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."

near doubled, and I

And Nicholas both. They are down in the sitting room with your parents," I

don't think anything would have kept him away. If your parents wouldn't have let him inside, he would have

laughed a little at

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."

parents knew who I was..." I

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

another hug. How grateful I was to be 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 many more than

give you this." I held my palm out with the ring sitting

looked at

overdue," I told her. "He

the ring from my palm and held it up closer to her, to inspect it. She touched

a moment, pure awe covered her face, softening all of her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the matter?"

go for it," she said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter

If this is what you want, Susie, you can't let it get away. You

continued looking at the ring for another minute

see him,"

for the doorway. With Susie leading, we didn't need the butler to guide us back downstairs

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

is a personal matter, Prince Nicholas, as I've consistently said "Susie's father was

*Susie..." her mom said.

eyes were on Mark, and his on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand, where she'd already put on the

word overflowing

stepped forward, moving closer to Susie's parents, closer than even Nicholas was

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

parents both

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

don't know of her condition!" Susie's

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

I would raise

for this man," Nicholas said. "He is my Beta and a loyal man besides. He will treat your