REMINDER: IF YOUR GIRL IS NOT FEATURED IT DOES NOT MEAN SHE IS NOT IMPORTANT. Remember to check out my Pinterest boards (thathuman) for the dresses and descriptions. It will seriously help for this chapter. Explanations below.
Read on!
Blue.
Flowers.
These were the first two things that registered in Lucas' dazed mind as he gazed through the blinding white light and at the colorful crowd of girls and guests standing in the massive Dining Room. Of course, there were many different colors and shades of colors besides that of blue, but a good portion of the ladies donned a variation of the color of cloudless skies. Even King Carlisle wore a pale blue suit, an old thing Lucas hadn't seen his father wear in years.
Servants and butlers, nicely dressed in ironed black button-cups and slacks, carried trays of champagne. There were no appetizers, which Lucas was absolutely appalled at; his stomach agreed with a rumbling groan.
Before, the room had been filled with chattering and scuttling with soft swishes of fabric twisting and turning, but now, the room had reached a deadly silence. Even the band, who had been playing very sweet classical pieces Lucas was familiar with, cut off in the middle of a song as they sensed the change in the atmosphere. Blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, and hazel eyes stared at him, and the Prince was startled by the intensity most of them held.
One in particular stood out to him; a pretty brunette with almond shaped eyes, standing about ten feet from him with a mostly full glass of champagne in one of her black-gloved hands. She wore a magnificent black and red dress, with ruffles and sparkles and bows, and Lucas thought it should've been a mess, but it was simply art. Her smooth, whitish skin glowed and her confidence radiated from her. The girl was attractive, even with the way she refused to turn her nose down, even to a Royal, and the way she held her broad shoulders back with grace and dignity.
Much like a Royal would.
It wasn't like she was the only one he noticed; all of the girls had something striking about them. For a moment, Lucas briefly questioned if the Selection truly was a lottery, with all these beautiful women that were picked, but shook the thought from his nervous mind. He let himself belief Illea just happened to be a country who's people produced very pretty ladies. Lucas was anxious; he felt his knees go weak as he realized it had been a minute and he was still standing there, and they were still watching him.
After taking a shaky breath, he smiled, but could feel it's crookedness in his cheeks and fleetingly wondered if the Selected thought he looked like a clown. "Hello, ladies," he started, and he swore he heard a girl sigh. He took this as a positive sign and continued. "It is such a pleasure to have each of you here. Before we sit down for a wonderful first meal, I wanted to say a few words.
"I am not perfect. I will not always say or do the right things, and I don't expect you to be someone with no imperfections. Please do not try to hide who you are, for both your sake and mine." Lucas blinked, an image of Vivienne shaking and fading and disappearing when he opened his eyes.
"I am not rushing this; I don't believe love is always realized at first sight, but that it is developed and evolved. I know this will be a struggle for you all, but let's all try to get along, shall we? It would make time here much more enjoyable, I think.
"Finally, I would like to say that I do believe my best friend and future wife is in this group. Thirty-five girls are here, but I am sure that my One is in the midst. I'm not exactly sure what love is, but I'm ready and excited to find out." Swiftly snatching a glass of champagne from a nearby butler's tray, he lifted it and said, "To hope, to future, and to discovering what the definition of love truly is."
After Lucas finished his small speech, the girls were guided to the long dining table, which form a "T" with the Royal's table. Each girl had an assigned seat-something Lucas didn't really agree to (he believed the girls should have sat with who they were most comfortable with)-with a place card that had each woman's name written in neat calligraphy, much like that on the Selection envelopes that seemed from so long ago.
Lucas winced as he observed the Selected trying their best to sit down in their chairs; the dresses were too big and the seats too small for the amount of material each dress carried. He even watched as one girl with coppery-colored hair and a pale blue and beige dress growl in frustration as she tugged the fabric that was stuck behind her and another falling clumsily into her chair with a heavy "oomph" as she tripped on the hem of her yellow dress.
So maybe the dress idea had a few flaws.
Finally, after a few painful minutes of watching the Selected battle with their dresses, they were all seated. Many tried to hide their discomfort and others were too caught up with the food to care. Lucas' stomach churned again as he smelt the buttery bread fresh out of the oven with honey glazed ham and grilled potatoes. Each girl looked expectantly at each other; unsure faces matched each other, but Lucas was unsure why they seemed confused. What were they waiting for?
Apparently, one lady, far along the left side of the table, didn't take notice of the other girls' hesitation. She wore a pretty pink, completely floral dress and had white-blonde hair pinned up in an extravagant bun. Lucas noticed her when he came in; her face was set in a disgusted scowl and she looked utterly unhappy with her dress. She was obviously underweight with cheekbones jutting out and collarbones like branches across her chest. The two girls sitting next to her, looking prim and proper, gazed at her in distaste. Everyone else was looking at the Royals.
Lucas resisted the urge to roll his eyes and settled for a long, exasperated sigh. He looked to his left and saw his father eating quietly and to the right where James should have been but the seat was empty. The Prince frowned in disappointment; Lucas thought James would want to support his brother in finding a wife, but apparently he had other things preoccupying him. He was also slightly embarrassed that the youngest Royal was missing. It made the dinner look unorganized and optional.
"It's okay to eat, girls," Lucas encouraged, picking up his own fork and knife and slicing the ham. There was clinking and clattering as each girl followed his actions and began to pick up the metal cutlery to eat. Lucas watched them.
He felt like a creep.
He observed that some ate fast, others slow, some looked around, some only trained their eyes on their plate. Some scraped their plate clean, others left scraps, some chewed with their mouths open while others chewed with their mouths closed. He hoped Mitzi would first coach the girls on proper etiquette; other countries would laugh at Illea if they saw the way some of the ladies devoured their dinner.
It was painfully awkward.
The only sounds were forks scraping and jaws snapping together as thirty-seven people chewed. No girls talked to each other or bothered to socialize.
So Lucas improvised.
"Well, this is a nice dinner, isn't it?" All heads snapped to him and instantly nodded, some murmuring their agreement. "I was thinking, and we should all get to know one another a little bit, yea?" More nodding and more murmuring answered his question. "So let's begin with going around and saying your name and the one person you admire most." He left out previous caste and Province; Lucas didn't want to be prejudiced against these girls, and eventually he'd find out about where they came from anyway. The Royal was also unsure if stating caste and Province would create cliques. He hoped it wouldn't, but the minds of women were something foreign to him and they seemed to create obscure ideas. He didn't want to provide any negative ammunition.
Looking to his left, he saw a very attractive blonde in a gold and white dress. He nodded to her, and her intelligent blue eyes responded, looking away to gaze at the other girls and saying, "My name is Eris von Justice and the one I look up to most is my brother, Galaxy von Justice. He's a detective and has always been there for me when I needed support," she clarified as she saw blank faces.
"Very nice," Lucas commented, then looked to the next girl to speak. She wore a deep red dress and her ash blonde hair was curled and volumized. Lucas recognized her as some model in a magazine.
Her striking blue eyes locked onto his. "I'm Lilith Hale, and I really admire Prince Lucas for all he's contributed to our country. Thank you," she added, refusing to break eye contact. He felt as if he was a fish caught on a line and she was very quickly reeling him in. Lucas shook himself out of his trance and nodded with a quick "of course." Lilith, Lilith, Lilith...She was...not pretty, not beautiful, but...
Sexy.
Lucas felt a blazing hot red blush color his cheeks as he realized how inappropriate yet truthful it was. He broke eye contact as he heard the next girl clear her throat.
The young bachelor almost jumped out of his chair as he saw Vivienne sitting next to Lilith in a black and white dress...until the image of Vivienne shaped into someone entirely different. This girl had shockingly bright orange hair, while Vivienne's was deeper. Her figure was very feminine, whereas Viv's was broad. This was not Vivienne, Lucas realized.
"My name is Ruby Reynolds," she began, her tone surprisingly bold and fearless for her tiny frame. "I truly admire my older brother as well. His name is Sam and he helps take care of our siblings instead of pursuing his dreams because the government is unable to effectively aid us." Lucas was taken aback by the pointed glance towards the Royal's table. Were the castes truly untaken care of? He would have to discuss this with his father later. He looked out of the corner of his eye and saw King Carlisle calmly continuing to eat, letting no emotion show from the clear attack on his duties.
At that moment, the Dining Room's grand doors creaked open again and Prince James walked through with and easygoing smile and a confident swag Lucas would never have.
Lucas and King Carlisle turned around and watched James quietly take his seat, flashing a dazzling smile with a "hello ladies." Lucas felt his jaw clench in frustration.
"Where were you?" he whispered to his brother as the girls began to talk amongst themselves.
"I had to take care of some security business." It didn't shock Lucas; James was a master with technology and security. He was, however, disappointed that his sibling wasn't there when the dinner began. But, nonetheless, James still looked put together, wearing a light grey suit with a dark blue tie.
The next few girls introduced themselves, and Lucas began to see a trend; it was either a family member or a Royal each girl claimed they admired. He was upset in this.
Then, an auburn-haired young lady in a stunning white floral gown took him by surprise. "Hello," she started in a small, hesitant voice. "I'm Kaia...Kaia Elvy and I really look up to Elizabeth Bennet." Noticing the confused faces she continued, more confidence evident in her tone. "She's the main character in Pride and Prejudice. She's witty and intelligent and isn't afraid of the status quo. I feel like I could definitely learn from her," she finished.
All eyes were on Kaia Elvy as silence ensued. Then all eyes turned to him, gauging his reaction. They were prepared to laugh if he did and ready to applaud if he did. Reading the situation, Lucas simply nodded and shifted his eyes over to the next girl.
She was more plump, but he remembered her name: Iona Hampton. She was one of the few from Caste Seven yet could not look more like a Royal tonight. She wore a ruffly pink dress; Lucas could not see her wearing anything different. Her smile lifted her cheeks and he noticed that her eyes squeezed shut when she laughed her loud yet pleasant laugh. She was beautiful, and Lucas wondered what more beauty he would discover as he got to know her. "Hiya ya'll," she said in a Southern drawl. "I'm Iona Hampton and-"
The grand Dining Room doors opened again, revealing a young man...
and a cat.
A brown, fluffy, pudgy, feline.
That Lucas most definitely did not permit.
His father, observing the quick pull at Lucas' suit as the muscles in his back tightened, told him, "Calm down. Lady Ayesha-" Lucas had identified her as the bold woman in the black and red dress he first saw-"wished to have her brother, Kabir, with her. Complicated family measures," he vaguely explained.
"Yes, yes...and the cat?" He whispered, still looking at the animal as it walked up to Eris' seat, purred and meowed, then walked with Ayesha's brother to a small table in the far corner.
"Lady Eris's cat. She requested very nicely that it came with her."
Lady Eris, sitting so close, heard them and told them sweetly, "His name is Choco."
"Yes, Choco," Carlisle said unenthusiastically.
James stood up, telling Carlisle and Lucas he was going to quickly brief Kabir with security measures.
Gaining control again with the quirk of his lips and a strong voice, Lucas called out, "Let's continue on, ladies. There's still a few more to go."
Iona continued, explaining how she adored her father and how he was much like a friend and less like a father. James returned a few minutes later, looking rather smug and comfortable. Prince Lucas didn't take much notice of it; he simply believed his brother loved the security job he possessed.
A brunette with a bright smile and a shining gold and green dress caught the attention of all in the room. She, as well as Lilith and Ayesha, held a powerful presence in the room. By then, all had finished their meal, but no servants had taken the plates away. It was a new etiquette trend; too many people had been smacked with a plate and it was awkward for both the servant and the consumer. The young lady glanced around and announced, "Hello, everyone! My name-" She was cut off with the sound of the brown animal, Choco, snarling and jumping up on the table and towards the girl. Her neighbor, a blonde in an odd green and pink dress, tried to get out of the way, but her dress snagged on the leg of her chair. She clumsily flew forward, and, in an attempt to stop herself from bashing her head on the table, the blonde gripped her hands on the tablecloth. It slipped forward, and the brunette's plate, still full with honey ham and buttered potatoes slipped and crashed down on the gold dress. Her small glass of wine was also knock over, and spilt on the gown, effectively ruining it.
And the cat hadn't even gotten to her yet.
Choo slipped across the table and the plates, crashing into the wax candle centerpieces and pushing them over, and the table burst into bright orange and red flames.
It was like a stunt mostly seen at circuses, its purpose meant to shock the audience and leave them gaping at the magnificent light show with "ooh"s and "ahh"s.
The girls were obviously not as excited, or not in a good way at least. Screaming echoed throughout the room, almost creating an eery melody in a moment of chaos. They left the room in a flurry as the poor brunette was caught under attack from the cat. He clawed and hissed at her, tearing through her dress and her skin. The bright blaze of the fire didn't seem to concern the animal as it ferociously ripped away at the human.
Finally, Lucas found his legs.
Apparently, so did the guards.
The fire, which scorched a trail down the whole table and onto the Royal's table, was put out with the fire extinguisher that was kept in every room of the Palace, for safety measures. The tablecloth, once lacy and pure white, was diminished, hardly a few pieces of seared fabric hanging together. The maple wood underneath was badly burnt, and Lucas swore it smelt like bacon.
He ran over to the struggling brunette, who had been pushed to the ground, and grabbed the scruff of the cat. Choco twisted and snarled in his grasp, sharp teeth baring and brown eyes flat against his head. A guard quickly took the cat and disappeared through the Dining Room doors.
Lucas watched the guard walk away before training his stormy gray eyes on the hurt woman, who was panting heavily on the now bloody dark hardwood floor. Her hazel eyes were blown wide with shock; her pupils were dilated and she looked paralyzed, her hands curling into her dress while her legs stayed limp. One of her emerald green heels had broken, and Lucas could have thought she had just fought a war with the way she looked.
Kneeling down, he made her eyes focus on him. She blinked a couple of times before grunting.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need me to carry you to the hospital?"
"I...What? Hospital? What?" she breathed, slightly dazed. Then she shook her head vigorously, as if snapping out of a daydream. "Of course not. I'm fine. Thank you, though."
Lucas narrowed his eyes at her and skeptically told her, "You don't exactly model 'fine' at the moment, my Lady."
She let out a small giggle and looked down at herself. "You know, I make dresses, and this was positively the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen." She smiled up at him and down at the dress, playing with the gold fabric with her nimble fingers. Slowly the smile faded and she whispered, "And now it's ruined."
"Hey, you know what?"
"What?"
"We could always make another one," he suggested, trying his hardest to lighten her mood.
She cocked her head, a twinkle in her eyes. "We? I didn't know you were educated in creating gowns, Your Majesty."
He let out a breathless laugh. "It's Lucas. No need for formalities. And no, I wouldn't even know where to begin with a needle and a thread. But you could probably create dresses with your maids," he proposed, watching her eyes lighten and feeling proud of himself. "You know, add your own individuality and style."
"You think so?"
"Well, if it was a problem, I could always just demand it," he joked. She giggled and nodded.
"Thank you, Lucas," she said meaningfully.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Lady..." he drifted off, realizing she never got to state her name.
"Nina. Nina Nesbit."
"I'm sorry to have had to met you under such...violent circumstances, but I hope I make up for it with a date." He flashed a sweet smile and watched as her smile widened.
"Of course," she happily said. "As I like to say, 'in every bad there is a good.'"
"I think I'll use that in the future," he responded thoughtfully.
Helping Nina up, he led her out of the Dining Room doors and down the hall, up the three flights of stairs to her room, where her maids sighed in relief before rushing into a deep curtsy at the sight of their Prince.
Nina was ushered into her room and Lucas chuckled as he heard gasps and then cheers and the young lady was undoubtedly relating the story of the attack and the conversation with the Prince, including having the first date with him.
Lucas pondered about his choices so far. Was it too early to have a date? He felt it would have been under normal circumstances, but Lady Nina had been attacked by a cat; Lucas found his choices justifiable. Rounding the corner to another hallway, he leaned against the ivory painted wall. It was a fresh coat, much like almost every other wall in the Palace; since the announcement of Lucas' Selection, there had been a flurry of changes to make the Palace new and refreshing.
He sighed, realizing just how horrific a start to this adventure was. He couldn't get over the fact a cat-a domesticated, furry animal-attacked a girl, on the first night.
He prayed to God it wasn't a bad omen, but Prince Lucas felt it.
It was a warning sign
So, I've got a lot to say and plenty of excuses but I'll keep it short and sweet XD. School has been a kicker and I'm pouring a lot of attention into that, family drama has been distracting, and, sadly, someone I care deeply about died unexpectedly. My mind hasn't had writing on the forefront and I hope you all can understand that. I'm so sorry for these late and long updates. Please just bear with me.
Questions:
1) What do you think was the whole deal with Choco?
2) What do you think Prince Lucas' date with Nina is going to be?
Fun Question:
Hmm...Favorite animal.
Mine is a snow leopard or a gray wolf. Love them.
Song of the Week/Chapter:
American Pie by Don McLean
Read and Review! I love seeing what you think, good or bad!
Thanks!
~Hunter