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

unlocked and pulled open the

shit," she

dark, with

to stand up. I was self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had

came

a prince standing in the hallway. What will

saw me. "They'll

backed up and invited Nicholas inside. I flipped on the kitchen light as

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

"It's a pleasure to meet

told him, when Anna just looked

finished

it

grinned wider, pleased

"No one is ever going to believe

to me. "Piper,"

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

only been apart a short time,

of myself, deep down, that felt strung out by the distance. That part of me hummed

and I immediately went within them.

heard Anna waking Elva and shuffling around, cleaning no doubt. She'd worry about having

home? It was smaller than anything he was used too. It even seemed smaller to

I braced myself for

had never been the judgmental type. He was the kind of guy who worried about everyone, and helped out at the orphanage in his

place that I used to

you give me

of the major

could hear Elva and Anna talking in