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.

continued. "Someone better be dead, to get me

and pulled open the door. The

shit," she said

see the front door. The apartment was still dark, with black out curtains hanging over the window, but the hallway light was on.

I was self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had seen me at my worst.

said as I came closer. "I think

have a prince standing in the hallway. What will

smiled when he saw me. "They'll surely think, there

flipped on the kitchen light as he entered and

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

nodded. "It's a pleasure

when Anna

he finished with a

like it was

grinned wider, pleased

out of the room. "Yes... uh.. same!" She fled. "No one is ever going to believe

to

but his absence had been noted. His presence had been missed. I hated that I couldn't

been apart a short time,

It calmed some part of myself, deep down, that felt strung out by the

them. He closed his arms around me and I felt like home

a very long moment. Out in the living room, I heard Anna waking Elva and shuffling around, cleaning no doubt. She'd worry about having a

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

had questions. I braced myself for his

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

he gazed around this place that I used

you give me the tour?" he

had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge, oven, coffee pot. Not much to

hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's room.