"Mierda!" I cursed in spanish. "Ella puede entendernos!" (She can understand us!)

"¿Qué vamos a hacer ahora?" Celestiana asked. (What are we going to do now?)

"Puedo entender español." Christine stated. (I can understand spanish)

"Oh mon Dieu! J'espère que personne d'autre ne comprend le français!" Celestiana exclaimed. (Oh my goodness! I hope no one else understands french!)

"Si quelqu'un nous comprend, parlez-nous s'il vous plaît," I said. (If anyone understands us, please speak up)

Thankfully, no one spoke.

"What's going on?" Claire asked.

"I don't understand anything!" Harriet exclaimed.

"¡No se lo digas a nadie!" I told Christine and she nodded. (Don't tell anyone!)

"Non dirlo a nessuno!" Celestiana told Julianne to which she nodded. (Don't tell anyone!)

"Can somebody explain?" Harriet asked and looked at the four of us.

Celestiana and I looked at each other. I nodded to tell her that we should tell them.

"What common language do all of you know that isn't english and finnish?" I asked.

"Latin?" Claire asked.

I shook my head along with Julianne and Christine.

"Korean?" Harriet asked.

I shook my head with Celestiana, Christine, Julianne, and Claire.

"Japanese? Chinese?" Julianne asked.

We shook our heads except for Claire.

"Filipino?" Christine suggested.

No one shook their heads.

"Okay, filipino it is." I decided.

"Why does it even have to be in another language?" Harriet asked.

"Because it's a palace secret." Celestiana answered.

"Nanatili ako sa palasyo nang isang linggo bago nangyari ang pagpili. Inanyayahan ako dito sapagkat dapat kong pakasalan si William." I explained. (I stayed in the palace for one week before the Selection happened. I was invited because I was supposed to marry William)

All of them were shocked because of the revelation.

"Kung gayon bakit ka kasama sa pagpili?" Harriet asked. (Then why are you included in the selection?)

"Sabi ng reyna, ayaw ng mga mamamayan na ang i-kasal sa ating prinsipe ay mula sa ibang bansa. Kaya, pinagpalit kami ni Haidee at ako na ang magpapakasal kay William." Celstiana explained. (The Queen said that the people don't want a girl from another country to marry the prince. So, Haidee and I switched places and I will be the one to marry William)

They nodded their heads in understanding.

"Bawal itong ipagkalat!" I told them. (You shouldn't spread this!)

"We won't. Thanks for telling us the truth." Claire said with a smile.

I smiled, "Sure. It's quite nice to finally spill the beans to someone."

Someone knocked on the door and Julianne went to answer it. The maids entered holding the trays of our food.

"Thank you!" We all said to the maids before they left.

"Let's eat now, shall we?" Celestiana asked and we all nodded.

We ate and hung out like we were the best of friends. I felt happy because Celestiana finally found othe friends. Also because some of the weight on my shoulders were lifted off once we confessed to them. Althought it wasn't everything, it still made me happy.

We played with the make-up and messed up everyones hair. After that mess, we all washed our faces and fixed each other's hair.

"Hey, what about a slumber party tonight?" Harriet suggested.

"That's great!" Claire complimented.

"Yeah, Let's do that." Celestiana agreed.

I sighed, "I can't."

"Why?" Julianne asked.

"I'm sleeping in the Princess suite tonight." I told them.

"What?!" The four of them yelled.

"Y-You're going to sleep there?" Christine asked with wide eyes.

I nodded, "TonyㅡI meant Zeke told me to sleep there tonight."

"What?!" They yelled once again.

"Did you know that the Princess suite connects to the Prince's suite?" Claire asked.

I nodded, "Yup."

Celestiana laughed, "Girls, she's only sleeping there because the prince said so. Also because he said that Beatrice and the other girls would probably look for her and take revenge on her because she got them kicked out."

Their faces lit up with understanding.

"That's also why we haven't stepped out of this room." Celestiana added. "Dinner will also be brought here."

"Okay, so while we wait for dinner, how about just telling stories about our lives?" Claire suggested.

We nodded. We've been together for a week and I doubt we know each other that much.

"I'll start." Harriet volunteered. "As you know, I am from Carolina. I have two younger sisters. As I mentioned earlier, I studied medicine before I came here. I can speak English, Finnish, Korean, and Filipino. I'm 18 years old."

"I'm from Clermont. I'm also 18. I can speak English, Finnish, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Italian. I am a singer back in Clermont. I'm an only child and my parents are all medicine-inclined, so that kind of puts pressure on me to take med too. I want to be a musician and a singer. I can play the piano, guitar, and ukelele."

"I'm from Bonita, 18 years old, and I have a little sister. I can speak English, Finnish, Filipino, Latin, Chinese, and Dutch. I wanted to take law but my parents can't afford the tuition. I took ballet and I can sing. I love debating and that's why I want to be a lawyer."

"I'm from Lakedon and I guess I'm the oldest. I'm nineteen and am about to turn twenty. I don't have any siblings and my parents are also doctors. I also want to be a doctor. I've been home schooled all my life and that's why I can't talk to a lot of people. I can speak English, Finnish, Spanish, and Filipino."

The door opened and the maids entered with our meals. We thanked them before eating.

"Who should share first? Celestiana or Haidee?" Claire asked as she munched on her food.

"I volunteer. I'm from Italy. I have a little brother. I can speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, Filipino, Latin, and Dutch. I also sing and play the violin. I like riding a horse. I'm also 19. I also learned ballet and I am engaged."

"I'm from Angeles. 17 years old. I have four brothers, two older than me and two younger. My mom owns a flower shop and my dad is mechanic. I have a brother who is studying medicine. I like singing, dancing, modelling, and acting. I can play the violin and the guitar. I can ride a horse. I can speak English, Finnish, Filipino, Italian, French, and Spanish. I also took ballet and I almost got married. Before everything started, I help my mom in the flower shop and sing in occasions to make money. Sometimes I also teach dancing to some of the kids in the village."

"Now that everyone is finished talking about themselves, how about talking about why they entered the Selection?" Harriet suggested. "I entered the selection because my family can't afford the tuition for my med school. Honestly, I entered for money, but now that I met the Prince, I think I want to win."

"I get what you're saying, Harriet. I also needed money to pursue law. I told myself that I just need to stay for at least a month and then I can get back home and enter college. But the Prince is a veey charming man. We are truly lucky to get in here." Claire stated.

"Honestly, I came here to fight for the crown. I thought that if I became queen then I could sing all I want and never be scolded by my parents and told to study medicine. When the Prince took me out on a date, he complimented my singing and I guess that was when my views changed. I didn't care about the crown anymore." Julianne said with a smile.

"I came here because my parents told me to. They said that if I submitted my form then they'll get me into a med school here in Angeles. So I did. All I ever wanted was to be a palace doctor. Then, I was chosen. I honestly cried that night. Then on the first day, I met you guys and I heard all of their stories abou the Prince and unconciously I got excited in thinking what would happen. Then when he took on date, I mentioned that wanted to be a palace doctor. He told me that if I didn't get chosen he'll make me one. That was the time that I told myself that he was a very thoughtful prince." Christine smiled.

I smiled at all of them, "He changed everything you came here for, didn't he?"

They nodded.

"As you know, I came here earlier than you. I also got to know him better. Before I came here, I always admired him for his looks, but that was all I admired about him. I thought he was a snotty spoiled brat. I thought he was narcissistic because he always seemed so confident. But when I did meet him, I realized that I got it all wrong. He was a guy who cared a lot about his family. He was a guy who was confident in talking to a crowd but a coward when talking to a single girl. He was talented but he also has his flaws. He was a serious guy in front of everyone but was a playful and childish boy when you get to know him." I said truthfully with a smile. "He is the type to comfort you when you wake up from a bad dream. He is the type who can sing a duet with you even if it was the silliest song. He is the type who would patiently teach you things. He is the type to memorize every word you say. He is a very lovable guy indeed."

Celestiana smiled, "I'm glad you all see him that way. When we were kids, he was always depressed when he did a single mistake. He always cried when he didn't do something perfectly. He was very stiff and barely smiled genuinely. He always thought that he needed to appease everyone's expectations. I'm very happy to see that he opens up little by little. He barely teases someone, you know? Especially during meal times." She said as she looked at me.

We all laughed at her statement but we all stopped laughing when we heard a knock on the door and the door opened.

He peeked inside, "Hello, girls. It's almost curfew. I advise you to go back to your rooms."

We all looked at each other and laughed. We all had the same thought: Speak of the devil and the devil will come.

"Alright. Go to your rooms, ladies. See you tomorrow at breakfast." Celestiana said as she waved goodbye to us.

We all said our 'goodnight's and they left for their rooms.

"Come on, Dee." Tony said and pulled me to the third floor.

We entered the same room where my private party was held.

"The bathroom is there," He said and pointed to a door. "Just get a night gown at that closet. Your maids will come here tomorrow morning. You can use one gown from that closet. They are my mom's old dresses. I'm sure they'd fit you."

He still held my hand as he pulled me inside the room.

"If you need something, don't hesitate to knock on my door." He said.

I nodded and smiled, "Okay. Good night, Tony."

He smiled, "Good night, Dee. If anything happens come into my room, okay?"

I nodded and laughed, "You said that a lot of times. I won't forget don't worry."

He smiled, "Just to be sure."

"I'll go wash up now." I told him, "You go wash up too. Good night."

"Good night." He said and pulled me to him and placed a kiss on my hair before going to his room.

I know it was just on my hair but my heart beat can't slow down. I took a deep breath and looked at the queen's old closet. There were a few gowns there and some heels. I looked for a night gown and headed to the bathroom.

I filled the bathtub with water and put lavender in it since it was the only thing that was there. I bathed myself and dressed after. I was now prepared for bed and I laid down on the bed and pulled on the blanket. It wasn't hard for me to sleep there because the bed was really comfortable.

When I woke up, I saw my maids doing what they usually do. I sat up on my bed and stretched.

"Good morning." I greeted.

"Oh, you're awake." Vivianne said as she was looking through the closet.

"Get into the bath now, Haidee." Georgia ordered and I obliged.

I approached the door and turned the knob.

"No! Haidee! That isn't the bathroom!" Hannah yelled.

Too late. I opened the door to Tony's room. My eyes widened when I saw him shirtless. I felt the heat rising to my cheeks.

"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry!" I exclaimed and shut the door.

I ran to the opposite side where the bathroom was. My maids were laughing at me. I buried my face in my hands as I stepped into the tub.

After my bath, they made me wear a gray day dress from the closet. They fixed my hair into a braid and put a little amount of make-up on me.

Once I was dressed, I opened the door and peeked at Tony's room to make sure he wasn't there. Once the coast was clear, I stepped outside my room.

"Why did you open the door to my room?"

My eyes widened at the familiar voice. I slowly turned to look behind me where Tony was standing with arms crossed in front of him.

"I'm sorry!" I apologized. "I just thought that it was the bathroom since that was the direction of my bathroom in my room and then I saw you inside and that was when I realized that it wasn't!" I ranted.

He sighed and put his arms to his sides, "Not a word of this to anyone, you hear me? They'll think that it might have been that. And I don't want to cause a scandal."

I nodded.

"Let's go to breakfast, shall we?" He asked and escorted me to the dining hall.

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The girls know the secret now! Will they keep it a secret? or will they use it against Haidee?