The Luna Choosing Game

The next morning, I awoke to a knock on the door. Beside me Elva began to rub her eyes.

I hadn’t indulged in too much alcohol, unlike some of the other girls, but I still felt a pressure in my head, probably from having stayed up too late.

I wanted to turn over in bed and ignore the knocking, but if Elva was already waking up, I knew any attempts to return to sleep would be futile.

With a groan, I rolled out of bed and headed to the door. Any annoyance I felt that morning immediately vanished the moment I opened the door and saw Charlotte standing there.

“Surprise?” she said, smiling.

“Charlotte!” I excitedly pulled her into a hug. We hadn't been apart all that long, but seeing another familiar face here warmed my heart. Charlotte had become such a good friend, I was I always happy to see her. “What are you doing here?” I “Prince Nicholas asked me to come,” she said. She gently returned my hug.

“To escort your new wardrobe.” I pulled back from the hug, and noticed there were quite a few servants standing out in the hallway, each holding suitcases and bags.

I immediately stepped to the side, and like a parade, the servants brought in the suitcases and unpacked them until the drawers and closet were full of new dresses and shirts and pants. Even

underwear and swimsuits were included in the mix. €» Elva fully awoke in the excitement and rushed to give Charlotte a hug of her own.

When the servants had gone, and all the clothes were in their place, Charlotte and I sat down to talk while Elva played with her toys.

“How are things back at the palace?” I asked her. There was a small table at the corner of the room with two chairs.

We sat there now, sipping from cups of coffee.

“Mostly quiet,” Charlotte said.

without the usual

this trip, while they

the one to watch out for. She might have stood back while Bridget took the forefront of everyone’s attention,

how successful it would be, with how much favor the King and Queen regularly bestowed upon Bridget.

We continued talking.

wardrobe for you. I thought to pack up your things from the palace, but

the best for you.” I knew Nicholas was behind all this, but to hear to what

head to hide

a little. “With all the excitement, I haven't been

Charlotte went to the servants quarters assigned to

had to do was descend the staircase. He was standing in the hallway near the bottom, arguing with... Nathan? When had he gotten here? Standing behind Nathan was a camera crew. They weren't filming yet,

decision, Prince Nicholas,” Nathan

hardly a reward if we have to keep being on guard all the time.” “you expect the competition to simply... take a week off while you are here?

to draw viewership to the competition,” Nathan said. “We cannot pass up this opportunity.” “1 still don’t =” “What's

hangover! How was Bridget immune? She seemed as cheery and energetic as she had the first day I met her! Bridget turned

have anything to