The Princess of Darkness

Chapter 6: The Dinner

Chapter 6 (Alex)

My father and I sat down at the enormous dining table. It was two hours before the dinner with the girls from The Savage Lands. My father insisted that we speak privately before the dinner. I wondered why. He was almost always trying to find ways to avoid speaking with me; I don't know why he has suddenly changed his mind.

My mother had insisted that I wear a red suit that I found completely hideous. I was very embarrassed as I sat down next to my dad. He was wearing a simple black suit, and I was wearing a tomato. I think that I saw a serving maid laugh at my suit, but I could be wrong.

I sat down and stared into my father's grey eyes.

"Hello father." I said.

"Hello son. There is something that you need to know before the choosing starts." He paused. "You are not permitted to choose a girl from The Savage Lands"

Father's eyes bore into mine, and a feeling of fear swept over me. I knew that if I were to choose a girl from The Savage Lands, my father would punish me severely.

"I understand father," I said "but how am I supposed to do that without the entire kingdom finding out. The reporters would surely destroy the royal reputation." Not that I really cared about the reputation of the royal family. I just really wanted to know why my father was asking this of me.

"Look son, you don't have to immediately reject all of the girls from The Savage Lands immediately. It doesn't even mean that you have to reject all of them, you can even let one make it until the last few rounds, but you can't allow them to become queen."

My father sat back in his chair. As if I would ever marry some village girl with no education, she wouldn't even be able to run the kingdom.

"Of course father." I said blandly. "We still have a few more hours until dinner. What am I to do until then?" I asked.

"A good king knows patience." And with that he stood up and left me at the table. I heard laughing and turned around. The serving maid was still giggling about my ugly suit! I looked her in the eye and pointed at my jacket. I pretended to show off the suit, and then I left the dining hall. Maybe I'd have time to change into something else.

Elizabeth

I spun around in my beautiful turquoise dress. I had five minutes until I had to meet the devil...I mean the prince. I hadn't ever met the prince but I was pretty sure that all royals were bratty nightmares. Also I don't think that anyone who has such a poor and struggling country can be all that nice.

"Elizabeth come on! We can't be late." Amelia yelled.

"Let's go!" Jennifer shrieked.

"We can't keep the prince waiting!" Isabelle screamed.

"Coming, coming." I grumbled.

All four of us walked out of my door and into a long hallway. I hadn't been out of my room since I arrived here, and new air felt nice. We made our way down the hall. The high-heeled shoes that Isabelle had given me made it hard to walk.

There were so many things in this castle that were foreign to me. The shoes were one of these foreign things. In my village all girls wore flat shoes or sandals. They also had a system called "television." It allowed people to watch things on a screen. Amelia says that this competition will be on television, and the whole kingdom will be watching. I hope that they like me!

We walked down a huge carpeted staircase. Isabelle squeezed my hand, and Amelia's face was pale. I didn't understand what they were so fearful of, but their nervousness made me feel uneasy.