Crown Jewel

3 // you

"Come on, dear. We're going to be late for the line up." My mother pushed me out of the door. "Fix your hair and smooth out the wrinkles on your skirt."

"You'd think that it was you getting ready to meet royalty and not me." I muttered. I didn't protest as she led me to the carriage waiting out front. I knew I looked dead inside, but I really didn't care. It's been two days since Archer broke up with me and I've been avoiding him like the plague.

My mother and I sat in silence as the carriage moved towards the castle. I was going to be a couple hours before we would arrive so I let myself be comfortable.

I let myself gaze out the window. I saw small cottages and fields full of grass. At some point, I saw a couple kissing each other under a tree. I sighed sadly remembering how that used to be Archer and I. We would hide in the shade to sneak secret kisses to one another. It seemed that everything reminded me of Archer. I gave up on sightseeing as everything reminded me of a memory with him.

After three hours on the road, my mother had enough with the silence "Isabela, I have no idea what's been going on with you these past days, but if it's about the lineup, I will force the man to turn this carriage around right now."

I gave a small laugh and rolled my eyes knowing my mother would do just that. "No, mother. It's not. I swear. Just in a bad mood I suppose."

She nodded unbelievingly but didn't push it any further.

Before long the majestic palace was in front of me and I was amazed. Carriages were lined up waiting to get in and I could see women from all over peeking out to see the castle as well.

Once we got to the front of the line I was led out of my carriage to a crowd of girls from all over. Some were evidently wealthy while some seemed worse off than me.

"Ladies! Ladies! May I have your attention?" a voice called from above. My jaw dropped to see no other than the queen herself.

She was wearing an elegant blue dress in which pearls were sewn into. She had a dainty tiara on her head. It was still clear though that even without all the fancy jewelry and clothes, she was still beautiful.

The crowd was silenced immediately and our sights were transferred to beautiful and elegant woman in front of us.

"Great. Now as you all know, my son is expected to choose a bride today. However, It seems that he won't be choosing just one girl. He will be getting one girl from each province and then after getting to know the chosen girls, he will narrow it down to one."

Murmurs emerged from the crowd. Clearly, no one was expecting this. "Settle down! Settle down! We'll start from Aquencia and move down to Zorawe. When you hear your province being called, go to the door over there!"

In almost no time at all, my province was being called. I was met by a man in a tuxedo and saw everyone else going through the same process.

"Name?"

"Isabela Valencio." He took note of my answers on a small notepad.

"Age?"

"Nineteen."

He asked me trivial questions from 'what's your favorite color' to 'why do you deserve to be queen', writing every single answer on his notepad.

"Are you still a virgin?"

I gaped at the man. I didn't expect someone to ask this out of nowhere.

"Ma'am, please answer the question. We have to ask this to everyone. It's part of the process."

I nodded and felt the heat rise up to my cheeks. "Yes, I am still a virgin."

He nodded. "Proceed." He pointed to the hallway where I could see people being lined up.

I joined them and looked at the other women. Some were dressed head to toe in jewels while some were wearing practically rags. I looked down on myself and compared my simple cotton dress to the lavishly dressed woman at my side. I purposely put myself in between two seemingly wealthy girls. I'm pretty sure that that would keep the attention of me.

All of a sudden it was quiet and I looked up to see the king himself.

He was dressed as royalty should. He didn't have a crown on his head but everything about him screamed royal. He had servants bowing to him and a sword at his side. He looked intimidating and his posture was perfect. His face, his build, his expression. He looked bored and uninterested as he observed the eager faces of the girls in front of him. He looked menacing and empty and I wondered if the prince was like that.

He walked down the line and some women pushed up their chests, some straightened their backs and some simply shrunk back. He walked past every single one, sometimes slowing down to look at one more clearly before continuing his pace.

Soon he reached me and completely stopped. I looked into his eyes and raised an eyebrow eager to get this over with. He smiled, amused.

"You."

My heart stopped and I gaped at him.

"Your Majesty, you haven't seen the other candidates." A man protested and gestured at the other women who looked disappointed.

The king sighed. "I said her."

Next thing I know, I was being led out of the ballroom.

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929 words!!!! I didn't expect to make this much but here I am and wew I feel proud of myself. *fans self* I thought this might only reach what? 500 words but nope. hehehehehe

The plot goes pretty fast in the next few chapters sooooo enjoy