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.

shouted, when the knocking continued. "Someone better be dead, to get me up this

and pulled open the door. The grumbling immediately

shit," 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, but the hallway light

pajamas, but Nicholas had seen

as I came closer. "I think it's

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

saw me. "They'll surely think, there

the kitchen light as he

at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she ever expected to have an actual prince on her doorstep. "So you two can

a pleasure

told him, when Anna just looked at him

he finished with a

began to giggle, like it was an

wider, pleased

room. "Yes... uh.. same!" She fled. "No one is ever going to believe me," she said when she was outside

turned to

own reflex. I couldn't help myself. It had been less than a day, but his absence had been noted. His presence had been missed. I hated that

only been apart a short time,

was reassuring having him near. It calmed some part of myself, deep down, that felt strung out

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

Out in the living room, I heard Anna

kind of worried about it 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 in the palace

I braced myself for

have known better. Nicholas had never been the judgmental type. He was the kind of guy who worried

he gazed around this place that I used to live,

give me

"This... is the kitchen." It was small, but it had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge, oven, coffee pot. Not much to report

and Anna talking in Anna's room. Elva was asking Anna if she was