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 get me

open the door. The grumbling immediately

she

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

but Nicholas had seen me at my worst. I tried

I came

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 goes the

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

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

a pleasure to

him, when Anna just looked at

finished with a

like it

wider, pleased with

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

Nicholas turned to me. "Piper," he

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

been apart a short time, but he had been so far

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

for me and I immediately went within them. He closed

the living room, I heard Anna waking Elva and

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 for so

myself for his judgement as we

see in his eyes was not there. Honestly, I should have known better. Nicholas had never been the judgmental type. He

I used to live, he seemed more curious

you give me the

small, but it had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge, oven, coffee pot.

we could hear Elva and Anna talking