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.

at my worst so the footage could be sliced to make me look like a real

let that happen. So I committed to 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

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

Anna, who said the

both so much," Anna said. She kissed my cheek and then the

driver removed our bags and set them unceremoniously on the curb. If

to our own devices. This, especially, I did not mind. I

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

I turned back to Anna, I noticed something off. Now that our initial excited greeting

asked. "What

looked down as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth. I recognized that as her embarrassed

something happen?" I

two of you gone," she said. "The royals were paying a stipend for a while, for me to keep your room open. But

at my chest. Why would they stop paying Anna? I had to look into that

Piper," Anna said. "But I had to get another roommate to make ends meet. They

our room?" Elva looked up at me

her. To Anna, I said, "It's okay, Anna. We weren't here. You

shoulder to show

had was, "If the new roommate is in our room,

everything with us, only a few necessities. We'd left the rest

us into the apartment, though she

three cardboard boxes stacked against the wall in the

wanted me to get angry, I kept my

forward with her life, but because my entire life up until this point fit so perfectly into three cardboard boxes. That was

down the part of me that wanted to break a little, and looked at Anna.

perked up right