The Selected | ✓

Chapter 11

Tonight they only talk to the princes and the princess. So basically the other Selected and I are just eye candy. Which bugs me.

My maids come in to fit me into my dress, and Clara comes with them. She grins. "I'm going to watch. I'm already in my outfit." She makes a face at the shiny, ice blue material. She swishes it back and forth like she's considering twirling, but shakes her head, deciding against it. "And you need to keep your eyes shut the whole time."

I groan and briefly consider protesting, but I keep my eyes closed.

"Okay, you can open." Alexis says, clapping her hands together once.

"Wait, is her hair done?" Clara asks.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I like what you did with it.... Alexis, right? And please, just call me Clara. Okay, Cassiana, open your eyes!"

When I do, I'm surprised by what I see. I've never worn any other color besides black, since I couldn't ever really afford anything else, but this dress is only three shades darker than the color of my eyes. It's strapless—of course—long, and it has a pretty swirly black pattern on one side, the exact same as the red dress's earlier..

"It's amazing!" I gasp. The material swishes around me like water when I move. Taylora hands me black heels, which I put on without complaint.

"What do you think of your makeup?" Clara asks.

I glance up briefly, looking at my hair and just glancing over my face. "It's great. I love it." I look from Taylora to Maria to Alexis. "It's amazing. Thank you so much."

Maria smiles. "Our pleasure, miss."

They curtsy and dismiss themselves.

Clara sits on my bed and hugs me. "You look amazing. I have no idea how either of my brothers will ever be able to contain themselves. Alexander will be in shock."

I roll my eyes. "Really, Clara. I don't think Alexander-"

"He does." She insists. "He doesn't just walk any girl back to their room, you know." She shakes her head and pulls me up. "Come on. We need to get down to where they're filming this stupid thing."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Clara and I arrive at the same time as Aquia. I introduce the two, and Clara seems very open to Aquia. "I like her," she whispers. "Wouldn't she be wonderful with Mason?"

I nod. "She would be. You should set them up."

She grins wickedly. "That I will. Just as soon as I-"

"There you are, Clara." The queen says. Several girls gasp in surprise. No one had noticed the queen, in her beautiful pink dress, appear. We all immediately curtsy. "We need to get settled."

"Very well, Mother. But first, may I speak with you privately?"

"Of course." Queen Livia smiles. She and Clara start to walk away, but Clara stops.

"Cassiana, would you mind joining us?" Everyone stares at me in shock. Everyone except for Aquia, who gives me an encouraging smile.

"Of course not, Your Majesty." I give a quick curtsy and follow.

Clara and the queen move into a small, out of the way room. Clara locks the door. "Mother, I would like to introduce you to Lady Cassiana. She is the girl that was hidden in my closet with me while the attack went on."

To my surprise, the queen curtsies to me. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Cassiana. My sons and my daughter have spoken highly of you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Queen Livia."

She smiles and looks at Clara. "They did mention that you are well-mannered, but I hadn't expected you to be this well-mannered."

I feel my cheeks warm.

"In fact, you are the first Selected that I have had spoken to at all. How are you enjoying your stay, Cassiana?"

I smile. "Oh, it's amazing here. My maids are very nice, and the room is amazing. Thank you so much."

"I am glad that you enjoy it here."

There's a knock on the door. "Mother? It's time."

Queen Livia opens the door. "Very well, Mason. It was nice to meet you, Cassiana. I hope that we can speak again soon." She looks at her son. "Mason, would you mind escorting Lady Cassiana to her seat? I fear that she doesn't know the way back."

Mason grins at me. "I have no problem with those arragements, Mother."

Clara and the queen leave, and Mason leads me through the all-black maze to the stage. He leads me to the back row of seats, on the end next to Aquia. He smiles at her and bows to me, kissing my knuckles. He turns and leaves.

Aquia fans her face with her hands. "Oh, he is so handsome. Why can't he look at me the way he looks at you?"

I turn to answer, but then I hear someone counting down. I turn to face forward, fix my hair, and sit up straighter in my seat. Next to me, Aquia messes with her long hair and smoothes down her skirt. She puts on a dazzling smile and folds her hands in her lap.

The cameras turn on.