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 regretted

They are down in the sitting room with your

have let him inside, he would have scaled the walls

a

does, that his arrival at your door might open the way. My presence was required for this. It is,

"True."

parents knew who

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

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

to give you this." I held my palm out

at

overdue," I told her. "He wants to

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

her features. Then, in the next, she began to cry again. "What's the matter?"

said. "And even if they did. Or even if that didn't matter to me, Mark

about that," I told her. "Nicholas will find a way to get it to work. If this is what you want, Susie, you can't

at the ring for another minute or two,

want to see him,"

for the doorway. With Susie leading, we

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

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

*Susie..." her mom said.

and his on her. Then his gaze dropped to her hand,

said, the word overflowing

to Susie's

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

parents both went wide-eyed.

daughter,"

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

touched her husband's

is mine. And I would raise it

vouch for this man," Nicholas said. "He is my