The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0617

Anna's words stayed with me all through the night. I was haunted by them, even as I eventually drifted off to sleep on the air mattress.

Was I truly considering the King's demand because I wanted what was best for the country? Or was I simply hiding, pushing off responsibility to retum to a life of normalcy?

Bridget would make a lousy queen. I knew that.

Anyone would be a better choice.

Even... me?

Could I be queen?

I had labeled the idea as outlandish straight from the start, so much so that I barely considered it even when I tried to think critically about it.

I was constantly making excuses: I knew so little of politics. I knew so little of royalty. Everyone looked down on me. No one would take me seriously.

But these were just excuses, I was realizing now. Anna was right. I was running away.

I needed to do better. I needed to think about how I could actually contribute as a queen, and showcase those abilities. No more hiding. No more putting myself down.

If I wanted a family with Nicholas, I had to earn it.

The thoughts and worries stayed with me even when I woke up again. I had a dreamless sleep, though I felt rested. My body must have decided enough was enough and shut off my brain.

I was resolved to lie on the air mattress until Elva or Anna woke first, but a knock sounded on the door. It was soft at first, but with a growing urgency the longer no one answered.

I wasn't sure who it could be. It seemed too early for the camera crew, and Anna hadn't said she'd been expecting guests.

Crumbling, Anna emerged from her room and slunk herself toward the front door.

coming!" she shouted, when the knocking continued. "Someone better be dead, to get

and pulled open the door. The

she said

out of bed. From the living room, I could easily see the front door. The apartment was still dark, with black out curtains hanging over the window,

Nicholas had seen me at my worst. I tried not to worry as I hurried

as I came closer. "I think it's

"Can't have a prince standing in the hallway. What

"They'll surely think, there goes the

inside. I flipped on the kitchen light as he entered and we both

said. She was looking at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she ever expected to have an actual prince on

"It's a pleasure

I told him, when Anna just looked at him

he finished with a

immediately began to giggle, like it was an impulse, or a

grinned wider,

of the room. "Yes... uh.. same!" She fled. "No one is ever

turned to me. "Piper,"

been less than a day, but his absence had

been apart a short time, but he had been so

near. It calmed some part of myself, deep down, that felt strung out by the distance. That part of me

open his arms for me and I immediately went within them. He closed his arms around me

like that for a very long moment. Out in the living room, I heard Anna waking Elva and shuffling

home? It was smaller than anything he was used too. It even seemed smaller to me than it had been before, having lived in

questions. I braced myself for his judgement as we

have known better. Nicholas had never been the judgmental

that I used to live, he

me the tour?" he

looked around. "This... is the kitchen." It was small, but it had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge,

the living room, we could hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's