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.”

a flat look.

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

prove them untrue by going on an actual date. Think of it as a cover for our cover.”

like the full truth. “There’s more, isn’t there?”

then gestured to my teacup. “Would you like more

was always so secretive, sometimes

where Nicholas was sitting across

heavy

this the future he truly wanted for

day who he couldn’t even speak to?

speaking softly near my ear. “He’s

swiveled back to Julian. “The King

trying to convince our parents to care about the plight of the

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

him about the

smile tugged at my

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

mouth.

me. “Crumbs,” he said, like that was a reasonable explanation for why he was touching me

or for so long.

sounded from

Nicholas Lilliana gasped.

all turned to

cracked off the handle of his teacup

chuckling, lowered his hand. I