The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0615

As the car entered the neighborhoods that I recognized, I grew more and more tense. Nicholas squeezed me tighter, likely trying to offer what comfort that he could. But there was little comfort to be had.

I didn't mind the smaller place. I didn't even mind the harsher lifestyle.

But I didn't want to do any of it anymore, without Nicholas

I would, of course, if forced to. I would give my all to raise Elva to the best of my ability, no matter the environment. And now that the Oracle had cured her of her curse, we didn't necessarily need to be at the palace, since Elva didn't need such intense medical care.

I wanted Nicholas, Elva, and I to be a family. Full stop. It didn't matter where.

Finally, the car came to a stop in front of our old apartment building. A camera crew was already set up outside, waiting. There, standing among them, chatting them all up, stood Anna. She looked much the same as when I had last seen her.

God, I missed her so much. I didn't even realize how much until this moment.

Nicholas cupped my face and lightly kissed me on the lips. The windows were tinted, the cameras wouldn't be able to see.

"I will see you soon," he said. His eyes were creased with worry, his mouth heavy with sadness.

I kissed him again, offering comfort as he tried to do for me. "Soon," I promised.

Nicholas nodded and turned to Elva. He kissed the top of her head.

I sucked in a sturdy breath, then exited the car. The cameras were immediately on me. The crew pushed Anna back behind them, even though she was the one Elva and I were here to

see.

knew what was happening here. Likely under the King's orders, they wanted to catch me at my worst so the footage could be sliced to make me look like a real loser.

needed to know of Nicholas's favoritism but Elva and

and joined in a three-person

I said to Anna, who said the

cheek and then the top of Elva's head. "It hasn't been the same

unceremoniously on

servants, those servants would see to our bags. As it was, we were now left to our own devices. This, especially, I did not mind. I was no closer to being accustomed to having

as he returned to his driver's side. He nodded in acknowledgement, started the

our initial excited greeting had worn off, she was having

asked. "What is

looked down as she worried her bottom lip with

something happen?"

"The royals were paying a stipend for a while, for me to keep your room open. But I don't know if the checks got lost or if they

paying Anna? I had to look into that

to make ends meet. They took

Elva looked up at me for

I told her. To Anna, I said, "It's okay, Anna. We weren't here. You did what you needed to, to survive. Of course, that

squeezed her shoulder to show her it would be

only question I had was, "If the new roommate is in

a few necessities.

apartment, though she

it seemed, three cardboard boxes stacked against the wall

cameras came close to catch my reaction. Knowing they wanted me to get angry, I kept my face carefully

life, but because my entire life up until this point fit so perfectly

hard, pushing down the part of me that wanted to break a little, and looked at

up right