The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0351

I couldn’t think clearly when faced with such an obvious threat. My protective instincts kicked into high gear. I would do anything to protect those closest to me. But Piper was close to me to.

I swallowed hard. “I care about Piper.”

The King’s demeanor had shifted. Maybe he could see the hesitation in me, where I had been so firm before, and softened in response.

“You are a prince. Someday, you may very well be a king. Those feelings won’t mean anything in the end. Everything is secondary to your duty.”

His words cracked through my heart until it blistered. I knew what he meant. Even if I cared for Piper, I would never be able to marry her. Unlike the others, she hadn’t been trained since birth to become a queen. She’d probably hate the job, even if it meant we could be together.

Piper and I would have to part ways eventually. Shouldn’t it be now? When I could help protect my family and my kingdom with the choice?

I didn’t know what to do. I was worse than torn, I was agonized.

give you time to think it over, but I expect your

I walked the halls like a ghost, my lost in the riptide of my thoughts. I weighed every option, but the inner debate mostly came down to

sunlight crept up above the tree line, I watched from one of the hallway windows

approached me. I didn’t have to look to know it was my mother.

father send you?” I

out the

told me what happened,” she said in a soft, soothing voice more motherly

at least outwardly, but I had never doubted her love. It was only when the contest started that she delved too deeply into it, focusing on finding the perfect bride for her sons rather than remembering they

to me in the past months it wasn’t that I thought she hated me. She was my mother, and that bond was strong. I just thought she didn’t like me very

I hadn’t much cared for how she was acting, either. Maybe it was a two–way street. Maybe I kept my

said. “And that the right thing may seem unclear to you now, especially because