The Lost Princess - A 'Selection' spinoff

CHAPTER 3

Thirty five  young girls stood in a straight row in the palace's welcoming hall.

They had waited in the airport till the rest had arrived, and had left the airport as a group.

Thousands of people thronged to see the Selected outside the airport, bearing boards and flowers, cheering for their own personal favorites.

It was overwhelming for Aurora - she hadn't seen this level of a frenzy in the crowd, ever.

She took a deep breath and looked at the girls beside her - they were of various cultures and looked as different as the other, but one thing was common between all of them.

They were all breathtaking.

And Aurora, despite not wanting to be romantically involved with the Prince, couldn't help but feel envious and insecure.

The girls were stunning - with their sleek, shiny hair, and flawless complexion, with curves in all the right places.

Aurora looked anorexic compared to the rest of them (she probably was). It didn't exactly boost her confidence when Andrea instructed her to take vitamins everyday.

She had Kate standing to her right, and Adelaide to her left. 

Adelaide had touched up her makeup, and looked confident, as pretty as she appeared on the TV. 

But Aurora noticed the slight tremble of  her chin.

She too was nervous.

And if a person used to the spotlight and glamour was nervous, then how should a girl like her feel?

Kate somehow realized that she was silently hyperventilating and squeezed her hand.

Aurora smiled at her, grateful for the soft touch.

Mentors and maids flew past them, talking into the ear pieces, arranging for various things. A few girls were having their measurements taken. Many of them were even escorted to their rooms, leaving the others standing awkwardly.

"I need to use the restroom. I'll be back," Kate whispered to her, winking and walking away with a servant.

Aurora resisted the urge to ask her to stay - she didn't like the idea of being stuck with Adelaide for company.

And then she reminded herself - this was for her freedom, it was an opportunity for her to break out of the cages she had been thrusted in.

The maids had hurried out, noting measurements and the Head Servant barked orders at them to go to the seamstress immediately and to hustle.

A middle aged servant bearing a large metal cart filled with china cups and pots  of tea walked slowly towards them. 

That woman, was the only one who didn't seem like she was in a hurry, her eyes went over every participant remaining, as though mentally rating them.

Aurora looked at her, happy for the distraction from her own treacherous thoughts.

And then it happened - all within a second, yet as though in slow motion for Aurora.

The woman somehow tripped, and the cart toppled.

The expensive china broke with a melodious sound, and woman fell, her eyes crunched in pain as the porcelain cut her fair hands.

Aurora immediately broke out of the line, and knelt near the woman, surprised that no one else had done the same. Not even the guards stationed near the multiple doors moved to help her.

She winced as she bent, the bruises aching even more now.

"Typical of a Nine to help one of her kind," she heard someone whisper loudly behind her.