The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 43

At first glance, she appeared friendly enough, smiling peacefully. She curtsied to me and introduced herself.

Tm looking forward to serving you,” she said.

But I found it strange. Surely she had passed my other maid being taken away down the hall. What kind of person would be smiling so calmly after having witnessed such a thing?

icholas.

I

I

Today was the day for Nicholas’s solo date, and I was trying my very best not to think about it.

Ever since receiving Joseph’s threatening letter, I’d been hiding out in my room as much as I could to

avoid him and the mean–looking guards.

With the First Ball fast approaching, I used the extra time in my room to help my maids work on me and

Elva’s gowns.

The dress had to be perfect. The order of introductions for the girls at the ball was to be determined by

the princes‘ preferences of the dresses.

Once the gowns were finished, pictures were to be taken of them and given to the princes, who would

then select their favorites. Those favorites would be the first ones introduced at the ball, and therefore

given the most time with the princes.

And with the cameras.

A major component of the Luna Choosing Game, was earning the public’s favor. I had a small advantage

people like Lena

believe that even with my slight advantage,

didn’t mean

maids and I had split the design for my dress into three separate

Now, we were ready to combine the three elements into

already finished Elva’s matching dress

doing the final work,

mannequin for the dresses photo shoot. Elva’s dress was not to be included

herself was looking at something outside the window, likely the horses again, with the stables so

I

sure why, I kept thinking about Nicholas’s

were

paced the length of the room, nervousness and trepidation

called to

for the distraction, I joined her at

pointed down toward the stables.

and Lilliana stood near the entrance of the stables as horses were brought to them

hands.

a regal black stallion that greedily

chosen for Lilliana was a brown and

whenever Lilliana came too

own horse to approach Lilliana. He offered her a sugar cube and

horse. Lilliana shook her

I couldn’t hear the exact words spoken beyond some mumbled voices, but with the way Lilliana

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

she would

I

himself. In

then, and with Nicholas’s help, lifted

her waist, keeping

we had gone horseback riding together. He had helped me then, much

same way.

I could still feel the phantom touch of his strong hands

he’d said then. “Tell me when you are okay, and I’ll let

a playful smile. “What

I

been fond, green sparkling brightly under the sun. “Then we should give up on horseback riding for today and return to one of our rooms instead. If you want me to hold you, I’d like to

properly

was saying much the same thing to

moved his hands

these two did not seem to like each

imagine why Nicholas had chosen her, out of all the candidates, for his first

to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together they started to ride forwards at a slow pace – which brought

at the window.

realized, “He’s coming

was going to do, she shouted

She waved both arms.

Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s stern expression seemed to

lifted a hand