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.

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

and pulled open the door. The

she

out of bed. From the living room, I could easily see the front door. The apartment was still dark,

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

as I came closer. "I think it's

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

he saw me. "They'll surely think, there goes the

and invited Nicholas inside. I flipped on the kitchen

eye on Elva..." Anna said. She was looking at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she ever expected

a pleasure to

him, when Anna just

he finished

it was an impulse,

wider,

She fled. "No one is ever going to believe me," she

to me. "Piper," he

at once, my 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

a short time, but he

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

them. He closed his

Anna

It was smaller than anything he was used

braced myself for his judgement as

in his eyes was not there. Honestly, I should have known better. Nicholas had never been

that I used to live, he seemed

give me the

small, but it had all of the

him out into the living room, we could hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's room. Elva was asking Anna if