Chapter 2
The Report started out with King Stephan. He warned us about riots among the Eights and discord in the lower castes. I almost wanted him to continue on with the boring, because the longer he talked the longer I got to hold onto the hope that was keeping me alive.
Too soon, Harrow Fitzgerald made his way onto the stage, flashing a wide smile and winking at all of us. My mom and sister sat up a little straighter, despite the hunger pangs in their stomachs. Dinner had been rough tonight, our combined salaries paid for a small bag of grain. We mixed it with a little water so we could swallow it, but that was never enough. If my father had come home we could have bought bread with his larger salary, but he was out somewhere. The curfew laws clearly didn't apply to him, the bastard.
Queen Malia walked onto the stage with her sons, her blond hair gleaming and her eyes shining with pride. No wonder the King chose her, she's certainly more beautiful than anyone I'd ever met. Princes Gabriel and Jacob follow her, backs straight and eyes forward. Gabriel looked more skittish than normal, his hands picked at the bottom of his over pressed suit and his eyes couldn't focus on one spot.
Jacob, clearly the hotter brother, looked at ease. He blew Gabriel right out of the water in all things physical and it was a right shame I couldn't go for him instead. A couple guards came onstage with huge baskets. Each one had a different province written on it, and I could spot my own, Clermont.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen of Illéa!" said Harrow, excitement practically steaming out his body. "Today is one of the most incredible days for the Royal family and all of you! Today one of the names names read with be the name that we will hear everyday. She will be the next princess of Iléa, and then our beautiful queen.
Let's get on with it I thought, along with all the other girls across the country.
"35 girls will now have their lives changed forever. . . starting in Zuni!"
Gabriel stepped up to the basket and reached in. He fished around with his eyes up to the sky, and I swear even Harrow held his breath. He passed the little card to Harrow and bit his lip slightly.
"Our first member of the beautiful Selected is Lady Rachel of Zuni!" A picture flashed across the screen of a beautiful brunette, a Three, and Gabriel's reaction. "Lady Amelia of Yukon!" A busty girl with black hair, a Two. "Lady Reena, of Whites! Lady Taena of Waverly!" On and on he went, the prince taking less and less time to sort through the baskets
The Prince's expression stayed neutral, I wondered what he thinks of all these girls coming to live with him. His brother must be bummed, all these ladies and not one is for him? Maybe Gabriel will let him have all the rejects. "Lady Kahlen of Clermont!" I froze.
My picture popped up, my face serene and calm. My dark hair frames my face beautifully and my green eyes seem to see stare through the TV. Not my normal look by a long shot.
I was a Seven in the Selection. I was the only Seven. Maybe the first ever. There was silence in the room, even Harrows voice can't be heard over it.
My mother grabbed my arm. "You have to win, Kahlen," she said, her eyes glued to mine.
"I'll try," I relied, slightly worried by her closeness,
"No Kahlen. You will win. Not just for you, or our family. You will win for everything you are, your caste."
I nodded, even though her words bothered me. My caste is not everything I am. My caste is just my ranking in society, low as it was.
Sophie collapsed on me, her arms tight around my waist. "Mom's right," she whispered into my shoulder. My heart thudded at the seriousness of her voice. Where had that happy girl gone? She sometimes seemed older than me now.
"I will," I said, rubbing circles into her back. "Don't worry."
The next week was a stressful blur. As soon as the Report ended Mom made us clean the entire apartment. There wasn't much to clean, and the two rickety beds we had took up most of the space. We did what we could, and Mom even put up decorations. I thought it made the place look sadder, but voicing my opinions put her in danger of blowing a vital organ.
Dad hadn't come home yet, not that I minded. The longer he was gone, the poorer we were, but there wasn't an oppressed air in the house anymore.
Over the week I got measured, talked to, talked to some more and measured again. The staff went over security measures with my mother, and my father who was "on a trip" never showed.
When I thought it was all over, a knock sounded on the door. A tall guard and a little man stepped in, surveying the small space. I felt the intense need to announce that this was a No Judge Zone, but decided against it.
"Good afternoon Lady Kahlen," the guard said, not looking me quite in the eye. "I am Officer Allen, and this is Monsieur Gouillieuvre," he said, pointing to the small man. The little man's name was lost to me, and I just decided to call him Greasy, thanks to his filthy little mustache and hair. I wasn't really one to talk, but I was sick of all these palace people. Already.
"Good afternoon," said my mother graciously. "Would you care to sit?" She gestured to the rickety table and chairs as if they were of gold and silver, but no one was fooled.
"Actually, I'm here to take the younger one out while Monsieur Gouillieuvre goes over some paperwork with the Lady," said Officer Allen. At this, Sophie blanched and looked at me for help. I shook my head, and she followed the man outside.
Greasy sat down at our table and opened an envelope. He took out some paperwork and laid it on the table in front of us.
"Miss Faye, since the night of the Report you are now considered property of Illéa. This means you need to take care of your body. Any failure to do this will mean your removal from the Selection. Do you understand?"
"Yes." My stomach crawled a little, did this mean they would kick me out if I got fat?
"Excellent. You must take a vitamin pill everyday. When you get to the palace, someone will be able to help you take it, but for now you're on your own." he passed a large bottle of pills and a form saying I got them. I almost laughed. Help taking a pill? So stupid.
He continued, "Additionally, you're supposed to have a physical. To make sure you're in good health, but I can't find a doctor or your record anywhere."
"Oh, she doesn't have a doctor we, um, couldn't afford it." Mom looked worried.
"Alright." He wrote a note on a piece of paper. "When you arrive at the palace you'll need to see the doctor there who will give you a physical."
"Ok."
"Last, I have to ask every contestant to confirm, so be honest, that you are a virgin."
My mouth dropped open, "Excuse me?"
"I have to ask every contestant to confirm-"
"Yeah! I get it, of course I am. I know the law."
"Very good, if you're caught lying-"
"I know!" Just shut up, please.
"Ok, please sign this form to confirm that, please." I rolled my eyes and scrawled my name on the line. What right does Greasy have to ask me this? And what girl wouldn't lie if they had? We know it's illegal and not worth the risk.
"Alright, rule time. No leaving the palace on your own accord, you have to be dismissed by the Prince. There is no timeline for the Selection, it can stretch into months and maybe years." I'm fine with that. We get compensation while we're away, and my family getting the money long term would be amazing.
"No arranging times with the Prince. If he wants one-on-one time with you, he'll contact you. If he wants it." He looked doubtful. "You're not expected to get along with the other girls, but fighting and sabotage are both prohibited. If you are caught laying hands on another contestant, stealing from her, or messing with her relation with the Prince, he may dismiss you on the spot."
"You may not have any relationship with anyone other than the Prince. That will be punishable by death. If you break any of Illéa's written laws, you get the punishment you would normally receive. No extra status being Selected."
"You will be on the Capital Report each Friday. On occasion there will be cameras or photographers in the Palace, and you will let them see your lifestyle with Prince Gabriel."
"For each week at the palace, your family will be compensated. I will give you the first check now." I didn't see the number on it, but my mother did and put her hand on her heart.
"If you should make it to the top ten, you will become an Elite. You will learn the inner workings of the palace, and cannot seek that information before that time. From this moment on, your status is a Three."
My heart dropped to my shoes. A Three? I could get a real job..
"If you win you and your entire family will become Ones."
Ones. Mom looked at me. Ones.
"Now please sign this saying you've read all the rules and this saying you received the check, please."
I signed, still in shock.
"One more thing. It's not really a rule, but don't deny the prince anything. Dinners, outings, kisses, more than that. Understand?"
"What?" I asked, flabbergasted.
"I know, but just don't. Good evening Miss Faye, and good luck." Greasy slipped away through the door. I just signed a slip saying I'd never done that or would do that, and now he's saying I can with the prince? Unbelievable.
Tomorrow. My hands shook a little. I'm a property Illéa. A property of Gabriel. A Three. A One?
A/N Hi! Thanks so much for reading, and please review! Also, I have to come up with 35 contestants, so if you want you can make your own. Just give me the following information to start off from:
Name:
Caste:
Hair color:
Eye color:
Height:
Other details:
Personality:
~Thanks! I really appreciate it and I hope you like it so far. I promise it will get more exciting soon.
