts.

Piper?” he

wrong, exactly. But I do

He nodded, encouraging me.

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

With Elva, of

course! Elva chimed

Mark said. “But where would you want

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