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.

stand, Elva added, "I will still get to wear

from him, I wished I could bottle

want," he said. He glanced at me. "If it's okay with your

eyes on me in

"Of course," I said.

"Yay!" Elva cheered.

She was holding a few outfits. She smiled as she brought them to the two suitcases

you won't need more than this?" she asked. Even knowing my background, she seemed uncertain

imagined all the other candidates dressed fancy and formally at their own mansions and estates. But those candidates weren't going to a two-bedroom apartment

Charlotte. She nodded without further pressing and carefully folded the chosen clothes. As I went to help her, Elva tugged on

with

genuine, with hope in

could, princess. But it's against the rules for

"Oh," Elva deflated.

"I will make the trip with you and your mom, and then be there when time is up to bring you back

"Great!" Elva said.

glanced up at me. "How does that

turn to smile, grateful for the gesture. It would help, knowing that he would be there in

knew I needed to think in better terms of my home. That very soon, very likely, I would be living there again

imagine a future now without

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 traced his hand down the length of my arm and then kissed me lightly on

to be okay," he whispered. "I will be there to bring you back. I

to properly convey that it wasn't this trip

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

my many failed attempts to offer to do it myself. Nicholas would likely offer himself, but he currently held Elva in his arms. She was quite clingy now

understood the sentiment. I didn't want to leave