The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0399

I stayed in my room from then out as much as I was able. Staying near Elva helped me keep in mind my promise to her. I would not abandon her again. And so long as I was in my room, I was safe from running into Nicholas and Bridget and seeing whatever was going on between the two of them unfold.

Elva seemed happy to have me near, and we played a lot, including the game I had promised where we sat in the window and counted the different kinds of birds we could see down in the gardens.

While Elva was awake and active, we had a great time. Even when her tutors arrived and she learned, I sat quietly and listened, proud of how smart my little girl was.

But times where Elva was entertaining herself, or like now, was lying down to rest, my thoughts began to fester and my jealousy burned so brightly it was difficult to control.

Charlotte noticed my unhappiness. She was always around, and as one of the servants, there was no hiding any gossip from her.

She tried to stay tight–l*pped around me for a time, and I appreciated her for it. But eventually, I cracked.

“What is everyone saying?” I asked.

She knew right away what I meant. “About Bridget and Nicholas?”

I nodded.

“The people think they would be a good match. They’ve totally enthralled the nation. There isn’t so much news about… that unpleasantness as before,” Charlotte said.

“The protests?”

“Still ongoing, but not quite as boisterous as before. If this was the royal family’s plan, it seems to be working.”

I could be grateful for that.

“What about the staff?” I asked. “What do they think about Bridget?”

blame them? You think we’d all be used to seeing celebrities working here. But a movie star? That’s on an entirely different

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Someone who acted

to ask. “Do you

here then,” she

know, but… if you’ve heard

the older staff do like to gossip,” Charlotte admitted, after a moment. She worried her bottom l*p like she was afraid

it will hurt me, but… I have to hear it Charlotte. I’d rather hear it from you than learn it on television

“Very well.”

and I took seats facing each other near the sewing machines still arranged in the center of the room. I quickly glanced behind

I gave Charlotte my full focus.

bits and pieces,” Charlotte said. “But apparently Bridget and Prince Nicholas were practically inseparable as they grew

throat. She was holding something back.

“Charlotte?”

they often held hands. One day, when she caught Bridget alone, Bridget told the cook that she was going to marry Prince Nicholas someday. It charmed the whole staff

He wouldn’t leave his room. for large chunks of time. Many times, I heard he flew to see her, or she came to

continued to stretch things out between them. Visits grew farther apart. Phone calls were fewer. Eventually they grew apart. The cook says

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that’s about when

he met

there quietly, letting Charlotte’s words sink down into my brain. I let myself process them, turning them over and over again.

find the ways that would hurt me the least, I could only focus on one overarching

every angle, it seemed as if Bridget had been Nicholas’s true love. His one

he went to the Academy, when he met me, then who was I but a rebound? All those months we were together. All those whispered promises and words of love.

That hurt far too much.

that his love for Bridget was much