THE LUNA CHOOSING GAME - Season 7 Episode 45

I wasn’t sure what to expect when our car delivered us from the train station to the palace, but even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have guessed what actually awaited us.

Cheering crowds lined the outer walls of the palace. Balloons and streamers of various colors were abundant. A stage had been set up with a band.

Some people had signs. Long Live The Bear Princess, they said, with a picture of my face.

When they separated to make way for our car, they nearly rioted with their joy.

“Praise you!” shouted one woman.

“Our hero!” called a man.

In the backseat of the sedan, I clutched at Nicholas’s hand, unsure what to make of all this. Not all that long ago, these same people had been half-ready to start a rebellion. Now, the only thing they seemed to want to fight for was some of my time and affection.

Nicholas clapped his free hand on mine, the one holding so hard onto his other hand.

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*Breathe, Piper. You’ve earned this,” he said.

*All I did was exist,” I told him. How could that matter to so many people?

Nicholas gently shook his head. On his face, he wore a look of fond sympathy. “Piper, you have done so much more than that. How can you not see that?”

I tried. Truly, I did. But to me, I was ever that down on her luck woman working as a waitress trying to make ends meet. I didn’t feel like a princess. I certainly was no great hero.

Yet, looking in Nicholas’s eyes, I could almost see the way I was reflected within them.

If Nicholas saw me as someone more… shouldn’t I trust in him? As I trusted in him in all other things?

*I’ll tell you every day for the rest of your life how special you are,” Nicholas said. Shifting closer to me, he dropped a kiss to my shoulder. “And how much I love you.”

“I’m going to need you to hold to that promise,” I said, heart melting.

“I’m a man of my word,” he said. And I knew that was the truth.

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Through the palace gates, the world seemed a bit calmer, though, to my shock and surprise, everyone was waiting for us out near the palace’s front doors. Including the King and Queen.

The car in front of ours carried Joyce, Julian, and Veronica. Joyce exited first. He only took one step before Jessica, having run from her spot at the entryway, collided into his chest.

As Joyce held her to him, I noticed a softness in his expression that he hadn’t otherwise shown. Perhaps with his brainwashing, he hadn’t allowed himself to love. Or perhaps he had, and he’d buried it down until now. Either way, Joyce clutched Jessica tightly, and I knew the pair would soon be a match.

Julian and Veronica exited next, their hands clasped together. It had not escaped my notice that much like Nicholas and I, Julian and Veronica had disappeared together on the train, only to reemerge this morning looking rumpled but pleased.

Honestly, it was about time. I only had joy in my heart for my two dear friends.

*Mommy!” Elva cried. She broke away from her nanny’s hand and rushed toward our car. Immediately, I pushed

the door open and jumped out to meet her. I scooped her into my arms and swung her around for good measure.

How much I missed my little girl. How much I loved her.

Nicholas quickly joined in our joy, wrapping his arms around us both. Elva cried, and I may have too.

“We’re a family,” Elva said. “We’re finally a family.”

Nicholas kissed Elva’s forehead, then he kissed my cheek. “We’re a family,” he confirmed. “And no one will ever break us apart again.”

With all the happiness and tears, it took some time for us to separate. But we couldn’t keep the King and Queen waiting for long.

Nicholas took Elva into his arms and together the three of us met the King and Queen. They’d always despised me, I expected nothing less now.