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

one myself. But people like Lena and Joseph existed in every

with my slight advantage,

mean I wouldn’t

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

Now, we were ready to combine the three elements

already finished Elva’s

the final work,

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

looking at something outside the window, likely the horses again, with the

I

thinking about Nicholas’s solo date, but it shouldn’t be enough to

were

length of the room, nervousness and trepidation waging war within

called to me. “Mommy, come

distraction, I

pointed down toward

entrance of the stables as

hands.

black stallion that greedily accepted a sugar

a brown and white mare that seemed nervous

sidestep whenever Lilliana came

left his own horse to approach Lilliana. He offered her a sugar

Lilliana shook her head, refusing to offer

exact words spoken beyond some mumbled voices, but with the way Lilliana held up her pure white gloves, I assumed she refused to treat the horse to spare her

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

how she would hold

I

gave the sugar cube to the horse himself. In his presence, the mare seemed

with Nicholas’s help, lifted herself

her waist, keeping

had gone horseback riding together. He had helped

same way.

feel the phantom touch of his strong

won’t let you fall,” he’d said then. “Tell me when you are okay, and I’ll let

given him a playful smile. “What if

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

properly

saying much the same thing to Lilliana, But, no. They didn’t

Nicholas moved his hands away

distance, these two did not seem to like

Nicholas had chosen her, out of

stallion. He waited for Lilliana to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together they started to ride forwards at a slow pace – which brought them closer to

at the window.

she realized,

was going to do, she shouted from the window, “Hi,

She waved both arms.

immediately looked up. Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s

hand