The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0369

The King and Queen watched from atop their thrones as the princes danced with and among the candidates and guests, while the cameras swooped in and out to capture all.

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

My cheeks were starting to hurt from how big and fake I was smiling. Fake laughter sounded all around me, every contestant competing with each other for the royal family’s attention – as well as for the cameras.

Eventually, as Julian was swirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Susie standing near the edge of it. Her smile was shaky. She seemed more nervous than happy, even to pretend.

I tapped Julian on the shoulder and motioned toward Susie. “I need to talk to

her.”

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

disappeared back among the dancers, with a new partner now. He switched so quickly, I didn’t even see who it was.

It didn’t really matter, though, so I hurried to Susie’s side instead. Relief covered her face the moment she noticed me.

“Piper. Thank goodness.’

“What’s going on?” I asked her.

She worried her hands together. “I can’t do this.”

“Do what? Dance?” I knew she could dance. I’d seen her do the steps countless times before. She’d even taught me a few moves.

“Pretend,” she said.

I stepped beside her and we both looked out over the dance floor. From this angle, the scrunched up too-much smiling faces seemed extra unnerving. It looked like everyone had a clown mask on. Only Julian looked truly genuine, though he was the best actor.

Nicholas was dancing with Olivia, I noticed. He wasn’t smiling at all, but a prince didn’t really need to. Olivia seemed pleased. She wasn’t overselling it.

laughing so loudly, smile so big,

+15 BONOS

so phony right now,” Susie said, “I know we need to try to lift the spirits of the kingdom, but… Won’t they be able to tell

for guidance, and I was honored that she sought

kind of message was it truly sending? Sorry you are experiencing such strife, at least all the rich elites are still fine? It all seemed

inappropriate.

the public unease was distrust in

players or strategists. We were just two young

remembered Julian’s words, before he pulled

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

went wide, as if surprised. Did she think we

aren’t we?”

“Of course,” she said.

let’s start acting like

pulled

she asked,

dances. Let me

once, I started a dance that mimics pushing a shopping cart. “Then you reach,” I said, and lifted my arm up, as if pulling an item off

smile grew bigger, more honest. “That

+15 BONOS

“It’s so

same dance. It was a bit strange, doing such an informal dance while listening to an

what if I need something heavy?” She pretended

and messed up the entire beat, but it was so funny, watching Susie in

laughed so

drew the attention of

dance? I’ve never seen

shopping cart

came out of her shell a

with people, young and old, men and women, attempting the