The One Winner

Six

I turned on the spot and raced in the opposite direction, tripping over my dumb slippers. I whipped them off and gripped them in my hand as I charged on. Finally, I reached the library, but I just raced through the threshold and to a bookshelf that I'd only used once. Large, heavy, leather-bound books that held records of every law, bill, decree, proposal, or transaction that the palace had ever passed, vetoed, paid, or collected. I clambered up a footstool, and pulled the most recent one off of the shelf. It was so large, almost half my size, with Illéa Records stamped across it in gold ink. I hoisted it onto a table, where it made a loud thump, and flipped to the month right before the beginning of the Selection. September.

September was a long month. I skimmed through in alphabetical order, looking for Honey or Bamford or Selection. There were tons of pointless things purchased, laws passed, bills vetoed... I was beginning to think I would never find it. The clock ticked on, and on.

I was getting drowsier the longer I continued. Maybe she didn't cheat, I kept thinking to myself. Maybe she was honest. But I kept looking, determined that if it was there, I would find it.

The clock struck two-thirty AM. I was about to call it a night, bookmark the page I left off on and go to sleep. However, the name Bamford caught my eye. I anxiously leaned in to read.

P. Bamford, Mayor of Likely, contributor of 1B dollars to the palace for personal reasons, a undying devotion to the crown, as well as a deal to allow the Lady Honey Bamford to be ad

I couldn't continue reading, due to large streaks across the page, which were scribbled over the paragraph of words I was trying to read. I decided not to waste my time trying to read this. Instead, I hid it in an alcove behind a vase that I was pretty sure no one was going to try to look for, and then hurried up the stairs and crashed into bed, falling asleep almost at once.

When I woke up, it took a moment for the extreme satisfaction of what I had found last night to set in. Sure, most of the paragraph had been scribbled over, but I figured that I had enough evidence to prove my case. Finally, Honey could be kicked out of this competition once and for all.

Adelaide came over, carrying a tray of pancakes, sausage, and oatmeal for breakfast. The oatmeal was topped with blueberries and strawberries that were drizzled in honey and brown sugar. My mouth watered as I surveyed it.

"I've never seen you sleep so soundly, Miss." said Marigold, pulling a muted, dark green dress out of the closet.

"I stayed up reading." I said evasively. I didn't like keeping this from my maids. But I would have to for now.

As soon as I was dressed and ready, which took a while considering the long night that I had last night, I hurried down to the Women's room. Fall was reading. Paisley was embroidering. Angel was brushing her golden hair out while a maid held a mirror. And Honey... Honey was watching TV. But I could almost immediately spot the tremor in her hand as she lifted the remote. Maybe she wasn't so confident that she was going to get away with her scheme after all.

Saline marched into the room barely a minute after I'd sat down tentatively on the couch next to Paisley, who glanced up at me, concern etched on her face.

"Ladies. The King and Queen have requested a private audience with you. Please come at once."

I stood up, smoothed my squirt, and squared my shoulders. Honey's tremor seemed to have spread throughout her body, despite her efforts to seem cool and in control.

We proceeded down the hall in complete silence, heels clicking, following Saline. The tension was heightening, especially between Angel, Paisley, Honey, and I. Fall didn't have a clue what was going on as far as I knew.

The King and Queen were waiting for us in the throne room. The Queen was in a deep red dress that fanned out across the floor in front of her seat, and a golden tiara. The King was in a black suit with an equally dark tie, and his crown was positioned on his head as well. They looked so haunting, so terrifying, so dominant that at that moment I felt a chill go down my spine. Still, I kept my chin high and my shoulders back.

Travon was on his throne on the King's left. He met my eyes briefly before they flitted away to Saline's face, which was uncharacteristically pale. But Honey's was the palest. Usually, she gave off an aura of confidence and power, but she seemed to have shrunk a bit today.

"So." The Queen said coldly. "You are all here to witness my son eliminate this fool of a lady in front of us."

No one needed to be told she was talking about me.
"No, mother. That's not why she's here." said Travon firmly. "She's here to present evidence against Lady Honey."

The Queen sighed. "Then get on with it."

I looked at Saline, who nodded, indicating that it was time for me to talk. I cleared my throat, and tried not to tremble as I spoke. "Lady Honey accused me last night of cheating to get into the Selection." I glanced at Fall, whose eyes widened. "However, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Last night, I went to the library, and searched the records."

"You looked at the records?" the King boomed.

I raised an eyebrow. "They were on an open shelf in the library. I was never told that they were off limits."

The King rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"Regardless, I looked at the records, and found a recorded transaction between the palace, and Honey's father, Mr. Bamford." I said.

Honey's face paled dramatically, but she still managed to stutter out a protest. "That's ridiculous. Why would my father do something like that?" She said, her voice rising. "You're not supposed to be here. You're not supposed to make it this far. You're the thirty-sixth Selected! You don't deserve to be here!"

"No." I raised my chin, giving her a blazing look. "I am the Thirty-Sixth Selected. But you are the one who cheated. You are the one who is not supposed to be here."

There was silence throughout the room, but also a blazing, charged energy that I felt radiating in my bones. Because I knew it was true.

"Nonsense." the Queen scoffed, a bit uncertain. "Clearly, this is your attempt to discredit a noble Two–"

I cut across her. "There is written proof. I can go get it if you–"

"There'll be no need for that!" The King roared, before his voice turned into a mutter. "I don't know what you think you've accomplished, but this does not leave this room. Alright, I'll admit it. Bamford asked me if his daughter could be a contestant in The Selection, and I thought it wouldn't hurt, especially considering the generous donation that he made to the palace. His daughter will stay!"

"No she won't." Fall stepped forward, her fire in her eyes. "I've put up with enough of you shenanigans, and I don't care if I'm kicked out of the palace for saying this–I've had it. The girls that have been framed for sabotaging others, the rude comments, my intercepted mail from my family torn up on the floor–I'm done. Either Honey leaves, or I release a statement to the magazines that this Selection is entirely bogus."

The Queen gulped. The King opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it, apparently not able to find the words.

"Very well. Ladies, you may return to the Women's room." the Queen said. But finally, Travon spoke.

"Wait, Mother. Lady Honey, you are dismissed."