CHAPTER 3

Irina shouldn't be as happy as she was.

In fact, she should be rather annoyed. She should be furious that the palace guards had strongly suggested that she leave while she was trying to say goodbye to her sister. She should be angry that she was practically dragged away, her sister left waving half-heartedly, only to find herself sitting alone in an empty section of the Waverly International Airport waiting for the other three girls to arrive.

Irina hadn't wanted to leave quite so quickly, but the incessant hum-humming of the guards and the increasingly irritated comments of her aide had made it very clear that if she didn't leave soon, then she wouldn't have a choice in when she left.

One of the guards made it clear that Prince Cadence, if not the Regent himself, would hear about it.

That was something that Irina simply couldn't have. She wasn't about to jeopardize her chances at a better life, at a marriage, at even just being in the palace, to repeat the list of chores she needed her sister to complete.

So, the last thing Irina should have been feeling was any form of delight.

But, it was a really, really, nice section of the airport.

It was the nicest, well, anything that Irina had ever seen. The venues that she performed at, with their thick velvet curtains and ceramic vases might have been a close second, but even they didn't come close to the level of luxury that this palace-decorated section of the airport seemed to expel.

Everything was perfect, from the beverages organized by their bright wrapping color to the chairs draped with plush covers in the colors of Illéa's flag. The windows showed the plane that Irina assumed she would be flying on. It was smaller than the others in the lot which Irina supposed was because it was only supposed to fit a dozen or so people. It wasn't as if Irina was in any sort of place in life to complain about the size of the private jet sent to pick her up.

Irina had never even been on a plane before, she had never left Waverly, so if there was anything amiss, it wasn't as if she would be able to tell. She was sure that there wasn't though. She had a feeling that the royal family wouldn't let anything like that anywhere close to their precious selection.

"The selected from Allens should be arriving," the guard who had practically forced Irina out the door said.

Irina nodded, as if she usually got told these sorts of things by burly men wearing the navy uniforms of the royal guard. "Okay."

The girl from Allens bounced in without a care in the world. She seemed to be full of contradictions. She was wearing the palace-issued shirt with a pink frilly skirt and matching headband. Her shoes, however, were grungy-looking, thick soles with black laces. Her bag was a blue floral thing that looked like it didn't fit much at all, but she held a thick dark sweater that seemed far too hot for the balmy summer weather.

"Hello," Irina said, nodding her head in acknowledgment.

"Hi! I'm Nora Louise, I'm from Allens, and I love your bag. It's so retro!" The girl said all of this very quickly, and the rapid change caught Irina by surprise.

Irina glanced at the plain red canvas bag she had thrown haphazardly in one of the chairs. It was about four years old and she had gotten it on sale for seventy percent off. It wasn't the type of bag anyone truly liked. It was the type of bag that was used because it was durable and cheap, plain enough to be taken anywhere and not to have to fear for it being stolen.

"You do?"

The girl nodded enthusiastically, "Of course! It's so cute. I love bags, all types of bags! I collect them, you know, but I only brought a few of my favorites to the palace. I figured I wouldn't need all of them."

How simple a life Nora Louise must have to have such a benign hobby as collecting handbags.

"I suppose not," Irina said, trying to keep her snappy remarks at bay. This girl hadn't done anything to deserve it except disturb Irina's peace and quiet.

"I guess you never really know how long you're going to be at the palace for though. I hope I get to stay for a while. Cadence is very cute, isn't he."

"Yes. He is." Irina answered. She felt a little bad for the Prince that here they were, not even being in Angeles yet but already discussing his appearance.

"I'm so excited for the selection. I was nervous at first, I've never been away from my family for this long," Nora Louise continued, Irina's apparent lack of interest doing little to dissuade her. "But now that I'm actually here, and I'm meeting everyone, like you, I'm so happy I entered."

"Well, we just met a few minutes ago." Irina forced a laugh, "I mean, you don't even know me. Or anyone in the selection."

Nora Louise shrugged, looking utterly unbothered by the revelation. "Of course not, but you're so nice! I'm sure everyone else will be too."

Irina was sure that she meant it sincerely, but it still came off as rather fake considering that she had known of Nora Louise's existence for all of four minutes. "Thank you," Irina managed to get out. She had to be nice to this girl. It wouldn't do for her to get eliminated on the first day for being rude to her other selected.

No. She couldn't get eliminated yet. She got too lucky to watch it slip away with a few stray remarks and glares. This was her chance to give her family a better life, and there was no way she was going to give it up by being her usual prickly self.

Irina nodded, trying to retain some interest in the story that Nora Louise was telling. "It was a large crowd then?"

Nora Louise shook her head, "That depends. I live in a pretty small town, so it was large by my standards, but I'm sure not for you. You're from Waverly after all."

"Yes. I am." Irina shook her head, "I mean, It's really nice that so many people came."

Nora Louise seemed to brighten, "Thanks. Do you know who else we're waiting for? My legs are getting tired." She pouted as Irina tried to stop herself from pointing out that her tiredness might have stemmed from her heavy shoes.

"I don't know."

Nora Louise pouted for a few more seconds before turning to the guard that had escorted Irina here, "Excuse me, do you know who else is coming to this airport."

"The selected from Hansport, Miss." The guard answered. Irina almost stuck her tongue out. He certainly wouldn't have answered her.

"Oh." Nora Louise folded her arms, "Will it be a while?"

"It could be."

"Can we go look around the airport then?" Nora Louise asked, looping her arm inside Irina's. "This is my first time in Waverly after all."

"Yes, that's fine," he answered, nodding for another one of the men to follow the two of them.

With Irina's arm now held hostage, she was forced to walk along with Nora Louise or risk having her shoulder dislocated. The girl had a surprising amount of strength. If there was one thing Nora Louise could do, it was talk. She was just about the nicest person that Irina had ever met, and after a few minutes, her endless optimism started getting endlessly annoying. It took most of Irina's patience not to grimmance as she was dragged around the airport, from store, to information board, to window, to another store.

"Do you think we should go back?" Irina finally asked after forty-five excruciating minutes. "Our flight might be leaving soon."

Nora Louise blinked. "Oh. I didn't think of that. Of course, that's a really smart idea. Besides, if the girl from Hansport gets here I want to greet her."

"That's very nice of you." Irina said, slightly happier that she was now being dragged back in the direction of the private section of the airport.

In truth, there were no other girls there, but Nora Louise seemed content enough to wait to play welcoming committee. Irina feigned sleep, although judging by her guard's frown whenever she picked her head up, he wasn't convinced. Nora Louise certainly bought her act though, and a break from her chatter was all Irina really needed.

Eventually, Irina felt a hand tapping on her back. She whirled around, beyond grumpy, to face Nora Louise's sweet little face. "I was sleeping," Irina ground out.

"Oh, well, Mr. Karim wanted me to tell you that we're getting on the plane." Nora Louise told her.

"Who is Mr. Karim?" Irina questioned, still rather cross. She had been having a very pleasant time planning her first night in the palace. She had heard that the kitchens were spectacular, perhaps she would order some food to her room before she actually fell asleep. She would like to get back to making the plan.

"The guard." Nora Louise said, tipping her head to Irina's rather rude guard. "Come, we can sit next to each other! You can use one of my ear buds," Nora Louise insisted, pulling Irina to her feet.

"I think I'm just going to sleep." Irina said, her eyes landing on the other girl who had come to the airport.

Nora Louise saw Irina looking and took it upon herself to introduce them. "This is Catalina, she's from Hansport."

Catalina gave a cheery little wave, "It's nice to meet you all. I'm sorry for disrupting your sleep."

Irina grumbled, "It's okay."

"Do you want one?" Catalina asked kindly, handing Irina a bottle of water. "They were clearing them out, so I figured I should take one for you."

"Sure, yeah. Thanks."

For a plane owned by the Royal family, there certainly were a lot of delays in the takeoff, the landing, and the car that took them to the palace. The well oiled machine that was the palace seemed rather ill-equipped to handle the sheer amount of selected. Irina overheard several attendants confused on which flight this was, and where exactly these selected were from.

Crowds had gathered outside the airport to watch the selected and it took all of Irina's self-restraint, which was wearing very thin, to now outright scowl at the crowds. She didn't enjoy people screaming her name after she had just traveled for about seven hours.

Finally, finally, their little entourage arrived at the palace. Irina was beyond exhausted, cranky, and positively peeved at every sound anyone in the car made. She knew the day wasn't over yet. That there would still be the makeovers, and some basic etiquette lessons, and dinner before she could go to sleep on what she was sure to be a wondrously soft bed.

There were several other girls in the main hall, all standing around looking animatedly at the oil paintings hanging in the foyer. All seemed reluctant to move from their spots, even to just look farther into the palace, because it wasn't as if any of them had any autonomy left now. They all wore the same shirt as Irina, the pale blue blouse with lace sleeves, and most chose dark skirts with various accessories.

Except for one.

There was a little blond girl flitting around as if she owned the palace wearing a distinctly non-palace approved white dress and expensive-looking heels. Just the sight of it practically pushed Irina over the edge. She already played nice with Nora Louise and now as if the universe was intent on testing her today, she had to deal with this two who probably already thought that she was the Queen.

Irina had promised her sister that she wouldn't get into any trouble while she was here. That she would be an exemplary selected. She had looked Shiloh in the eyes and said to her, "Don't worry, Shi-Shi, I'll be kind, I won't snap, and when I get back, we'll go out for dinner at the diner. You can even get a milkshake."

She had held true to that promise for the most part. She was going to be sweet, and generous, perhaps even docile, if Irina could bring herself to act like that, but if there was one thing Irina couldn't stand it was people like the blond. People who were so confident, people who thought life was handed to them on a silver platter. People who used their sheer wealth as a child would use a crayon, scribbling outside the lines, breaking all the rules just because they could.

It was fine. Everything was fine. Irina would let it be.

"I can show you where it is," she heard the girl say to another selected, her polite smile one of utter condescension; smugness at the fact that she knew her way around the palace already. Confidence in the belief that soon there would be a crown on her head, as obviously Prince Cadence wasn't going to reject someone who already knew where the restrooms were.

Oh, God.

Maybe this girl had to be taken down a few pegs.

"Excuse me," Irina said walking over. Irina wasn't particularly tall, especially not for a dancer, but she towered over this girl.

"Oh yes, are you with the new arrivals?" The girl said, smiling at Irina. She had a heavy accent that Irina couldn't quite place. It took Irina back for a few minutes as she studied the girl's face. She looked rather familiar. She was probably some actress or influencer who had just enough followers to decide that she was relevant and made a living selling bathing suits and mediocre hair care products.

"Yes, but I just couldn't help but notice that you're not wearing the shirt we're supposed to. I'm sure someone here can get you a new one." Irina said, gesturing to the maids escorting girls from one end of the room to another.

"The shirt?"

Irina sighed, "Yes, the shirt. The one we were all legally required to wear. I guess the rules don't apply to you though."

"I'm sorry, I don't think I understand you."

"The palace provided the selected with a shirt to wear for today." Irina said, enunciating every word. "Maybe your aide didn't tell you, but I thought you would have figured it out when you saw everyone else. But since you didn't, I figured I'd tell you now. So you don't embarrass yourself."

The girl was silent for a few moments. Based on the way her mouth curved, she was clearly offended. Maybe it would be enough to knock her off whatever power trip she had been riding.

Finally, the girl nodded, "Excuse me," she said, turning and walking away from Irina. Irina watched, self-satisfied, until the blond walked halfway up the steps and cleared her throat.

It was then that Irina's satisfaction began to slowly be replaced by a feeling of dread.

"I'm so pleased that everyone made the trip to the palace," the girl started, "The Women's Room will be set up shortly for you to have your appearances touched up before you meet Prince Cadence tomorrow, but I thank you all for your patience. We have many things to address before then, so I will be discussing some simple etiquette rules before dinner is served. While we wait, you may continue to talk, and I hope it won't be too much longer,"

"Thank you, Your Highness." A few girls chorused,

Your Highness.

Uh oh.

A prickle of fear ran down Irina's spine as she processed this information. The blond girl wasn't a selected after all.

It explained the vague familiarity of the girl's face, as Irina had a feeling that she knew who this girl was. She knew where she recognized her from. Which meant, that if Irina's suspicion was correct, that she had just told off the Crown Princess of France.

The Crown Princess of France who was engaged to the more popular of the Illéan Princes.

She supposed she should prepare an apology for her sister. An explanation of the exact circumstances that lead to her being eliminated before she even met the prince. She would be lucky if that was all that happened to her. For all she knew, this Princess could decide that Irina's words were an act of treason.

"Lady Irina?" A maid said, appearing at Irina's elbow, "If you'll follow me."

Irina complied, only vaguely noticing the exquisite wallpaper and moldings that decorated the palace. She should try to see as much of it as she could, before she was barred from ever entering again. She probably only had an hour or two left, until Princess Vivienne located Cadence and demanded her removal from the selection.

Her stylist was brief and to the point. He trimmed her hair, whitened her teeth, and used countless lotions and creams on her hands to soften them. Years of holding the barre in dance classes had left them woefully chapped and blistered. The stylist reprimanded her briefly for them, asserting that a Princess would never have hands like Irina's. It wasn't supposed to be an insult though, rather some bizarre form of advice as he promised her that he would have the creams delivered to her room and that her maids would apply it every night.

Not that Irina would be here for many more nights. If she even got to sleep at the palace tonight rather than immediately being shuffled back on a plane to Waverly she would count herself as blessed. She had read stories of far worse things happening to rude pesants like Irina during King Garrison's reign, and although the stories seemed to have quelled in the past few years, Irina wasn't stupid enough to consider herself safe.

Most were just urban legends, or that's what anyone said when the matter was pressed. There was the actor who got blacklisted for supposedly refusing to bow to the King. The tale of the young servant who was sent to a nunnery for her complaints about the workload. The list went on and on, and sure, the King might be dead, but Irina knew that probably nothing had changed.

Perhaps she should try to appeal to Vivienne. The French were…well, at least she wasn't related to the late King, which meant that she might be able to see reason. At the very least, Irina knew that Vivienne was supposed to be very charitable, perhaps if Irina were to go to prison for this, Vivienne would find it in her heart to make sure that Shiloh was taken care of.

It took hours for all the girls to be styled. Irina tried to appreciate both the soft silk dress she had been given and the fact that Nora Louise seemed to have found other people to terrorize with her kindness. No one truly tried to approach Irina. Her aura must be one of utmost foreboding, because every girl gave her at least a five foot radius as they chatted happily, showing off their new dresses and fresh highlights.

Each one seemed so happy, so carefree. Irina knew that by tomorrow at least a quarter would be overcome by misery, but even if Irina were to be sent home the first day, she would have appreciated that over this. At least she would have had a few hours to pretend to be a Princess.

The etiquette lessons that the girls received before dinner was far too complicated for Irina to focus on. It was something about cutlery and wine glasses, but Irina barely heard a word Vivienne said. She needed the girl to be quiet, for the lesson to end, so that she could apologize. When dinner was served, Irina tried to push the sound of clinking forks and knives scraping against plates out of her head. Irina barely tasted the food as she ate it.

After dinner, Irina approached Vivienne tentatively. She was chatting with several of the selected, Irina believed Penelope and Avary. Irina waited until Vivienne noticed her, assuming that the Princess would disregard the conversation immediately in favor of yelling at her.

Instead, Vivienne gave her a warm smile, "Come," she said, beckoning her into the conversation.

Irina was wary, but walked over anyway, aware of her own heartbeat in her chest. She should start groveling and hope that Vivienne found it in her heart to somehow forgive her. She should start now.

Vivienne spoke first, "What is your name?"

"Irina, Your Highness. Irina Lenka."

"It's very nice to meet you, Miss Lenka. I hope you are enjoying the dinner?"

Irina was suspicious, but she nodded quickly, "Yes, very much. It's very good."

Vivienne just nodded, turning her attention back to Penelope, "So, which type of-"

"Your Highness," Irina cut in quickly, before she talked herself out of it.

"Yes?"

"I just wanted to apologize for earlier. I was very tired after the trip and I hope you can forgive me." Irina knew it was a lackluster apology, and that she should have done a lot more begging for forgiveness, but she wasn't sure she could get any more of an apology out.

"Apologize? Whatever for?" Vivienne asked, still maintaining her polite smile.

"For how I spoke to you earlier." Irina muttered.

"Oh, I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm sure it wasn't that important. Don't you worry yourself about it," Vivienne told her.

If Irina wasn't worried before, then she certainly was now.

A/N: Hi everyone, thank you so much for all of your submissions! I'm looking forward to getting the rest of them. The deadline is May 10th, but if you need an extension just let me know. This is probably going to be the last update till then mostly due to exams, but after that I am totally free :) Anyway, we get to learn a little more about some of the selected here, and I think I'm going to experiment with doing some different povs so that's exciting