VanillaSprout
- Selection Inspired AU -
(Cover is just temp - will be changed once official once finished)
Snippet/In Media Res
"And you," the journalist panned the Kamera to Lumine.
"What is your name?" She asked, zooming into her face.
Cameramen behind the woman flashed photos one after another, the lights nearly blinding Lumine. She winced but remained still with a frigid smile on her face.
They were in the Sneznayan Palace's greenhouse, perhaps one of the only places in the country that could be called "green." Lumine stood with 31 other "Selectants" in a decadent garden as reporters went around interviewing each of them.
"My name is Lumine Albireo," she said, "I'm the seventh Selectant."
Out of the 32, Lumine was one of the few who was asked her name. Though, it was expected; she was of only 8 women from a low caste. Nobody knew her, let alone her name. But it was a good thing. Disappearing into the background was exactly what she wanted.
The reporter looked down at her notepad then flipped a page.
"And Lumine, what would you say you like about the Crown Prince?" The reporter asked, looking up with a rehearsed smile on her face.
She held up her mic to Lumine's face, pushing for a response. "How do you feel being chosen to be here, in the palace!"
Lumine's cheek twitched. The Kamera didn't catch it, did it?
Like? What kind of question was that? They-her and the other Selectants-had just arrived at the Tsaritsa's palace. They hadn't even met the crown prince yet. What could she say if anything at all? Great. She grumbled to herself. They were already starting with the games and tactics to "catch" her. Depending on her answer, she could be painted as a despicable woman and liar for the country, or an angel worthy of the crown.
Lumine hesitated for a moment before looking back up at the reporter...