The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0352

When I returned to my room, I changed into my pajamas and slid into bed. Elva was already fast asleep. Yet no matter how long I laid there, or which way I tossed and turned, I could not find sleep.

My mind was still with Nicholas in that hallway. I could only imagine the terrible things the King was saying to him.

Would Nicholas be forced to break up with me? Would he volunteer to do so?

I knew Nicholas cared for me, but his duty to the kingdom would always be his first priority. I’d always known that. I still dreaded the day when it would start to affect us enough to make Nicholas choose between me and his kingdom. Maybe we’d reached that point at last.

It felt much too soon.

The next morning, I woke early and walked with Elva down to breakfast. I held my breath most of the way, half-expecting the King himself to jump out of the woodwork to demand I leave the premises. At the very least, I anticipated Joseph and his guard to give me a stern talking to.

Yet we made it down into the dining room without issue. I spotted Tiffany, Veronica, and Susie in their usual spots and went to join them. Food was already set at our spots. Elva dug in right away. I picked for a while.

I wasn’t feeling very well.

Susie, beside me, watched me mindlessly tear down a blueberry muf fin with a fork until it was a pile of crumbs. Then, leaning closely, she asked me, “Did something happen?”

“I was careless…” I whispered back, extra careful no one else could hear. “The King found Nicholas and I together.”

Susie gasped. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Piper…”

“Just be careful, okay? Be more careful than I was.’


Susie had just as much to lose as I did, if not more. My relationship with Nicholas was always doomed. But she and Mark had a chance at a lasting relationship, if it could be given room and sustenance to grow. If Susie was found out and disqualified…

They might see each other again, but who knew when?

“I understand,” she said, “But what’s going to happen to you?”

I didn’t know. “I’m waiting for something to happen.”

“The King hasn’t…?” She didn’t finish, instead letting the sentence hang. I didn’t want to


“Not yet.”



A worried look crossed Susie’s face. She reached her hand across the table to squeeze my wrist. Her support gave some comfort to my frayed nerves, yet even with it, I was stressed and tired.

“If there’s anything you need…” Susie said. Another open sentence.

This time, it was even more foreboding. Susie could offer all the help in the world now, when we were so close together. But the minute I was excused from the palace, Susie wouldn’t be able to help me. Likely, she wouldn’t even be able to help me.

I would be on my own again.

After breakfast, as I was walking toward the door, Mark stopped me just outside in the hallway. Elva looked up at him curiously.

“I apologize,” Mark said, “But I was asked to deliver this to you.” He held out a folded piece of paper. There was only one person in the palace who would use Mark to send me a message: Nicholas.

“Thank you,” I said, and accepted the note. My heart raced as I opened it and began to read.

Piper, it said in Nichola s’s perfect scrawl. I wish you and Julian the best. I would never try to stand in your way. Best wishes, Nicholas. My stomach dropped. I thought I might be sick.”

This was a break up note.

I wanted to hope that Nicholas didn’t actually write this, but I knew his handwriting well from our Academy days. We’d so often write notes like this to one another.

And then I wanted to believe that Nicholas had written this under duress, but I knew that wasn’t true. Nicholas could certainly be influenced by his family, but he’d never do anything he truly didn’t want to do, especially if he knew it would hurt me.

No. He wrote this because he genuinely wanted out of our arrangement. He didn’t give a reason. I guessed he didn’t have to, but I wished I knew.

“I want to talk to him,” I said to Mark.

His expression was pitying. “I’m sorry, Piper. That’s really not a good idea.”

“I deserve to hear this straight from him, not in some note.”

Mark shook his head. “It’s for both of your sakes that it had to be this way. Please. Just stay away from him. You will only end up more hurt.”


I didn’t believe that. I couldn’t.

If I could just talk to Nicholas, maybe I could talk him out of this. I could help him see that we were worth staying together for just a little bit longer.

Looking at Mark, I knew I would not be able to budge him. Nicholas had given him a command and he would never bend or betray that. Not for me. Probably not for anyone, even Susic.