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.

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

keep my best forward at all times. With my head raised high, I walked around the car and opened the door enough for Elva to hop out, while keeping Nicholas hidden. No one needed to know of Nicholas's favoritism but Elva and me. After Elva was out of the car, I closed the door. Then, holding her hand, we gently ushered through the camera crew

toward each other and joined in a three-person hug. It was

I said to Anna, who

you both so much," Anna said. She kissed my cheek and then the top of Elva's head. "It hasn't been the same without

removed our bags and set them unceremoniously on the curb. If we lived in

we were now left to our own devices. This, especially, I did not mind. I was no closer to being accustomed to

as he returned to his driver's side. He nodded in

back to Anna, I noticed something off. Now that our initial excited greeting had worn off, she was

I asked. "What

bottom lip

something happen?" I

you gone," she said. "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

Anna? I had to look

said. "But I had to get another roommate to make ends meet.

have our room?" Elva looked up

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

worried. I squeezed her shoulder to

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

with us, only a few

she assured us that

stacked against the wall in the living

my reaction. Knowing they wanted me to

with her life, but because my entire life up until this

swallowed hard, pushing down the part of me that wanted to break a little, and looked at Anna. "Which one has Elva's toys?" I knew she would want to see those

perked up