The Queen Games

VIII

I was up early that next morning.

I had to find Guiel in the list of dressmakers/stylists they'd supplied and go over to his chambers to collect him.

"And you know this how?" Guiel asks when I tell him today's task, the briefs haven't been set yet.

I just smiled and tapped my nose to which he looks at me with amused eyes.

"Something smart, I don't want anything that makes me look too young, apparently that's a weakness." I tell him before opening my arms out to be measured again but he just shakes his head

"I've got it," he informs me, going to his sketch pad to draw today's look.

Cheryl woke up when there was a knock at the door with today's task. She looked up from the paper in her hand then to me and she pursed her lips but didn't say anything knowing we're being watched.

Guiel shows me what he has and I look down at it and nod my head, "Perfect, no ruffles though. Don't want to over do it."

The girls had got their dressmakers and stylists in later on, by then Guiel had already finished with my design and had already given me a pink pants suit with a white ruffled top and white heels

Charlize wore a dress, a work dress which again was too revealing meaning she hadn't learnt from the last time.

And Cheryl opted for a skirt that reached below her knee and a ruffled top like mine.

We were told to wait in the throne room and we'll be called group by group.

"Remember, let me do the talking." Charlize tells us and I've learnt that there's no point in trying to argue with a crazy person.

I'm hoping she embarrasses herself.

Charlize walks away meeting with Chasity who was sitting down with her group.

"So, who told you?" Cheryl asks when we're alone.

I give her a glance, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Her lips fell into a straight line, "I've been wondering if you're truly competition or someone just standing by. You seem to flicker between caring about wining and not caring." She says giving me the once over, "Just know I'm watching you. Carefully."

With that she turned to the girl from her pack and started talking with her.

I am taking this seriously, all of a sudden. I didn't care before but now I'm invested.

I just want to see who the prince is and where he came from, I'm still not going to be his mate.

The girls came in and out of the council, some crying as they did so or looking downcast.

"This seems as brutal as the Queen's Screening." Amy says as she looks up from her book when a group had come out.

"This is a screening?" I question her, not aware of this knowledge

"Didn't you read the task sheet? Someone is going home today. My bet is Veronica from my group, what about you?"

Why didn't Devon tell me it was a screening? He just said it was a task.

What if all the reading I've been doing puts them off me and causes them to send me home?

"Charlize Ferrora, Elise Ezra and Cheryl Velaries." Leroy calls and I look up, suddenly a lot more nervous than I was before I found out this missing piece of information.

Leroy had us line up before he allowed us to enter the room.

Sitting in a circle were the council members, all with thick black robes around their shoulders and a plaque stating their name in case someone forgets.