My maids didn't question my early start or the black leather tunic with leggings and boots that I'd requested. Instead, they helped me dress in the uniforms that the guards trained in and they braided my hair before letting me slip out of my room. My guard didn't question me either as he followed me along the corridor towards the part of the palace that was restricted to us. Prince Zed met us there with two guards of his own hovering behind him. He led the way along the restricted corridor in silence, only the sounds of our shoes echoing off of the walls. He held open the door of a room and I stepped inside what was clearly the gym. There were mats on the floor in the centre of the room with a punching bag hanging from the ceiling. Weights were spread around the outside and a chin-up bar and some other equipment like I'd seen in the leisure centre were there too. Zed opened the small windows for ventilation, making me shiver as the door closed behind us, leaving the guards just outside.

'Sleep well, my lady?' Prince Zed asked, breaking the silence between us.

I'd only managed two or three hours, as nightmares had haunted me, but I decided now wasn't the time to mention that. 'Yes, your highness.' I nodded, choosing not to make a sarcastic comment over the my lady reference. I was certainly not his lady.

'Good.' He gave a courteous nod and then pulled off his jacket, revealing a tight-fitting black leather tunic and black trousers, like he was dressed for a battle. I swallowed. Dressed in a tight tunic, his muscles were evident; a clear six-pack and large, strong biceps. I blinked and looked away before he could notice, distracting myself by stretching out my arms. 'So I think we will look at some self-defence today and save the fighting for next session.' He said. 'Build up your stamina.'

He didn't know that I walked or ran everywhere back home and that my stamina was already pretty good, but I kept quiet. Now wasn't the time to make silly remarks; he'd actually agreed to train me to defend myself and that was something he hadn't needed to do. After all, as he had said, it wasn't part of Princess Training and Lady Evelyn would hate me for it.

'So a guy tries to grab you from the front, what are you going to do?' He asked.

'Simple.' I replied. 'Knee him in the crotch.'

He laughed. 'Let us not practice that one as I think you have probably got it covered and like my brothers I am expected to produce heirs someday.' His hands turned me around and I tried to ignore the spark that seemed to come from his fingers as he placed both of his hands on my stomach. 'The enemy prefer to sneak up behind though.' He said, his breath tickling my ear. 'So you are going to move your elbow upwards at a forty-five degree and hit in the chin or nose if you can. Ready?'

I followed the instructions, careful not to give him a bloody nose, although part of me wanted to.

We went through a few more tests and practiced them together, moving almost like dancers with perfect fluency and I tried to ignore just how annoyingly pleasant it felt when his arms were wrapped around me. My heart thudded a little quicker with every touch. Traitor.

'We have still got time to do some more if you are not in a rush.' He said with a quick glance at the clock. It was only six-thirty and I obviously had picked up things quicker than he'd thought. 'Show me a fist.' I curled my fingers into a fist. 'Common error.' He said as he unclenched my fingers and repositioned my thumb. 'The thumb should always be curled over your index finger otherwise you risk breaking it.' He released my hand and showed me the positioning in front of the punch bag. 'Shoulders relaxed, feet shoulder-width and legs slightly bent.' He punched at the bag with such force that it made me flinch as the bag moved and the chain on the top clinked. I'm not sure why it had left me so taken aback; his muscles just proved how strong he was and I knew he probably worked out daily. 'Your turn.' He said, signalling to the place beside him. I attempted to copy his stance but his hands reached for my hips and repositioned me slightly. Once again, goosebumps spread across my skin as his fingers touched a part where my tunic had ridden up slightly. I swallowed and tried to concentrate on my breathing. What was wrong with my body? Why was it working against my head? 'Your upper body and hips should swivel towards your opponent.' He told me as he released me. 'And now feel the flow of energy from your feet to your fist.'

My clenched fists made contact with the punch bag, one after the other like the rhythm of a pounding drum. Zed's eyebrows raised in surprise as I stopped, my breathing quick and adrenaline pumping through my body.

'Just like that.' The Prince said to me with wide eyes and a smile. I brushed a sweaty loose strand of hair behind my ear and then gave it another shot.

We worked right until seven and then I escaped back to my room quickly before anyone else was prowling the corridors. I showered and Chloe and Abby dried and styled my hair as I picked out a dress for breakfast and for preparing the reception; we were all expected to help with the set-up for welcoming Diamond's family and Tina, Zoe and I had been put in charge of flowers, working alongside a florist. We had until lunchtime to prepare and then we would be eating lunch in our rooms whilst we got dressed into suitable garden party outfits.

I was one minute late to breakfast but thankfully the Royal family had not yet arrived. My hair was in a tight-bun and I'd managed to dress in a purple floor-length dress and heels, despite the protests of my aching body. I stood behind my chair promptly as Tina and Zoe mouthed to ask if I was okay.

The Royal family came in just moments after and I knew I'd cut it too fine. My next session with Prince Zed was going to need to be cut short or I would have to suggest evening workouts. In a white shirt, blue tunic and tight navy trousers, he didn't look like he'd been rushed for time. That was until I spotted a few damp strands of messy hair as he passed me. He shot me a mischievous smile as he took his seat and, although I tried to hide my blush, I knew my friends had spotted it and would be questioning me about it later.

'So Juliet Garden Roses can be mixed in with the peonies and anemones in the table centrepieces.' The eccentric florist explained as she trimmed the stems of the flowers and arranged them in colours. 'Be careful not to cut the stems too short.' She held up her example. 'This is the perfect measurement so check this if in doubt, ladies. Baby's breath would make a nice addition too.' She slipped some of the white flower in and stood up. 'I'm going to see how the other group are doing and then I'll be checking back with you.'

She headed off as we continued tying ribbons about flower stems and placing them into their clear vases. It felt like we were preparing for the actual wedding, not just meeting the family.

'So what's happening with you and Prince Zed?' Tina asked when some of the staff were out of earshot.

I blushed again and looked down. 'Nothing at all.'

'We saw that smile he gave you at breakfast this morning.' Zoe pointed out. 'That wasn't nothing.'

'He's taking me out on a date tomorrow evening.' I replied, glad he'd provided me with an excuse for his behaviour.

'Where are you going? What are you doing?' Tina fired, excitedly.

'I have no idea yet.' I trimmed a stem and added it to the vase. 'All I know is he told me he's taking me on a date.' I wondered if they'd noticed my use of told and not asked or if they were completely oblivious to it.

'Maybe he's taking you to see the ballet that's in town.' Tina sighed, dreamily.

'Don't be ridiculous.' Zoe tutted. 'Prince Zed would hate the ballet and he's not taken any of the girls off-site so why now? When there were intruders in the palace?'

'We're probably just going to watch a movie or something.' I shrugged. 'No big deal.'

'No big deal? I know I've already been out with him but I'd love to go on a date again.' Tina nodded and we all turned to see where she was looking. Prince Zed and Prince Xavier were talking to each other and both were laughing. Their smiles were perfectly carved and once again I found myself thinking it was so unfair to the female and gay population to have such a good-looking family leading our country. Queen Karla appeared and seemed to scold the boys for slacking, making me smile to myself as they hurried off, normal boys told off by their mum.

'I think we'd all love another date.' Zoe replied. 'Maybe now there's only thirteen of us left, it'll be easier to spend some time with him.'

'I hope so,' Tina sighed. 'He just seems so busy all the time. We never run into him apart from breakfast, lunch or dinner. I wonder what he does with himself the rest of the day.'

Other than hanging in the music room or training me? I was curious as to what he did too.

'I can't decide.' I sighed over-dramatically as I collapsed backwards on my bed. I winced at my aching muscles, regretting my decision instantly. I needed a nice, warm bubble bath but I still had several hours before I could do that. Abby and Chloe inspected the dresses they were holding up. I'd already scrapped a few that were far too girly and now I was trying to decide between the remaining three red dresses.

'I think the off-shoulder.' Abby decided. 'The small slit at the front and loose skirt will keep you cool but the tight lace bodice and off-shoulder sleeves make it sexy but sophisticated.'

'Some of the other girls are wearing posh gowns in shades of blue again. This is right in the middle and by the time we've done your hair and added shoes, you'll look perfect for the evening.'

The girls braided parts of my hair and pinned them back, allowing my curls to fall over my shoulders. They added some jewellery, did my make-up and paired my dress with heeled sandals so that I did not sink into the grass. I decided it was my favourite look I'd had so far; it wasn't too girly or slutty or over-the-top Hollywood glamour. It was just Sky Bright from Whitebridge, the girl that somehow had ended up in this crazy contest. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the tightness of my corset and, with my head high, I walked out into the palace gardens with my assigned guard not far behind.

The gardens looked beautiful, as they had done for the previous garden party, decorated with flowers and fairy lights and bunting as a welcome to the guests. Diamond's family had already arrived, not wanting a fussy introduction, and they mingled amongst some of the other guests, including Dukes and Duchesses and some celebrities too. Children with flower crowns in their hair ran in and out of the party-goers and I remembered Diamond mentioning that she had nieces and nephews.

'Sky!' Diamond walked over to me with a tall girl with very curly brown hair at her side. Diamond pulled me into a hug and then stood back with a smile. 'I've been looking for you for ages!'

'I've only just got here.' I replied, glancing around for a sign of the other girls; how would they react to Diamond hugging me? I tried not to wince as I straightened myself up. Dressing myself with throbbing muscles was harder than I had first thought.

'Well that explains it.' She laughed softly. 'Sky, this is my sister, Crystal, Crystal meet Sky.' She lowered her voice. 'She's my favourite contestant in here.'

I laughed and blushed at the compliment as Crystal held her hand out for me. 'It's nice to meet you.' We both found ourselves saying in unison as we shook hands in greeting.

'Where are you from?' Crystal asked. 'Sorry but I've not been watching any of the broadcasts. I've been in a black hole.'

I smiled at her joke. 'Whitebridge. Are you from Italy too?'

'Yes, I live there but looking to move closer now that Di is living over here. Most of my family live in England but there's a handful of them in South Africa too.'

'Wow, you must get to see all over the place.' I replied, feeling a little envious.

'Can I get any of you ladies a drink?' Prince Xavier had appeared and I didn't miss the look of surprise from Crystal as she spotted the third-youngest Prince. 'Crystal, right?' He said, no formality in his tone.

'Yes, your highness.' She murmured in response, about to bend her legs but he stopped her.

'There's no need for that.' He laughed softly and it reminded me of Prince Zed; did all of the Royal family dislike being curtsied to? I thought back to the Queen telling off her sons that morning and decided that they really were just a normal family, only with royal titles.

'Well a drink would be nice.' Crystal decided. 'It's boiling out here.'

'I'm going to go and find Trace.' Diamond smiled and ducked off, leaving the three of us.

'And you, the courageous Lady Sky?' He asked. I wrinkled my nose, frustrated that word had gotten out about the act I'd hardly deemed as brave.

'I think I'll go and find my friends but thank you.' I turned to Crystal and smiled. 'It was nice meeting you.'

'And you, Lady Sky.'

Tina, Zoe, Amelie and a few of the other girls were drinking wine by the fountain when I found them. They chatted amongst themselves whilst the acoustic guitarist and his band played covers of well-known songs just a few feet away.

'Sky!' Tina called out with a wave as I made my way over, grabbing a drink from a waiter as I passed. I reached them and each girl hugged me in turn and we all complimented each other's outfits as we often did.

'You seem close with Diamond.' Zoe commented but before I could respond there was a collective gasp.

'Is that Phoenix?' Tina said. I turned my head and sure enough Phoenix was there, on Prince Yves' arm and wearing a divine white and silver gown. Her short brunette hair was curled and she looked like a movie star.

'So what, she's dating Prince Yves now?' Zoe raised an eyebrow but I kept my mouth closed. It was none of their business what had happened, but, at the end of the day, they were bound to speculate and so would the press. Phoenix spotted us and gave a small smile and shy wave but she didn't come towards us and I didn't blame her. Things were getting tense in the competition and some people were starting to show their true colours, only at a few weeks in. But what did you expect when you put twenty girls into a palace, fighting over one guy and a title too?

Dinner was different to other dinners. There was a buffet and most of the food had been grilled to match the laid-back party atmosphere. After dinner there was dancing and Dukes and guards stepped up to the mark, dancing with each of us. And then, to my surprise, I found Prince Zed stood in front of me as one of my favourite songs started up.

''Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars
I'm gonna give you my heart.'

'Good evening Lady Sky.' He said in his soft, velvety tone. A smile played on his lips.

'Good evening, your highness.' I replied with a curtsy.

'I was wondering if you would like to dance.'

My heart thudded in my chest and my skin burned at the looks our way from the other contestants. My heart and body were calling out a yes but my mind was saying no. Then I remembered the audience, including the guests and the cameras, waiting for me to do something. Lady Evelyn would be somewhere, shooting me disapproving looks for my hesitance. For your family, Sky, I told myself.

'Of course.' I let him take my hand in his and he led me onto the outdoor dancefloor, under lanterns and fairylights in a truly magical setting.

''Cause in a sky, 'cause in a sky full of stars
I think I saw you.'

He placed a hand on my waist as he had done that morning when it had just been the two of us and we danced together, two hands joined, as he spun me round to the pace of the acoustic music. It wasn't slow and sweet but it was upbeat and fun and I still found my heart doing a little dance in my chest.

'You look lovely in red by the way.' He murmured before twirling me around again. I found my cheeks blushing and his smiled, a smile which met his eyes. 'Are we still on for 6am tomorrow?'

'Only if we finish slightly earlier this time.' I replied as we danced across the floor. 'I don't think either of us were quite ready for breakfast in time.'

He laughed, a rich and melodious sound and my traitorous heart did another somersault. 'I am looking forward to our date tomorrow evening too.'

With one last twirl the song ended and Prince Zed bowed to me as I curtsied. I returned to my friends but not before Zoe was whisked away to join Zed for the next song.

Phoenix had somehow fallen right into a fairytale. I spotted her stood alone, watching the dancing crowd whilst Prince Yves said something to his mother several metres away, so I decided to approach.

'Hello, Lady Phoenix,' I curtsied in a formal greeting and she curtsied too.

'I'm still just Phoenix or Phee… but this lady stuff…' She looked awkward and I completely understood; we were out of our depth here. We'd never been raised for all of this. 'How are you?'

'I'm okay, and you? You certainly look like a lady this evening.'

She blushed and her gaze drifted to the floor before she looked back up to me. 'I'm… really well.' Her eyes moved to watch Prince Yves and I noticed how they sparkled when she looked at him.

'So you and Prince Yves are… together?'

She nodded as a blush crept across her cheeks, 'it was completely unexpected but I suppose life works in different ways. We just sort of… connected.' She grinned as if there was more to it but she couldn't say. Prince Yves beckoned her with his hand and, like a puppy following her master, she excused herself before following him. Leaving me alone. Again. I looked to the dancefloor and spotted Zed dancing with Zoe in a close embrace. My stomach twisted at the sight.

I sighed and slipped away into the darkness, all alone apart from my assigned guard. And as I sat down on the edge of the fountain and watched Zoe and the Prince dance together, laughing and joking as they did, I realised something; despite not wanting to feel any attraction towards Zed, I did. I'd become one of the girls I didn't want to- one of the thirteen girls that affected by the Prince. But his touch, which gave me goosebumps, and by his smiles and laughter on the rare occasion the broody Prince showed them. I groaned to myself. I couldn't get too close to him, no way. I was a girl from Whitebridge and he was a player, a party animal, my complete opposite. This was no Cinderella story.

I had another restless night of thrashing around in my bed and my alarm at twenty to six sounded earlier than I'd hoped. Thankfully, Abby was on-hand with tea and I drank a cup whilst Chloe plaited my hair out of my face and then I quickly changed into the clean training uniform they'd been ordering in for me.

'Your date is this evening, isn't it?' Abby asked as I put on a little mascara and eyeshadow to make myself look slightly more human.

'Yes.' I murmured, my stomach somersaulting with nerves.

'We'll pick out some outfits for you to choose from whilst you're in classes this afternoon.' She replied. 'Anything in particular you need to wear?'

'I have no idea what we're doing.' I said. 'But leggings and a tunic would be perfect. I'm not used to wearing so many dresses.'

Chloe rolled her eyes. 'You look fabulous and you know it, besides there are no other tunics in this closet, remember?' She signalled to what I was wearing and I groaned. I could hardly wear a guard's uniform on a date, could I?

Half an hour later and I was listening to Zed's instructions carefully as I punched and kicked at the punchbag in silence, apart from the groans as my muscles cried out in protest for having to do this the second day in a row. The radio played quietly in the background as we worked hard, personal instructor and student. Clunk. I kicked the punchbag with such force that Prince Zed flinched and took a step away.

'Whoaaa.' He said, grabbing the bag and stopping it from swinging back. 'Everything okay this morning?'

'Everything is fine.' I replied. I grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from my forehead before taking a swig of water.

'Are you sure?' He looked at me with a puzzled expression. 'You seem a little… tense.'

'And the Royal Palace threw a party to welcome future Queen, Lady Diamond's family to the city last night. This comes just twenty-four hours after a terrorist attack on the palace where eight guards were killed. Last night, footage was revealed showing Lady Sky, one of the selection contestants, pulling a fellow contestant, Lady Amelie to safety in the attacks…'

I turned off the radio and groaned, stretching my legs out in a hope I could stop some of the aching.

'You do not like being in the spotlight, do you?' He asked. I looked up, expecting to see a smirk but there wasn't a single trace of a smile.

'Why should I be in the spotlight?' I asked him. 'I didn't do anything particularly brave, all I did was keep another girl safe.'

'Some girls would have just left her to fend for herself… one less girl to go up against.' He winced at the thought.

'Maybe but that's not me. Every life matters and no one deserves to be caught up in a terrorist attack, not us and not those poor guards who lost their lives protecting all of us.' I met his eyes and he gave a small nod.

'You are right.'

'My life has always been private and I like keeping it that way.' I told him. 'Don't you ever feel fed up of the press following your every move? Making up stories about you?'

'Unfortunately a lot of the stories are true.' He murmured, his mouth set in a grim line. 'I think I used to love the attention, you know? Crave cameras following me around but then I saw what I was doing to my parents… they were ashamed of me and I knew I had hurt them at the country too… I guess I am starting to see what a mess I have made and now I am trying to fix it.' He was quiet for a moment as I wondered if this was all a ploy to get me on his side but then I realised from his expression and a blue outline surrounding him that he was telling the truth. I could feel it in my gut. Then his eyes widened. 'I should not have said that.'

I knew what he meant- he should have kept quiet because he liked to be a closed book. He didn't like to share his feelings or emotions with anyone. I'd been like that many times before too. 'I'm not going to tell anyone.' I told him softly. 'Your secret is safe with me.'