Since I had been over the forms just a little over a week ago, I didn't pay attention to the Report. I couldn't be bothered with anything, but James gave me a little nudge when no one was looking and gestured for me to pay attention.
I didn't listen, though, I wouldn't be Matt if I did. I broke the rules, I didn't follow them.
"Prince Matthew, what did you think of the girls?" Damon asked, shoving the microphone into my face.
"All of them seem like enchanting ladies." I answered, plastering a fake smile on my face. "I'm excited to see what they are like when I get to know them."
Damon nodded, and then turned to my sister-in-law, Alexis, and spoke to her. "Princess Alexis, you were once in these girls position, would you like to give them any advice?"
Alexis shifted a little, she didn't like public appearances, and she would probably avoid the Selected since she was painstakingly shy. "Have fun here, don't think of it as a competition. Get to know the girls, I'm still friends with some of the Selected who were in James' Selection."
James shot Alexis a little smile before he spoke in her place, "The Selection isn't going to be easy for anybody, both sides are equally as hard so keep that in mind."
Mom and Dad filled the country in on what was happening recently. At the end of it, Damon looked at the camera. "That's all for now, Illea. We're all looking forward to meeting these lovely ladies."
Today was the day the Selected were coming. All thirty-five of them. Actually they were already here, they arrived around breakfast time, but instead of going to greet them at the dessert buffet, after they ate breakfast. I headed to the 'Family Room' as Mom liked to call it. You know, I didn't get the point of meeting at a dessert buffet after they had just had breakfast, but I guess they couldn't think of any more ideas.
I saw Rylie sitting in the corner with her friend, Jessie. I swear the only time I actually saw the twelve year old in Rylie was when they were together. They were probably giggling at some stupid joke.
James and Alexis were sitting near them, smiles of content adorned their faces. Alexis had a slight glow to her face, she was pregnant and that was probably why. The whole palace knew that they were expecting, but they didn't tell us. It was pretty easy to guess though despite Alexis not being far in her pregnancy. They wanted to live in their own little bubble so no one said anything.
I headed over to Rylie and Jessie, "I'm supposed to meet the Selected, would you two come with me?" I asked, bluntly. I didn't have time to sugarcoat anything.
Jessie raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
There's always a 'why?', isn't there? "I'm meeting thirty-five girls. You two are girls."
Rylie rolled her emerald coloured eyes before mumbling something under her breath, and getting up to join me. I just narrowed my eyes at her, she was most likely mumbling about me.
"Come on, Jess. He won't shut up unless we go." Rylie uttered, rubbing her head slightly. "I have a headache."
"You can stay here if you want," I offered. What? I'm not heartless, she's my little sister. "I don't mind."
"It's okay, it's hurting a lot, lets go meet your future wife." She announced, a little too cheerfully. She was enjoying this.
I let out a groan, I really didn't want this.
I walked out of the room, Jessie and Rylie trailing behind. I could hear bits of their whispers, but I couldn't decipher what they were saying.
"Where do you want to start?" Rylie questioned, walking to stand next to me.
"Where the red velvet cupcakes are." I responded automatically, I loved red velvet cupcakes.
Rylie nodded, and they both led the way to the stand that held them. The stand looked the same as the others, they all had cream coloured cloths on the table and delicious delicacies placed on them, but even when I was kid I was always went to the stand holding the red velvet cupcakes.
When I got there I noticed there was another person there. Judging from her platinum blonde hair, it was Lady Rosalyn. I glanced at her, from the corner of my eye, and grabbed a cupcake.
All of a sudden, a gentle hand landed on my shoulder. It was Evelyn, and from the looks of it Rylie and Jessie had gone to talk to some other Selected. She leaned upwards, and whispered, "Talk to her."
I exhaled, quietly, and spoke. "Lady Rosalyn, right?"
Her body twisted, turning to face us, her ocean coloured eyes drinking me in and they seemed to scan over us, she looked like she was thinking something before she nodded slightly.
"I feel so short," Evelyn whispered, and I held back a little laugh. Evelyn always hated her height, it wasn't like she was short, she just didn't like it.
"How are you enjoying the palace? Is everything going smoothly?" I asked. James had gone over what seemed like a hundred rules, and one of them included making the Selected feel like they mattered. In other words, don't mess things up.
"Y-yeah, everything's fine." She replied as I looked at her properly. The photo didn't do her justice, she was gorgeous. "Oh, and it's just Rose, Your Highness."
I nodded at her while Evelyn took the cupcake from my hand. "Just call me Matt then, Rose."
As she nodded, I excused myself. I had thirty-four girls left to meet.
"By the way, I took your cupcake because it's rude to talk to anyone when you're eating." She stated.
I sighed, she was right. I looked over to my right, it's where all the chocolate was placed. There was dark chocolate, a chocolate fountain and some other chocolate related stuff.
"Lets go over there." Evelyn said already making her way to the chocolate fountain, she loved chocolate covered strawberries so it was no surprise she chose to go over there.
When we got there, there were two other girls: Lady Felicity-Rose and Lady Florence. Lady Florence was on the side with the dark chocolate while Lady Felicity-Rose was near the chocolate fountain.
I didn't know who to go to first so I just followed Evelyn to the chocolate fountain. Lady Felicity-Rose had fiery, red hair that was tied in a ponytail. While her hair resembled a burning fire, her eyes were a icy blue. She was wearing a light sundress which fitted her hourglass figure.
"Lady Felicity-Rose," I greeted, Evelyn already seemed to have acquainted herself.
"It's just Felicity, Your Highness." She spoke quietly, giving me a tiny smile.
"Well, don't bother with the 'Your Highness' stuff, just call me Matt," I said. I looked at Evelyn and she was gesturing me to smile, so I turned back to Felicity and gave her my absolute best fake smile.
She looked like she was thinking about saying something, but she kept her mouth shut. Looking like she didn't want to insult me. Instead, she took a strawberry and dipped it into the chocolate fountain and ate it.
"So how's your stay here so far, Felicity?" I asked observing her eat.
She hesitated, "It's wonderful here." She stared at me, as if she was trying to see what I was really like. We stared in silence until, I dismissed myself, wandering over to the other side of the table, where the dark chocolate was at, and standing there was, Lady Florence? I think... when I said I looked at the forms what I meant was that I glanced at them.
I looked at Evelyn again, hoping Florence couldn't see my lips.
"Florence?" I mouthed. Evelyn stared at me, looking as if she was going to kill me since I really didn't bother with the forms. She gave a hesitant nod.
Florence had black hair that went down to her chest with emerald green eyes. She was fiddling with her bracelet as she watched me approach. She seemed very familiar somehow. And then it clicked.
I stopped in my tracks, causing Evelyn to run into me, Rylie to run into Evelyn, and Jessie to run into Rylie. The duo had turned up after I talked to Felicity. I turned around and each one of them were glaring at me.
"What are you doing?" Evelyn whisper-screamed at me, "Go talk to her! She could be your future wife."
Ouch. That hurt. Future wife? She looked too much like her. I suddenly felt the urge of hugging Florence as she studied me curiously, why did she have to look like her? I felt a shove on my back and then I realized that I was now standing in front of Florence, she was looking at me like I was an idiot. Curse you Evelyn.
"How are you doing, Lady Florence?" I asked, backing away a bit. I could surely hear the hurt in my voice. I cleared my throat, staring past her.
"I'm doing fine, what about you, Prince Matthew?" Her voice was steady, with ease. It hurt.
I plastered a fake smile on my face, trying to cover up any sadness she saw, "Well, you can call me Matt, if you please to." I grabbed a dark chocolate, filled with caramel and I popped it into my mouth, avoiding eye contact.
"Then you can call me Florence," she said, fiddling with her bracelet again, then stopped and looked up at me. I averted my eyes.
"How's the chocolate?" I asked, before she could ask or say anything.
She smiled, showing white pearly teeth, and spoke softly. "It's delicious"
I nodded, "It definitely is." She fiddled with her bracelet once more. I turned my head to Evelyn, who was staring up at me, her eyes, seemed to say I realise why you're so hesitant now and she stared at me with sorrow in her eyes. Damn those eyes.
"You think we should go?" I whispered at her. She shrugged, grabbing chocolate off of a plate.
I turned back around, seeing Florence staring at me again, I sighed, "Well, I need to go now, I have thirty-two more girls to talk to."
She gave me a small nod, and I started walking to the table on my right, where the chocolate cakes were. She was really interesting. What the hell is happening? Why the fuck am I like this? I shook my head and concentrated in the next girl. There, stood Lady Rhea, the astronomer, with sandy brown hair that went down to her waist. Her hair was clearly layered with faint streaks of red highlights. She was holding a plate with a thin slice of chocolate cake.
"Lady Rhea, how's your day going so far?" I asked, staring into her eyes. It looked blue from a far distance, but when closer, it was gray. Her eyes covered up her emotions very well.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but closed it before reopening it and then she spoke, "It's just Rhea, but I'm doing fine, Your Highness." Her voice sounded cold. She looked extremely thin and she didn't smile at all. Although, she was one of the prettiest girls I've seen.
Snap out of it Matt.
"If I call you Rhea, you can call me Matt." I said, smiling at her, hoping she would crack a smile. She didn't budge and besides I'm not supposed to care.
I tried to ease things up, "How are you enjoyi-"
She cut me off before I could even finish, "I have to go." She set down her cake and walked off to another table.
What's up with her? She seemed like she was hiding something, but why should I bother? She's probably just playing hard to get.
I kept walking, staring straight ahead saying something loud enough to so that on, Evelyn could hear, "That was definitely awkward" I emphasized awkward a bit.
"Yep," Evelyn murmured, as we arrived at the next table. The stand that displayed the cream cakes. Standing there was a girl with dirty blonde hair and at the top of her head, were brown roots.
I felt two hands cup my ear, hearing the voice of Evelyn, "Lady Rowena." I nodded and kept going forward, capturing Rowena's attention.
"Your Highness," she said, setting down the slice of cake and curtsying. Wow, such confidence to greet me first.
"Lady Rowena, you may call me Matt if you'd like to," I said, waiting for a reaction.
She smiled, "Then you can call me Rowena, if you'd like."
"Enjoying your cake?" I ran my hand through my hair.
"Smakuje jak w niebie!"She smirked at me. I raised my eyebrows, blinking.
"What?" I asked, my eyes widened a bit. What the hell did she say?
She laughed out loud, causing some attention toward us, "It means 'It tastes like heaven!' In Polish!"
"Oh, I didn't know," I gave her a friendly smile. Wow I'm really starting to loosen up a bit, around the girls. I can't do that.
I heard someone try and stifle a laugh behind me. I looked back and saw Evelyn covering her mouth with her hand and then quickly cleared her throat. I rolled my eyes and faced Rowena again.
"Well, I think it's time to go to another table... since I still have tons of girls to talk to, but yeah." I excused myself and walked over to another table, sighing.
"What, do you need a break or something?" Evelyn spoke up. She hated when I didn't do things properly or didn't finish something I said I would do.
I thought about it, "I wish I could, but there are so many girls here!" I imagined myself sleeping on a memory-foamed cushion, that sounds like heaven.
I heard Evelyn make a disagreeing sound, "It's only been like, what? Twenty or thirty minutes?"
I grunted, "And that's a really long time to me! I could be doing prince-ly stuff."
"That's not even a word." She responded, glaring at me as we arrived at the pie table seeing a girl standing there with wavy brown hair and was wearing a dark blue tunic dress, who noticed me and blushed, setting down a nectarine-yogurt pie.
"Your Highness," she mumbled, dipping into a curtsy.
I smiled at her formalities, "No need for that, call me Matt." Her face turned cherry red, as she nodded.
"Blue whales are considered the largest animals in the world," I heard her mutter.
I raised my right eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
Girls are weird.
It took a minute for her to process what I had said before her eyes widened and she covered her mouth.
"Oh, I didn't mean to say that Matt, I just- um, well, yeah there's no really an explanation for this," She stammered. She looked like she was about to say something, but chose to shut her mouth.
She hesitated, avoiding my eye, "You can call me Larissa then." I just realized that I didn't know her name till now.
"Well, Larissa I hope you're having a lovely experience so far the others have enjoyed the palace, from what I've heard," I concluded with that sentence.
"Or so they say," I heard her murmur as I left.
Okay, girls are really weird.
I felt a tug on my arm, and I saw Evelyn. Jessie and Rylie seemed to have walked away, again.
"Lets go there." She spoke, gesturing to a girl clad in a purple dress. I sighed a little, I need to get out of this. I need to think of something.
"Lady..." Damn, what's her name?
"Abigail Ashlynn Jones." She spoke, coldness in her voice. Why was she like that?
No, Matt, stop it! You're not supposed to care.
"You share the same name as Matt's Mom, well you have her first name as your middle name." Evelyn stated.
Oh, yeah, she does. Doesn't she?
She gave Evelyn a smile. "Yeah I do, but you can call me Abby."
Is she just talking to Evelyn? I didn't want to feel left out so I jumped into the conversation.
"You can call me Matt."
She glanced at me and then Evelyn started talking to her. Okay, so I'm guessing they don't want to talk to me. I'm totally okay with that.
Wait, wait, wait, Evelyn isn't paying attention. I could sneak out. The guards have to listen to me, they don't have a choice.
I walked away as they chatted. I saw Lady Cecily as I made my way out. I think she was the descendant of a rebel. It was either her or someone else. Oh well, who cares? The rebels are pretty much nonexistent right now.
I quickly ducked out of Rylie's view, and made my way to my room. This wasn't my idea of talking to girls.
A/N: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'd like to give a huge thanks to AbbyIsHere who helped me a whole lot in this chapter, go check out her SYOC The Pick, they are still some spots left, I seriously can't thank you enough. Also, I tried to make Matt and his family use more American words because technically Illea was America, it won't be perfect, but I'll try. Thanks for reading!
