Hello, again, and thank you for the reviews! Sorry for the long wait with the next chapter…but now its here, so enjoy!
Zeta POV:
My first thought upon entering the palace is…well, I don't really have any thoughts. I am suddenly overcome with a sense of dizziness at the thought that this is where I will live for perhaps the next year of my life. We are met by a woman with graying hair pulled into a tight bun, and she introduces herself as Sylvia. After laying out the ground rules, she has us all escorted to our rooms.
Upon entering, I am greeted by three bustling women who remind me of my mother back at home. They cluck like mother hens and survey me, marveling at my beautiful light brown hair and strange eyes, one of them brown, one of them blue.
"What is your name, dear?" One of them, the oldest, asks.
"Zeta." I answer absently. I am staring at the balcony, marveling at the largeness of my room. I decide I never want to leave this place. In fact, that is a good idea. I decide to fake sick for the next few days until I get kicked out. It is honestly the best idea I have had since I got here. And in the meantime, I can do artwork.
My status as a six kept me from having the nice things I needed to do proper artwork, but when I was younger I would gather flower petals and arrange them in beautiful designs on the sidewalk. My mother always knew I was meant to be an artist, and it made her sad to see my talent wallow away on nothing.
"Are you feeling all right, dear?" Another one of my maids asks. I know this is my chance, so I swallow, put on my sick face, and shake my head. I hope to at least not have to go to dinner. The maid puts a hand to my forehead, and I know I am done for because my skin is naturally cold, part of what makes me so pale. The maid frowns, withdrawing her hand. "Well, perhaps a nap will do you good. I would imagine that the shock of moving into the palace has quite undone you. Do you need anything?" I shake my head, realizing with a start that a nap really does sound like a good idea.
"I think I just want to be alone for a while." I say, and the maids all nod in unison. Quickly, they all curtsy and scurry out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I curl up on the bed and decide a short nap WILL, in fact, do me good.
Benjamin's POV (at dinner):
The minute I see all of the girls chatting and laughing, I am paralyzed. But after a while I realize something: I have never been around girls much, but just by looking at this lot I can tell there is not one among them whom I like enough to be my wife. My father, Maxon, said that right away he distinguished my mother, America, even though she had given him quite the talking to the night before. He had known right away.
And all of these girls are just…normal.
There is no spark, no thoughts about who looks best, nothing. I don't feel anything. I begin to panic, but then realize that it is dinner, and I can observe them without being noticed.
It is then that I recall that one girl is missing. Zeta (at least I think that is her name) was sick and could not come to dinner. I resolve to visit her in the next few days, if she is not better by then.
My mother notices me staring, and she and father share a knowing look. "See anything you like?" Mother asks teasingly. I give a tentative nod and go back to eating, hoping they won't ask any more questions I am not prepared to answer.
Zeta POV:
After a few hours of feigning sick, I give up. There is no way in hell the maids are going to believe I am sick, especially if I want to be out and about. I decide it is not too late to go to dinner, if not just to meet the other girls, although I know I will see the prince there, too.
I rise from my seat next to a window, leaving my room and looking around, hoping I know which way to go. I turn and race down the steps, remembering that I should never wander the palace alone. Well, that concept went out the window pretty fast. In spite of myself, I grin. Then I remember where I am, and that grin vanishes instantly.
I hear giggling from down the hall, followed by dinnerware clinking against plates. The smell wafting my way makes my mouth water, and I follow my nose. I am about to enter the dining room when I bump into someone. Completely forgetting my manners, I lash out. "Hey! Watch where yo-" I cut off mid-sentence, because the crown prince stands next to me, a look of utter wonder on his face.
Benjamin's POV:
I had decided to leave dinner early, feeling quite overwhelmed by all the girls in one place, all for me. I had just left the dining hall when I ran into her.
I know immediately who she is. Not just by her name tag. her name just…it matches her perfectly. Her dark, almost-black hair hangs in waves that reach almost to her waist. Her skin is the color of polished ivory and flawless. But her eyes are the most intriguing of all. One is a deep chocolate brown, and one is a gray-blue, like ice. She catches herself mid-sentence, but I am too busy staring at her to notice.
My knees feel weak, like I have suddenly turned to jelly. I feel the sudden urge to reach out, touch her, see if she is real and won't shatter. I realize I am staring and look away. I know for certain three things.
She is the most beautiful creature I have ever met.
I am infatuated by her.
I am terrified by her.
I mumble a quick apology, feeling like an idiot. No longer in control of myself, I speed off along the hallway, turning a corner and leaning against a wall to catch my breath. I have never felt so winded in my life, and I have barely taken a few steps. All of these emotions in me come out in one question: Who are you, Zeta?
Love at first sight, how romantic! I will probably post another tomorrow, because I am so excited to get going on this, and I want to see how these two develop…because I honestly have no idea where I am taking myself to, either. -Alison