The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0624

The next morning, I headed down to breakfast with Elva per usual. Today, all of the girls were even more animated than usual, their voices quick and cheerful with the latest gossip, their expressions bright.

*Susie and Mark are engaged!" Tiffany said, repeating what the others have said but louder and with bigger hand

movements.

*They must have met here during the competition," Olivia reasoned. "She broke the rules by paying attention to anyone other than the princes. She could go to jail for this."

"No one is going to send her to jail," Bridget said. "Nicholas wouldn't let that happen." For once, I agreed with Bridget.

*A Beta, though?" Lilliana scoffed. "She is a lady of good upbringing. She had the opportunity to marry a prince. Why on earth would she settle for someone of lesser stock?"

*She loves him," I said. I helped Elva into her chair and then sat in mine. Susie's was empty on the other side of me, and would now stay empty for the rest of the competition.

While I would certainly miss her - I did already - I was happy that she had found someone that she loved who loved her. She would find her happiness.

I wished now that I could find mine.

At least most of the other girls seemed happy for Susie too. Tiffany, Veronica, Jessica and even Bridget thought the match acceptable.

"What does it matter if she lowers herself slightly? A love match is a beautiful thing," Jessica said.

"You would think that," Lilliana said, "Since now you have no competition for Joyce's affections."

Jessica's face went a bit red. "I wasn't saying it just because of that. Susie is a nice person. Let her have what she wants."

"I bet she's pregnant," Lilliana said flatly.

Olivia gasped, even as a smile crossed her face. "How scandalous. That would explain why her parents would be so acceptable to the match."

If someone wanted to disagree with me on this, I would fight them. Susie's pregnancy did not negate from the fact that the two

timeline of their romance forward somewhat,

Susie were

even Lilliana or Olivia, who I suspected would argue with me the most.

pitying you," Lilliana said. "You may be the only contender

the others had the right idea, Jessica. Maybe you should back out as well." "Don't be jealous," Jessica snapped. She lifted her head up high. "You two will lose to Piper and Bridget, but I'm a

and Olivia snapped taller in their chairs. Lilliana's face went

for weeks," Lilliana snapped. "What happened

was time for Jessica to turn pale. Her cheeks stayed white for only an instant before her face

Her expression scrunched up

talking about," Jessica huffed. "You

to look down her nose at Jessica. "Try it. My family would never stand for

Olivia said. "Where is Prince

down slightly in her chair. I tried to catch her eye and smile at her, but she seemed determined to avoid everyone's

want her to beat herself up, but I couldn't talk to her about it in front of all these people. For now, I bit my

the girls berating Jessica, however, I wasn't going to sit by

a prince. And Jessica will make the

Olivia frowned at me,

they returned the subject to something more familiar, and far less

walk out in the yard beyond the gardens. Elva was

I followed along

Nicholas asked. "The one

I haven't tried

should try. See if it comes

wasn't sure that I wanted to hear the voice again. It had been alarming and unnerving the last time I

situation. Just because I ignored it didn't mean it would simply go away. It would be like ignoring a medical symptom just because

was better to know now rather than ignore the problem until it

"But..." I side-eyed where Elva played with

in seriousness. "I'm not going anywhere. You know that. I'll always

him, but I didn't want to