Written and edited by AmityWrites
Chapter 10
"Can I sit here?" I asked a petite girl with short, wavy brown hair. She smiled brightly and patted the seat.
"It's all yours. I'm Francesca, never call me Franny. You're Gabriella, right?" I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm Gabriella, never call me Gabby." I mirrored and she let out a buoyant laugh at my sarcastic comment.
We had arrived at the Palace about two hours ago, and the first ninety minutes were spent over makeovers. Aparently, the princes had requested no drastic changes to appearances, which I was thankful for. My hair was still blond, and although the eye makeup they applied didn't change my eye's plain brown color, it amplified my facial features. I noticed that a couple of the sixes could definitely use a haircut to say the least. While I was sitting in the chair, I studied my competition and wondered if they were doing the same. Jocelynn Keith, a skinny blond from Dominica, and Giada Rosales from Atlin, who was the reincarnation young Princess Nicoletta, statuesque, golden-skinned, and coffee brown hair. I had seen her on a couple of the magazines from Illéa and Italy, and wondered if she was here for an alliance or a popularity booster. Both girls stared me down and sized me up like a piece of meat.
Outside we could hear the staff bustling to organize, deliver, and unpack our luggage. The Selected were in a wide, airy room with large windows, marble floors, and dazzling ceilings. Our "teacher" Silvia, and her assistant and future successor Antonia, called it the Great room. I looked around at all the girls in the room and only recognized a few of them. A girl with bouncy black curls and dark skin, Lillian Holloway, was seated next to Helena Wyman and Aaliyah Ramsy. Helena looked plain and uninteresting, but was pretty enough. Aaliyah had a defined face with mysterious, calculating eyes that contrasted an amiable smile. Her hair was thick and dark and messy, but she was able to pull it off and still look gorgeous. All three flew with me to Angeles. Lillian was from Calgary, Aaliyah, Dakota, and Helena from Denbeigh.
A sharp, distinct voice split though the chatter of seventy girls like a knife through bread.
"Good afternoon, ladies. My name is Silvia, and I will be your instructor, so as you don't make a total fool of yourself in front of the Royal family and all of Illéa. But, I will explain that later. Now, you will each meet the prince that picked you, one by one, until he dismisses you. May I remind you of two rules: first, you may not date the prince that did not select you and second, the prince makes the dates, not you. Let's begin." Antonia stepped forward, wearing a simple celestial blue dress with an A line skirt.
"First up, we have the girls from Bonita, Finley Navi and Rowan Helbring. Prince Cassian is in the door to the right, Prince Kian to the left." Two girls stood up, one with tan skin and brown hair, almost the same color, with a magenta orchid in her hair, and a dress that looked like ocean waves. The other had wavy golden blond hair and flaunted a tight but classy burgundy dress.
Antoina gradually inched through the provinces, in no particular order.
"From Lakedon, Honora Redmond and Lydia Kincaid."
"From Sonage, Alera Lester and Saylor Mayman."
"From Denbeigh, Francesca Shadwick and Helena Wyman." Francesca squeezed my hand and let out a little squeal before hopping to her feet and exiting to the door on the left. Thank god I wasn't competing with her. She was growing on me. I whispered good luck as she waved.
"From Dakota, Aaliyah Ramsy and Gabriella Biyen." Sitting straight, I realized my name had been called. My hands felt restless. I was nervous, and I hated that. Prince Cassian was just a guy, like any other. That was what I tried to convince myself. I opened the door and I was face to face with a possible heir to the throne.
Cassian was no doubt handsome like his father. His hair was brown, wading towards red like Queen America's. He held himself with confidence and debonair, but was also approachable.
"Good afternoon, Lady Gabriella." He greeted. I walked forward, and couldn't help but smile.
"Hello," I replied, not entirely sure what to say to a prince, but I was willing to fake it until I make it. "How are you?"
"Wow, someone who isn't entirely focused on their selves. It's like a breath of fresh air. To answer your question, I'm feeling much better now, thank you." I blushed at his smart comment, trying not to laugh.
"I never knew the Prince of Illéa was so sassy. You'd better watch out, or they'll crown you Reigning King of Sarcasm." No! No, please tell me that was just in my head and not out of my mouth. I did not just say that to the Prince of Illea. But alas, the words were out in the open, and the Head Guard was suppressing a pathetic laugh. Cassian bit his lip to keep from letting out a laugh. I felt like a fool.
"Well, all I can say is that you're unique. It's been a pleasure, Lady Gabriella." I curtsied and rushed out of the room as a guard opened the door for me. Antonia called out, "Lucille Gallow and Aubrey Kemp from Belcourt." I waited for another thirty minutes until everyone was finished. The last person to leave the rooms were the girls from Hansport, Sage Irving, a timid, shy little thing, and Melanie Gangler, who flaunted whatever she had. Antonia quickly gave us room numbers and announced the girls that would be rooming together. This came as a surprise to everyone, but the only girls who seemed to care were Lucille, Alera, and Jocelynn.
I walked into my room and held back a gasp as I took everything in. A lush comforter covered a bed that was large enough for two was in one corner, and identical on the other side. Two large wardrobes stood to the right of the bed, with a quaint yet elegant nightstand next to it. Three girls dressed in plain black dresses and beach white aprons entered in from what I assumed was the bathroom.
"Good afternoon miss. Are you Lady Francesca, or Lady Gabriella."
"I'm Gabriella-wait, Francesca is with me?"
"Yes, didn't Antonia explain the arrangements, miss?" The oldest one wondered. She was tall and looked more like a gymnast than a maid. She was physically strong.
I shrugged. "I guess I wasn't listening closely. And you don't need to call me miss, just so you know." The girl in the middle scrunched her eyebrows like it was the most ridiculous thing anyone had ever said.
"Then what shall we call you, miss?"
"Gabriella? Like, my name? And what are your names by the way?"
The three looked at each other excitedly, sharing some secret conversation that only they could understand. "I'm Grace, and this is Marie and Lara. Marie is fourteen, I'm twenty, and Lara's our little tag-a-long. She's twelve, and mute." I nodded, smiling. They seemed so young to be working at the palace, but obviously knew what they were doing because the room was spotless. I lied down on my bed as Francesca entered the room, already chattering about the girls, princes, palace, and everything in between. I hoped I stayed as long as Francesca; I didn't want to leave her. Closing my eyes, I thought about everything that had happened today, and still couldn't believe I was here. Apparently I fell asleep, because I was awakened to the sound of screaming.