The Queen Games

IX

The first new girl was blonde.

Opal Winters from the Regent pack in Australia.

She slept with a soldier on the first day and get herself kicked out.

Then came Samantha Pritichit from the BlueMoon Pack, another red head who is serious about claiming the prince for herself.

From the back she looks exactly like Cheryl, like she could be her double.

Cheryl and her hit it off amazingly, it could be because they have a genuine connection or because they need to keep enemies close.

I leaned on the wall as Amy tells me some of the things she's determined to find about the Royals to spice up her book.

All the girls are eating breakfast in the lounge, I haven't been feeling hungry for a while and it's starting to show in my drop of a dress size.

Guiel says that he needs more flesh on my body so he doesn't prick my bones when he's sowing dresses on me.

That one made me laugh

"Queen Elise," Devon's voice surrounded me before I could actually see him, he didn't seem to care about Amy being right next to me but I did, she doesn't know about him helping me.

"Devon," I say back

"Mind if we have a word?" He asks looking at Amy, "Alone."

I look at Amy who eyes us both before leaving. I know she'll want to know what he's telling me, I'll tell her it's about Sapphire.

"Shouldn't we go elsewhere, where there are less eyes." I ask him looking at those who were watching us

"Let them know you're competition." He replies in a nonchalant tone, "We have bigger problems, the king is going to be the head of the next screening, I don't even know what it is but you better show yourself in a better light, you know he prefers Cheryl."

I don't understand. Even after her ancestors nearly killed him, he still prefers her.

I guess like Cheryl said, they shouldn't persecute her cause ancestors mistakes.

"Have you seen the new girl?" I ask him not talking about the other topic and he leans on the wall next to me, scanning the crowd

"The Pritichit girl?" I nod my head, "Pretty," he comments, "Not the smartest, she can't see that Cheryl is using her."

I frown, I didn't even see that Cheryl is using her, "What do you mean?"

"There's cameras everywhere, Elise. You know this, maybe Cheryl just isn't going though this experience as innocently as you may think." Devon gives me an intense look before pushing himself off the wall, "I'll tell you when I find something new."

With that he left.

Leaving my brain ticking.

I thought Cheryl was smarter than to let the cameras see how she is. I didn't even see how she is.

As he left Amy walked up to me and didn't even have to ask her face said it all, "It's about Sapphire." I lie

"Is she okay?" She asks, her face turning soft.

"She's fine, she's apparently doing very well in the training." I tell her, "I'm proud of her."

Amy nods and goes again picking up from where she left before.

There was then a fanfare and Leroy came into the Lounge, I saw some of the girls straighten their backs.

"The Red Moon is in a week," Leroy begins, "Therefore the screening is going to take place much more frequently, with one happening this afternoon with the King. You are all to head to your rooms and prepare yourself, a soldier will come and collect you individually."