CHAPTER 13

Nora Louise had never won the lottery.

She was never victorious on a gameshow. She never got an Academy Award or a Tony. She had never been named valedictorian of anything. She had never been featured in a magazine, never given a year's worth of free ice cream, and never elected president of anything.

But, today, she was filled with such unbridled giddiness that she was sure she knew what it felt like.

Prince Cadence Thomas William Schreave, heir to the throne of Illéa, had kissed her.

The memories had filled her head during dinner, snared her attention away from her maids' nightly routine, replayed in her dreams, and caused her to put jam instead of butter on her muffin during breakfast.

Now, it was drowning out the sounds of the other girls and the pattering of the rain. It was the first truly awful day since the selection had started. It had been pouring when they all woke up, and seemed set to continue straight through to dinner, so for the first time every girl was gathered in the women's room trying to pass the time.

Normally, Nora Louise would have adored something like this. She would have recruited the girls to bake cookies or play a game or something to bring them closer together. Instead, she sat perched on the edge of a couch, Irina next to her, Catalina on the rug, and Ellis in an overstuffed chair across from them, flipping through a stack of papers so quickly that Nora Louise couldn't even figure out what they were.

She might have asked if she wasn't so preoccupied.

"These books give me allergies," Irina sniffed, placing the hardcover onto the coffee table.

"Let me see," Catalina said. She flipped it open to the first page. "No wonder. This was published almost two hundred years ago. Can you imagine? I can't believe we're still allowed to read it. It must be so fragile."

Irina gave it a withering look. "Clearly no one's cleaned it."

"It must be hard to clean," Catalina mused, gently flipping through the pages. "I don't think I've ever held something this old."

Nora Louise glanced at it. She was a sucker for history, old-timey stories and kitschy furniture, but the plain blue cover seemed inconsequential compared to her thoughts. "What is it about?"

"Hell if I know. I haven't been able to get past the dedication," Irina scoffed.

Catalina flipped it over. "Worthman's collector volume. Edition LII"

Nora Louise furrowed her brow. "What does LII mean? Like is it a copyright?"

"I'm not sure," Catalina answered. "Maybe a publishing house."

"Roman numerals," Ellis snapped, pushing her papers into a file. "Sorry, I meant, it's a roman numeral. It stands for fifty-second."

"That makes sense." Catalina answered. "I guess it's not that old then."

Ellis stood up. "I need to go do something."

"I'll come!" Nora Louise volunteered. She didn't know Ellis very well, and a new friend was just the thing she needed to distract her. She couldn't think about that one kiss forever.

"You don't even know where I'm going."

"I'll come wherever it is."

Ellis shrugged, clearly not wanting to make a scene. Nora Louise, grateful for the excuse, followed her out of the noisy room to the much more peaceful hallway.

"So where are you going?"

"To drop these off," Ellis said, raising her folder slightly. "I need to give them to my father."

"That's so cool that your dad works here! What does he do?" Nora Louise asked.

"He's a German diplomat," Ellis explained. "He's permanently stationed in Illéa, and he's training me, so I need to give these to him." Ellis paused and turned towards Nora Louise, "I'm not sure you'd be allowed into the office wing."

"Okay, I can wait for you." Nora Louise offered. The palace was beautiful, she should explore it more, and waiting for Ellis would be just the time span she needed.

"You don't have to do that," Ellis protested, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "It might take a while, I don't want you to have to wait."

Nora Louise shrugged. "I don't mind." Someone could have told her to eat broccoli while blaring country music in her ears and today she wouldn't have minded.

"Oh. Okay."

Sure enough, when they reached the hallway where the palace shifted from residential to offices, a guard informed Nora Louise that she wouldn't be allowed past without specific permission from a member of the royal family. Ellis was waved through with barely a glance.

Nora Louise wandered around the hall, waiting. The architecture was beautiful; all golden arches and crystal chandeliers. Nora Louise had never seen anything like it. She was well off, more fortunate than most in Illéa, but her parents always kept their humble beginnings in mind, so Nora Louise's room was furnished completely with sets from Pottery Barn Kids. She didn't mind much, she enjoyed the glass knobs on her dresser and the way her entire room was bathed in the same color swatch.

But to live in the palace, surrounded by so much luxury, Nora Louise could hardly imagine it.

If she did have to imagine it though, she'd imagine a mosaic on her floor, with dark wooden bookshelves and the tangerine ottoman that was currently in the corner of this mostly empty hallway. A crystal chandelier like the ones in the halls, but smaller, much smaller. She could get her photos cased in one of the thick frames lining the walls.

She could-

"Oh!" A girl exclaimed, followed by the unfamiliar sound of something hitting the marble floor.

"I'm so sorry-" Nora Louise apologized before seeing who she bumped into.

Princess Vivienne Auclair, her blond hair now disarrayed, and gingerly rubbing her elbow, laid on the floor.

The guard who had kindly given Nora Louise her instructions jumped to help her up, but Vivienne pushed him away.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Nora Louise began again. "I was lost in thought and I wasn't looking where I was going and-"

Vivienne held up a hand to silence her and Nora Louise stopped quickly. "It is not your fault. These shoes are defective. I have been tripping all day." She inspected her fabulous silver heels with the pearl buckles.

They might have been the nicest shoes Nora Louise had ever seen in her life. "They're really nice. I would love shoes like them. They're so sparkly!"

Vivienne glanced down, "I suppose so."

Maybe Nora Louise could ask her maids if she could get shoes like that. She could see herself walking into dinner with them, wearing a pink gown and maybe a matching bow. It would be the cherry on top of an already perfectly-perfect day!

"Everything in the palace is so shiny. Have you noticed that? I feel like I'm always walking in a dream, or maybe this is what heaven looks like," Nora Louise continued. "Especially on days like today."

Vivienne looked around the hallway, her eyes darting from the vases of flowers to the paintings. "Some of it is shiny," she contended. "Why today though?"

"I just meant since it's such a nice day today. Everything is perfect," Nora Louise gushed, happy to finally have someone she could talk to about her past twenty-four hours. Girl talk was just what she needed, and discussing it in depth with another of her fellow selected was simply not an option. They all wanted Cadence too, who wouldn't? She couldn't hurt their feelings like that.

Vivienne looked at the window, the dark gray sky and the pelting sound of the rain. "Are you on drugs?"

"What?" Nora Louise pinkened. "No, I'm not. I just…can I tell you something kinda personal?"

"How personal?" Vivienne asked.

"About the selection," Nora Louise clarified.

Almost at once, Vivienne's whole demeanor changed. Her face brightened, her smile widened, and the hand that had been cusping her bruised elbow dropped. "Of course. That is what I'm here for. To listen."

Nora Louise was pretty sure that wasn't her job, so she was beyond grateful Vivienne was willing to talk to her. It would have been much easier for the princess to shoo her away or make up some lie. There really are good people in the world.

"Really? Thank you!"

"We should find a place not in a hallway," Vivienne suggested. "Come."

"Oh, um. Okay. If Ellis comes back, can you tell her I'll see her at lunch?" Nora Louise called to the guard, who simply nodded.

Vivienne led her down a few hallways to a sitting room Nora Louise had never been in before. It was every inch as nice as the rest of the palace.

"Sit," Vivienne asked, patting the spot next to her. Nora Louise sat down quickly, ready to share, but first she had a few questions.

"Can I ask you something first?" Nora Louise started. Vivienne nodded. "How did you know you were in love?"

Nora Louise wasn't sure what answer she had been expecting, but Vivienne proffered one quickly, her face still shining with happiness. "I do not think there was one moment that defined it. It is a combination of things. Why?"

Nora Louise took a breath, fully aware she might sound crazy to anyone who passed by. "You can't tell anyone this, especially not the Prince, but I think I might be in love."

Vivienne blinked. "With Cadence?"

Nora Louise nodded, happy to have someone to finally share it with. "Yes! I liked him before, don't get me wrong, but yesterday he took me to this playground and we sat on the swings and then we kissed, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it."

Vivienne frowned for a millisecond before regaining her megawatt smile. "That does sound lovely. It was yesterday?"

"Yes," Nora Louise said.

"I did not know there was a playground here," Vivienne mused to herself. "I cannot believe he kissed you. It sounds romantic."

"It was!" Nora Louise said, "It was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me in my life. The selection really is a fairytale."

"Yes, in a way, I suppose," Vivienne said.

"That's why I asked how you knew you were in love. I know this just happened yesterday, so I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I want to know what I'm feeling, you know?" Nora Louise continued. God, this was so nice! She really should have talked with Vivienne before.

"I think I do, and I am sure you know yourself better than I do, so I do not think I can answer that."

"When did you tell Prince Andrew that you loved him? I don't want to come on too strong." Nora Louise asked.

Vivienne thought for a few moments. "Did you sign a non-disclosure agreement?"

"Uh, I think so? Was it that paper that said I can't talk to the media or write a book or stuff?"

"You did then. For Andrew and I it was fairly long after, there were some extenuating circumstances," Vivienne explained vaguely. "I do not think you should tell Cadence. It might scare him."

"You think so? I don't know if he has a lot of experience with love, and I know I don't, so I guess it makes sense. Besides, I've barely talked to him."

"Yes. You probably think you love him, but in case you truly do not, it is better to wait." Vivienne finished seeming satisfied with herself.

"Okay, I guess you're right," Nora Louise decided. Vivienne was engaged, surely she knew more about love than Nora Louise did. Maybe it was some sort of sign from the universe, assuring her on how to complete her perfect day

"I am not trying to discourage you," Vivienne added quickly, "But Cadence does not have much experience. It might make him uncomfortable."

"I don't want that," Nora Louise said.

"I do not think so. That is just my advice though. Do with it what you like."

"I will, thank you so much! I haven't really chatted with anyone like this since the selection started. It's relaxing," she giggled.

Vivienne raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "Why not? You seem to have friends."

"It's just awkward to talk about this kinda stuff, ya know? Because there's only one guy and like thirty of us. Or twenty-ish now. I'm not sure," Nora Louise explained.

"Oh. I do not know, but I would imagine so." Vivienne sighed. "Most of my acquaintances do not spend much time worrying about marriage."

"I know, most people don't. I read a study saying people are getting married later and later and they want to have fun before a committed relationship. I never thought about it much either, I wasn't going to go clubbing or anything like those girls, but I didn't ever think about being in love," Nora Louise rambled. Funny how quickly things change.

Well, she could be a strong, independent woman like her parents always said and still be in love.

"That is not quite what I meant."

"What did you mean?"

Vivienne shook her head. "For some a marriage is a forgone conclusion so they do not bother thinking about it."

"Like an arranged marriage?" Nora Louise questioned.

Vivienne pressed her lips together. "Those do not exist anymore. It is uncommon to marry someone you do not know. The closest approximation would be the selection."

Nora Louise thought for a few moments. She certainly didn't feel that she was in any way connected to an arranged marriage like she had read about in her books. She was getting to know Cade, and no one had forced her to sign up, no one would force her to say yes at the end. "That's not too bad then, if that's what arranged marriages are now."

"No, they are not. Goodness, is that the time? I apologize, I have to meet someone."

"Who?" Nora Louise asked.

"Andrew. We are supposed to watch a film."

"Can I come?" Nora Louise asked excitedly. She loved movies, and she hadn't been to the cinema inside the palace yet. On a rainy day with her being practically locked in the palace, the activity seemed especially cozy.

"Well…Do you not have to meet Ellis?"

Nora Louise had almost forgotten about that. God, that must make her the worst friend ever. She had practically abandoned Ellis at that intersection. "I guess so. I don't know if she's finished yet or not."

"She probably is. You should go find her. Have a nice day," Vivienne nodded before leaving, giving Nora Louise little chance to ask to come again.

That's okay. She would probably be third-wheeling anyway, and with her newfound discovery of the loveliness of love, she didn't want to disturb it for anyone else Besides, Ellis might have been looking for her, and Ellis seemed so smart and nice. Nora Louise should befriend her.

Ellis always knew the answers. She was poised. Nora Louise could learn a lot from her, no- she should learn from her. If she was truly in love with the future king, then she should make sure she would be able to do the job of the future queen. Ellis would help her with that.

Oh, but, wasn't that wrong? Nora Louise got a queasy feeling in her stomach. Wasn't she taking advantage of Ellis to learn things that she should already know? To take something that Ellis wanted too?

No.

Nora Louise couldn't do that. It was wrong, and uncalled for. Ellis had been nothing but nice to her, Nora Louise should return the favor.

Ellis reappeared from the hallway nearly an hour later, still looking just as put together when she left. Her dark brown hair was still artfully mussed and her pencil skirt still looked like it just came off an ironing table.

"Oh!" Her eyebrows raised in surprise, "You're still here?"

"I talked with Princess Vivienne and then I came back to wait for you," Nora Louise explained.

"You didn't have to do that," Ellis told her. "What did the Princess talk about?"

Nora Louise giggled a little. "Boys. Love. You know."

"Sure. What did she say?"

"About boys?"

"That is what you talked about right?"

Nora Louise flushed, deciding not to mention the part about Cade. If she skipped to the love part Ellis would think she was a psycho stalker, and if she began with the kiss, then Ellis might be upset. "She just talked about her and Andrew. Something about extenuating circumstances."

"Extenuating circumstances," Ellis squinted. "What does that mean?"

"I dunno."

Ellis thought for a few moments, before smiling broadly. "Well, I guess it's none of our business anyway. We should probably get back to the women's room. We might be missed."

"Okay." Nora Louise had to jog a little to keep up with Ellis' long strides. "How was your meeting with your dad?"

"It was okay. I'm sorry, I can't tell you more. State secrets and all," Ellis waved her hand. "It's probably not supposed to be told to me as a member of the selection either, but I don't think anyone will complain."

"No, you seem really good at your job."

Flattered, Ellis smiled. "Thank you, I like to think so."

Biting her tongue, Nora Louise took a deep breath. "Do you think you can teach me about diplomacy and stuff? It all seems really interesting. And you know so much?"

"Uh, maybe. I guess I don't see why not," Ellis agreed uneasily. "I can see when I'll have time."

Giddily, Nora Louise clasped Ellis' hand, ignoring the strange look the girl gave her, and skipped down the hall.

She was in love (the discussion with Vivienne now confirmed it).

She was going to get tutored in everything and anything regarding being a princess.

And there were piles of pastries waiting for her in the dining room.

Best. Day. Ever.

A/N: Hello everyone, and like our dear Nora Louise I hope that you too are having the best day ever. I don't have much to say right now, only that even though updates have already been very sporadic, expect them to get more sporadic (I feel like there's a better adjective for this but idk). But I have very big plans for this story so hopefully I will be back to consistent updates sooner rather than later. Have an amazing day everyone and be like Nora Louise lol