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

dear uncle Terry clearly has some suspicions about us.

actual date. Think of

the full

at me for a moment, then gestured to

me, then. Julian was always so secretive, sometimes

was sitting across from Lilliana. They hadn’t talked much, just quietly enjoyed their

heavy on

help but worry about him. Was this the future he truly

who he couldn’t even speak to?

Jullan said, speaking softly near

caught my interest and I swiveled back to Julian. “The King lectured

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

warmed from the inside out. Nicholas had tried to advocate

when I told him about the

tugged at my

hand was cupping my face. Gently, he brushed his

mouth.

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

familiarly, or for so long.

crack sounded from the

Nicholas Lilliana

all turned to

the

his hand. I