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

Elva giggled. To me, he praised, "She saved that disaster of an

one with the flair for dramatic, Nicholas. Not

head. "I'm serious. If we had ended the event on such a tense note, the alliance may not have initially suffered but relations would have been strained over time.

set her down. Elva

what he

did such a good job. I'm so very proud of you,

during the return trip, the camera crew remained on the deck below,

down below, chose this moment to come upstairs and join us. He appeared deeply unhappy, with

Nathan," Julian said, "Or your face

shot him a withering look. Julian

Nicholas said. "Queen

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

seemed appropriately cowed for a moment, tilting her shoulders downward, but she bounced back almost instantly and stood. "I

"You were out of character today, Bridget. You did not act with the poise