I get it.. I've neglected you babes long enough, which is why I'm back with a new chapter! :D And in this chapter, the moment some of you have been waiting for! Rose finally meets the men! Woot woot! Now, I'm going to step back, and let you see how that goes... ;)

~DA2014

Let Your Heart Lead The Way

Chapter 10

Back in the safety of her room, Rose sat pondering all the words she had just heard.

He had given her so many things about her mother that nobody in the Palace was willing to give her. He had also told her that her people basically resented the royal family. And that was not good.

How can I fix the damage that my father has caused?

The thought danced in her mind until her bedroom doors were suddenly thrust open. And in stormed her father with a pissy huff.

"I want him gone, do you hear me? Belikov is going to be gone by morning, and that is that!"

Rose, deciding to play dumb for a moment, went and asked the question she was sure her father wanted to hear.

"What did he do?"

"How dare that fool talk to me in such a manner? Does he not know who I am? I am the King, and I will be treated as such!" Abe took a moment to stop and inhale a few breaths, calming himself. Then, he remained silent, but with a calculated look on his face. Until, finally, he spoke. "Tomorrow, after you meet the men, you have to take a few minutes to get to know a few basics about each of them. After that, you can make your first cuts. I want Belikov out. He is to be the first one you send home. Do I make myself clear?"

Rose stayed silent and just watched her father. She didn't know who he was anymore. He had always been someone she had admired, until he began keeping her at a distance. Slowly, over the course of many years, she had watched as her father fell into a tyrannical role. Maybe it was because he had never grieved, never accepted the fate of his beloved wife. Maybe it was because ruling the country was becoming to much. Or maybe, rose though, that was just the way her father was. Then, Rose looked her father in the eye and saw the fire that blazed. She knew it best to do whatever it took to passify her father.

"Yes sir. He will be gone by morning."

"Good."

Then her father turned and stormed from the door, much like the way he had come in.

He's a fool of he thinks that he can influence my life anymore. It's time I take matters into my own hands.

Rose, taking a moment to collect herself, turned to her closet, and changed into her nightgown, before crawling into bed and going to sleep. And in her sleep, once more, Rose dreamed of those eyes that had once stared down at her, the very same eyes she had neglected to look at tonight.

The next morning, Rose awoke and let Sydney and Jill lead her away to prepare her for her day.

"This is it, Miss. The day you get to meet the men! You must be so excited." Jill said lightly, in her tinkly little voice.

Jill was washing Rose's hair as Sydney prepared her dress. It was a simple number, really. Floor-length, a nice darkly rich red, and sleeveless too. There was a little rhinestone accenting to decorate the dress, bringing your eyes to the waist and the shoulders, and making it pop. And, the A-line fit to the dress would fit Rose comfortably, just the way she liked. Once Sydney had her dress laid out, she came over and started to scrub any blemish from Rose's skin, even though she had none. But, alas, it was part of the daily routine, so it had to be done.

Rose, so caught up in her own mind, hadn't heard the words as they fell from Jill's mouth. Rose had made it a point to get to know her maids, so Sydney found Rose's silence quite scary.

"Princess? Are you feeling well?" Sydney asked.

Rose, now startled out of her thoughts, looked at the two girls with wide eyes.

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Just got caught in my thoughts I suppose."

"Oh, well, we're done ma'am. When you're ready to get out, just call." Then the girls turned to leave.

"No, that won't be necessary. I'm ready to get out now. It seems the lavender isn't helping to calm my nerves any."

Jill abruptly turned to Sydney, and quietly asked, "How did she know about the lavender? We didn't put in a large enough amount that she'd notice!"

"Ladies, you usually do a mixture of pear and green apple. Something that is delicate and feminine, yet it seems to demand your attention. So, when I get into a bath that smells different, then I know something is up. Your questioning admittance does help though. Stick to the pear and apple mix. It works better."

Then Rose went to sit at her vanity, and began to brush through the soaked strands of tangled hair.

When her hair was brushed out, she removed her fingers and let Sydney's replace her own. Sydney worked quickly and diligently, pulling Rose's hair this was and that until it was in a tight, classy braided bun, secured at the nape of her neck. Rose turned away from the mirror and let Jill change her appearance even more with make up. Or, as Rose tended to call it, war paint.

As the hour came to a close, Rose was finished transforming for the day, and she donned her dress. It fit her like a glove, just like she knew it would. The color was perfect, and strangely, the dress gave Rose the confidence she'd need to get through the day. Drawing herself up to her full 5'8" height, Rose stepped into the matching heels and turned to face her maids.

"Sydney." Rose bowed her head briefly to the elder girl for a moment before turning to the other and doing the same. "Jill."

"Are you ready for the final touch, Miss?"

In answer, Rose bowed her head to Sydney and waited as she felt the final piece of her ensemble being put into place.

Her crown.

The tiny silver crown sat perfectly perched on the top of Rose's head, though it weighed more than Rose thought it should.

She had only ever worn her crown once in her life. During the time of her mother's death, when the entire kingdom was in mourning. Since then, it had been safely locked away, waiting for the moment Rose might need it again.

Well, if her own Selection didn't call for it, Rose wasn't sure what would.

With it in place, Rose stood tall and looked to the two other girls.

"Wish me luck ladies. I'm going to need it."

Then Rose turned and left the room.

Dimitri had just sat at the long breakfast table when the sound of trumpets was suddenly ringing throughout the room.

"Please arise for His Highness, King Ibrahim Mazur."

All the men stood at various speeds, though nobody rose faster than Dimitri.

After his encounter with the Princess the previous night, Dimitri had returned to his room. All throughout the night, sleep had managed to evade him. Had he made the right decision, telling her all he knew? Maybe he had, maybe he hadn't, but only time would be able to tell.

Then, the doors at the Northern most point of the room were thrust open, and in came the King. He stood tall, with his chest slightly puffed out, as if to make himself seem bigger. The King could be no more than 6'0", if that, and he was a broad man, but in a lean way. In other words, he was a complete opposite of Dimitri. But, remembering the protocol that had been drilled into his head by his mother, Dimitri dropped into a deep bow. He chanced a glance up, and realized that few other men knew what to do in the presence of the King, but were following the lead of the others who knew that when royalty entered the room, you were required to fall into a bow to show your respect.

"Rise, good Sirs and gentlemen. My daughter will be joining us shortly, but before she does, I'd just like to wish you all the best. You are all welcomed to the Palace, as part of her Selection. I can speak from experience, that the entire competition will be no easy task, though I can't say I know how you all will feel. But, alas, I'm sure you are all eager to meet her, and I stand in the way of that. Please, gentlemen, turn you attention to the Southern doors, and welcome my darling, Princess Rosemarie!"

With the King's words, all eyes turned to the doors at the opposite end of the room as they swung open. And they opened to reveal a real beauty.

There stood Princess Rosemarie, in a fetching red gown that did wonders for her figure and complexion. She stood tall, with her back straight, shoulders back, and her hands folded slightly in front of her. Her face was a mask, showing no emotion, though Dimitri could see the nervousness and slight touch of fear that glimmered in her eyes. How he could know what she was feeling was beyond his grasp, but he knew he was feeling the same emotions. The mere sight of the Princess had set Dimitri's heart aflame, beating millions of miles a minute. Her hands trembled slightly before she released her hold on herself and addressed the men.

"Good Lords, Sirs, and Gentlemen, I welcome you to my humble home. I hope you'll find everything you need to make yourselves comfortable. As you know, I am Princess Rosemarie, though I don't know all of you. And, with there being 35 of you, it may take some time to memorize all of your names. Please be patient with me, for I am trying. For now, I will let you enjoy your breakfast, and then after, I'd like to have some words with all of you."

Then, the Princess turned her attention from the men spread about in front of her to the table where her father sat, waiting for her to join him. Then, with more grace and poise than Dimitri thought possible, the Princess carried herself to the table and took her seat before waiting to be served breakfast.

When his own helping of fruits and pastries had been delivered and devoured, Dimitri turned to observe the other men. Some, who were obviously from the lower Castes, ate with their fingers, stuffing as much as they could into their bellies, fore they knew not when their last real meal would come. Those from the upper Castes ate with the cutlery laid before them, in small measured bites, and some even had the gall to turn away nearly all of their food!

Such wasteful fools, Dimitri thought. Food like this could keep my family of 8 fed for months!

"Sir Adrian Ivashkov, please follow me. I'll start with you for our little chat."

The Princess stood from her table, as did Adrian, and they moved to a far corner of the room, where a small table was set with two chairs. Adrian waited as the Princess took her seat first, then followed. Dimitri glanced at the King, and saw him nodding with a small smirk on his face.

Note to self: Let the Princess sit first.

Then, the men still seated at the table continued to eat and mill about, conversing with each other, while the Princess sat talking with her first suitor.

Several minutes passed before the Princess and Adrian stood, and he gave her a brief bow before returning to the table.

"Sir Mason Ashford, would you care to join me?"

Thus, Mason Ashford stood and walked to join the Princess.

The hours passed as the Princess exchanged some words with each suitor, though to varying lengths, until the last name was called. His own.

"Sir Dimitri Belikov, I believe it is now your turn."

So, Dimitri stood with as much elegance as he could muster and turned to approach the Princess.

And I'm cutting it off there! I know, cruel me. Making you wait so long, and then leaving you with a cliffhanger!

Well, my babes, how do you think it's going to go? Will Dimitri make it passed the first meeting with Rose? Or will she follow her father's instructions and send him packing?! Drop a review and tell me what you think!

Of course, ideas are always welcome, so if you ever want to see something, just say so!

Lots of love to all my darling readers!

And Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans!

~DA214