The Unexpected Suitor

Chapter 1 - Prologue

She scanned the room. Seated beside her were seven other girls, not counting the twelve more leaning against the wall. Most of them looked a bit flashy, pushing the boundaries of taste. One wore a top with a neckline the size of the world, and another, not far away, had so much makeup on that she looked almost clownish. But at least they were trying to get noticed.

Elsa looked at herself. Her appearance was presentable, but she hadn't gone all out like the others. She'd chosen her best white blouse, a black skirt, and modest heels. She applied some gloss and pulled her hair into a bun, leaving a few strands loose. Before seeing the others, she thought this was the right look for the selection.

A tall, slender woman entered the room. Her blonde hair fell just below her shoulders, and her blue eyes were focused on the notepad in her hands.

"My name is Astrid Hofferson. All of you in this room have been called because you fit the profile we're looking for," she said seriously. "Now we'll start the second phase. The first five girls who arrived can follow me. The rest, please wait."

Elsa quickly stood up. Four girls moved ahead of her, and she hurried to follow them into another room.

The five of them entered a photography studio, a huge space with various lights, tripods, and a white background set up in one corner. There were people all around—photographers and assistants—rushing back and forth, carrying different props.

"Who's Cinderella Tremaine?" Astrid asked, looking at the girls.

"That's me," answered a blue-eyed blonde.

"You'll be the first to take photos. Go over to that corner and get ready."

The blonde nodded, walking toward the white backdrop. Elsa took a seat nearby and sighed, watching the studio's frenetic pace. She felt out of place yet fascinated by the intense rhythm of the place.

All of this was simply... insane. Elsa had grown up believing she should only marry the person she loved most in the world, someone who made her palms sweat, her knees weak, and her stomach flutter. And here she was, participating in this circus. A competition to pick the "perfect" wife? Absurd.

She didn't want to be there; she didn't even want to have signed up. But, like it or not, she fit the profile for the first phase, and all girls who reached the second phase received a financial reward. And when you have an absent father and a younger sister to care for, any financial help is worth it.

Her sister, Anna, had found the ad in the newspaper: "Millionaire launches competition to choose the perfect wife." She laughed the first time she saw it, thinking it was a joke. But Anna got so excited, saying Elsa had already won, that her older sister hardly managed to refuse.

Elsa tried not to participate. She said it was ridiculous and that there was no chance of winning, but Anna had already printed the list of requirements for registration. Like it or not, Elsa met all the criteria. Besides, she knew she'd soon be eliminated. She was even more certain of it when she saw the other nineteen women in the room. This was only the third day, so who knew how many girls had already been here?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and reminded herself of all the advantages the other girls had over her.

Cinderella Tremaine's photoshoot began, and Elsa was impressed by the ease with which the blonde posed in front of the camera. She was a thousand times more photogenic than Elsa would ever be. It took about twenty minutes for Cinderella to finish, discussing nonexistent flaws, touching up her makeup, changing outfits, and striking various poses.

"Next is Charlotte La Bouff," Astrid announced, glancing at the girls again. "Come on, hurry up."

Charlotte was beautiful, with sapphire-blue eyes that contrasted with her fair skin. Her tight curls framed her face proudly, and she played with them as she posed. Like Cinderella, she had a natural ease in front of the camera, blowing kisses and flashing big smiles and sensual expressions.

Elsa smiled. She didn't stand a chance against these girls.

Her phone buzzed, and she quickly answered it.

"Anna, I told you not to call right now," she said, feigning irritation.

"Did you take your photos already? How did it go? What are the other candidates like?" Anna asked excitedly. "I bet they're all awful! You've got this in the bag, Els!"

Elsa shook her head, laughing.

"All of them here are gorgeous, Anna."

"Oh, I wish I were there!" Anna whined. "It's so boring here alone, and I'm dying of curiosity to know what's happening!"

"When I get back, I'll tell you, okay?"

"Oh, come on, Els..." Anna groaned. "It'll take forever!"

Elsa sighed.

"We already talked about this, Anna. No drama."

"Fine, fine! And what about Hiccup?"

"I don't know!" Elsa looked around. "He doesn't seem to be here!"

"When you see him, tell me exactly what he's like, okay? I need to know what my future brother-in-law is like!"

"You're hopeless, aren't you?"

"Promise you'll do your best to win?"

She sighed.

"I promise, Anna."

After hanging up, Elsa realized they were already calling the third girl. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or even more anxious about being the last one.

"Is that one of the candidates?" a voice asked next to her.

She turned around and saw a very handsome man. His tousled brown hair and emerald-green eyes sparkled. He had fair skin and wore a green scarf, a denim jacket, a dress shirt, jeans, and dress shoes. Elsa assumed he was a photographer when she saw the camera in his hands.

"Yes," she replied.

He looked over at Cinderella and Charlotte, who were chatting and pointing at objects around the studio. Then his gaze fell on Elsa.

"Oh, so you're a candidate too?"

She rolled her eyes, nodding.

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Unfortunately?" He raised an eyebrow. "Why? Don't you like being here?"

"Not one bit."

He chuckled, arching an eyebrow.

"If you dislike it so much, why are you here? Is someone forcing you?"

"It's for the money!" she replied honestly. "I have a sister to care for, and we need the money to get by."

"I see. So, you applied for the money!"

Elsa shot him a look.

"The way you put it, it sounds like I'm some gold digger!"

"Aren't you?" He shrugged. "You just said you're here for the money."

"For the reward for passing the second phase, yes," she frowned. "But I'm not here to be a millionaire's wife, unlike some girls here."

"And how are you any different from those girls? From what I can see, you're just like them, only less ambitious."

She made a face, shaking her head.

"I'm not here to marry some spoiled brat who flaunts his wealth just to get a wife. I'm here because I have a sister depending on me!"

The man remained silent, standing beside her.

"When did you arrive?" Astrid asked, approaching him.

"Just now," he replied with a small sigh.

"Are you enjoying them?"

"They're all beautiful. It's going to be hard for me to choose just one."

Elsa froze, feeling herself go cold from head to toe. She slowly turned to look at the man, who now stared at her with a cynical smile. At that moment, all she wanted was to disappear.

"You're the...?"

"I'm the spoiled brat who flaunts his wealth to get a wife," he replied, raising his eyebrows and looking at her amusedly. "Or, simply, Hiccup Haddock."