Chapter 0050
My throat went dry. “Your Majesty, I had no intention of ”
“Whatever your intention, you have still insulted me,” the Queen said.
I straightened at the shortness of her tone.
I was terribly confused. What had I done that was offensive? Was it because Julian, Nicholas, and I had broken the order of the dances?
But she didn’t even seem to be watching them, if she was hiding away in here.
“The poor child looks confused, Your Majesty,” said one of the women sitting near the Queen.
“She’s common,” said the other woman. “Maybe she truly doesn’t understand how she has disrespected you.”
The Luna considered her friends” words. “Is that the case, girl?”
I didn’t much care for their patronizing tone of voice, but I could deny the truth to their words.
I nodded.
The Luna looked to the woman on her left, then gestured to me.
“It’s your gloves, child,” said the woman.
I looked down at my gloves. They were clean. The seams were straight.
“They are too short,” continued the woman.
All the other women dressed in formalwear wore their gloves up over their elbows. I could see that now, glancing around
Mine stopped mid–forearm.
“You have disrespected me and my family,” said the Queen. “We have accepted you into our home. We have clothed and fed you, and given you a chance in the selection. And this is how you repay us?”
1 bowed my head low. I’m terribly sorry, Your Majesty. I had no idea that –”
“A Luna accepts responsibility. You say you didn’t know. Were you hoping to pass your punishment off onto your maids? Or perhaps your tailor?”
“No,” I said, ashamed. She was right. The fault should fall on me alone. I would never want to see
Even if I did wonder about why my maids hadn’t warned me.
I lowered my head further. 7 personally accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
I hoped my compliance might ease my sentence. If the Queen wished to have me expelled from the
palace, it would be so.
I couldn’t risk Elva’s health. Not yet. Not when she’d been doing so well.
“Your Majesty, if I may,” Lena spoke up.
The Luna waved her forward. Lena came around the couch to stand beside me.
She was in her typical uniform, a high neck navy blue dress with a simple black belt. But tonight, even she wore gloves, though their length was hidden under her long sleeves.
I wondered what Lena would say. I couldn’t imagine she would speak up in my defense.
Lena cleared her throat. “As you consider what is to be done with this fool girl, I would like to suggest the traditional punishment for such an offense.”
The Queen hummed thoughtfully.
“A harsh punishment, indeed,” said the woman on the left.
The one on the right added, “Fitting for the crime.”
The woman on the left watched me. “She’s confused again.”
“Explain the punishment, Lena,” the Queen said.
“Gladly.” Lena glared at me. “For the tradition punishment, the offended would be forced to kneel outside the palace for the length of an entire stormy day.”
I hooked my hands together to keep anyone from noticing my trembling.
This wasn’t a death sentence, exactly, though in those conditions, I would sure end up sick and exhausted. Hopefully the punishment did not include a withholding of medical care.
“Certainly a thing to consider,” said the woman on the right.
“Perhaps..” the Queen began. Everyone hushed to listen.
Perhaps, in the spirit of the competition, we allow the girl the chance to redeem herself.”
“Magnanimous decision, as always, ma’am,” said one woman, with the other quickly agreeing.
Only Lena seemed put out. She didn’t say a word but her frown was heavy.
+15 BONUS
“The scope of your redemption, girl, will depend on your performance for the rest of the evening,” the Queen said. “If you wish not to receive the traditional punishment, you must strive to show the qualities
of a Luna. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” She waved me away.
I hurried toward the door and rushed through it. Suddenly, I stopped to avoid walking straight into Nicholas. How long had he been standing here? How much had he heard?
“Where’s Elva?” I asked.
“With Susie and the nanny.” He pointed to where Elva was happily dancing and Susie was attempting to mimic her wild moves. The nanny stood nearby, watching.
Embarrassment swelled within me. If Nicholas had heard what the Queen had said… If he knew the punishment I faced..
Maybe he would be happy to see me humiliated, cold and soaked through out
I wanted to run away, but that would only seal my fate.
in the rain.
No, the Queen had given me the chance to redeem myself. I had to take it. I had to be my most regal self for the rest of the evening, to appear a perfect Luna.
I didn’t really know how to be anyone other than myself, but surely I could fake it until I made it, right? I had enough practice being around nobility.
Immediately, I squared my shoulders and lifted my head high.
Watching me, Nicholas’s brow pulled together.
“What are you doing?”
His confusion deflated me somewhat, but I pushed the bad feelings down. His reaction only meant that I had to work harder.
“Acting noble,” I said.
The response made him frown.
+15 BONUS
I didn’t want to hear what else he might say, so gathering as much dignity as I could squander, I told
him, “If you’ll excuse me, Prince Nicholas.”
I quickly retreated away, back to the group of girls. Most will still waiting for their turns to dance. Julian was continuing to pick people at random. Nicholas hadn’t even started his list yet. Only Joyce was sticking to the plan.
Fresh rumors were abuzz among the waiting girls. Initially I worried they might be about me, but I quickly exhaled in relief when no one said my name.
Instead, they were talking about the real challenge of the evening. An ambassador from the Merfolk kingdom in the south was present tonight.
The Merfolk were shifters that lived primarily in the ocean, and therefore didn’t offer many opportunities. for diplomacy. Any Merfolk presence here tonight was a major show of comradery between the two kingdoms
To allow a Merfolk into a challenge to help determine the next Luna, was an even greater extension of that friendship.
Yet the presence of the Merfolk himself wasn’t the only news I’d missed.
In my absence, Nathan had explained to the girls that making a good impression with the ambassador would earn them a good score for the evening.
In the corner of my eye, I watched as the Queen and her entourage returned to the ballroom. The Luna returned to her chair beside the King, while the two women returned to the crowd of nobles.
Lena stayed near the edge of the royal family thrones, with the other high–ranking servants, ready to be called upon.
I had to meet this Merfolk, I had to make a good impression. I had to win this challenge.
This was my only chance to avoid punishment.
Across the room, Nicholas continued to watch me.
For a moment, looking at him, I could almost convince myself that he looked concerned.
For me?
