The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0524

I froze, unsure what to do.

"Goodbye Mister Zale," Elva said.

Zale gently patted Elva's back. "Goodbye, little Elva." As she began to pull away, he smiled at her.

*Such innocence," Queen Sonal said, her smile soft as well. "The purity and kindness of a child knows no bounds. We could learn much from her sincerity."

"We could," Nicholas agreed. He returned her smile, and just like that, the tension between the two groups began to lift. Nicholas dipped his head, as I know he'd done many times before. This time seemned different than the past - more earnest, somehow. "By your grace."

Queen Sonal dipped her head in a mirror movement. "Please return again."

Elva swam back to me. Then, after one last look at the underwater banquet and the people within it, we turned and made our exit.

Once we were safely on the boat again, with the boat on route to return us to our more familiar island, Nicholas scooped up Elva into his arms and kissed her cheek

brilliant little girl you are," he said. Elva giggled. To me, he praised, "She saved that

one with the flair for dramatic, Nicholas. Not

tense note, the alliance may not have initially suffered but

down. Elva continued to giggle. She rushed over to

what

and praised her too. "You did such a good job.

trip, the camera crew remained on the deck below, while the candidates and princes

meeting was going on down below, chose this moment to come upstairs and join us. He appeared deeply unhappy, with the line between his brow

Julian said, "Or

him a withering

Nicholas said. "Queen Sonal seemed pleased

left." He looked at Bridget. "Most everyone did

appropriately cowed for a moment, tilting her shoulders downward, but she bounced back almost instantly and stood. "I know you aren't trying

today, Bridget. You did not act with the poise that you