The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0617

Anna's words stayed with me all through the night. I was haunted by them, even as I eventually drifted off to sleep on the air mattress.

Was I truly considering the King's demand because I wanted what was best for the country? Or was I simply hiding, pushing off responsibility to retum to a life of normalcy?

Bridget would make a lousy queen. I knew that.

Anyone would be a better choice.

Even... me?

Could I be queen?

I had labeled the idea as outlandish straight from the start, so much so that I barely considered it even when I tried to think critically about it.

I was constantly making excuses: I knew so little of politics. I knew so little of royalty. Everyone looked down on me. No one would take me seriously.

But these were just excuses, I was realizing now. Anna was right. I was running away.

I needed to do better. I needed to think about how I could actually contribute as a queen, and showcase those abilities. No more hiding. No more putting myself down.

If I wanted a family with Nicholas, I had to earn it.

The thoughts and worries stayed with me even when I woke up again. I had a dreamless sleep, though I felt rested. My body must have decided enough was enough and shut off my brain.

I was resolved to lie on the air mattress until Elva or Anna woke first, but a knock sounded on the door. It was soft at first, but with a growing urgency the longer no one answered.

I wasn't sure who it could be. It seemed too early for the camera crew, and Anna hadn't said she'd been expecting guests.

Crumbling, Anna emerged from her room and slunk herself toward the front door.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" she shouted, when the knocking continued. "Someone better be dead, to get me up this early."

unlocked and pulled open the door.

she said

door. The apartment was still dark, with black out curtains hanging over the window, but the hallway light was on. So

stand up. I was self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had seen me

I came closer. "I

teased. "Can't have a prince standing in

"They'll surely think, there

backed up and invited Nicholas inside. I flipped on the kitchen light as he entered

imagine she ever expected to have an actual prince on her doorstep. "So you two can talk. "Thanks," I

"It's a pleasure

him, when Anna just

finished with

giggle, like it was an impulse, or a

grinned wider, pleased

She fled. "No one is ever going to

to me. "Piper,"

a day, but his absence had been noted. His

only been apart a short time, but he

deep down, that felt strung out by the distance. That part of me hummed

and I immediately went within them. He closed his arms around

like that for a very long moment. Out in the living room, I heard Anna waking Elva and shuffling around, cleaning

too. What must Nicholas think, being in my former home? It was smaller than anything he was used too. It even seemed smaller to me than it had

had questions. I braced myself

was not there. Honestly, I should have known better. Nicholas had never been

used to

give me the tour?" he

the kitchen." It was small, but it had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge, oven, coffee pot.

the living room, we could hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's room. Elva was

glanced around the living room with interest. His gaze snagged on the boxes in the corner. "What are