The Hidden Luna Queen 2

"No," he said, cutting me off. "This is by far greater than anything I could want. I cannot afford to be selfish, not when our kingdom is at stake." Now that sounded an awful lot like our father talking.

However, Lucas was an alpha in his own right. He had always been firm about his beliefs for as long as I could remember, and I was certain that this was another one of those times. If he was dead set on doing this, then there would be very little I could do to stop him. "If you say so," I muttered, leaning back.

"I appreciate your concern, Xaden," he said, softening for the first time that morning. "But this is something I need to do. I'll be alright."

Sighing, I pat him on the shoulder, finishing with a firm squeeze. A silent promise that, no matter what he chose, I would stand by him. I just hoped. it was truly his will that was in control. MAEVE POV

"It's no use..." I mumbled with an embarrassed grimace. "These clothes are getting a little too tight for me."

It was one of those rare days when I had no prior commitments. No lessons or visits with the Luna Queen, no banquets to prepare for or to attend. And with Xaden off at the palace, I had the freedom to enjoy myself at my leisure.

I had wanted to take a walk, get some much-needed fresh air, but to my dismay, the dress I had hoped to wear-a lovely pale-blue wrap dress which had fit me so well over a week prior-was now too snug. I could see my growing belly, clear as day, peeking through the fabric..

"It would seem so," Maggie quipped, helping me shrug off the dress. "The little one in your belly must be quite determined to make himself big and strong for you and His Highness."

Despite the situation I found myself in, I couldn't help but smile a little bit at the sentiment. This pregnancy was progressing faster than I could comprehend, but the joy I felt upon hearing that was impossible to deny. I wanted my baby to be strong and healthy. That meant I had no choice but to keep up with him. If I was already beginning to outgrow even just one outfit, I needed to prepare for the future.

"Maggie," I said, glancing at her through the stand-up mirror, "would it be at all possible for us to take a trip to Mona Road today? So I can find some more clothes that will fit me better?"

The housekeeper gave me a pointed stare. "As if you need to ask!" she reprimanded me softly, making me blush. "You will soon be a Luna, miss. If that is what you want, then we shall make it happen."

I forced myself to nod in agreement. However much the Luna Queen's lessons were helping me, it was still a challenge to accept that mindset. A lifetime of servitude and corporal punishment had twisted its claws so deeply in me... but I was trying my best to free myself from its clutches.

Meanwhile, I slipped into a dress that thankfully still fit-a black, high-waisted A-line dress-and afterward, Maggie set off to call for the car for a last-minute trip to Mona Road.

While I waited in the foyer for Maggie to return, there was a dainty knock at the front door.

I cocked my head, baffled. To my knowledge, neither Xaden nor I were expecting any sort of visitors-not to mention that he was not even here, he had left for the palace shortly before I got out of bed that morning. Cautiously, I peered through the peephole and quickly moved to open the door once I realized who stood outside.

"Charlotte!" I greeted, stepping aside to allow the princess entry. "What brings you by?"

"I just wanted to see how you were doing after yesterday's banquet..." Charlotte said, trailing off once she was able to take in my attire, "but it looks like I might've caught you at a bad time. Are you heading out?"

I nodded. “I was going to visit Mona Road. I need some new clothes."

Her eyes unexpectedly lit up, shining with bright excitement and trepid uncertainty. The warring expressions on her face were strange to see. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

"Would you..." I began to ask as a small, hopeful smile slowly started to spread across my face, "by chance want to join me? I could use all the help I can get."

"Miss Maeve, we're all ready to-oh!" Maggie exclaimed, upon catching sight of the princess. Quickly, she dipped into a curtsy. "Your Highness! We were not expecting you today. Is there something we can do for you?" Charlotte nodded. There was a glint in her eye. "Could you find me a wig or a hat, Maggie?"

Maggie looked terribly confused, and rightfully so. What an odd request for the crown princess to make.

"I shall do my best," she stammered out, throwing a subtle glance in my direction as if I somehow could supply some much-needed answers. “Who is this for?"

Charlotte grinned. "It's for me, of course!" she said, as if it were completely obvious. "I'm going to join you and Maeve in the capital today."

MAEVE POV

"I've never been out without being recognized before," Charlotte said, strolling down the sidewalk of a busy Mona Road with a face-splitting grin as she eagerly took in all the sights. "It's like I'm an entirely different person!" And, as far as the public was concerned, she was.

After the bizarre request she'd made back at the mansion, Maggie seemed at a loss but was quick to do what she could for the alpha princess. It took some time, but she was able to conjure up a light, wide- brimmed sunhat that suited Charlotte beautifully. Please visit Jo b nib.co: m and search the book title to read the entire book for free. That, paired with a lovely white sundress from my wardrobe and deliberately heavy makeup to hide her face, drastically transformed her right before our eyes. Soon enough, Princess Charlotte had become Peasant Cora, her new self-proclaimed alter ego. And she was enjoying every second of it.

Despite it all, I could not stop my own smile from forming. Although Charlotte was indeed the crown princess of our kingdom and oftentimes carried wisdom beyond her years, it was moments like this when I remembered that she was only nineteen years old. She was still a child in so many ways. Her glee was so endearing... and so sad, at the same time. As a princess, I could imagine she must not get a lot of moments to just enjoy herself. It even reminded me of the old days ... when getting to leave Moonstone would happen only once in a blue moon.

So I was more than happy to do what I could for her. Anything to keep her from feeling even a pinch of what I'd felt growing up.

Maggie, on the other hand, was more of a nervous wreck than anything. While the princess and I strolled along Mona Road without much of a care in the world, she was more occupied with her new self-imposed job as a bodyguard.

"Oh-" she fretted with a deep grimace marring her aged face as she struggled to keep up with the two of us, "please don't stray too far, Your Hi -I mean-"

"What's there to worry about, Maggie?" Charlotte pressed, spinning around in the middle of the sidewalk like she'd entered a wondrous new world and letting her dress flow around her body. “I'm just an ordinary citizen named Cora, minding my own business in our beautiful capital city!"

Maggie looked keen to protest but thought against it, seeming to acknowledge the packs of strangers that surrounded us on all fronts.

Before long, we stumbled upon a quaint-looking clothing boutique that catered to all avenues of women's fashion, ranging from teenage apparel to maternity wear, which immediately sparked my interest.

The three of us searched the racks until I managed to single out a dress. Emerald green, reaching just past the knees with a ribbon sash just above the waistline.

Within minutes, I emerged from the dressing room wearing the dress, feeling pretty, but when I turned around to get feedback from my companions, I received half uncertainty, half jubilance. Maggie's eyes lit up once she saw me, like always, but Charlotte's lack of a bright reaction left much to be desired.

I tried to hide my grimace, scrunching the skirt between my hands. "It's ugly... isn't it?" I asked, feeling a little self-conscious.

"Not at all, Miss Maeve!" Maggie exclaimed, quickly waving her hands up to placate me. "You look gorgeous in that dress!"

Her impassioned declaration prompted a meek smile to settle on my face. It did help a little, but at the same time, I thought she might have been somewhat biased, considering she technically worked for me and saw me every day.

Charlotte nodded adamantly. "Maggie's right," she affirmed. "There's nothing wrong with you or the dress at all. But..." "But...?"

"It's just so..." Charlotte trailed off, waving her hand through the air as she struggled to come up with a more appropriate word, "-formal."

I blinked. Formal? I'd thought that was a good thing, especially considering the family I would soon be marrying into.

"Do you know what I mean?" she asked, gazing at me worriedly as she stepped closer to me. "You're a beautiful, young woman in what are supposed to be the best years of your life... and yes, you look amazing in that dress, but you can do so much better! I think you would shine in something more trendy among girls our age," she said, stepping towards a rack of clothes and pulling out a dress, "-like this!"

I trailed after her to take a closer look at the dress.

It was surprisingly simple. A maroon, plaid overall dress layered on top of a long-sleeved black dress-a pairing which I hadn't thought to consider, but also looked quite stylish on the hanger. It was something even my sister would've never dared to try on, only ever wanting clothes that befit a princess.

Would something like this look nice on me?

Charlotte and Maggie seemed curious to find out... and so was I. Driven by my inner girl, I grabbed the dress from Charlotte's offering hands and disappeared into the changing room once again.

It wasn't long before I reemerged from the room, and I couldn't take my eyes off myself.

Not only was it comfortable to wear and incredibly soft to the touch... but I looked like an actual twenty-year-old girl for perhaps the first time in my

life. Not a servant, Luna Princess-to-be, nor an expecting mother.

A normal girl. My heart skipped a beat. I never thought I'd use those words to describe myself.