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, being one myself. But people like Lena and

little reason to believe that even with my slight advantage, I would make

mean

had split the design for my dress into three separate parts

combine the three elements into a

already finished Elva’s matching

work, as she had

the mannequin for the dresses photo shoot. Elva’s dress was not to be included in the shot, since that would ruin the anonymity of the

the window,

I

why, I kept thinking about Nicholas’s solo date, but it shouldn’t be

and I were

nervousness and trepidation waging war within my

called to me. “Mommy, come

distraction, I joined her

pointed down toward the

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

hands.

regal black stallion that greedily accepted a sugar cube from

chosen for Lilliana was a brown and white mare that seemed nervous around her.

to sidestep whenever Lilliana came too

to approach Lilliana. He offered her a sugar cube

her horse. Lilliana shook her head, refusing to offer the

beyond some mumbled voices, but with the way Lilliana held

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

she would hold the

I

himself. In his presence, the mare

help, lifted herself up into the

her waist, keeping

riding

same way.

still feel the phantom touch of

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

him a playful smile. “What if I want to stay like

I

eyes had been fond, green sparkling brightly under the sun. “Then we should give up on horseback riding for today and return to one

properly

much the same thing to Lilliana,

much at all. Nicholas moved his hands away

did not seem to like each other

imagine why Nicholas had chosen her, out

Lilliana to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together they started

at the window.

she realized, “He’s coming over

before I could figure out what she was going to do, she shouted from the window,

She waved both arms.

Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s stern expression seemed

hand