The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0368

Then, to me, Nicholas spoke again, “Look at me, Piper.”

I hesitated at first, but he didn’t move from his spot in front of me, like he was patiently waiting me out.

So, eventually, I chanced a glance upwards.

Nicholas captured my gaze with his own and held me captive. He held so much emotion in his eyes – blatant affection – it stole my breath away.

“You know who I’d rather be with,” he said.

He meant me.

And the words stole my breath away.

I’d rather be with him too. “Nicholas…”

“Find me,” he said, “before you make a move on Jane…” He sighed. “Or find Julian. Just don’t do anything on your own.

This felt like a pivotal moment, like he was barring his heart; and it was time for me to do the same. I wouldn’t disappoint him. I wanted him to know his

affections were reciprocated, in case there was any question about it.

“I’ll find you,” I said. It was a difficult thing to promise. No one knew when or how Jane would appear. It was likely that Nicholas would be in an entirely different part of the room. But no, I would still make an effort to get to him.

I would try, anyway. Because he wanted me to.

Slowly, he nodded. “Thank you.” But I could see with the flash of uncertainty in his eyes that he didn’t quite believe me.

“I’ll have my necklace,” I said, gesturing to where the full moon pendant rested just above my bosom.

Nicholas frowned deeper at it. “Yes, but…”

Beside us, Julian cleared his throat, making us both jump. This added a few more inches between us.

“If you are done stealing my girlfriend, Nicholas?” Julian said. “I think your fangirls got enough pictures of you two to satisfy them.”

We all glanced back at the overeager group of women who had inched closer to where they now stood. Many looked embarrassed at having finally been noticed.

Julian made a show of offering his arm to Piper. Piper quickly accepted, afraid any hesitation would come off poorly on the video.

Nicholas glowered, but I couldn’t point it out to him without making it seem like I was speaking to him privately again. So I just accepted that he would glare. The girl with glasses moved her fingers over the screen like she was zooming in.

Julian all but rushed me away from Nicholas, and the group of girls.

“You two all huddled and broody in the corner,” Julian said. He spoke with an upbeat cantor, but I knew I was being lectured. “Did you forget the purpose of tonight’s event?”

“To catch Jane…”

swooped me onto

mine as he pulled

remember? All sunshine and happiness, to let all the good people at home know how great everything is,” Julian said. His smile was bright and

good

looks and the talent, not that I would admit either to him. He

I hadn’t forgotten the theme of the night’s event exactly, I’d

always believed in putting art into practice,” Julian said as he spun me around. I felt light as a feather in his capable hands. “So

Chapter 0369

and among the candidates

our smiles bright, eager to show how much fun we were having all to maintain our standing in the competition, of

how big and fake I was smiling. Fake laughter sounded all around me, every contestant competing with each other for the royal family’s

noticed Susie standing near the edge of it. Her smile

toward Susie.

released me. “I’ll make the rounds.” He

new partner now. He switched so quickly, I

side instead. Relief covered her face the moment she

“Piper. Thank goodness.”

going on?” I asked

her hands together. “I can’t do

she could dance. I’d seen her do the steps countless times before. She’d

“Pretend,” she said.

out over the dance floor. From this angle, the scrunched up too–much smiling faces seemed extra unnerving. It looked like everyone

dancing with Olivia, I noticed. He wasn’t smiling at all, but a prince didn’t

smile so big,

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know we need to try to lift the spirits of the kingdom, but…

and I was honored that she sought out my opinion. Only, I didn’t know what

message was it truly sending? Sorry you are experiencing such strife, at

inappropriate.

to try. If part of the public unease was distrust in the stability of the royal family, showing that they could

or strategists. We were just two young women caught in a game created by people with more

he pulled me

of pretending,” I told Susie now, “We could try to have

Did

we?” I asked.

course,” she said.

let’s start acting like

her arm around mine and pulled her with me toward the

are we doing?” she asked, though went along

the stuffy moves and the practiced dances. Let me show

arm up, as if pulling an item off the shelf,

even as her smile grew bigger, more honest. “That

214

“It’s

such an informal dance while listening to an orchestra, but a beat was a beat.