The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0369

Chapter 0369
The King and Queen watched from atop their thrones as the princes danced with and among the candidates and guests, while the cameras swooped in and out to capture all.
We kept our smiles bright, eager to show how much fun we were having – all to maintain our standing in the competition, of course.
My cheeks were starting to hurt from how big and fake I was smiling. Fake laughter sounded all around me, every contestant competing with each other for the royal family’s attention – as well as for the cameras.
Eventually, as Julian was swirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Susie standing near the edge of it. Her smile was shaky. She seemed more nervous than happy, even to pretend.
I tapped Julian on the shoulder and motioned toward Susie. “I need to talk to
her.”
He understood and released me. “I’ll make the rounds.” He instantly
disappeared back among the dancers, with a new partner now. He switched so quickly, I didn’t even see who it was.
It didn’t really matter, though, so I hurried to Susie’s side instead. Relief covered her face the moment she noticed me.
“Piper. Thank goodness.’
“What’s going on?” I asked her.
She worried her hands together. “I can’t do this.”
“Do what? Dance?” I knew she could dance. I’d seen her do the steps countless times before. She’d even taught me a few moves.
“Pretend,” she said.
I stepped beside her and we both looked out over the dance floor. From this angle, the scrunched up too-much smiling faces seemed extra unnerving. It looked like everyone had a clown mask on. Only Julian looked truly genuine, though he was the best actor.
Nicholas was dancing with Olivia, I noticed. He wasn’t smiling at all, but a prince didn’t really need to. Olivia seemed pleased. She wasn’t overselling it.

Lilliana, meanwhile, was laughing so loudly, smile so big, that it hurt me just
+15 BONOS
“Everyone looks so phony right now,” Susie said, “I know we need to try to lift the spirits of the kingdom, but… Won’t they be able to tell it’s not real?”
She looked at me for guidance, and I was honored that she sought out my opinion. Only, I didn’t know what answer to give her.
Yes, most likely the people would be able to tell this was fake. Hell, even if it wasn’t, what kind of message was it truly sending? Sorry you are experiencing such strife, at least all the rich elites are still fine? It all seemed grossly
inappropriate.
But… maybe, if I was being optimistic, I could see how the royal family was desperate enough to try. If part of the public unease was distrust in the stability of the royal family, showing that they could still maintain the events of the competition could be a step in the right direction.
I sighed, then met Susie’s gaze. Neither of us were political players or strategists. We were just two young women caught in a game created by people with more power than we’d ever hold.
Then I remembered Julian’s words, before he pulled me onto the dance floor.
“Maybe instead of pretending,” I told Susie now, “We could try to have fun for real,”
Susie’s eyes went wide, as if surprised. Did she think we could only pretend?” How?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we?” I asked.
“Of course,” she said.
“Then let’s start acting like it.”
*I wrapped her arm around mine and pulled her with me toward the dance floor.
“What are we doing?” she asked, though went along with it.
“Dancing,” I said. “Forget the stuffy moves and the practiced dances. Let me show you some of the dances from my pack.”
At once, I started a dance that mimics pushing a shopping cart. “Then you reach,” I said, and lifted my arm up, as if pulling an item off the shelf, then mimicked placing said item into the shopping cart. “And drop.”
Susie’s eyes were wide, even as her smile grew bigger, more honest. “That looks ridiculous.”
+15 BONOS
“I know,” I said. “It’s so fun. You try.”
Immediately Susie began the same dance. It was a bit strange, doing such an informal dance while listening to an orchestra, but a beat was a beat. Anything was possible.
Susie mimed putting items in her imagined shopping cart and then laughed and laughed. “Wait, what if I need something heavy?” She pretended to lift something off the ground with both hands.
It was outrageous and messed up the entire beat, but it was so funny, watching Susie in her formal gown pretending to lift something heavy.
I laughed so hard I snorted.
Our antics quickly drew the attention of others.
“What’s that dance? I’ve never seen it before?” Tiffany asked, joining us.
“A shopping cart dance,” Susie said.
“Teach me!” Tiffany said. Susie eagerly agreed. A few of the guests followed along. Susie came out of her shell a bit, perhaps seeing how much they actually enjoyed it. Even Veronica joined us.
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