The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0402

Much later, after Nicholas and I had gone our separate ways for the day, I received notice from a servant that the candidates were required to go to the foyer for announcements from Nathan. I was already a bit late, having been so thoroughly lost all morning, so I hurried to join the others.

I was the last one to arrive in the foyer. Though from what I could tell as the stage was still empty, Nathan had yet to arrive. He came in only a handful of seconds after I joined Veronica, Tiffany, and Susie at the base of the stage. Beside us Lilliana and Olivia were speaking quietly. The others were scattered around.

All except Bridget were accounted for. I discovered why when

e walked in with Nathan. She had her arm laced through his like he was escorting her. He laughed at something she said, and she grinned, pleased.

So much for no favoritism. Although, I guessed that was never a hard rule.

Nathan leads Bridget to the base center of the stage, then dipped his head as he backed away. He rounded toward the stairs then stood in front of all of us. He picked up the microphone and clicked it on.

“Hi, everyone,” Bridget said, looking around. She was met with mostly frowns or mere grunts of acknowledgement.

“Hello,” Susie said, because she was nice.

“Hi,” I said, because I was trying to be kind like Susie. Inside, I was viciously wondering if she had run into Nicholas and found my scent on him instead of hers. I hoped she did.

“Welcome everyone. Thank you for joining us here.” He smiled down at Bridget. “And welcome once more to Bridget. It’s great to see you here. I’m sure we can all agree.”

No one agreed.

Still Bridget kept her bright smile. “Thank you, Nathan.” She placed a hand to her heart. “Truly.”

“It does seem strange,” Olivia said loudly, claiming everyone’s attention, even Nathan’s. “Bridget’s sudden appearance, I mean. Weren’t all the candidates supposed to be pulled from the choosing ceremony?”

Bridget continued to smile. “What a darling question, Olivia. I’m sure you have an answer that would satisfy her, don’t you, Nathan?”

+15 BÔNUS

last elimination, our numbers were left off–balance. The King and Queen thought it best to

politely neutral, but I doubted she believed such an obvious

to select Bridget, Nicholas’s previous entanglement, from a list of every single woman in the

would be to go against the word of the King’s Beta, and likely

we can all get along,” Bridget said.

Nathan asked,

came. She knew better than anyone when to back down. “No, sir. I thank you for your

are very welcome,” Nathan said. “Now. I would like to announce the next event. All candidates will work together to put on a performance of a

delight. She clapped her hands together. Looking around, she said, “I promise to give you all

muttered under her breath. “I should just start walking home.”

fine,” Veronica whispered back. “She may win the most points but she can’t

I wasn’t so sure. If anyone could sweep an entire event, it would be superstar Bridget

stage,” Susie whispered. She worried her hands together. There was fear in her eyes. With her social anxiety, she was

A stage hand could be talented too. Or perhaps she could

it was nervous still. “Thank

+15 BONUS

the room to see how the others were reacting. Only Bridget seemed happy. Lilliana wore a small smile though. She’d be a player in this event, that

an expression that gave me pause: With her upbringing, she always seemed to have a cool expression that would weather any drama. But this was something else. When she looked

have a rival before, and now there was one here, right in front of her. One even her haughty

was glaring at Bridget, Bridget was smiling back at me.

Nathan said. “Thank you for your time.”

out. Tiffany was grumbling to Veronica. Susie had her arms

Bridget approached me. Her smile and manner were friendly,