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.

not without the usual drama.” She

inclusion on this trip, while they are

has been taking advantage of the absences by having daily tea with the Queen.” &» - Of course she was. Olivia was ever the one to watch out for. She might have stood back while Bridget took the forefront of everyone’s attention, but that woman would never give up. If she couldn’t

the King and Queen regularly bestowed upon Bridget. But I couldn’t fault Olivia

We continued talking.

but the message said all new, to be delivered straight to the island. And I was to facilitate their delivery.” “I didn’t need

you.” I knew Nicholas was behind all this,

head to hide

excitement, I

see now the bags under her eyes. “Maybe for a little while.” We split ways then. Charlotte went to the servants quarters assigned to her to sleep. Elva went to make sandcastles with

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, but they were

to be any cameras here.” “The King has made the decision, Prince

take a week off while you are here? And you believe the ratings would return after that break?” Nathan shook his head. “Be realistic, Nicholas.” “1

to see the princes and candidates in their swimsuits would only help to draw viewership to the competition,” Nathan said. “We cannot pass up this opportunity.” “1 still don’t =” “What's the harm?” said a chipper female voice.

on the beach last night? Even I had a small hangover! How was Bridget immune? She seemed as cheery and energetic as she had the first

of us have anything to