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

the common people, being one myself. But people like Lena and Joseph existed in every

with my slight advantage, I would make it far

didn’t mean I wouldn’t

design for my dress into three separate parts

were ready to combine the three elements into a

already finished Elva’s matching

work, as

newest maid began arranging the mannequin for the dresses photo shoot. Elva’s dress was not to be included in the

was looking at something outside the window,

I

kept thinking about Nicholas’s solo date,

and I were over long

of the room, nervousness and trepidation waging war within my

to me. “Mommy, come

I joined her at

pointed down toward the stables. “It’s

stood near the entrance of the stables as horses were brought

hands.

horse was a regal black stallion that greedily accepted a sugar cube from

for Lilliana was a brown and white mare that seemed nervous

trying to sidestep whenever Lilliana came too

his own horse to approach Lilliana.

her horse. Lilliana shook her head, refusing

exact words spoken beyond some mumbled voices, but with the way Lilliana held up her pure white

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

she would hold the

I

sugar cube to the horse himself.

then, and with Nicholas’s help, lifted herself up into

lingered near her waist, keeping

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

same way.

remember, I could still feel the phantom touch

he’d said then. “Tell me when

a playful smile. “What

I

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

properly

if he was saying much the same thing to

much at all. Nicholas moved his hands away from her

did

had chosen her, out of all the

waited for Lilliana to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together

at the window.

gasped when she realized, “He’s

was going to do, she shouted from the window,

She waved both arms.

Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s stern expression seemed

a hand