Chapter 11

Michelle was sleeping comfortably in her bed, although her bed back home was nice and comfy, the bed in the castle was even comfier.

Michelle opened her eyes to the morning sun coming in the window.

Where am I? she thought looking around the room seeing she wasn't in her bedroom. Oh I forgot she remembered.

"I thought I was dreaming!" she chuckled to herself out loud. "But I'm not."

Just then the door opened, and Chloe, Maci and Alexis walked in.

"Wide and awake I see" humored Chloe.

"I guess so" chuckled Michelle.

Michelle brushed her teeth and then had a morning bath, she felt very relaxed as she had her bath.

Chloe and Maci presented Michelle with a beautiful cotton candy pink gown. Michelle loved it the moment she saw it. The two maids helped her change into it and Alexis did her hair.

Alexis made Michelle's hair in a half up half down style.

Michelle picked out from the jewellery a couple of diamond earrings in the shape of flowers.

"There," said Alexis. "You really look like a real princess."

Michelle looked in the mirror. She loved it.

"I'm a bit nervous," said Michelle. "I overheard Emily saying to her friends the other day that I'd be sent home on the first day."

Chloe huffed.

"Don't listen to Emily," she scolded. "You may get sent home today or you may not. But she will never be in the presence of royalty!"

"Yeah, she's nothing but a stuck-up brat" added Maci.

Maci looked like she was glad to have to say that in front of someone like Michelle, cause with them being maids, they had to keep comments like that to themselves."

"Girls please" scolded Chloe.

"It's okay" assured Michelle.

Michelle liked her maids, though Chloe and Maci were old enough to be her grandmothers, and Alexis fourteen years her senior she kind of saw them as friends/sisters.

When Michelle got the grand hall, most of the other girls had arrived. Elaine was there too. Holliday was one the girls in the hall. She had her hair in curls and wore a pale gold dress with a cap with flower designs on it.

One of the last girls to arrive apologized for being late for she had a dress malfunction; her dress had gotten to tight and the buttons had to get sown back on.

Elaine escorted the girls to the great room. There were lines of tables and chairs along the room.

Michelle sat next to Riley in the second table from the front of the room. Holliday sat behind them with Kasha.

"Ladies," called Elaine. "I present to you prince James Schreave."

The dark brown-haired prince stepped into the room. And then stood next to Elaine.

"Elaine, you're too kind" said James politely.

When he faced the girls, Michelle stared at him in amazement, he looked so familiar. As she thought, she suddenly realized.

He was the officer she had seen last night!

"Giselle," said James. "How about you?"

Giselle who had been sitting alone at the back of the room got up. her dress was as red as a Lacewing butterfly.

"I'm surprised he wants to interview her," whispered Riley. "They've been friends as kids, why would he want to talk to her?"

"Well it's been about 2-3 years since they last saw each other," suggested Michelle. "He probably wants to catch up with her."

After five minutes, Giselle came back. Then James called Dorothy Woods of Kent. A girl with black hair and wore an indigo gown walked up with him.

Time past, James called the girls one by one. Michelle waited, although she waited patiently, she was very excited to meet James personally.

Finally, James called Michelle's name. Michelle was the last one to be interviewed. She went over to sit down with him.

"So you really like disguises?" asked Michelle smugly.

It didn't take James long to realize they Michelle had found out it was him that was an officer last night.

"Maybe," he retorted. "But I couldn't wait a minute longer to see the girls in person. So tell me, what do you like to do?"

"Well I like gardening and the outdoors," said Michelle. "My dad's a gardener you see, and my mom sells flowers. She was an eight too, just like your mom."

Michelle seemed to really like James. They seemed to have a couple things in common like the fact their moms were eight.

"I was kind of surprised that I made it," Michelle. "I'm glad I'm here so I can prove to my classmate Emily that I'm special. She makes fun of me at school. I'm kind of the outcast of Singer high, being one of the lower castes."

"I'm sorry to hear all that" said James sympathetically.

"It's okay," said Michelle. "Apart for my love of gardening, I love to read, especially romance books. And ever since I've gotten here I feel like I'm living inside a fairy-tale!"

James smirked. "I'm glad you're already enjoying your stay" he said. He then looked at the clock.

"It looks like our five minutes is up," he said. "It was nice meeting you lady Michelle." He said shaking Michelle's hand.

"Me too your highness" said Michelle politely.

She made her way back to her desk.

That wasn't so bad she thought.

"Alright ladies," announced James once Michelle took her seat. "You may all go to have breakfast now, but the ladies whose names I call can you please stay back a minute."

Michelle had a feeling she knew why he wanted some girls to stay back, he was gonna eliminate. She silently prayed he wouldn't get called.

And fortunately, she wasn't.

Three girls had been called and once he finished calling names, the girls all got up and exited the room.

Michelle sat with Holliday at breakfast. They had pancakes, fresh fruit and orange juice. As she ate, Michelle looked back at the other table.

At the far left was were Riley sat eating her breakfast. She was talking with the two only other eights in the selection. Leanne Brown and Tiifu Fordyce of Whites.

Tiifu had tan skin, short beige hair in a feathered style and brown eyes. She wore a mint green dress.

Michelle also looked around for the girls James had called after James arrived in to eat with his family and sure enough her thoughts were confirmed.

"If you're wondering they've been eliminated, they have" said a voice.

It was Morwenna Tear who had replied. She was sitting across from Michelle and Holliday wearing a light blue gown.

"He certainly is caring for more than castes," retorted Morwenna. "Margarita Velez of Carolina boasted about her caste."

"She did?" asked Holliday.

"Yeah, she sat by me during the interviews," explained Morwenna. "When she got back I asked her what she said to him and she replied that she talked about her family. You all know she models right?" both Michelle and Holliday nodded. "Well, she told me that she told him her dad is the mayor of Carolina and is very wealthy and that her grandfather had also been wealthier."

Michelle and Holliday looked at each other.

"That would explain why he looked bored when he finished with her" said Michelle.

"Yeah," agreed Holliday. "I'm glad I just told James about why I love to act and about my favourite things."

Michelle nodded in agreement. She had smug feeling in her though, Emily believed she'd be sent home that day.

Well looks like I'm still here Emily she thought happily.

But she also couldn't believe how quick the selection had started. It had only lasted for a day and already three girls had been sent out.

Author's note; Michelle has officially met the prince. And there now 32 girls left in the selection.

Eliminate group 1

Margarita Velez of Carolina a two – got sent home for James wasn't interested in her wealth as she was a little too boastful.

Isla Bergfield of Paloma a six

And Stacie Cummings a four