"It's shopping daaay!"
Mercedes woke up that morning to Giavanna's voice. She quickly got dressed and burst out the door.
Giavanna was busy brushing her hair on one of those public vanities, admiring the mountain of makeup that she had applied. It gave her an almost unreal feel, an aura of impossible perfection. So sickly sweet, yet so hauntingly beautiful.
"What's going on?" Eva complained, opening her door too. "I just woke up."
"You of all people know that to get what you want, you have to work hard," Giavanna said. Mary raised an eyebrow. "And I've worked the hardest."
Eva narrowed her eyes. "We'll see."
And so they went off, servants leading them into rooms and rooms full of dresses, each one bigger than the next. It was just so… much, to Mercedes. How could she choose from thousands upon thousands? She had never been given so many choices before.
"You want to look your best for the last dates!" said Giavanna's maid. "And the proposals, too."
"Wait, we're going to change just before the proposals?" Mary asked.
Eva snorted. "Good luck. You have like, what, fifteen minutes between your date and the proposals?"
"Meanwhile, I'm going to look the best." Giavanna brought out another obnoxiously flower-covered green dress. "Ugh. Cara, when's my date?"
"In twenty minutes, miss."
"Very well. I'll choose this one, and that other emerald one over there. Get me to the rings, right now!"
"Yes, miss!" The poor girl looked absolutely terrified as she scurried off, Giavanna following behind her.
Mary wafted between dress and dress, all covered in jewels and fancy silks. Then… she saw it.
"I like this one," Mary said, taking it off the rack. It was simple and sweet, reaching down to her knees. The sleeves were soft and long, giving it almost an ethereal vibe. Flowers were embroidered all over it, and a lovely little bow decorated the stomacher.
Eva looked over at her and smiled. "That looks beautiful, Mary."
Mary looked up, surprised. "Oh… thanks, Eva."
"Would you like to wear this on your date or the proposals, Miss Lopez-Kim?" asked her servant.
"Er… Date, please." Mary's eyes searched the sea of dresses for another one. "Oh, and that longer one! For the proposals."
"Very well. Would you like any jewelry?"
"Oh!" Mary blinked. "Oh, it's alright. I'll just get the bow I brought from home. I suppose the rings are next?"
"Yes, Miss Lopez-Kim."
They traveled literally to the room next to theirs, leaving Eva alone in the dress-picking room or whatever it was called. Mary gasped as soon as they walked in.
It was almost like a library… but not. The ring-picking room (again, Mary had no idea what it was called) was covered with glass box after glass box, displaying thousands of rings. A narrow spiral staircase zoomed up and up and up into the distance, each level getting smaller and smaller.
"I guess I have to pick a ring from here, right?" Mary kept her hands behind her back, her eyes open with curiosity.
"Yes, Miss Lopez-Kim. This room contains every design of ring from the most exquisite of jewelers in the kingdom. You may take your pick."
"Oh… alright," Mary muttered, her dark brown eyes scanning the room as she walked into its depths.
There were rings of all kinds, from diamond to gold to silver to ruby. She wasn't a jewel expert, of course, but she even found some exotic gemstones that she had never seen before. From purple to green to orange… There were so many choices, just like the dresses.
She climbed up the winding staircase, admiring the beauty of it all…
"I found it!" Giavanna screeched, rushing down the stairs. She turned the corner and slammed into Mary, pushing her against the rail.
Giavanna stopped, staring her down with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Get out of my way, little girl."
Mary bit her tongue and looked away, hoping that she'd just ignore her.
"When I'm Queen, I'll make sure your poor family gets what they deserve," Giavanna gloated, standing over her. "Your sister already got a taste of defeat. Now it's your turn."
No. Mary shouldn't keep letting Giavanna walk all over her like this. She was in the final three, just like Giavanna and Eva were. She was just as equal to them, no matter where her family was from.
She raised her head and narrowed her eyes.
"You know, I'm getting really tired of your voice," Mary said.
Giavanna laughed. "What?"
She took a step forward. "You heard me. You talk too much."
Silence.
And a laugh.
"Ha! Ha ha! You think you're so scary, don't you?" Giavanna said in between laughs. "Ah, you're so funny!"
"I'm being serious," Mary said in a monotone voice. "Leave me alone. Please. The Selection is almost over, anyway."
"Leave me alone! Please! Oh, I'm Mary and I'm so mean!" Giavanna half-sung.
"I don't want to fight, Giavanna. We're all here to achieve the same goal. Maybe we could-"
"Lookie here, wannabe princess," Giavanna said, placing a perfectly manicured hand on her chest. Only now did Mary realize just how sharp her nails were. "I'm not here to play games. I'm here to win. And if you think you can fool me that easily, you're the fool here."
"I didn't say-"
"Tut tut tut!" Giavanna said, placing her other hand on her mouth. Mary tried to scream, to no avail. "Don't waste your breath on me. I'm not worth fighting."
Mary squirmed, trying to wrench herself out of her grasp.
"Tomorrow morning," Giavanna continued, digging in her dress for an obnoxiously shiny ring. It was covered completely in diamonds and emeralds. "The Prince will have this ring on his finger and you'll be sent to the gallows." Mary tore her hand away, elbowing her in the gut. She stumbled, but otherwise seemed unfazed. Huh. She must have killer periods. "So don't even bother with whatever disgusting ring you find. He won't even look at it in the end!"
"You don't know that!"
"Shush!" Giavanna snapped her fingers, giving her an almost psychopathic smile, her eyes shimmering with hatred. "Your Queen is speaking."
Then she shoved her, the momentum almost sending her off the edge, but Mary held on, her heart pounding, and Giavanna smirked, turning away from her and strutting back down the stairs.
How- what-
Mary looked on after her, thoughts running through her head like networks of busy trains, but she didn't move. She stood there, frozen, almost as if she were merely a lifeless statue.
Okay. Ring, first.
When it came to jewelry, Eva knew almost nothing.
She was skilled at a variety of subjects, of course. Horse-riding, swordplay, push-ups… She was the one to ask. But her mother had never really given her any lessons on jewelry, as she was always the one to dress her up.
So… what did she know? Eva looked around the cramped little ring room. Honestly, the whole set-up was a bit impractical. Why not just line up all the rings in a hall instead of forcing them to climb several stories? Was this just a ploy to get them to exercise? Not that Eva was complaining, though. She could feel her ability to run a mile weakening with each day.
Gold was valuable, and Alexandra had said that Alexander loved everything expensive. She should start there.
She examined several different rings, admiring how each diamond shimmered with the sunlight. Of course, none of them had the… pizzazz that Eva knew Alexander liked. They were too simple, too sweet. She needed something flashier. Something bigger.
Bigger.
Then she had an idea.
"Ingrid?"
"Yes, Miss Schmidt?" Ingrid, one of her maids, came running up to her.
"You said that I could take my pick of any ring here, right? Only one ring, right?"
"Yes, you can propose to His Highness with only one ring."
"If I took multiple rings from this room," Eva said, walking around the first floor of the sickeningly tall room, her disappointment in these simple rings amounting with each minute. "And combined them into one, would that be allowed?"
Ingrid thought for a moment. "I don't see why not. As long as you propose to him with only one. After all, all of these rings are going to be sent back to the jewelers'. They surely wouldn't—and can't—argue with a few rings gone."
Eva smiled.
"You see," Eva said, leaning into Ingrid's ear and whispering, "I had an idea…"
"Hello, Handsome."
Alexei's job had a couple of upsides. He got front-row seats into a very historical event—the Selection—and he got to experience everything Alexander did.
Well.
That could be a downside, too, and what happened a few days ago had proved it. Luckily, his shift was almost over when they started, so he didn't have to suffer more than ten minutes of Giavanna and Alexander's… antics, for lack of a better word, but he did feel very bad for the guard that had to sit through the rest.
Alexei knew this was going to happen one day. That he would be forced to watch very… private stuff. Of course, it wasn't direct eye-contact, Alexei did have the right to turn away when stuff like that happened, but the noises… Ah. The noises. His father had warned him about what was to come when Alexander married, and Alexei wasn't very thrilled.
Not to mention their recent argument… Alexander had refused to talk to him ever since. That worked for Alexei, no matter how painful it was. They both had said things they shouldn't have, and it was too late to take them back. Especially when people had been killed. They were both in deep distress, and Alexei understood that. It was just… After a whole life of friendship, could it just end like this? Could they just never talk again after that fight?
Would Alexander die before Alexei got to make amends?
"Giavanna!" A wide smile emerged on the Crown Prince's face. "Welcome."
They were at the ballroom. Yes. Two people. Alone in the ballroom.
Thank goodness it was morning, or else-
"Do you want to go again?" Giavanna said sweetly, stepping close to him.
"Oh!" Alexander looked genuinely surprised. "I don't… This room is pretty big, you know."
"Oh, alright, scaredy-cat." Her laugh was shrill, perfect, unnatural. "So, what are we doing, my Prince?"
"We're… uh…" Alexander grimaced, clutching his shoulder a little. "Sorry. I… I didn't exactly have a plan, Gia. I've been really busy, with the other girls and-"
"Other girls?" Giavanna's tone suddenly became sharp. "Do you think they matter more than I do?"
"Of course, not," Alexander said. "Come. Let us dance."
Giavanna hmph-ed a little before taking his hand, letting him guide her way through an elegant dance.
"You're so perfect, Your Highness," Giavanna cooed.
"You too." Alexander's voice was less ecstatic than Alexei expected.
After about half-an-hour of dancing, they stopped, sitting on a pair of empty chairs. Both people seemed too tired to even say anything, which was completely fine. Good, in fact, as Alexei had gotten quite tired of their endless flirting.
"So, Alexander…"
Oh. There they go again.
"Hm?"
"You're going to choose me, right?" Giavanna asked, trying very hard to angle her body to look hot, but instead looking like a flamingo with a lopsided head.
"Oh." Alexander sighed, his hand on his forehead. "I can't reveal that information-"
"Oh, boo!" She giggled. "How do you like the other girls? I'm sure you haven't kissed any of them!"
He nodded. "Yeah. I haven't gotten the chance to yet."
"Aww. I knew it, we were meant to be!" Giavanna giggled again. And again. "Has your opinion of Eva improved over the past few weeks?"
"No, not really," Alexander replied, shrugging. "She's still… not my type."
"Oh, of course! And Mercedes?"
He sighed again. "Well… Mary's really nice…" He glanced at her and rolled his eyes. "That's all I have to say. What is this, an interrogation?"
"Oh, no!" Giavanna gasped dramatically. "Of course, not!"
"Good."
A beat.
"Okay, I guess I need to go get Eva now," Alexander said, standing up.
"What?" Giavanna followed him, her bright green dress sweeping behind her.
"The dates are going to be much shorter," he explained, walking towards the door. Alexei followed, trying not to trip over a curtain. "Since I have to fit all three of you in."
"Why would you waste your time on the other girls, anyway?" she complained, fanning herself. "They're no fun. Just spend the entire day with me."
"I… Well, I can't." And I don't want to, Alexei thought. "Goodbye, Gia."
"Fine!" Somehow, Giavanna looked personally offended by Alexander's order. "I'm leaving!"
Alexander flinched. Alexei had an inkling why.
With that she stomped away, leaving Alexander for the next date.
She did it. She had made it to the final three.
To be honest, Eva was very surprised. It was reasonable to get into the elite, of course, but he final three? And even after Alexander had expressed his distaste for her?
If he had eliminated her before, maybe there wouldn't be so much pressure. Now, that she had proved herself to be a worthy contender, she couldn't lose. Or else her parents would never forgive her.
Alexander took her by the arm and led her down to a wine cellar, where a single servant waited. The cellar was strangely small and homely, the table made out of wood instead of whatever fancy minerals they used for every other table in the palace, and the lighting was dark and almost ominous. Rows and rows of alcohol filled the endless expanse, fading into darkness in the distance. Thankfully, they hadn't gone into that pit of blackness and stayed sitting next to that strange wooden table, waiting for the servant to retrieve Alexander's orders.
"Your wine," said the servant, running back to them with several bottles of various wines. He poured one of them into their shot glasses. The golden liquid sizzled as Alexander took one and downed it immediately.
She looked at him, waiting for a comment, or quip, or anything, but he simply set the glass down, waiting for the servant to pour more.
"So," Eva said, trying to break the silence. "Are you a heavy drinker?"
He gave her a judgemental side glance. "No. I only drink on occasions like this."
"Oh." Eva tried not to scream in frustration. Out of all princes that she could have courted, why did it have to be him? "That's healthy."
"Yes." The servant pushed open another bottle. "I try to be. Too much alcohol wouldn't be very good for my looks."
"Oh." Eva looked at her own untouched glass. "That's smart. What would be good for your health?" She forced a smile. "A kiss?"
She had to snag a kiss. Right now. Or else she wouldn't get a chance to again. And he would choose Giavanna.
He shrugged, much to her surprise. "Go ahead."
She leaned in and kissed him.
That was it. Her first kiss ever, spent on this trashbag. It felt so flat, so lifeless, unlike anything Eva had heard about kissing. She could even say it felt disgusting.
By the look of his face, he probably felt it too, but he didn't say anything. Well, he didn't say anything until he opened his mouth a second later after Eva had thought that. "First time?"
She blinked. It was that obvious? "Uh… yeah."
"Let's try again," he said, his tone as flat as their kiss was. "Practice makes perfect."
Their lips connected again and she made effort to make contact with his tounge. It might have felt good if she wasn't already disappointed from the last one.
They parted, and Alexander sighed. "Well, that sealed the deal."
"What?"
"These last dates are a final decider. I've decided that I'm not going to marry you."
Her heart sunk. "No. No. I know I'm not a good kisser, but I'll make a great queen, just trust me."
"And what exactly have you done to earn my trust?" He drank another shot and pointed to her glass. "Are you going to drink that?"
Eva's heart raced. She grabbed the glass and dunked it into her mouth, almost hitting her nose. The servant kept his expression still as he poured more and she snatched it from his hands and drank that too. Today was just a day of firsts', right? First kiss, first drink…
"See? I follow your orders!" she said desperately, grabbing his shoulders with the strength of a boar. He cried out, pushing her from his side and sending her sprawling on the floor.
"Don't touch me!" His eyes flared with anger as he grasped one of his shoulders, grimacing in pain.
"Your Hi-"
"LEAVE!" he yelled. Eva flinched. "GET OUT! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!"
"But-"
"YOU"VE BEEN A PAIN TO ME EVER SINCE YOU STEPPED IN THIS PALACE!" he continued. "CAN'T YOU GET A HINT? I TRIED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN KISS ME RIGHT! YOU'RE THE MOST USELESS GIRL I'VE EVER SEEN!"
She hadn't expected him to react so violently. She struggled to stand, pushing her chair against the table, bolting out of the door and slamming it behind her. She panted, tears gathering in her eyes. Why couldn't she do anything right? Why did she have to fail time and time again? It wasn't fair. This Selection was never fair. And finally, finally, that cold, hard fact hit her like a brick the speed of light.
There was no way she could win. Not after that. Not after she had blundered so badly.
She didn't even like him. The only thing he had going for him was his looks and his throne, and mostly his throne. She was sent to catch that throne, take it for herself and her family. Maybe she could have fallen in love, but… sacrifices had to be made to fight for what was hers. And the throne was hers. It was supposed to be hers. She was supposed to have that crown on her head. She was supposed to make her family proud.
Maybe he was right. She really was useless.
She caught her breath. No. No, as far as she knew, she hadn't been eliminated. She still had a chance, however slim that chance may be. She still had that ring. That ring, which could sway his vote as soon as he saw it.
She walked back to the Selected Quarters, wondering what was next for her role in the Selection and in the world.