The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0098

The breath punched from my lungs. Linda maybe hadn't eavesdropped on everything, but she had definitely heard that Nicholas and I had once dated.

"I imagine that information would be quite problematic if it was to be publicly known." With a sway of her hips, Linda sauntered closer.

Problematic was an understatement, especially with the King's threat on my life.

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. "What do you want, Linda?"

*Straight to the point, aren't you?" Linda said.

"I don't like games."

She shrugged. "Fine. Listen, I'm not unreasonable. I'd be happy to keep this information quiet if I'm given the proper motivation."

Nicholas crossed his arms. "And what would that entail?"

She tilted her head, a smile on her lips. "I want you to publically favor me. I want private dates, sitting beside each other at banquets, first dances at the balls. All of it. And when the time comes, maybe you'll consider me for the finale."

I curled my hands into fists. How could she be so underhanded as to use this information, wrongfully overheard, in such a way? Had she no shame?

But I couldn't say a word against it, with the King's threat hanging over me. As much as I wanted to tell Linda to buzz off, if she shared what she'd learned, I would be in the worst kind of trouble.

Nicholas, meanwhile, had no sense of my dilemma. All he could see was this person before him trying to garner ill -begotten gains.

"I won't be blackmailed," he said, glaring.

Linda, unfazed, tapped her finger to her chin. "I suppose the secret being out wouldn't affect your princely reputation. Yet I'm sure you can imagine what it might mean for Piper."

Nicholas glanced at me. The blood drained from my face.

"She'd likely be kicked out of the competition for unfair advantage," Linda continued. "You two have a history. It's difficult to compete with that."

Nicholas's fierce gaze sliced back to Linda. "Maybe it's you that I will see leave this competition."

*Then I go straight to the press with what I know. I bet I'll be on all the talk shows. Truly, I can't wait."

Nicholas fell silent.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Fear struck through me. Was there really no escaping this?

*I'll give you until the eve of the next challenge to make your choice," Linda said. "Else I'll tell everyone on broadcast everything that I heard." She swiveled on her heel, facing the door. "Think about it, won't you? I eagerly away your decision."

After she left, Nicholas and I stood there in silence for a long moment.

"I'm not ashamed of our past," Nicholas said, after a while. He turned toward me again, but did not move to close the large gap between us. "But I worry what it would mean for you, for the world to know about it."

*You shouldn't have to be with someone like this."

I was frightened, yes, but I couldn't let Linda walk all over Nicholas and push him into a potential marriage, just to

hide our secret. The King could make good on his threats, I knew that. But Linda would never stop. She'd just want more and more.

*You should be able to be with someone you love," I said.

Nicholas sighed. "Piper. This competition has never had anything to do with love."

I shook my head, refusing to believe that. The princes were searching for their mates. That meant tenderness and affection. At the very least, a basis of friendship from which more feelings could grow.

It was just too sad to think otherwise, that the princes were here as pawns like the rest of us. That none of this really meant anything.

*The candidate that has the best Luna qualities will be the one chosen," Nicholas said. "That is all that matters." *No. You have to be with someone you love." I did not give Nicholas up just to have him be miserable the rest of his life. I left him to protect him, so that he could have opportunities later to meet and be with someone better than me.