After our little performance, it was time for dancing. I decided to just rest on our table.

I was so exhausted. I went on stage for four times.

"That was so awesome, Haidee!" Claire exclaimed.

"That was a great idea to make Celestiana and Prince William sing the ending!" Julianne complimented.

I smiled, "It wasn't my idea though."

"Let's go dance!" Christine suggested.

"Let's go!" Harriet agreed.

The four of them rose from their seats but I stayed down.

"I'll pass." I told them.

"What? Why?" Claire asked.

"I'm tired. I'll rest for a while and I'll come join you when I have the energy to." I promised. "Now, go dance with the Prince!"

They giggled and went to the dance floor. I sipped the remaining juice on my glass since I didn't want to drink any alcohol. I watched The girls as they danced with Tony.

Julianne was the first one to dance with Tony if you exclude me and Claire. I could tell that she was startled at first but she agreed anyway.

Gayle danced with him next. I could observe that he was making small talk with everyone he dances with. He danced with Bloom next, then, Christine.

I chuckled when I noticed that he was tired dancing with the girls. He danced about 20 girls. He hasn't danced with Claire, Irene, Daphne, and me.

He sat down on his chair with his family to rest. I rose from my seat, deciding to dance.

"May I have the honor of dancing with you?"

I turned to look at him and smiled, "Of course, kind sir."

He led me to the center as we danced. He was quite good at dancing.

"I noticed that you performed a lot of times today, miss." He stated as he twirled me.

I laughed, "Yes, I did. It was quite tiring if you ask me."

He smiled, "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Francisco."

My eyes widened, "Francisco? You mean the brother of Celestiana?"

He raised his eyebrow, "I beg your pardon but how do you know?"

I blushed in embarrassment, "Oh, um. Somebody mentioned it to me."

I could tell he still has questions but he shrugged it off and just enjoyed dancing with me until the song ended.

He kissed my hand when we finished, "Thank you for that wonderful dance, Ladyㅡ?"

I smiled, "Haidee, and please. Don't call me with such formalities. I'm no lady."

"It was nice meeting you. Until our paths cross once again." He said and left.

I was about to leave the dance floor but a random guy offered a dance. He was a businessman. I had no doubt that he dances with every Selected and tried to get close to each one to hopefully have connections from the future queen. Despite the thought, I still danced with him as courtesy.

A few gentlemen also danced with me because of two reasonsㅡEither being the future queen or just because they recognized me as the one who sang. I danced for six consecutive times before I decided to go back and rest for a while.

I saw my friends resting. I sat down on my place.

"Oh! Haidee! You're finally here! Come on girls." Claire chirped and rose from her seat and the three girls followed her, leaving me with no choice but to follow.

She led us to a table where a young-looking couple and a young girl were seated.

"Mom, Dad, and Clara, these are my friends." Claire introduced and pointed to Julianne, "This is Julianne, Christine, Harriet, and Haidee."

We greeted them with smiles.

"Oh, such wonderful young ladies!" Claire's mom exclaimed. "You all look beautiful."

We smiled sheepishly and muttered 'thank you'.

"Guys, this is my little sister, Clara. She's three years younger than me." Claire saif and pointed to the girl with black hair and brown eyes.

Claire and Clara looked similar. One look at them and you can already tell that they're sisters. They looked a lot like their father but they got their black hair from their mother since their father had auburn hair.

"We'll go back to the dance floor now, Mom." Claire told them and pecked each of them on the cheek before leading us to the dance floor.

"You and Clara can pass as twins." Cristine stated.

I nodded, "You look alike."

Claire smiled, "We get that a lot."

"Hey, you do know that we're in the middle of the dance floor, right?" Harriet asked.

"Oh, right." Claire said and we continued walking back to our table.

We sat down once again and observed the people dancing.

"This party is great." Julianne commented.

Claire nodded, "I agree. I never had so much fun."

"Yeah. I was never a person to party but this is actually great." Christine stated.

"This party is great but tiring." I said and laughed.

"I hope you're not yet too tired for a dance."

I looked in front of me and saw Tony offering a hand to me. I looked back at my friends as if to ask permission and they all nodded.

I smiled, "Actually, I'm tired, but let's dance anyway." I placed my hand on his as he pulled me to the dance floor.

I placed my left arm on top of his and held his hand with the other.

"I thought you wouldn't dance with me." I told him and laughed.

"I did dance with you, remember?"

"Both was in secret." I told him.

He smiled, "Does that not count?"

"Nope." I teased. "But at least you're dancing with me now."

He smiled, "I danced with eveeryone first before dancing with you. I bet they'll shoot daggers at you when I ask you first. You already sang a duet with me and they were all jealous. Well except for your friends."

I smiled, "They're wonderful friends. They don't care about the competition when we talk. We even encourage each other if anything."

His smile widened, "Then all that avoiding did bear some good fruits."

"I guess it did." I stated, "Can I ask you a question?"

He nodded, "What is it about?"

"About the Selection. Answer honestly okay?" I told him and he nodded, "If you were to choose your top ten among us. Who would it be? Me excluded."

He paused to think, "Should it have a ranking?"

I nodded as a response.

"I'll start from ten. Number ten would be Gayle."

I raised mymy eyebrow at that, "Gayle? Really? I thought you would place her at the top three or something."

He shook his head, "She's an . . . okay girl. But I can see her glaring at the other girls who went on dates with me or those who I speak to when we eat."

"If she's like that, Then why is she included in the top ten?" I asked curiously.

"Compared to the other girls, she isn't clingy and she's well mannered around me."

I nodded at that, "Continue."

"Number nine is Christine. She's a very shy girl but she acts like a lady and hardly embarrasses herself. In eighth place would be Louise. She's nice. Next would be Diana, She's incredibly smart and she can think tactics. Harriet would come next. She's funny but she can be serious when needed." He continued.

I smiled at the mention of Harriet and Christine. I'm glad they've made an impression.

"Fifth is Carmel. She's pretty nice and she's obedient. Fourth would be Julianne. She sings nicely and she's smart. She's also very calm and she looks a little like you. Third would be Bloom. She's a happy-go-lucky girl and she's very talented in the piano. Second will be Claire. She's smart and talkative but it's bearable. She likes to joke around but I can tell that she's serious about everything she's doing."

Julianne is fourth and Claire is second. I can't help but feel proud.

"Who's the first?" I asked curiously.

He smirked, "Guess."

"Hmm. Is it Mary?" I asked.

"Nope."

"Daphne?"

"No."

"Ashley?"

"Hell, no."

"Oh? What's with the swearing?" I asked and chuckled.

"I'm not very pleased with her. She'll be leaving tomorrow."

I nodded, "Dianne?"

He shook his head.

"Isabella? Irene?"

"No."

"Mae? Margarette?"

"No."

"Lucy? Leigh? Clover? Catherine?"

"Nope."

"Jane?" He shook his head, "Elena?"

"No."

"What?! But I've mentioned everyone's names!"

He shook his head, "You forgot someone."

"Huh? Everyone else is eliminated." I stated then I gasped dramatically, "Is it your mother?"

He shook his head furiously then sighed, "Should I say her name?"

I nodded and rolled my eyes, "Of course. I asked for their names, didn't I? Or is no one at the top?"

He smiled, "Someone is definitely at the top."

My heart ached a little at that. I smiled, "Just say her name already!"

"It starts with an I."

"Irene? Isabella?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No."

I sighed exasperatedly, "Just say her name!"

"Iole." He stated and smiled. "Iole Haidee Eudora. In short, y-o-u."

I stared at him in shock, "What?"

He smiled warmly at me, "You know you're on top."

"But I told you to exclude me!" I exclaimed, fighting my smile.

He shrugged, "I can't think of anyone fit at the top. I told you didn't I? No one can ever take your place in my heart."

I couldn't fight the smile anymore and I hugged him. He chuckled lightly and hugged me back.

"Thank you." I said gratefully.

He smiled, "You don't have to thank me. It's not like I was forced to say that."

"But I want to." I replied.

The song ended and we pulled out of each other and curtsied.

"May I do the honor of escorting you to your table, Lady Haidee?" He asked and offered his hand dramatically.

I laughed, "Of course, good sir."

We laughed as he accompanied me to my table. I sat down on my chair.

"Having a good evening, ladies?" He asked the other girls in my table.

"Yes, your highness." Bloom replied happily.

He smiled, "The party will end soon. Get back to your rooms safely. Good night."

We said our 'goodbye's and 'good night's to him before he left to his table.

"He looks so handsome!" Daphne fan girled.

"I know right!" Mary agreed.

I laughed at them softly. I felt Harriet nudge me so I looked at her with questioning eyes.

"You look happy. What happened?" She asked.

I smiled, "He told me the top ten girls."

She gasped, "Really? Omg! Tell us!"

I smiled, "I will but don't tell anyone else, okay?"

Harriet gathered Christine and the others to a side of the room with no people.

"Why are we here?" Julianne asked.

"The prince told Haidee his top ten pick." Harriet explained.

"What?!" Claire exclaimed and we shushed her.

I nodded, "Yup, but to avoid fights and boasting, I'll only tell you your rankings."

"So that means we're included?" Harriet asked, a little shocked.

I smiled and nodded, "Christine is in 9th place. Harriet is 6th."

I saw them gasp.

"Julianne, you're in fourth and Claire, you're in second."

Another set of gasps.

"Oh my goodness! Is this for real?!" Claire exclaimed and shook Julianne.

"I don't know!" Julianne said.

"I'm so proud of all of you!" I exclaimed.

"What place are you in?" Christine asked.

I willed myself to smile sadly, "Let's not talk about that."

They seemed to get the message that I didn't make it in the top ten. I am so glad I'm good at acting!

I hugged all of them as they still grasped the information.

"Those ten will also be the Elite if nothing changes." I told them.

"I hope it will change. I know you'll make it!" Julianne comforted.

I smiled at her encouragement. I felt bad for lying to them but I didn't want to tell them I was in first place.

"Haidee will make it! She's like the epitome of a princess!" Harriet said.

I laughed at her statement, "That's overboard!"

We laughed together. We spent the rest of the party talking in that side of the room and we walked together down the hallway to our rooms.

My maids were there and they greeted me when I entered.

"How was the party, Haidee?" Hannah asked.

I smiled, "Amazing, but I am so exhausted."

Georgia smiled, "Let's get you ready for bed then."

They prepared me for my much needed sleep.

"Good night, guys." I told them before they left.

"Good night." They said and left the room.

I crashed on the bed and fell asleep.

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How was this chapter? Did you like those cheesy lines that the prince said? Or were they too cringe-y?