The Florist And The Prince (ON HOLD)

~ 33 ~

This chapter is dedicated to badbitchexpress for the likes and to Prettygirlbeats2 for the likes and humorous comments that made me laugh.

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Prince Alexander's POV

Once Avery left, Alex headed back to his bedroom and lay down on his bed thinking about their time together. He could tell that she was a little nervous at first but once they began speaking, she calmed down and began asking him questions, and seemed genuinely interested in their answers. She wasn't like the other girls whom he had met prior to her. She was different, he could see and tell from her body language and questions.

All the other girls had asked him similar questions more or less, and they all revolved around his personal life, but Avery asked general and some interesting questions that took him completely off guard but he enjoyed answering them, as they weren't about his personal life but what he wanted to do and what he could see himself doing.

Releasing a deep sigh, Alex sat up and reached over to the bedside table for his phone after hearing countless messages come through. They were all from his friends and cousins, asking about the eligibles and the contest but he couldn't tell them about it as it was confidential until the night of the grand ball where he would finally choose his bride, so he merely just scrolled down through them then tucked the phone back into his trousers pocket and headed downstairs as it was nearly time for him, his parents and the royal committee to have a final meeting about the contest before the eligibles began the real competitions that would be starting next week. Once he reached the ground floor of the palace, Alex walked in the direction of the throne room where the meeting would be.

Walking up to the double doors, the two guards that stood there opened the doors for him and he walked inside the room, where a large table now took up the centre of it with his parents and the committee members all seated around. Knowingly he went over to his father's right and took his seat there.

"Now that the Prince is here, let's began." Alex watched his father say in a loud, clear, authoritative voice. "Mr. Larkman."

The man stood up with a respectful nod. "Your highness. As we all know the real competition will began next week, where we will see the eligibles complete tasks to the best of their abilities, be put to the test to see how they well they will cope under the pressure and if they have learnt anything from what Madam Eunice and her highness, the Queen has taught them. Initially, we were looking to eliminate two eligibles per month but cancelled that and decided to go with one per month, as studies from our research showed to be in our favour, that there is hugely likely to be less than ten eligibles that will be left at the end of the contest and that us what we are looking for."

Alex remained silent beside his father but listened attentively to all that was being discussed. This was going to help him choose his wife and the country's new Queen after all.

"Prince Alexander?"

"Yes Mrs. Collins." Alex answered, looking at the elderly woman.

"Have you met with all the eligibles individually?" She inquired.

"Yes, I have. I just spoke with the last one before coming for the meeting."

"You've already seen all their applications and have you picked up or seen anything from anyone of them that does not match what they've written?"

There were definitely a few eligibles that didn't really portray what they wrote down, Alex thought back and nodded his head honestly.

"Unfortunately yes, they were a few of them."

The woman nodded in confirmation and looked at Madam Eunice.

"Then, we shall let the tasks do the work for us." His mother said seriously and the committee members agreed.

"Alright, it's settled then." King Stefan spoke. "There will be no more changes to the contest and it will commence as of next week. Any questions?"

No one had anything else to say so he ended the meeting and asked Alex to take a walk with him, so that they could speak privately and went outside to the back of the palace.

"So, how are you feeling?" King Stefan asked his son as they walked side by side through the flower gardens towards the large pond at the end.

Alex inhaled deeply before he answered. "Honestly, a little anxious."

"That's perfectly normal to feel that way...you said that you met with the last of the eligibles today?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, so what are your thoughts on them? Just from meeting them alone?"

"...Well, they all seem like nice girls, but there are a few that were a little...boastful and overconfident with the way they spoke and carried themselves and others scared and timid."

His father nodded his head seriously. "Hmm, well as your mom said, we'll let the contest decide if they stay or not. Some of these tasks were specifically designed and chosen to showcase how they perform under pressure, that's where they're true colours will come out. Being a Queen is not a glamorous or luxury life as most people think. It takes time, commitment, sweat, tears and sacrifices and a lot more other attributes. You will need a strong, responsible, respectful and honourable woman beside you to help rule the country son...that's not an easy job."

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Some of you mɑy hɑve noticed thɑt there ɑren't ɑny Royɑls in the contest ɑnd thɑt is becɑuse, they ɑre either too young or old to tɑke pɑrt in it or the King, Queen ɑnd Royɑl Committee do not ɑpprove of her. The only eligible thɑt holds some sort of title is Rɑquel. She's ɑn Heiress.