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.

knocking continued. "Someone better be dead, to

and pulled open the door. The grumbling

shit," she

now, I pulled myself out of bed. From the living room, I could easily see the front door. The apartment was still dark, with black out curtains

rushed to stand up. I was self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had seen me at my worst. I tried not to worry

Anna said as I came closer. "I think it's

him in, Anna," I teased. "Can't have a prince standing in the

me. "They'll surely

inside. I flipped on the

She was looking at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she ever expected to have

nodded. "It's a pleasure to

told him, when Anna just

finished with a

began to giggle, like it was

grinned wider, pleased

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

to me. "Piper,"

less than a day, but his absence had been noted. His presence had been missed. I hated that I couldn't call for

apart a short time, but he had been

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

within them. He closed

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

too. What must Nicholas think, being in my former home? It was smaller than anything he was used too. It even seemed smaller to me than it had been before, having lived

braced myself for his judgement as we pulled

never been the judgmental type. He was the kind of

place that I used to live, he seemed

give me the tour?"

kitchen." It was small, but it had all of

could hear Elva and Anna