Chapter 22

The weeks had flown by into December and the palace was decorating for Christmas. Gem, Faith and Nora had all left bringing the selection down to 27.

Nora had left because she was homesick and James admitted to Gem and Faith that he had no romantic feelings for them so he dismissed them.

Michelle looked at the halls covered in beautiful garlands of tinsel and bulbs. The ballroom also had a big Christmas tree.

The king had given a specific dress code for the ball on Christmas day. All the guests had to wear clothes in either a Christmas or winter theme.

Michelle went back to her room.

She read the book James had given her for her birthday. It was about a young girl who dreamed of being a chef and owning her own restaurant, but her new job at a celebrity chef's restaurant who doesn't give her employees any respect, is trying to ruin every chance she got, but also falls in love with the restaurant's sous chef.

Alexis came in carrying some papers.

"Lady Michelle," she asked. "Chloe wants to know which style you'd like your dress to be for the Christmas ball the day after tomorrow."

Michelle got up and looked at the drawings. She then picked one and then Alexis left.

Christmas day arrived; Michelle loved the robes her maids had made for her. It was light blue and had fluffy white trimming. She looked like the winter but also cozy and warm.

She entered the ballroom in amazement. The tree was lit and everyone was dancing. She saw James dancing with Giselle. James wore a red tunic and Giselle wore green gown. Taylor and Dinette wore matching light blue clothes.

But Marcella really stood out as her dress had a cookie pattern on it while all the other costumes were red, green, gold, white or blue.

Michelle could see Emily trying to flirt with the officers. Emily wore a red ballgown. Ever since the birthday party incident, Emily and the quartet seemed to have backed down from Michelle, but once in a while, Emily would give a Michelle a look saying you'll be sorry.

Michelle remembered overhearing Emily yelling that she never wanted to see the colors pink and purple again, because Emily knew those were Michelle's favourite colors and that most of her princess dresses were pink and purple. To which Michelle found kind of humorous.

Kemi showed up, she wore a cream-colored dress with bluish-white snowflakes all over.

"isn't the ball beautiful?" asked Michelle.

"Yes," sighed Kemi. "I don't really get to celebrate Christmas; my family is Jewish. I get to take part in the activities at school, but sometimes it's not the same."

"You look like something's troubling you" said Michelle.

"I'm going home tomorrow" explained Kemi.

Michelle looked surprised.

"I've decided to follow my dreams of being a lawyer" explained Kemi.

"You sure you wanna give up the chance of being a princess?" asked Michelle playfully.

"Between you and me," whispered Kemi. "Parliament has all the real power." Which caused to two girls to giggle.

"Well if the prince choses me," said Michelle. "I'll be hiring you as my imperial lawyer."

"Thanks," said Kemi. "I plan to tell James that I'm leaving tomorrow, because I wanted the chance of celebrating Christmas."

With that the two girls ran off to enjoy the party.

Eliminate group 2

Leela Evyrly of Yukon a seven- left because she feared for her family after rebel attack

Cindy Mora of Columbia a three- eliminated because she said unkind things about the lower caste

Nora Brady of Kent a four- left because she was homesick

Gem Smith of Bankston a two- dismissed because James had no romantic feelings for her

And Faith Serrano of Zuni a four- dismissed because James had no romantic feelings for her