The Luna Choosing Game

“Thank you,” I said. “Please thank them for me, as well. I wouldn’t want to get them in trouble by approaching them directly.”

Till pass on your gratitude,” Charlotte said.

We continued to work throughout the day. When we finally finished, it was time for me to attend a

banquet.

Elva, who had been patient all day, complained loudly that she wouldn’t get to attend.

“You’d hate it,” I told her, hoisting her up into my arms. “A bunch of stuffy people insulting each other

while pretending to be nice.”

“Why would they do that?” she asked.

“1 don’t know, honey.” But I did know. With only 9 candidates left, everyone was on the edge. We were coming down to the wire soon, and all the girls, except Susie and 1, wanted the crown. “People

sometimes have to cut each other down to make themselves feel more important.”

“That doesn’t sound very nice”

“It’s not,” I agreed.

As I prepared for the banquet, I was startled by an unfamiliar maid sticking her head through the door.

Charlotte immediately intercepted her and then sent her away

What did she want?” I asked when

seemed unsettled, her brow pulled together. “I’m not sure. She didn’t even ask anything. She

room but that seems

you recognize

helped me lace up

peak her head into my room? What had she hoped to see?

dressing, then hugged Elva. After a quick goodbye to Charlotte and the maid, and Mark outside the

with a low–cut bodice and a slit up

I maybe should have felt like an imitator wearing it. Instead, I felt something. like a princess of

stairs, Julian stood at the bottom to greet me.

escort you to the dining

lifted a

want to

my eyes.

in together. You

I

not the only one. For now, however,

I accepted Julian’s

dress,” Julian

“It is.”

great on

I side–eyed him.

me. “It looks better on you than it does on her. That’s for sure.”

Her? Who?