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 grumbling

shit," she said

easily see the front door. The apartment was still dark,

self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had

as I came closer.

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

saw me. "They'll

inside. I flipped on the kitchen light as

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

a pleasure

him, when Anna just looked at him

finished

it was an

grinned wider, pleased with

one is ever going to believe me," she

turned to me. "Piper,"

help myself. It had been less than a day, but his absence had been noted. His presence had been missed.

time, but

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

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

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

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

never been

gazed around this place that I used to live, he seemed more

me the tour?"

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

we could hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's