Lady Aenwyn

I clenched my jaw, biting on my inner cheek to try and suppress my grunts of pain. The hair stylist was raking, well more like trying to rake through my unruly, vibrant red hair. It took her a lot of time and effort to finally get all the knots out, and when she did, she reached for a pair of silver scissors. I just nodded at her, giving her the permission to do with my hair as she saw fit.

I still couldn't believe that I was actually here. I was in the Palace, having people tend to my needs instead of me tending to them. I couldn't help but smile to myself. I had escaped, and I was never going back to that hell hole.

The whole journey that had let up to this moment had been full of surprises. The first one began when I learnt that, since there were only fifteen of us, all the girls would be flying in separately in their own small private jets. They were described as small, but to me they were enormous. I had never flown and gaped out of the window in awe for the duration of the flight. I was actually glad that I was travelling to the Palace alone, because I could marvel at everything I saw in peace. Besides, I was never good around my peers.

Surprise number two was the sight of the Palace. I had never seen anything like it. The walls were massive, stretching out beyond where my eyes could look. It was surrounded by a forest on the north side, and beautiful gardens by the south. The inside was even more elaborate. Everywhere I looked, I found a new, exquisite detail. The walls were high, as were the windows which made the place bathe in sunlight. The floors were marble and shining of cleanliness. My head was spinning with everything I saw.

We came in in pairs of threes, as some planes arrived on the same time. I was led inside the Palace with Jia McKarns and Sawyer Holloway. I didn't speak to them much, only acknowledged them with a nod when we were introduced. The moment we walked through the doors into the makeover room, we were greeted by a cheerful blonde. I was informed that she was the Royal planner, and would walk us through this journey that was the Selection. She assigned us to our makeover boots, and here I was.

My thick hair was cut from the middle of my bicep to my collarbones. They put some serum in that smelled like heaven and tamed my unruly locks. My eyebrows were slightly shaped and I got a manicure and pedicure. I looked into the mirror after they were done and was glad that I could still recognize myself. I was just an improved version. ''Thank you,'' I creaked to them, my voice scratchy from the lack of use in the orphanage. I was used to hardly speaking and never asking questions, but that had to change if I didn't want to get kicked out immediately. The Prince wouldn't like a girl who never spoke.

I was hauled off to a corner of the vast room where portable changing booths were located. I was greeted by three women in maid uniforms. The ginger and copper haired women seemed like they were well over 30, while the ebony haired girl seemed like she was in her 20s. All three of them curtsied at the same time, like they had been rehearsing it.

''Pleasure to meet you, Lady Aenwyn. We will be your maids during your stay in the Palace. My name is Beatrice, I am your head maid,'' the ginger haired woman began with a warm smile. ''And these are Hylee and Eisley,'' she continued while pointing at respectively the older woman and the young girl.'' They smiled welcomingly at me, and I noticed that Eisley had a scar running across her cheek.

''Pleasure to meet you too. And please, I prefer Cassia.'' I replied, not really smiling back at them. My first-hand experience with the dark side of human nature had made me reluctant towards strangers. I never treated anyone differently from others, which made me closed off to basically everyone.

Hylee led me to a rack of dresses next to my changing booth and excitedly pointed at them, ''Lady Cassia, we made you a few dresses you can choose from to wear today. Please pick one.'' She could see me looking at them with apprehension, so she pulled out a dress filled with sequins and sparkles. I immediately shook my head. It didn't feel good to wear a dress that extravagant, it simply didn't match the person I was. One of my other requirements was that it had to be floor length, to cover the scars on my ankles. I looked through the rack and found a dress that was simple, but pretty.

Eisley joined me in the changing booth and helped me into my outfit of choice. It was a light navy blue, A line chiffon dress with a sweetheart neckline and a ruffled bodice that fitted my form perfectly. It was a tad bit too revealing for my taste, but I would discuss the way I wanted my dresses to be in the future with my maids. I walked out of the booth and Beatrice gasped, ''That dress looks beautiful on you, miss.''

I smiled my thanks and they put me in my previous makeover chair, this time to do my makeup and hair. As I found out, Beatrice had magic hands and she did my thick hair in a beautiful sidebraid that started at the roots. Eisley applied, on my request, simple makeup that consisted of a small line of eyeliner, a touch of mascara and a little bit of taupe eyeshadow. I refused to wear any jewelry or nail polish, as I thought that would be too much. Hylee excitedly clapped her hands, ''All done.''

I barely had any time to register my new appearance before I was hauled off again, this time to the woman who had greeted me at the doors. As I came closer, I realized she was barely a woman as she looked like she was still in her late teens.

''Miss Arabella, we're all done with her,'' Beatrice said. Arabella looked me over and smiled in appreciation.

''You look great, Lady Aenwyn.'' I opened my mouth to correct her, preferring Cassia, but she wasn't done yet. ''You will wait in The Women's Room until all the other Selected are done with their makeovers, and when it's time for dinner I will get you girls and you will dine with the Royal Family tonight.''

She signaled a guard over to escort me to The Women's Room. My maids dashed off, probably to work on getting my room ready. I deliberately took a lot of time walking the few steps to The Women's Room, as I was trying to digest everything that had happened and would happen while also taking in the beauty of the Palace. I knew that I would have no privacy or time to think while waiting with the other Selected, and I dreaded being surrounded by so many girls. I barely realized that this was my life now. Walking through the Palace corridors, wearing an expensive and custom made dress with kitten heels that were already hurting my feet, dining with the Royal Family tonight. This was it. My life was no longer the same.

Lady Rania

I was sitting on a soft cushioned, cream coloured couch in The Women's Room. The events of the day had flown past me like a gush of wind. It seemed like 15 minutes ago that I was saying goodbye to my parents, trying to hold back my tears as I clung to them. And now I was here, in a beautiful chiffon black gown that slightly faded to a dark grey at the bottom. It was designed with a beaded yoke in gold, with a simple round neck and cap sleeves. The bodice was cinched in at the waist with ruched gathered detailing and the skirt gently flared out into an A-line shape that skimmed the floor. My maids paired it with black, peep toe heels and I marveled at the inches it gave me in height. They had presented me with gold earrings with tapered chain fringe drops and crystal encrusted ear jackets. They looked and felt so expensive that I tried to refuse them, but my maids ensured me that it was provided for me and that I would have to get used to it. I carefully touched my dark brown hair that was done in Marcelle waves, which I absolutely loved. All I had said to the makeover stylists was ''please, make me pretty'' and they took the lead from there. My eyebrows were threaded into a nice shape and after I looked into the mirror when my maids were also done with me, I didn't feel so ugly, which was a first.

I anxiously played with the skirt of my dress as most of the Selected were mingling and chatting amongst each other. I had always been a shy girl, and I didn't dare or know how to approach the other girls. My mind was mostly with my brother, the Palace guard, and I couldn't wait to finally see him again. I was disturbed from my thoughts when a girl sat next to me and addressed me.

''Lady Rania, right?'' the blonde haired girl asked, a deadpan expression on her face. She was in an equally stunning red, one shoulder gown that was see partly see-through on the top. The bodice was adorned with beading that seemed to multiply at her waist, and then explode like little stars over the skirt of her dress. A red rose in her hair held back the right side of it while the rest of her golden hair cascaded around in curls on the left side. Her coffee toned eyes were brought out with a heavy application of mascara and Egyptian style Kohl eyeliner, while her lips were painted a wine red. Along with the gold armbands on her upper arm, she truly gave off the feeling of an Empress, which intimidated me.

I swallowed before answering in a timid voice, ''Yes. I'm sorry, I don't know who you are..''

''I'm Evelaine, but you can call me Elaine. Don't worry, I'm not a stalker or anything, I just did my research,'' she answered, not a hint of a smile on her expressionless face. She looked around the room and signaled to a group of girls with her head. ''Those girls, for instance, are Alondra, Aurelia and Rowan. They seem to be hitting it of rather well.''

I followed her gaze, and became even more nervous when I saw the three gorgeous and intimidating girls. I was familiar with Alondra, like every other human living on this planet, and I thought she was a good singer. She always looked nice in interviews, but right now, she was eyeing the rest of us like a hawk, already weighing her competition and probably eliminating us in her mind. To be honest, she looked scary. She was wearing a long sleeved dress that could be considered to be conservative, had it not been for the plunging neckline. I would have never dared to put on such a dress, even if it were in the privacy of my own room. The other girl, Aurelia, was wearing an equally seductive dress with a long slit that went up her thigh. And then there was Rowan, whose dress was skintight and slightly see-through, while also revealing a bit of cleavage. It seemed like they were judging us already, probably gossiping and making snide remarks. I was glad I was out of their earshot. Alondra caught my eye and I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to draw attention to myself.

Evelaine could sense my nerves, and she did her best to calm them, still not giving me a smile. ''Girls like that are like dogs, they can smell your fear. Don't give them an opportunity to bully you.''

''Thanks.'' I breathed, although I knew her advice was useless. Bullies always seemed to find me, pick me out from the crowd. If only I was strong enough to actually stand up for myself. Evelaine looked like the type of person who could handle bullies, and I was glad she was sitting beside me. She was hard to read though, with her deadpan expression that seemed to be plastered on her face. Had I made a friend?

I heard the doors of The Women's Room open, letting the last girl in. I heard Alondra snickering as a girl in a wheelchair wheeled herself in. ''Ah, seems like the charity case has arrived. Stay away from her, everyone. She's an untouchable.''

I knew that term. Untouchable meant that she was an Eight. I looked at the girl with pity in my eyes, as it seemed that Alondra had already found her target. Everyone was silent, until a dark haired girl with wide, alarmingly bright blue eyes stood up. Evelaine leaned in and muttered, ''Monroe Waters. And the girl in the wheelchair is Arizona Dawson.''

Monroe walked up to Arizona, and grabbed a chair to sit beside her. ''Don't mind the stuck up priss.''

Arizona smiled at her, seemingly not bothered at all by Alondra's harsh words. She seemed like a friendly, good-tempered girl. Evelaine stood up to grab a chair and join Monroe and Arizona, and I quickly followed, not wanting to be left behind. Monroe and Arizona had already started to engage in a lively conversation, and Elaine and I joined them. They were both incredibly kind and sociable, and they seemed eager to make new friends, just like I was. We kept our conversation at light-hearted topics, and we couldn't help but muse as to what the Royals, and especially the Prince, were doing at the moment.

''I have a theory,'' Monroe started. ''You've all seen the Queen, right? There's no way that someone as beautiful as her doesn't puke gold. And the King probably coughs out rainbows.'' This, and the fact that she said it with such a serious expression on her face, made us burst out into laughter. Even Evelaine, who had been so stoic, had an amused smile on her face.

I was incredibly glad and thankful that Evelaine had approached me, and that we, mostly she, decided to join Arizona and Monroe in their conversation. I was hopeful that if I didn't win, I would at least have made new friends.

The Selected have arrived to the Palace! I hope you liked this chapter. The next chapter will continue from this point and will probably also be the dinner. Would you like the dinner to be from a Selected's POV or from the Prince? Let me know!

I tried to include as many girls as I could in this chapter without it becoming too 'crowded'. I will say though, I am more inclined to give your girl a POV/date/write about her if you review (often). Because I don't want to feel like I'm writing your character and giving her a lot of time in the story if you're not even reading it, you know? Hopefully you all understand!

As I change my mind every second or so, I made a board for every Selected on my pinterest (username: wolfofstark) and put their post-makeover/first day dress and hairstyle on it. So, check that out and let me know what you think! I hope I did every girl's style justice. If I didn't, please PM me or let me know.
Like I said earlier, I won't be doing this for every girl for every single chapter, but for special events like the First Day and balls/parties etc. I will do individual date outfits though.

Sooo, in short, my questions:

- Do you want the dinner to be from a Selected's POV or the Prince?
- Did you like this chapter?
- How quickly do you want the first date to be? Do you want a chapter just about the Royals, after the first day is over, or do you want the date?

Thanks for reading and keep reviewing!

~wolfofstark