For centuries, the royal family of Aridia has hosted The Choice, the competition where the eligible daughters of the Nobles of Aridia, come together to vie for the hand of the heir to the throne. This year, Prince Carlos is the heir to the throne a...
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Dear Prince Carlos,
I'm afraid I won't be able to meet up with you anymore. The Ladies have put the pieces together and know we have been seeing each other but they have it all wrong. They think you and I have been engaging in improper activity- which is obviously not the case.
Not only is this against the rules of the competition, I have hurt my dear friend Fiona. I think it would be better if we didn't see each other for a while.
Yours,
Lady Madeline.
***
I reread the letter almost a billion times before sealing it. I felt awful. Not for the other Ladies but because I'd let Fiona down. I always found ways to ruin good things. Fiona was one of the only good things in the entire competition and I'd found a way to let her down even though all she ever did was support me.
It made me sick to my stomach and brought tears to my eyes. Fiona was the only genuine friend I'd ever had and I'd found a way to ruin our relationship.
Angrily, I wiped the tears off my face. There was another event and I wasn't sure how I was going to survive it.
***
"This floral dress will go well with the theme, Lady Madeline," Imogen offered.
I shrugged, "I don't really care what I wear- it's just a walk in the gardens."
"Not just any walk, one of the Ladies will get to walk with Prince Carlos," Lucy squealed.
"I'm definite that won't be me," I sighed. I dreaded the walk. I preferred walking in the gardens all alone, not accompanied by giggling Ladies who hated me, including Fiona.
I could tell Imogen and Lucy were getting annoyed with me. I felt horrible for driving everyone I cared about away. I just felt so conflicted about the whole situation and with everything going on, I didn't know what to do.
***
It felt even worse that the sun was shining and it was such a beautiful day out. If only I could properly enjoy it without constantly thinking about the fact that I was hated by everyone and there were rebels plaguing the country.
I didn't miss the deadly stares the Ladies gave me- or the haughty whispers either. I couldn't care less about the other Ladies. It was the fact that Fiona didn't even glance at me.
I let out a breath as I took my place in the line in front of the garden's entrance, as we awaited Carlos.
"I can't wait to finally walk with Carlos," Esme squealed.
"What if Prince Carlos decides to go with the tramp?" Ashley shot me a deadly glare.
I rolled my eyes.
"It's obvious the Prince only requests her services in private, he's decent enough not to be caught dead with her," Katherine stuck her nose in the air.
"Oh please, you're all jealous that the Prince can even stand me. Besides, nothing happened between the Prince and I so stop making assumptions!" I snapped.
"You just don't get it do you," Fiona spoke for the first time that day.
The way she looked at me rubbed me the wrong way. I wish I knew what to say but I didn't.
Before I could think of a way to reply to Fiona, the herald announced Prince Carlos and Amancio, surprisingly. I held my breath, bracing myself for what would come next.
I curtsied as Carlos and Amancio walked towards us. Carlos didn't even glance my way as he stopped in front of Fiona. An audible gasp could be heard from the other Ladies as Carlos kissed Fiona's hand.
"Lady Fiona, it would be my pleasure to walk the gardens with you," He said. I couldn't help but feel a pang of an emotion I couldn't quite place. I knew I said I didn't want to meet him anymore so as not to draw unwanted attention but it felt all wrong. Carlos wasn't interested in Fiona...was he?
As Carlos and Fiona walked on, the other Ladies muttered among themselves.
"That was supposed to be my walk," Esme seethed, staring daggers at Fiona's behind.
"Oh please, Esme," Ashley muttered.
"Lady Madeline," Amancio's voice startled me.
I realized I hadn't seen Amancio since my 'lesson', which didn't end well.
"Amancio, is your injury better?" I asked.
Amancio chuckled, "It was hardly a scratch. I wanted to apologize for how I behaved. I don't know what came over me, I just want to say I'm sorry."
At that point, we were already walking away from the remaining Ladies and into the gardens.
"There's no need to apologize. I think I got a little too carried away," I sighed, wistfully.
"What're you thinking?" Amancio asked, as we walked further into the gardens. The Ladies had split up, Esme and Ashley gossiping and Isadora and Katherine making small talk. Fiona's giggles were audible as she and Carlos spoke. It was obvious they were having a good time, which didn't make me feel good. Carlos said something and Fiona's eyes lit up like they did when she was interested.
Amancio followed my gaze and chuckled. "Carlos's quite the player isn't he?"
"What do you mean player?" I asked.
"I know about you and Carlos's little meetings," Amancio winked.
"I-,"
"I know it's nothing inappropriate, don't worry," Amancio compensated.
"It doesn't bother me that he's with Fiona, obviously. It's just the fact that I somehow managed to drive everyone that remotely cared about me away," I sighed.
"You haven't driven me away yet," Amancio said, his eyes staring deep into mine.
I honestly didn't know how to reply to Amancio but luckily, Fiona's loud giggles interrupted us.
I turned to where Carlos was sticking a daisy in Fiona's curls. It was obvious they were flirting and I couldn't help but feel annoyed. What was Carlos playing at? Was he trying to make me feel jealous...? Though, I had to admit, it did make me feel a tad bit jealous though I had no idea why.
Carlos' eyes met mine and we stared at each other just before Fiona whispered something into Carlos' ear, causing him to chuckle.
I don't know what came over me but I linked my arm through Amancio's and we walked on. It was then that I realized that even though I didn't want to admit it, there were definitely some kind of feelings in me for Carlos.
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What do you guys think of Madeline's decisions so far? What do you think is going to happen soon? I also want to know who you guys' favourite and worst characters are.
