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

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

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

like the full

for a moment, then gestured to my teacup.

always so secretive, sometimes

poured more tea into my teacup, I glanced over to the other table, where Nicholas was sitting across from Lilliana. They hadn’t talked much,

was heavy

worry about him. Was this the future he truly wanted for himself? To sit

every day who he couldn’t

worry about him,” Jullan said, speaking softly near my ear. “He’s

caught my interest and I swiveled back to

the plight of the common people. Unsuccessfully, I might add, especially with

warmed from the inside out. Nicholas had tried to advocate for

when I told him about the common people’s

tugged at my lips.

hand was cupping my face. Gently, he brushed his thumb

mouth.

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

or for

from

Lilliana gasped.

all turned to look.

the

chuckling, lowered his hand. I