The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0622

The butler showed me to Susie's room, and then quickly excused himself outside of her door. When he was gone, I knocked.

"Go away!" Susie called in a watery voice. She was crying.

I knocked more insistently as I pushed open the door.

*I said -* she started, cutting herself off she say me. "Piper?"

"Hi, Susie," I said.

"Oh, Piper!" She was sitting at her desk, the tears running down her cheeks. As I entered the room, closing the door behind me, she jumped from the chair and ran to me.

We shared a hug. Relief flooded through me.

I stepped back after a moment, to look her over. She didn't seem too worse for wear. Other than the crying, she didn't show any signs of abuse or neglect.

"What are you doing here?" Susie sniffed. "I'm sure word has gotten around by now."

*Rumors don't matter. Come back to palace."

*If you've heard the rumors, you know why I can't."

"Everyone will forget, the moment you appear. They'll all just think it's gossip and it won't matter," I say. "Since Jessica is the only other contender for Joyce, you wouldn't even have to face elimination."

*Piper," she sounded so sad. "I can't come. It's just not rumors. My parents... They know the truth about me."

*How could they?" I asked. She wasn't showing yet. Sure they might suspect, but to have real proof?

"I told them," Susie said.

I startled, speechless.

"I didn't want to lie anymore about any of it," Susie said. "I don't want to have to pretend to have feelings for Joyce, when the only one I really want is Mark."

of the ring in my pocket near doubled, and I regretted holding it

are down in the sitting room with your parents," I said. Susie's eyes went wide as saucers. "Mark is

would have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let him inside, he would have scaled the walls and climbed

laughed a

stop him before he did anything drastic. Nicholas had a plan, as he always does, that his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was required

"True."

knew who I

a little. "I talk about you often. You were my first

in her life! Though how much it hurt to hear she had such a hard time getting friends. She was so sweet and kind, she deserved so

to give you this." I held my palm out with

at it and

her. "He wants to ask

Susie plucked the ring from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it.

a moment, pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry

even if that didn't matter to me, Mark would be throwing his whole life

If this is what

at the ring for

see him,"

Susie leading, we didn't need the

the ring onto her finger. I couldn't help my smile. When she saw it, she smiled too,

personal matter, Prince Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was saying. He cut himself off

*Susie..." her mom said.

were on Mark, and his on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand, where

the word

Susie's parents, closer than even

Mark said, dropping into a deep bow. "Please allow

parents both

in love with your daughter," Mark said. "I cannot live

of her condition!" Susie's

mother was quicker. She touched her husband's arm.

And I would raise it as my child, with

is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He