Dawn -
"WHAT?!" I knew she'd react like this.
Obviously, she doesn't know about Brandon. But I can't stand by and watch Dusk's life fall apart, not when there's something I can do about it. I'd do anything for her.
"Mom, think about it. Dusk has more things keeping her here. I can go in her place and win the prince's heart instead." I try to convince her, but she narrows her eyes suspiciously at me.
"Why can't Dusk do the same?" Mom asks.
I hesitate. It isn't my place to tell Mom about Brandon. But I have to say something. I lower my voice to a conspiratorial tone.
"You know that Richards boy?"
She nods feverishly.
"I think he has his eyes on Dusk. If she marries him, she'll become a Two. And if I marry the prince, I'll be a One." I lie.
Mom doesn't look convinced, but I can tell she's considering it.
"Darling, I don't care about numbers as much as you think I do." She says.
It surprises me because I did think she cared about them a lot.
"I want all my children to be happy. I've already lost my son. You think I want to see you and your sisters starving every day? It breaks my heart to see you not growing the way you should."
I swallow.
"I made numbers a much bigger deal than I really thought they were because I didn't want you to have to watch your children starve the way your father and I have."
Shocked isn't a good enough word to describe what I'm feeling right now. Mom wants us to be happy. She did this so we wouldn't suffer. It was never about her. I can't believe I ever thought she was selfish.
"I love you." I say, surprising myself.
She smiles sadly at me.
"I love you too. And if this what makes both of you happy, then I won't say no."
I'm not going to tell Dusk. I know she'll try to stop me if I tell her, so I'm going to find a way to make her incapacitated when the girls are expected to arrive at the airport.
She may never forgive me, but she'll understand why. She won't be upset because I took her opportunity. She'd do the exact same thing for me. No, Dusk will be upset because she would never want me to have to go to the palace and live amongst royalty. She would never have me do something I'm so against. But she's my sister, my heart. I can't lose her.
At least she'll have Brandon when she's here. I have only have her keeping me here, and one of us must go. Better that it's me.
Apollo -
In two days, thirty-five women will come to my home to fight over my brother. I won't pretend I'm jealous of him, because I'm not. I'll stand by him through this whole thing. Nothing will drive us apart.
Of course I envy him, but it's not because he's the one getting it. I just want love too. I know it isn't his fault. That's why I don't hold it against him. I'm just taking a break to get my thoughts in order.
Lying here on the grass outside the palace walls, gazing up at the sky, always gives me a fresher perspective. I always ask myself, If I were a star, watching all this happen from up there, how would I want myself to react? It helps ground me.
The astronomy tower isn't as old as the rest of the palace. It was added by my grandfather, King Clarkson, because my grandmother, Queen Amberly loved looking at the stars.
Dad tells me that his father wasn't the best person, and that he didn't want Mom and Dad to get married. But the one good thing he told me about the king was that he treated his queen like a goddess. I know that when I find love, that's what I'll do too.
The telescope is already set up when I get there, and I set down my bottle of wine and sit cross-legged on the floor. I tilt the eyepiece of the telescope down to my eye level, and gaze at the glittering gems on a blanket of velvet.