The Prince did not forget her name. In fact, he spent the next three days pacing his velvet-carpeted dorm room, ignoring his tutors and refusing to have his hair curled.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF3Kwgn7J6
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"Luna," he muttered, tripping over a pile of silk shirts. "Luna Johnson. The girl who saw the snot bubble. The girl who saw me... perish... almost."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeym9YiyvUW
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He realized that despite his "Golden Warrior Shout" (which he had now convinced himself was a real move), he was still terrified of the dark. Every time a floorboard creaked, he jumped into his wardrobe. He needed protection. But he couldn't hire a Royal Guard—that would mean admitting he was a coward.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuuKE41D36
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He needed someone who was already "nobody." He needed the girl who didn't exist.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJw5GlItpQ
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Luna was in the school kitchens. It was 2:00 AM, the perfect time for a high-level mage to perform her most complex ritual: making the perfect cheese toastie without waking the head cook.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZV2q3bTRD
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She used a delicate Heat Manipulation spell to toast the bread to a perfect golden brown while simultaneously using Spatial Isolation so the smell of melting cheddar wouldn't drift upstairs.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0re4leB9pX
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"Exquisite," she whispered, lifting the sandwich.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gr9qvUmyU
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"I RECRUIT YOU!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7NNPE6po3
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Luna didn't jump—jumping required too much energy—but she did accidentally singe the crust of her toastie. She turned slowly.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWiT7iQfdT
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Prince Alistair was standing in the kitchen doorway. He was wearing silk pajamas with his own face embroidered on the pocket. He was holding a scroll tied with a massive gold ribbon.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmXeIjDJNl
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"It's two in the morning," Luna said, her voice like a flat line. "Why are you in the kitchen? Did you run out of hairspray?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WrmCKYsYO
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Alistair marched forward, though he stayed at least five feet away from her, as if her "ordinariness" might be contagious. He unrolled the scroll with a flourish.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMedya0ee8
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"I have decided to give you the greatest honor a commoner can receive! I am hiring you as my Personal Secret Shadow Guard!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomAvxqWcnX
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Luna took a bite of her toastie. "No."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvZGv5oafW
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Alistair choked on his own breath. "No? Did you hear the words? 'Personal.' 'Secret.' 'Shadow.' It’s like a spy novel! I’ll pay you in gold! I’ll give you a badge!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3H2BbzABb
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"I don't want a badge," Luna said, chewing slowly. "Badges are shiny. Shiny things attract eyes. Eyes lead to people talking to me. My answer is no. Go back to bed, Alistair. You’re getting eye bags."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRUX7gEJZA
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"WAAAAAH! You're so mean!" Alistair slumped onto a kitchen stool, his dramatic energy deflating instantly. "Please! Ever since that Shadow-Stalker, I can't sleep! I keep thinking every shadow is a claw! And the Headmaster told me that as a 'Rank F,' you need the extra credit or you’ll be expelled!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpOREZPZdX
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Luna paused. That old man. He’s using the Prince to force me to do my job.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81qC4sA4me
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"Expelled?" Luna narrowed her eyes. "If I’m expelled, I have to go back to my village. My mother makes me do chores. She makes me... socialize at the harvest festival."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zYnf5VduB
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A shudder ran down Luna's spine. Chores were worse than monsters.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4JmUWjZtk
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"Fine," Luna sighed. "I’ll be your 'Shadow Guard.' But on three conditions. One: You never tell anyone I’m doing it. Two: You stay at least three steps away from me at all times. Three: You stop crying when you see a bug."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5FlVEjdqi
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Alistair beamed, his face lighting up like a sun god. "I accept! Except for the bug thing! Some of them have far too many legs, Luna! It’s unnatural!"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGVTOVJCQM
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"Whatever," Luna said, sliding the second half of her cheese toastie toward him. "Eat this and be quiet. You’re giving me a headache."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJlSUgFuLU
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Alistair looked at the toastie. He looked for a fork. He looked at Luna. Seeing her deadpan glare, he nervously picked it up with his bare fingers.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKd8wbupeC
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"It’s... it’s crunchy," he whispered, eyes widening as he took a bite. "And warm? I’ve never had food that wasn't served on a silver platter by a man named Geoffrey."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5ufAgxtGu
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"It's called 'bread and cheese,' your Highness," Luna muttered, leaning against the counter. "Welcome to the real world. It’s boring. You’ll hate it."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy8Bf2URdy
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As the Prince happily munched on the "peasant food," Luna looked out the window. She had a feeling her quiet, invisible life was about to get extremely loud.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pUKh0O3Eb
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