The Blue Dress

Chapter One

My name is Amelia. Amelia Swentle. I was born here in Kenneel and my mother left when I was five. My father tells me she had to go but I know better than that. I turned thirteen a few weeks ago. I have a little sister, her name is Evenly and she just recently turned eight. Today is an important day though. As soon as I woke up my father sent me to Miss Patters Dress shop to get my sister and I proper clothes. I ran to the store with a simple outfit on, my usual work clothes. Miss Patters scrambled through the crowd to find me. She handed me two gown dresses and sent me off. 

"Papa, I got the dresses!" I hollered through the house.

"The top one is Evenlys and the bottom one is yours."

"Okay! Thanks Papa!"

I ran upstairs to give Evenly her dress and to set mine on my bed. I went into Evenlys room and handed her the dress. She just nodded and then looked at the door. "Love you too Ev."

I went into my room and ran a bath. We had to look nice and proper today because the royal family called for a meeting. An announcement to all of Kenneel. About an hour later me and Ev were totally ready. We followed my father through the bustling streets of town. Past all of the shops and homes. All the way to the palace. Where in the courtyard they held the Kingdom announcements. I ran to Elliana as soon as I saw her. I asked if she knew what the Queen Adela was going to say. She shook her head, just as confused as I. 

"Welcome Kingdom of Kenneel. I have a very special announcement. Very specifically for the mothers and fathers of any girl between the ages of twelve and fourteen. My daughter as many know will need a head maid very soon as she reaches maturity. So we are inviting the most proper girls to come into the palace for a week, so we can decide on whoever is most fit, and whoever my daughter wishes as her companion. Will every girl between the ages previously mentioned follow the guards into our personal courtyard to be chosen. Have a blessed day," Queen Adela spoke with a powerful voice. One that boomed through all of the Kingdom.

"Does she scare you too?" Elliana asked.

"Yes, she most certainly does. We should probably go where she asked us too though."

"Yeah probably. I am going to go say goodbye to my mother and father though."

"I will too," and we separated. We already knew we would meet somewhere near the middle to the right side. It is what we always do. I found my father and Ev and said my goodbyes.

"I hope you get chosen!" Evenly yelled.

"Me too. Although, I do not want to say goodbye just yet," Papa said solemnly.

"I probably won't. It would be cool to see the princess though. I heard she is stunning, no one has ever seen her outside of the castle walls, and she is never photographed or painted," I stated, very bluntly.

I said my final goodbyes and walked off to the courtyard. I walked through the gates and said my birthdate. I walked to the middle right side of the courtyard and saw Elliana. "Hey Elliana!"

"Hey Amelia. You excited?"

"Kind of, I am nervous but I kind of hope I get to see the princess."

"Honestly same."

One of the maids from the castle started talking, "Welcome girls. Today we will filter you out and only some of you will be brought inside to train. You will learn to protect yourself and learn to be a proper head of house for the princess. You will get to meet the princess and some of you will get to work with her. You will come up in pairs and will be tested on intelligence, and basic house knowledge. You may begin to line up with one other person."

All the girls ran to line up, Elliana and I included. We stood together and started the test. About an hour later they sent the maid up and had her read out a list of names. The names of those who would be sent into the castle. We would not get to collect our things, they would give us what we need. I listened to her read out names very carefully. Amelia Swentle. I looked over at Elliana in shock. I waited until the end, and Elliana's name was not called. I hugged her very tightly and asked her to say I love you to my father and Evenly.

We were brought into the castle in long lines and brought to a long narrow corridor. Leading to multiple doors on the sides and a large door at the end. The guard led us to the largest door of the corridor.