Lydia POV

Oh, there comes Prince Vikram.

Your highness. May I know where I can get some paper to write?

" Do you want to write back home? But aren't you supposed to write back home only on Saturday?"

Your Highness, actually since some of them are leaving for Illea this thursday, I thought maybe I could give this to one of them to leave it at the royal cemetery.

"Cemetry?"

Yes your highness, my mother passed away eight years ago. She was a airhostess but she died in the royal tragedy. She always dreamt of being part of a selection. Now I wished to relate my experiences to her.

"Oh, I am so sorry for your loss. Come along I will see whether some paper can be arranged. There should be some in the study. By the way, you need not call me 'Your Highness', Vikram would be fine."

Okay your hi...

Vikram glanced at me with those gorgeous black eyes of his.

Sorry Vikram.

"Shall we consider this a date? I haven't taken any of the girls out yet."

Of course yo...Vikram.

Vikram guided me through some rooms and reached an elaborate doorway.

"This is my study. Come in."

Vikram handed me some paper.

"Sit. I know this is very awkward. I really don't understand how the Illeans managed this. Talking to 35 girls, taking them on dates and then finding the one."

Oh Vikram, my mother used to say that even then the princes had a lot of problems rebel spies, girls who wanted their money etc. They just finally followed their heart.

"So why did you come here?"

I came here to fulfillmy mother's and step-mother's dream. They both wanted to be selected but unfortunately that didn't happen.

"I have read in storybooks that stepmothers are evil..."

Not all are. My stepmother is a star. She loves all my siblings as well as her kids equally. She was equally overjoyed that I got in. Although her daughters did not.

"Oh, there are stepmothers who are nice?"

Like mothers, there are good and bad stepmothers. For example, my friend Emma's mom is very cruel although Emma is her own blood.

I glanced at the clock. There was only two more hours for the other girls to leave.

Oh I better get going. There is only three hours for them to leave.

"I better not hold you back. It was great meeting you, Miss Lydia"

He knows my name. I walked out of the room all ready to write my letter. I was running to my room when a leg tripped me.

"Well, who do we have here? The scrump from St. George? What was your name? Some Miss Lydia rite?"

It was Miss Violet Marina Shine. She stood over me. Tears started forming in my eyes. Violet circled around me.

"A skeleton, flat-chested, plain? Wonder what the prince saw in you to select."

"A character you don't have, Miss Violet. Now you may do the grace to go pack your bags, you have to leave after all." Boomed Prince Jai.

He walked up to me and helped me up.

"Are you okay?"

Violet stuttered, "Your highness, I already packed my bags to go to Illea."

Jai then said, "I meant home. In case you did not know in the selections, I and Pia have equal rights to send you home. I will speak to my brother. I am certain he wouldn't want such a girl into the palace."

Your highness, it's okay. I am fine. Please don't send her home.

"Miss Lydia, in case you haven't read the terms, let me inform you that attacking another selected in anything but self-defence is not forgivable. So is any sort of cheating."

Violet ran off in tears.

"Miss Lydia, you too might want to pack your bags."

But your Highness, I did...

"You will accompany us to Illea in Violet's place."

Thank you your highness.

"You can call me Jai."

Okay Jai.

As Lydia hurried away to pack her bags and write the letter with a wide smile and Jai went into the study, far off another set of eyes watched the entire scene with fear in her eyes and thought one more down, 26 more to go excluding her.