The Luna Choosing Game

I sat in a sitting room at a table for two, having tea and pastries with Julian, I wasn’t surprised when

Julian asked me on another date. We had plenty left to investigate, after all. But I was confused when he

led me here, to what seemed like a legitimate date.

I was startled that Nicholas and Lilliana were also here, having the same assortment of tea and snacks

at an identical table on the other side of the medium–sized room, In the corner, one of the servants

masterfully played the pianoforte.

Cameras covered almost every angle of the room, coming in closer to our faces every now and then.

I leaned closer to Julian so the cameras wouldn’t overhear.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked him.

He looked at me with a lifted brow. “Enjoy our tea and pastries?”

I frowned at him. “Are we not… Investigating?”

“Here?” He glanced around. “Heavens, no.”

“But… you asked me on a date.”

“Maybe I just wanted to enjoy the pleasure of your company.”

gave him a

sigh. “Fine. My dear uncle Terry clearly has some suspicions

untrue by going on an actual date. Think of it as a cover for

feel like the full truth. “There’s

gestured to my

me, then. Julian was always so secretive, sometimes it was downright

glanced over to the other table, where Nicholas was sitting across from Lilliana. They hadn’t talked much, just quietly enjoyed their tea. Nicholas’s back was ramrod

A frown was heavy

couldn’t help but worry about him. Was this the future he truly wanted for himself? To sit across from

who he couldn’t even speak to?

speaking softly near my ear.

interest and I swiveled back to Julian. “The

parents to care about the plight of the common people. Unsuccessfully, I might add, especially with Terry there.”

heart warmed from the inside out. Nicholas had tried to advocate for the people? Could he have

told him about the common people’s hardships?

tugged at my

my face. Gently, he brushed his

mouth.

he said, like that was a reasonable explanation for why he

or for so

from the other table.

Nicholas Lilliana

all turned to look.

had cracked off the

hand. I glared at him.