The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0352

When I returned to my room, I changed into my pajamas and slid into bed. Elva was already fast

asleep. Yet no matter how long I laid there, or which way I tossed and turned, I could not find sleep.

My mind was still with Nicholas in that hallway. I could only imagine the terrible things the King was

saying to him.

Would Nicholas be forced to break up with me? Would he volunteer to do so?

I knew Nicholas cared for me, but his duty to the kingdom would always be his first priority. I’d always

known that. I still dreaded the day when it would start to affect us enough to make Nicholas choose

between me and his kingdom. Maybe we’d reached that point at last.

It felt much too soon.

The next morning, I woke early and walked with Elva down to breakfast. I held my breath most of the

way, half-expecting the King himself to jump out of the woodwork to demand I leave the premises. At

the very least, I anticipated Joseph and his guard to give me a stern talking to.

Yet we made it down into the dining room without issue. I spotted Tiffany, Veronica, and Susie in their

usual spots and went to join them. Food was already set at our spots. Elva dug in right away. I picked

for a while.

I wasn’t feeling very well.

Susie, beside me, watched me mindlessly tear down a blueberry muf fin with a fork until it was a pile of

crumbs. Then, leaning closely, she asked me, “Did something happen?”

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“I was careless…” I whispered back, extra careful no one else could hear. “The King found Nicholas

and I together.”

Susie gasped. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, Piper…”

“Just be careful, okay? Be more careful than I was.’

“}

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Susie had just as much to lose as I did, if not more. My relationship with Nicholas was always doomed.

But she and Mark had a chance at a lasting relationship, if it could be given room and sustenance to

grow. If Susie was found out and disqualified…

They might see each other again, but who knew when?

“I understand,” she said, “But what’s going to happen to you?”

I didn’t know. “I’m waiting for something to happen.”

“The King hasn’t…?” She didn’t finish, instead letting the sentence hang. I didn’t want to

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“Not yet.”

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A worried look crossed Susie’s face. She reached her hand across the table to squeeze my wrist. Her

support gave some comfort to my frayed nerves, yet even with it, I was stressed and

tired.

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“If there’s anything you need…” Susie said. Another open sentence.

This time, it was even more foreboding. Susie could offer all the help in the world now, when we were

so close together. But the minute I was excused from the palace, Susie wouldn’t be able to help me.

Likely, she wouldn’t even be able to help me.

I would be on my own again.

After breakfast, as I was walking toward the door, Mark stopped me just outside in the hallway. Elva

looked up at him curiously.

“I apologize,” Mark said, “But I was asked to deliver this to you.” He held out a folded piece of paper.

There was only one person in the palace who would use Mark to send me a message:

Nicholas.

“Thank you,” I said, and accepted the note. My heart raced as I opened it and began to read.

Piper, it said in Nichola s’s perfect scrawl. I wish you and Julian the best. I would never try to stand in

your way. Best wishes, Nicholas.

My stomach dropped. I thought I might be sick.”

This was a break up note.

I wanted to hope that Nicholas didn’t actually write this, but I knew his handwriting well from our

Academy days. We’d so often write notes like this to one another.

And then I wanted to believe that Nicholas had written this under duress, but I knew that wasn’t true.

Nicholas could certainly be influenced by his family, but he’d never do anything he truly didn’t want to

do, especially if he knew it would hurt me.

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No. He wrote this because he genuinely wanted out of our arrangement. He didn’t give a reason. I

guessed he didn’t have to, but I wished I knew.

“I want to talk to him,” I said to Mark.

His expression was pitying. “I’m sorry, Piper. That’s really not a good idea.”

“I deserve to hear this straight from him, not in some note.”

Mark shook his head. “It’s for both of your sakes that it had to be this way. Please. Just stay away from

him. You will only end up more hurt.”

+15 BONUS

I didn’t believe that. I couldn’t.

If I could just talk to Nicholas, maybe I could talk him out of this. I could help him see that we were

worth staying together for just a little bit longer.

Looking at Mark, I knew I would not be able to budge him. Nicholas had given him a

command and he would never bend or betray that. Not for me. Probably not for anyone, even Susic.

Though Susie would never ask him too. That was part of the reason they worked so well together.

“I understand,” I said. I did, that was the truth, but it all still hurt. I felt raw, like I’d been put through the

grinder. Pieces of me were missing. I didn’t know how to be whole again.

I left Mark and took Elva back to our bedroom. I spent the entire day numb, not thinking about anything

relating to Nicholas. I helped Charlotte sew the sunshine dress, and I played toys with Elva. I was able

to keep my brain quiet by busying it with tasks.

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But then nighttime came. Charlotte retired and Elva fell asleep, and I was left alone with my thoughts.

My dangerous, hurt-filled thoughts.

Nicholas had to have a reason for dropping me. Something more than his father found out. If it wasn’t

permanent, what could be the harm of a secret rendezvous? It was an embarrassment, being discover,

but not such a bad one that we needed to drop all that we had.

I needed to confront Nicholas and hear his reason. Only then could I let this go and move on with my

life.

After everything we shared, after all those whispered promises…

I had to hear it from Nicholas himself.

So I waited long enough that most everyone would be asleep. Then I sneaked out.

I traveled a familiar path to the guest room Nicholas had been using. Once I was there, I lifted

my

hand and knocked.

The light was on under the door. I saw a shift, a shadow.

Nicholas was in there. Even without the shadows, I could feel it in my bones.

I waited a moment, then a moment more. But he did not answer the door.

I knocked again, louder.

His shadow came to the door. He was standing just on the other side of it. But he made no

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move to answer it.

Tears welled in my eyes. It couldn’t be over. Not this soon. Not through a letter.

I knocked once more.

And he still didn’t answer.

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