this is a filler chapter. i mean, it goes with everything but it's not any scenes from the movies or anything
"So are we in separate rooms or altogether?" Michelle asked as they walked the strange halls of the factory.
"The rooms are big enough for all of you to fit into one with plenty of room to spare. The prince would prefer if you were all together to see how you handle being in the same room with many differently personalities."
"Why?" she asked, making a face.
"Prince William doesn't get out very much, as you know, and if the media needs to be handled or anything in that regard, he needs to know you'll be able to handle the stress of all types of the paparazzi. Believe me, there's more than one type. Some of them are quite thorough while others are laid back. Plus, being the wife of the prince will put you in the spotlight, your life most likely not resting for a moment as you represent the castle-factory."
"So… he just sits back while we do all the work?" Veruca asked, putting her hand on her hip.
Ian sighed. "No, it's nothing like that. His Majesty is… complicated."
"Complicated? How do you mean?"
He's quite like you, actually… he thought but kept his opinion to himself.
"He's quite shy and also has a fear of the sunlight. Going out in public would only cause him to go into hysterics, I'm sure."
A noise made everyone jump and Ian furrowed his eyebrows. Charley looked around a little and thought she saw a shadow move on the wall going up another hallway. She turned to ask if anyone else had seen what she did but they had all walked ahead of her and she ran to catch up.
"When do we get to meet him?" Augusta asked.
"It will be a while, I'm afraid…" Ian stopped in front of a large door and waved his hand to it. "This is your stop, ladies. Freshen up and I'll send for someone to come and get you so that you can have a tour of the factory, covering some of the basics and most used rooms and such. Tomorrow, you'll have a tour of the castle and after that we will be taking one room at a time in the factory. You must know most or if not all of the rooms of the factory since there are many hidden ones that are very important to production. The prince would rather you focus your energy on learning about what he does than just meeting him."
The four girls frowned but Charley nodded in understanding. He really was an odd guy but his reasonings were very sound to her. He is a reclusive prince that has just announced to the world he is taking a bride and a contest will give him suitors; now that these suitors are here, although it would be nice to see the prince they were vying for, focusing on what happens and what will be done after being married (if even) will let him know if the suitor is suitable for not only his hand, but his business.
"Now, if you girls want to pick your beds and freshen yourselves up, maybe change into something a little more comfortable, I'll be sending a maid to bring you to lunch where we will discuss the itinerary for today and tomorrow. Excuse me for a moment."
He gave a small bow and left the hallway.
Ian knocked on the door and heard a rough gruff noise and decided that that was his cue to come in. He opened the door and went to the desk where his master's body was hunched over.
"Um, Will?"
William turned to his advisor and looked at him funny for a second.
"What is it, Ian?"
"I didn't know if you were aware that your potential brides are here? Or do you prefer to have them spooked before I even make up stories?"
William frowned at his advisor. "I heard what you said about me."
"Oh, don't be such a pissy boot, you know it's true. You're afraid of the sun, and that's understandable, but they don't know much about you and so when they ask questions about your odd behavior, I have to tell them the truth. Considering you're not going to reveal yourself until the last girl is standing, I think they deserve to understand the prince they are supposed to marry."
"No matter. Did they sign the contracts pretty seamlessly?"
"Without a hitch and without looking at them. I will admit that you were right about making these contracts up due to your… "carefully planned" tour. The only person who seemed concerned was the newer girl from your contest. Her name is Charley Bucket."
"Interesting name. I'm going to say hello to her."
"And how will you do that? Sneak to the crack in her door and whisper sweet nothings to her and hope to god she doesn't open the door too quickly?"
"I know how to communicate without getting myself caught."
"Because that lovely echoing snarl that erupted from you a moment ago was just that, inconspicuous."
William made a face at his friend as Ian crossed his arms. He sighed and hunched over again.
"I'll never get to see her…"
"There's cameras all over the castle-factory, Will, I'm sure you'll catch a glimpse of her. Besides, I'm sure she'll end up in the West Wing."
"What makes you say that?"
"You told me to do research on her and unlike the other girls, she doesn't have a selfish bone in her body unless it regards her family of sorts, so I had to figure out what she couldn't resist. She's a bookworm."
William seemed to brighten a bit. "Is she?"
"Yeah but the thing is is that the only thing I could think of was the lure of the grand library… which is in-"
"The West Wing… right…" he said, saddening again. Then he brightened and Ian thought he was going to get whiplash from the sudden changes of mood. "Wait, I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"Well, the West Wing is technically off limits but the rose isn't near the library. It's in my old bedroom. Technically, the test is the same as the other girls because yes, the West Wing is off limits but the library can be accessed from a different route. I think the real test is her curiosity."
"And… how do you propose that if the other rooms will be locked?"
"Have one of the objects lure her to the door. You'll have to tell everyone that the West Wing is off limits, which will pique curiosity, but while the others will most likely not care for a library and go do something else, Ms. Bucket will linger, probably in awe. So, have one of the objects lure her the door of my old bedroom. This ancient castle still has a lot of the same old locks from a long time ago, my room being one of them, and if she looks through the keyhole, she'll see the rose. That will be the test."
Ian made a face. "Are you sure you want to put the rose at risk like that?"
"Well, the only way she'll get in is 1) finding the key or 2) jimmying the lock. If she's that desperate…"
"I see… alright then. I'll see what we can do. I'll have a talk with the objects and see what wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary."
"That's an understatement for the whole castle, Ian. Do you think it would be romantic of me to write letters to the girls?"
"I think it would… Like a 'roses are red and violets are blue' thing?"
"You know, chocolates, flowers, promises I don't intend to keep…"
"Really?"
"I'm just joking, Ian. Anyway, Genevieve is going to escort them to the dining room, yes?"
"Yeah, I just have to find her."
"Well then, I'll observe from here and get to know them a little and when you take them on the tour, I'll compose my letters and slip them into the rooms."
"If that's what you want, your highness. I guess it would be helpful for the girls to show that you do want to connect with them, although roundabout."
William gave some sort of smirk and Ian went to check on lunch and find Genevieve.
As the girls started putting their little bits of clothing away, Violet turned around and walked to the center of the room.
"Listen up." She said loudly. The other girls turned. "I don't know why you four think that you're going to win the prince when it's clear that I'm the best one suited for the job."
"Says who?" Michelle said, playing on her Gameboy as she glanced over at Violet.
"Says everything. I'm the most ambitious and most dedicated to my causes than any one of you bitches."
"We haven't even started yet and you think you have ambition?" Michelle said, lifting an eyebrow. "You're pretty full of yourself, aren't you?"
"Why are you even here?" Veruca said. "I saw you on the telly and you said that you didn't even like candy. It makes no sense for you to be here."
"Same could be said for you, princess. In fact, you should be disqualified. You didn't even find the ticket yourself! You got your rich daddy to do it for you. You're already rich, so what benefit doesn't marrying the prince have for you?"
"Obviously, more money and fame. Americans…" she said, rolling her blue eyes and folding some clothes.
"Still doesn't account for the fact that you kind of cheated. Yeah, I don't exactly like candy but I'm good with numbers and other stuff so at least I'll be useful to the prince, unlike you or Autobahn-bon over there. Between the two of you, one will eat the merchandise before it's even out of the factory and the other will spend the money before it's even processed to buy more supplies. So… yeah… I don't like Ambitious Betty over there but at least she'll be able to promote the shit out of everything and most likely get new investors and turn over a good profit."
"What about her? Don't you have any snarky words for her?" Veruca said, pointing at Charley.
Charley looked up at them in confusion, not having paid any attention to their conversation. Charley smiled nervously.
"I don't care either way. Winning or losing isn't my goal."
"And what is your goal?" August asked as she popped a chocolate nugget into her mouth from the bag on the nightstand.
"I don't know. I wasn't trying to get a silver invitation. I just wanted a piece of candy and got lucky. I guess I will just learn what I can from here and hope that I'm able to win his heart like the rest of you… or whatever it is you're doing."
Violet narrowed her eyes at Charley and pointed at her.
"I don't trust you. You're too goody-goody and those are always the ones to watch out for. One minute they're your friend, the next they're pushing you down the stairs or something. Besides, I don't believe that innocent act for a second."
"You are kind of suspicious." Michelle said.
Charley made a face. "Just because I wasn't actively looking for the invitation and happened to get lucky doesn't mean I have an ulterior motive."
"No one is that lucky." Veruca said. "Daddy always says that 'luck comes with money' and from the way you dress and what you brought with you, I can you don't have any money."
Charley sighed and shrugged. "Say what you will."
Violet and Veruca looked at each other and each smiled fakely at each other.
"Let's be friends!"
"Best friends!"
poor charley. not everyone has to be narcissisticly ambitious all the time, ya know?
and what william was saying is that having the library in the west wing really isn't anything because the doors are locked where the enchanted rose is except for the library. if not brought to charley's attention, the rose would be safe and there would be no 'test' for her