The Selection - Aarmau

Chapter Six

The day following the name drawing, life at the palace was pandemonium, for lack of a better word.

All the bedrooms where the contestants would be were wide open, creating quite a bright corridor. Maids ran in and out, putting sheets on beds.

The entire castle was in preparation, more food than ever was brought in for when their esteemed guests arrived, and the entire palace was being cleaned and polished.

Rachel spent the day in the library, and Aaron spent most of it with her.

But of course, he didn't get to spend the whole time with her. His father called him to his study, and sitting on the table, were the 35 girls.

But right in front of his father was the one of the girl from Calgary. The one with the strange name.

"So, Aaron, here's the deal." Derek started, holding up the papers for him to take.

"This Aphmau girl, she's caste 6. That means that she can't win. She just can't. If she does, then what standards do we have? Besides, I doubt you'd fall for such a dirty, poor girl."

Aaron refrained from showing how angry it made him that his father was so cruel.

"But, if you keep her till she's second to last, it'll give all the lower castes the ending they want. She gets eliminated, and it's overshadowed by the royal wedding between you and whichever girl you choose in the end."

"So, this is the name of the game. This is what keeps us on top, what keeps us loved. It's worth it, if you want to be a loved king, such as myself."

Aaron withheld a chuckle at that. His father was the opposite of a loved king or ruler. They hated him.

"Do you understand?" Derek asks, pulling the forms from Aaron's hands, swiftly.

"Yes."

"Good. You're dismissed."

...

Aphmau had never been on a plane. Much less a luxurious one.

She was offered champagne right as she got on, with her old backpack, holding some of the only possessions she owned.

Before going to Angeles, they stopped in two places, Columbia and Likely, neighbours to Calgary.

In Columbia, a pale girl with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes got on. She was absolutely covered in freckles.

It was a bit funny, that she had grown up in such a hot climate, and was so pale.

"Hello." Aphmau said, apprehensive.

"Hiya. I'm Katelyn." she introduced herself, putting out a hand for Aphmau to shake.

"Aphmau."

"Ah, you're the girl with the interesting name."

Aphmau rolled her eyes at that, laughing. "Yes. I'm the girl with the interesting name."

"Cool."

They were quiet after that, it wasn't until a brunette from Likely got on the plane. She was wearing a pale pink dress, and her hair was down in waves.

"Hey." she said, voice sweet and soft. "I'm Nana, nice to meet you." she said, putting out her hand for the both of them to shake, just as Katelyn had.

...

Aphmau was wildly nervous for some reason when the pilot got on the intercom to let them know that the next stop was Angeles. She felt her heart stop.