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chapter six, welcome.
TODAY WAS THE DAY, every girl on the list would be moving into the castle. The girls and their families filed into the I carriages along with their bags and headed to the castle. Of course, their families were not moving in. But they wouldn't see their daughters for a while, so they were there to merely say goodbye.
Finally, after a short carrige ride, Francesca and her family arrived at the castle. They quickly excited their carriage, Francesca's bags being taken from their footman and brought into the castle.
"Be good, and remember what I said will happen if you lose," Loring warned, patting down the ruffles of Francesca's dress. Amouri and Maxwell gave their sister an apologetic look, walking up to her and hugging her.
"We'll miss you," Amouri whispered, squeezing Francesca slightly. Francesca smiled at her siblings, watching as they went back into the carriage. Lissette and her husband, Garret Watson, then walked up to the young girl. Garret stared at the girl, disgust in his features. Lissette walked closer to Francesca, her face emotionless. Lissette grabbed her sisters arm.
"Do not ruin this for our family, Fran," Lissette almost spat, causing Francesca to rip her arm away from her sisters grasp. With a nod of Garretts head and a glare from Lissette, the two went into the carriage. Soriettea walked up, and looked over Francesca's appearance. Soriettea made it known that she didn't care for Francesca, and this time was no different. The older girl just rolled her eyes and got back into the carriage.
The head of the Heart household, Viscount Anthony Heart, and Francesca's father, was not there. He had other things to do, and he could care less about not seeing his daughter for a few months.
Francesca let out a soft breath, her feet moving her to the steps of the palace. She was the last of the girls to enter the palace, making it easy for her to disappear in the back. The group of girls were lead into the throne room. Sitting there was the Queen and the Prince, with bored expressions.
The group of girls were ran through what would happen: the ten girls would stay there until they were told to leave or until a new Queen was chosen, which could take months. They would be provided with clothes, toiletries, and anything else they needed through out their stay. They would all have their own rooms, but not in the same hall. No one besides servants, maids, the Queen and the Prince would know whose room was where and in what hall. It was a strange arrangement, up until it was explained. They did not want the girls fighting or sabotaging each other.
As the Queen explained this, Francesca looked over to Aaron; Aaron was staring at Francesca the whole time. A soft blush tainted the apples of Francesca's cheeks, her gaze immediately locking itself onto the Queen. A soft smiled appeared on Aaron's face, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips.
Later that night, when Francesca was just reading in her assigned room, she heard a knock on her door. Walking over, Francesca's heart thumped in her chest, wonder filling in her mind on what was held behind the door. With a soft click of the handle, the door was pulled open by Francesca. Behind it held Prince Aaron in the flesh, a soft smile on his face.
Francesca pulled the door open even more, softly curtsying. "Your highness," Francesca's soft voice rang out, small and delicate.
"Please, call me Aaron. There is no need for formalities," Aaron smiles, waving his hand as if to tell Francesca to stop being so proper. Francesca stepped to the side, allowing Aaron to walk in. Behind him, Aaron shut the door with a soft click.
"Isn't it inappropriate for us to be in a room alone without a chaperone?" Francesca teased, walking over to her bed so she could shut her book that was abandoned there.
"Nothing is going to happen, I assure you. Plus, I have the feeling you don't care for being proper," Aaron laughed softly, causing the mood to lighten from its once tense atmosphere.
"Not really, if I'm being honest." Francesca smiled slightly, walking back over to Aaron. She watched as Aaron looked down at her slightly, his eyes scanning her face.
"I wanted to talk to you about why I put your name on the list, since I know you probably wouldn't have expected it."
"That's for sure, I definitely didn't think I'd be one of the last ten girls."
"Well, out of all of those ten girls, you are the only one I can even stand. Maybe that will change, but I've found that during my search it's better to have a friend than to be alone." Aaron smiled, his words lifting off the weight that had found home on Francesca's shoulders.
"Is that what we are? Friends?" Francesca teased, a wide smile on her face. Francesca was a natural blusher, especially when she smiled, and she had to hope that Aaron would realize that.
"Maybe not after that," Aaron joked, a wholehearted laugh bubbling up his throat. The sound was like music to Francesca's ears, and she found that she would do anything to get that sound back.
"I'd like that, by the way. I'd rather have a friend than no one at all," Francesca smiled, watching as Aaron nodded his head.
"Well, now that that's settled, I would love to stay and talk to you Francesca, but it would be inappropriate for me to stay any longer."
"That's understandable," Francesca said, her voice slightly showing her tiredness. She lead him to the door, bidding him a goodnight before closing the door with a soft click.
Finally, Francesca got her answers that she yearned for. And after all, she was sure it wouldn't be so bad anymore since she had a friend; she had Aaron. After all, one friend is better than none.
