The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0614

In the bedroom, Nicholas and Charlotte helped Elva and I pack our bags for our weekend homecoming trip. I pick out many subtle outfits for Elva and me. Back home, people would notice if we dressed too expensive. It might even have painted targets on our backs.

Elva, however, didn't understand. When she saw I was packing her plain shorts and tees, she crossed her arms, stuck out her bottom lip, and pouted, "I want to be princess."

"You are a princess, honey," I told her. "You don't need fancy clothes for that."

Elva frowned deeper. "It's not the same."

"It is." Nicholas lowered himself down onto one knee so that he could look Elva in the eye.

Elva glanced up at him through her eyelashes. She seemed sadder than anything and it broke my heart. I wanted Elva to have the things she wanted, but it was just too dangerous. We weren't from the best part of town. If we wore fancy clothes around, we would be robbed at worst.

At best, we just wouldn't fit in.

"Elva," Nicholas said. He placed his hand on her little shoulder. She always looked at him like he hung the sun in the sky, and now was no different. "What makes you a princess is not what you wear. It's what's on the inside that counts."

Elva glanced down at herself. "But I'm just a girl..."

"You are a girl with a very special ability," Nicholas said.

"What?" Elva asked.

Nicholas smiled at her so kindly my chest ached. "You have a big heart. Carry that with you, feed it and protect it, and you never need the fancy dresses to show you are a princess."

Elva's mood shifted somewhat, lightening. She smiled.

still get to wear dresses

rare sound from him, I wished I could bottle

you return to the palace, you can wear all the dresses you want," he said. He glanced at me. "If it's okay with your

her doe eyes on me in

"Of course," I said.

"Yay!" Elva cheered.

holding a few outfits. She smiled

you sure you won't need more than this?" she asked. Even knowing my

mansions and estates. But those candidates weren't

the chosen clothes. As I went to help her, Elva

with

genuine, with hope in her

her head. "I wish I could, princess.

"Oh," Elva deflated.

he said, and she perked back up. "I will make the trip with you and your mom, and then be there when time is up to bring you back here

"Great!" Elva said.

said. He glanced up at me. "How

gesture. It would help, knowing that he would be

knew I needed to think in better terms of my home. That very soon, very likely,

was difficult to imagine a future

knew that was going to make everything hurt worse when I was ultimately dismissed but I couldn't help it. Nicholas noticed my shift of mood. Leaving Elva to her toys, he walked closer to me. He gently

to be okay," he whispered. "I will be there to

how to properly convey that it wasn't

so much. I didn't want to ruin the moment with my fears, so I

luggage out to the car, despite my many failed attempts to offer to do it myself. Nicholas would likely offer himself, but he currently held

sentiment. I didn't want to leave him