The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0528

Bridget’s words stuck with me more than I wanted them to. As I rested in bed that night, I stared at the ceiling replaying everything that happened — not just last night with Bridget, but every time I had been with Nicholas before. Where had Elva been? Had she noticed any of my behavior? I didn’t think myself a whore for spending intimate time with the man that I adored, but that wasn’t necessarily an aspect I wanted Elva to see and learn and think acceptable.

When it came to be morning again, I think I had slept for maybe an hour or two total. Elva was fully rested and excited, bouncing out of bed at the first sign of light. She talked and talked about the merfolk children and how much fun she had. It was endearing and sweet, but I was very tired.

Still, I tried to be as attentive as I could. I rolled out of bed and made my way over to the dresser to pick out our day clothes. As soon as I opened a drawer, Elva switched her topic of conversation and said, “I knew someone was in here yesterday.”

My hand stopped halfway to the drawer with Elva’s shirts. I looked at her. She was serious.

“How?” I asked.

“They knocked over that pot,” Elva said, pointing to a decorative set of vases on top of the dresser. And yes, she was right, one of the vases had been knocked over and then not set correctly. Neither Elva nor I had done that, and Charlotte certainly would have fixed it if she had done it.

No, the person who had knocked over that vase must have been in a hurry.

Perhaps searching through the drawers for my swimsuits.

We knew someone must have come in here to steal my things, so it wasn’t providing any new information to point out that mistake of our thief.

However, for Elva to have noticed it before me rattled me. I always knew she was observant and smart, but to have this reminder so soon after Bridget’s words...

Maybe Elva did notice the nights I didn’t come home, or came home late.

Maybe I was teaching her that it was okay to be out all night with a man that you weren’t committed to. A man who had several other women vying for his attention. | | | I didn’t want Elva to grow up and find herself in the same situation as me.

feel, being so closed to the man I admired while knowing it was doomed to fail. I wanted Elva to only know love and want and affection. 1 | I shook my head, clearing my worries away. Someday, when Elva was old enough to date, I would sit her down and explain most of what happened here between Nicholas and myself. I would make sure she

least, I had some time. So rather than focusing

was still no sign of Charlotte. On a normal day,

yesterday too. I wondered if she was sick, but I worried if this

to miss the merfolk banquet, enough to sneak into my room, steal my swimsuits and turn off my alarm. To achieve their success, they would have also needed to make sure

I was overthinking things. But I wasn’t

kissed Elva on the forehead, promised we’d reconnect later to make sandcastles, and

sturdy arm

“Careful,” Nicholas lightly chided.

blush touched

then turned back

your orders,”

your Highness.” Nicholas nodded. He looked at me once more, and then dipped

I asked, “Did

person cannot realistically guard your door

separate guards on rotation, who will protect

definitely unnerving, knowing someone was in my

Near the top of the stairs, he stopped walking and

I was not ready to process yet, I said quickly, “Have you seen Charlotte?” He opened his

tilted his expression. “No,”