Meet The Prince

[frostedoverrose]

The next morning, I was dressed in a knee-length silver dress. My name tag was pinned to the thick strap of my dress. The pleated, frilly skirt part of the dress had diamonds inlaid in it. There was a bow sash around the waist that had sapphires on the bow. Did any of my ancestors mine for these? I wondered.

Cho had put light blue eyeliner on me to make my ‘dark blue eyes pop’ and Marilyn combed out my black hair and braided a lock of my hair. After getting me ready, they wished me luck and I reminded them to ask about sending food to my family.

Once we were gathered, I looked at the gilded mirror again. It was all so weird to be pampered like this.

“Did you really pick out that dress?” someone asked me. 

I turned around to see that it was Emmica. I was sure that she was mad that I called her out the previous day.

I couldn’t help but notice that one of her breasts looked a little flatter than the other. I raised my eyebrows at her. “Did you really stuff your bra?”

Celeste looked at me, “You know that you don’t belong here. You’re just a lowly Seven.”

I rolled my eyes. To be honest, I heard worse, especially when a brawl breaks out between my co-workers. Twice I joined in on the brawls, but that's a story for another time. I rolled my eyes, “I heard better trash talk come from trash.”

“Once a Seven, always a Seven.” Celeste said, as if that was supposed to be hurtful.

“That's not insulting, Celeste,” I said. "I heard worse from my six year old sister."

After that, we were given table manner etiquette in front of the cameras. Silvia had instructed us that it was rude to talk with your mouth full (she didn't look at me), never raise our voices above a gentle whisper (she looked at the only red-head), among other instructions which I had promptly forgot about.

Then the prince arrived and escorted girls over to the couch to have a small conversation. After Mia came back, smiling widely and telling me that he asked her to stay behind afterwards, I realized it was my turn. I got up, and nearly tripped over her feet as I went to speak to the prince. 

I wondered if I should curtsy, but I didn’t. I tried to remember the role of the mysterious woman.

“Elizabeth Ivanova, right?” the prince asked, looking at my name tag.

I smiled and the prince recoiled a little. Great, I just unleashed my murderous smirk on the prince. Oops. I nodded, “Yes. Don’t worry; I’m not going to murder you.”

Prince Maxon chuckled, “That’s good to hear.” He motioned for me to sit, so I did. “So, I see that you’re big on family.”

“Oh, yes,” I said. “I also love little kids. That’s why I keep them chained up in our family cave. I still don’t know why they keep screaming for their parents.” The prince scooted a little bit away from me. It was barely noticeable. “I’m kidding about all of that. But I do love my family. In fact, it’s why I joined the Selection.”

He seemed to relax slightly. “I saw your family on the Report. Who are they?”

I rattled off my siblings’ names and ages, almost saying Elizabeth instead of Edith.

“So, tell, my dear, how do you like the palace so far?” the prince asked.

I almost narrowed my eyes at him at calling me ‘my dear.’ I forced a smile, trying hard not to smirk. It probably looked like a grimace. Oh, well. “Oh, I think it’s grand, my sweet.” Maybe he would get annoyed if I kept calling him that and let me leave.

Prince Maxon seemed a little amused. “That’s wonderful.”

“And my maids, Marilynn, Aileen, and Cho are so kind,” I said. “My sister, Alyssa, would love the palace, Caitlyn would love the gardens, January would…” love to figure out weak spots in the castle defense systems and exploit them, I thought, “the garden hedges, and Edith…” hell, I have no clue what I love about the palace. “Would love to see it for herself to figure out what she likes. She’s a little hard to please.”

“I’m glad that you like it so far, my dear,” Prince Maxon said. He said ‘my dear’ in the same mocking tone I used for ‘my sweet.’ Damn. He probably thinks we're bantering.

“Yes,” I said. “I think Edith would love to find someone to have a verbal confrontation with.”

“Really?” asked Prince Maxon.

“Yes,” I said. “She would love to go toe-to-toe with someone. She likes to kick people’s butts without lifting a finger. At least, that’s what she says anyway.”

“And what about you?” questioned the prince.

“Oh, I?” I started, a little caught off guard. “I’m more a physical person, myself.” I realized what I just said. “I mean, I like physical confrontation instead.” That was an understatement. She thrived on fights.

The prince seemed a little intrigued by that, “Oh, really?”

I nodded, “Yes. I was in a few fights myself.”

“May as I inquire as to why, my dear?” Prince Maxon asked.

I shook my head, “I’m sorry, my sweet. That is personal matters between Edith, me, and my vic—the people that I fought with.”

“You, my dear, are a…interesting girl,” Prince Maxon said.

“I’ve never been called interesting before,” I said. At least I don’t think Lizzie has been called interesting.

Prince Maxon asked, “Oh, and what have you been called?”

“Rough around the edges,” I said.

“Well, like I said, you’re an interesting girl,” Prince Maxon said.

“Thank you,” I said, a little confused.

“I think I’ll keep you around a little longer, if you don’t mind, my dear,” Prince Maxon said.

“Oh, I don’t mind, my sweet,” I said. After that I was dismissed back to my seat.

True to his word, I was one of the remaining twenty-seven girls.

My unfortunate charm won him over. Damn it, I thought as I looked at the other girls. I noticed that Mia Blue, who said she was rooting for me had left, which was kind of upsetting. I was considering her to be a friend.