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 about us.

date.

like the full truth. “There’s more,

for a moment, then gestured to my

tell me, then. Julian was always so

table, where Nicholas was sitting across from Lilliana. They hadn’t talked much, just quietly enjoyed their tea. Nicholas’s back

heavy on

this the future he truly wanted for himself? To sit across from

every day who he couldn’t even

softly near my ear.

interest and I swiveled back to Julian. “The

“Good little Nicholas was trying to convince our parents to care about the plight of the common people. Unsuccessfully, I might add, especially

the inside out. Nicholas had tried to advocate for the people? Could he have truly

him

tugged at my lips.

face. Gently, he brushed his thumb against the corner of my

mouth.

smiled at me. “Crumbs,” he said, like that was a reasonable

familiarly, or for so long.

from the

Lilliana

all turned to

the handle of his teacup

hand. I glared at