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.

Nicholas started to stand, Elva added, "I will still get to wear dresses though... right?"

little. A rare sound from him, I wished I could bottle

all the dresses you want," he said. He

me in a flash. As

"Of course," I said.

"Yay!" Elva cheered.

She was holding a few outfits. She

she asked. Even knowing my

understand why. I imagined all the other candidates dressed fancy and formally at their own mansions and estates. But those candidates weren't going to

Charlotte. She nodded without further pressing and carefully folded the chosen clothes.

come with us,

with hope in her

head. "I wish I could, princess.

"Oh," Elva deflated.

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.

up at

turn to smile, grateful for the gesture. It would help,

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

difficult to imagine

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

he whispered. "I will be there to

him. I didn't know how to properly convey that it wasn't this

kind to worry, so sweet to care so much. I didn't

do it myself. Nicholas would likely offer himself, but he currently held Elva in

I didn't want to