The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0309

In the following days, new rules were assigned to the candidates. None were allowed to wander the palace without a personal guard. No one was allowed outside, not even into the gardens.

The King and Queen had totally barricaded themselves away. Joyce had too. Only Nicholas and Julian could occasionally be seen, flittering through the hallways with maps and blueprints under their arms. 3

They’ve kept me privy to their activities, mostly with messages sent through Mark.

Despite the number of passageways found, my sister remained like a ghost. She always seemed to be one step ahead. No one really knew how it was possible. Julian and Nicholas were getting more and more frustrated.

The tension in the palace was cracking, soon to break one way or another. The candidates were stir-crazy. Even the guard seemed unnerved. Outside, the protestors chanted day and night without end.

One morning, at breakfast, Tiffany dropped her face onto her empty plate and said, “I’m going to scream.”

Veronica calmly continued to eat her oatmeal.

Susie leaned forward. “All this is only temporary,” she said. Then she looked at me. “Right?”

I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. Truthfully, I had no idea. No one did. That was part of the reason everyone was so on edge.

“I…”

“Piper,” Nathan said from the doorway, startling me so badly, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Susie placed a concerned hand on my shoulder.

“You okay, Mommy?” Elva asked from my other side. Her eyes were wide and fearful. She hadn’t asked many questions lately about what was going on, but surely even she could feel the terse environment around her.

I immediately wanted to put her at ease, so I forced a smile. “Of course, dear. I’m sorry to have scared you.”

“It’s okay,” she said, but looked at me strangely, like she didn’t quite believe me.

Nathan stepped closer to us.

I said to him, as I pushed myself up from my chair. “What

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wishes to

looked at me with curiosity. Lilliana and Olivia stared at

can you walk Elva to

T

thing, meant she would soon see

matter concerns the child as well,” Nathan said suddenly, Susie’s smile fell. Mine did too. “Bring the child with

Elva,” Elva said.

her a flat look. Elva

for her.

her small

Why would the King want to see Elva as well? What matters could possibly concern her? She was just an

couldn’t ask. To even infer that the King might not have the best reasons for doing anything could be akin to treason, depending. And while the King might not be looking to

the dining room and were led to a sitting room where

Elva and smiled. He jumped to his

closer, I hissed quietly, “What is

turned his attention to Elva. “Why don’t you stay with me, little princess? I’ll show you another fun trick while the adults have a

looked up at me. “Can I, Mommy,

wanted to. I could also tell that Julian was trying to spare Elva from some harsh conversation.

you can,” I said. “Have

hand to holding Julian’s. “We won’t go far,” Julian said, and started leading

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I knew I would have to face the King and Queen, two people who

me.

They were sitting together on a matching pair of chairs. A deck of cards was on the table between them, cards a mess

never seemed to care about my comfort. This made me more concerned, but I took the third seat