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."

and pulled open the door. The grumbling immediately

she said

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

rushed to stand up. I was self-conscious in my pajamas, but Nicholas had seen me at my worst. I tried not to

said as I came closer. "I think

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

saw me. "They'll surely think, there goes the

inside. I flipped on the kitchen light

an eye on Elva..." Anna said. She was looking at Nicholas with wide eyes. I can't imagine she ever expected to have an actual prince on her doorstep.

nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet

I told him, when Anna just looked at

finished with

like it was

wider, pleased

fled. "No one is ever going to believe me," she said when

now, Nicholas turned to me.

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 presence had been missed.

time, but he had been

part of myself, deep down, that felt

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

for a very 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 her

in my former 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

questions. I braced myself for his judgement as

was not there. Honestly, I should have known better. Nicholas had never been the judgmental type. He was the

I used to live, he

me the

is the kitchen." It was small, but it had all of the

Elva and Anna

room with interest. His gaze snagged on the boxes in the corner. "What