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

being one myself. But people like Lena and Joseph

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

mean I

my dress into three separate parts that

ready to combine the

Elva’s

quiet maid insisted on doing the final work,

maid began arranging the mannequin for the dresses photo shoot. Elva’s dress was not to be included in the shot, since that would

window, likely the horses

I

though I wasn’t sure why, I kept thinking about Nicholas’s solo date, but it shouldn’t be enough to bother me like

and I were over long

paced the length of the room, nervousness and trepidation waging war within my chest.

to me. “Mommy, come

I joined

down toward the

the entrance of the stables as horses were brought to

hands.

regal black stallion that greedily accepted a

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

sidestep whenever

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

her head,

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

ing dirty.

getting dirty.

wondered how she would hold the

I

horse himself. In his presence, the mare seemed to

then, and with Nicholas’s help, lifted

lingered near her waist,

the times we had gone horseback riding together. He had helped me

same way.

I let myself remember, I could still feel the phantom touch of his strong hands

he’d said then. “Tell me when

smile. “What if I want to stay

I

today and return

properly

saying much the same

moved his hands away from her waist quickly

from a distance, these two did not seem

out

her then and mounted his stallion. He waited for Lilliana to bring her mare alongside his horse, and then together they started to ride forwards at

at the window.

realized, “He’s coming

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

She waved both arms.

Lilliana glowered, but Nicholas’s

hand and