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. The

shit," she said

easily see the front door. The apartment was still dark, with black out curtains hanging over the window, but the hallway light was on. So I could clearly see Nicholas standing in

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

came closer. "I think it's

Anna," I teased. "Can't have a prince standing in the

saw me. "They'll surely think,

Nicholas inside. I flipped on the kitchen light as he entered and we both

at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she

nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet

when Anna just looked at him

finished

like it was an

grinned wider,

fled. "No one is ever

Nicholas turned to

missed you," I said at once, my own reflex. I couldn't help myself. It had been less than a day, but his absence had been noted. His

only been apart a short time, but he had been

was reassuring having him near. It calmed some part of myself, deep down, that felt strung out by the distance. That

held open his arms for me and I immediately went within them. He closed his arms around me

long moment. Out in the living room, I heard Anna waking Elva and shuffling around, cleaning no doubt. She'd worry about having a royal in

home? It was smaller than anything he was used too. It even seemed smaller to me than it had been before, having lived in the palace

I braced myself for

harshness I had expected to see in his eyes was not there. Honestly, I should have known better. Nicholas had never been the

that I used to live, he seemed more

me

It was small, but it had all of the major amenities. Stove, fridge, oven, coffee pot. Not much to

led him out into the living room, we could hear Elva and Anna talking in Anna's room.

His gaze snagged on the boxes in the corner. "What are