"God has given you one face, and you make yourself another." - William Shakespeare
Arrival
The car was quiet for most of the trip. Six girls filled the spacious interior, they'd picked up another three girls and now there was silence, except for a firm mutter from the corner. There sat Canada Laker from Honduragua, who was hard to forget with her multicolour stripped hair and bright blue eyes she captured your attention in a bright all consuming atmosphere. Josie would have thought her eyes were glue in a smile if not for the fact that she was barraging the little, and shy, Labradorian; Samantha Author, who was slowly sinking into the leather seat. None tried to save her.
Next to them was Mirra Kvis, she peered out of the window, her eyes surveying the scenery with calculating curiosity. Her hair was pulled back in an ornate plait, a small silver pendant glistened against her black hair.
Rei Worker sat next to Josie. At first Josie had thought a girl like her would make a good friend, she was tanned with thin eyes and an athletic build . She had also played the part in representing her province, Panama, through her culture. But in reality she sat there, hands clasped, fingers knotted together for the entire trip. She looked up slightly at the roof of the car, but she was far away. Now and then she stir and move a bit, talking silently. She wasn't the most comfortable person to sit next too. The other two girls Josie didn't know their names, they were both, separately, fiddling with the little bits if luxury in the car.
The tassels on the end of a cushion, the pattern of the leather linings, the moving windows; to be honest they struck her as bring a little slow. The only thing in the car that interested Josie was the strange fountain at the back of the vehicle. It was a glass box with water flowing behind it, a light shining underneath. It made waterfall sounds, a hushed noise that didn't belong to a waterfall. Despite the obvious goal of calming Josie was just getting more stressed. Here she was amongst a bunch of girls, many of them from similar places as her, and possibly opposed to marrying a prince as she was, and she didn't have the confidence to talk to them. At home she had a small group of friends -basically half the girls and boys she knew around her age- from school, she had her family, the apprentices and Imre. All of which she begun to miss.
The area they drove down looked nothing like the pictures of the royal estate and Josie wondered where they were. They had flown north, but basically everywhere was north from Bonita. Mirra gasped, her hand coming to her lips as if to catch the sound. All eyes went to the right windows. The tree line suddenly ended to reveal a gilded fence and gate, the white metal was covered with gold laurel leaves. Symbols of food and prosperity littered two opposing towers. On the top of each a marble statue; one for the royals, the other for the people. She'd seen similar, more simplified, versions on coins and government buildings. This was a royal estate no doubt about it. Soldiers guarded the walls a respectful distance from the gates, they checked ID before entry. Beyond the soldiers however was what really caught the girls attention. A series of gardens wrapped around the area, and passed them...
The sea.
It glittered in the sub, a cliff circled around the water making a peaceful bay. A sweeping beach better than the one Josie had been to as a child, the sand a creamy pale blanket. It was a paradise. She couldn't see the royals house, but from the expression on Canada's face it was mind blowing. The car drove through the gates and wrapped around to a small house.
By small, it was huge . Josie's country house three times over. However she could tell by the frowns on the other girls faces that this was not the palace they'd been gawking at. While it was large it was far smaller than the official royal palace, and plain. Dark wood beams arched over the white exterior. The car doors were opened by official looking gentlemen with black suits with white and yellow embellishments. One by one the girls got out and circled the car, a few looked back to try and see the palace again, it was hidden behind pleasant looking forest, the trees and bushes in full flower. The smell was intoxicating, filling the slightly chilly air to breaking point. A breeze brushed passed them and they all shook, albeit some more than others. In was colder in the north even with the summer. Rachelle stood at the top of grey stone steps, she descended with grace.
"Welcome girls to the Summer Palace, as you all should know this is not the main residence of the royal household. This is their summer home, a place of relaxation and peace, they have been very generous for you to reside here during this period. This has been done to retain a sense of normalcy for the family. You will be expected to acted appropriately, be assumed the main house can service all of you, however you will only receive private apartments when the family returns to the Capitol Palace in three weeks. To begin with you will all be given the opportunity to look your best." Mirra nodded, Josie could almost imagine he stroking her chin in thought. Rachelle led them through the large oaken doors.
The entrance room was long and thin. With a double stair case at the back and a dozen doors opening and closing as servants swarmed. Six came over instantly, bowing and curtsying, their embellishments were white and red. "Ladies, these are the second of your personal entourage; the rest will join you soon, they will be in charge of your daily plan, your luggage and your look." With that they all stepped up to introduce themselves, Maisa bobbed down again to in greeting and finished with, "My lady."
She hardly looked up to make eye contact, and led her away to a stall. It seemed they were the first to arrive, as another half a dozen girls, wearing thin coats came in led by Rachelle. Josie knew only one of them, Mariska Lume, she entered with a smile on her face, her walk confident and easy. She took her attendants shoulders and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "You and me are going to be the best, we're going to win." The girls next to her shuffled looking somewhere else, anywhere else. Maisa sighed, "I feel sorry for Kia."
Then she seemed to realise what she was saying and stopped. Surveying what the stylist had done to Josie's hair. The brown was now browner, dark chocolate, and while Josie had asked to go something a little outrageous the purple or orange but Maisa said no. Josie pouted for a moment before deciding there was probably a reason why her mother had said that Josie wasn't allowed to do it at home. They filled her nails, rubbed her feet, and just as she was descending into happy bliss with the warm hair massage and wash, a bad sound broadcast over that divider.
"What have you done? Do you know who my father is? This isn't ice blonde, this is dirty blonde. You missed the ends; I can't look like this when I meet the prince! What will he think? If I get sent home it'll be all your fault, my father will hear about this and he'll made sure you get sold to a slave yard where you belong!" the girl wasn't loud, but she was harsh, there was a sense of horror in her voice, or that could just be the feeling Josie felt bubbling up. She waited for the stylist to say something, or the attendant to come back but nothing happened. She would have one over to the other side of the divider but her hair was soaked and she didn't want to make a scene and have the girl hate her, she had her family to think about but most of all, the girl had mentioned eh slave trade; in public, without remorse. Someone that unstable would be thrown out of the competition soon anyway. That was one of the 'never talked about in polite society' topics her mother had drilled into her from a young age.
Josie felt relieved when the stylist asked her to come throw the doors nearest them. She led Josie down the hall and up some steps, Josie stared down the green tones halls with wooden accents. The place seemed endless; she wondered what the palace was like. The stylist came to a door and opened it to reveal a lavish bathroom. "Lady Josephine, if you'd like to change into a robe our resident embalmer will see to you now." Josie nodded a little stunned, embalmer?
Stepping into the room, she took a long white robe, soft and warm to the touch, and undressed herself self-consciously the embalmer sat at the other end of the room, silently preparing the work area. The embalmer was a woman; she had grey hair but didn't seem that old. Her hands were strong and large. She stood next to a strange marble chair/bed thing. "If you'd please sit down, Lady Josephine," she said when Josie had dressed.
Josie sat, letting the embalmer push her down to a half lying position. "Which favour would you like? Strawberry, pebble beach, vanilla, or sunset mist." Josie blinked then noticed the row of basins, the smells drifting off them were heavily. Josie picked vanilla, while strawberry sounded like something to eat and sunset mist seemed a bit ostentatious. "Could I have two…?" She asked as the embalmer began rubbing her hands in the fourth basin. The woman simply nodded, "Ah…pebble beach?" She never seen a pebble beach much less smelt like one; but the smell coming from its basin was incredible.
Fifteen minutes later she was covered in sweet smelling oils, not just the smell favours but some olive oil to soap her down, a balm that was shiny in the light – purifier according to the embalmer – which brought out her skin's natural colour. By the end she'd asked the embalmer every question that had occurred to her. What was the most popular smell? Strawberry. How many girls have you done so far, and I the fast? Four, you are not the first. Do you do this a lot? I am here to help staff relax. Do lots of staff come here? This is the staff dorm; you will be told more later I'm sure. The smile the old woman gave her because of her ignorance made Josie quite, was she supposed to know that? How could she know? She never had been to a royal estate before.
The embalmer washed her down and sent her off smelling of vanilla and beaches. In the large room another group had arrived and one of the girl's was sitting in Josie's chair. Maisa jumped as Josie came into view ad hurried her out of the booth. "You took a while; you'll have to wait for final prep and dress." The woman tsked, and touched up her collar.
If the room wasn't busy before it certainly was now. Josie watch in wonder at the perfectly oiled machine acted with such efficiency Josie was reminded of a horse all the muscles walking together, propelling it ; all for the rider – the royals – to make the jump. She watched content until the other girl was waiting for her turn at the embalmer. She came and sat next to Josie.
"Hi, your Josephine Agrarian, right?" Josie nodded, smiling she offered her hand. The girl was the one from the booth before. "Josie actually. I love you makeup. Those swirls are majestic." The girl blushed under the thin layer of makeup. She took Josie's had.
"To tell you the truth I rarely wear makeup. It seems a bit much" Josie shook her head.
"You look stunning, you should thank your stylist, I almost want to looking at you. I figure I'm going to embrace the stuff I can get before I'm sent home." The girl blinked. Josie felt like frowning, the girl's name escaped her, which was annoying because she knew Josie's name and was the first chance of a friend she's had since arriving.
"You don't think you'll be Queen?" Josie smiled with a little bit of guilt. This girl sounded northern which meant she'd have no idea about the pride Bonita and some other southern provinces felt when it came to the government. Josie shrugged, "There are 31 of us, which means I have less than 5% chance of becoming a princess and if you consider that there was 62 of us, I really have less that 2% chance. I've already beaten the odds to be here. And so have you, I guess." The girl nodded, slowly then she shook her head.
"But there's still a chance."
"1.6% to be queen, in theory, yes. However it can be assumed that different girl swill have more of a chance than others. Since this isn't a random draw. By observation, I'd say, you, Alexandra have a much high chance of 3.65%" They both looked up at Mirra Kvis, she bobbed her head and asked, "Is this seat taken?" Alexandra shook her head. Josie remembered her now, Alexandra Lifter, Yukon. Mirra sat, her eyes moving over the crowd.
"What do you think your chance is?" Mirra turned back to Alexandra's question. She seemed to think, tapping her finger to her chin. Josie noticed her stylist hadn't done anything other than touch up Mirra's makeup. Josie wondered suddenly if Mirra had planned out her look right down to the dab of silver on her lids.
"I don't think Prince Xavian likes girls of my body types. So probably a 2.3? Maybe a 2, nothing more than a 3." Josie stared at the girl, nothing like Mariska, she seemed to be analysing everything and accepting that other girls had better chances than her. A question bubbled in her throat and Josie forced it to stay before she thought it through.
"Do you think some of the rules of this competition are odd?" She wanted to ask more, about Xavian being younger that they said he was, or the blood test. Mirra smiled, looking relieved, "This is why I came here, to sit next to you too. You're two are among the smartest girls here."
Ignoring the comment Alexandra moved on. "Why do you say your body type isn't what Xavian liked, you're here right?" Mirra nodded.
"Yes that's true, however, most girls here are short, athletic and are still well endowed. I am none of those things. She cast a hand over her roved body. She was tall and slender and while Josie wasn't sure about athletic she did seem more academic. Josie looked over at the arriving party, they looked on the room with mixed expressions but Mirra was right while the heights were a bit off, all the girls had similar body shape. It couldn't be a coincidence. It took most of the day to get everyone ready. At about midday servants arrived food n hands. They drifted around to each of the girls and offered the plate in their hands. Josie took a few rolls, with turned out to have salad and chees inside, then a glass of swirling juice with fruit on the edge. They drank together. Alexandra, who was called Lexa by all her friends, ate more than both of them.
Mirra pointed out who she thought were the biggest challengers, Josie and Lexa joining in the pointing out who they thought would make the best Queen. At last Mirra shook her head, "Not everyone ca be Queen, according to you two, He's marrying all of us. I suppose percentage chance can go out of the window, then? Josie laughed at Mirra's frank expression. Lexa went dead serious and said, "I don't see why not. Then we can all be princesses." Josie stopped laughing, choking on a what? Mirra looked at Lexa with concern. Then a cheeky face formed on the Lexa's face and they all burst out laughing.
"Hey. Me and Maria are trying to have a nice quiet conversation here, so please zip it." Josie gawked at the girl in front of her. She had the same voice as the one from the booth beside her. Her hair was a striking blonde, with silver/grey low lights, the effect against her dark sin was incredible. She looked like an angel, her eyes big and bright, her full lips were lathered with yellow lipstick. She whispered at them loud enough for the girl sitting of the couch near them waved when her name was said.
"Maria and I," Lexa said.
"Excuse me?" The girl asked. Josie remember her now, Estora Marks, she had looked normal in the photo, except for her deep skin tone, her skin perfectly smooth and unblemished, as well as beautiful, lustrous black brown hair, now replaced with the blonde. Josie honestly didn't like it, but if it made her think she was going to win, so be it, it wasn't Josie's hair.
"Your grammar, it was incorrect, to speak appropriately you must say, Maria and I, or you sound uneducated."
"What would you know about education? Do you know who my parents are? Of course not your probably some old Six or Seven who wants to play at being princess. I always come first when I speak, I don't care what grammar says." With that she twisted around and took two steps, before stopping again. "So keep quiet and don't disturb me."
The three girls sat in amazement as Rachelle entered the room and clapped her hands. Ladies the Prince will not receive you. Please took your best and remember to present yourself as you. Now rise and come with me." There was a hushed excitement as the girls stood and began to file out of the building. Over the day everyone had been dressed into the same style dress. It was plain and simple, a white that dropped to her knees. In it Josie felt pretty, girl's like Estora and Mirra looked stunning.