I never felt so beautiful and elegant until today. My hair was styled into a bun and my make-up was magnificent. My gown looked just as beautiful but a thousand times better.

The skirt was decorated with delicate feathers and reached up to my ankle so I could still dance. The turtleneck sleeveless gown fitted me perfectly.

My maids also put a tiara on my hair. They said that this was inspired by the swan princess. I wore white gloves to make me look more sophisticated and elegant.

I promised my friends that we would enter the Great hall together and would meet each other on the staircase.

Georgia, Hannah, and Vivianne all looked at me with pride when I left the room.

When I arrived at the staircase, I gasped when I saw Christine and Claire.

Christine's pink butterfly wings were shining with glitter. Her hair was fixed in a low bun and a flower crown nestled on her hair. Her dress was also pink and it reached her knee. (Think of Mariposa)

Claire was the most beautiful firefly that I've seen. Her dress was covered in glitter to make her light up like a firefly. Her dress was a deep green that looked elegant. Her wings were small but it made the focus go to her dress. Her hair was down in curls and they colored her hair to be a light brown at the tips.

"You guys look amazing!" I squealed and almost ran to them.

"But I'm positive you look more amazing." Claire said with a smile.

Christine nodded, "You look wonderful, Haidee."

I smiled, "Thank you, but I know that the five of us would look the best among everyone else in the room."

Claire laughed, "I know. The other girls wore something that would look elegant and queenly that they got almost the same costumes!"

We laughed. I could almost imagine Irene fuming in anger once she sees Isabella wearing the same costume as her.

"Look! It's Julianne and Harriet!" Christine exclaimed.

My eyes widened when I saw them. They looked like they came from a fairytale.

Julianne really suited red. Her gown was a mix of black and red. She looks like vampire royalty. Her hair was styled down into curls and her lips was a dark red. The gown reached her toes, completely covering her feet, and when she smiled, you could see fangs.

Harriet looked like a character from a game. Her hair was also down and on her forehead was a gem. Her dress was a pale green and had long sleeves. The long sleeves weren't fitted on her arm, instead, they were really oversized and it added to her enchantress character. Her ears were also made pointed. The tips of her eyelids were decorated with gems.

"Woah, you both look amazing!" Claire exclaimed.

Harriet's mouth was open, "I could say the same to the three of you."

"We should all take a picture." Julianne said and I agreed.

"But who owns a camera?" Christine asked.

"Celestiana. I'm sure she also brought it to the party. She likes to take pictures." I answered.

"Then we have to find her." Claire said.

"Let's go to the hall." Harriet said and with that, we all entered the room that was filled with people, laughter, dancing, and food.

The hall was filled with a lot of people. The royals wore elegant costumes and the other guests wore silly and boring costumes.

I could see a lot of flowers and peacocks. I could also see Irene dressed as the british queen.

"Let's go!" Claire urged and we all walked to a table.

The queen was wearing a red wig and a red dress. I realized that she was acting as her mother.

Her husband was wearing a blonde wig and a kingly suit. No doubt King Maxon.

I laughed at their costumes. Then I saw an aged couple, one redhead and one blonde, approach them. They were wearing a maid's and a guard's uniform.

I saw William dressed as a dwarf. I couldn't see Celestiana anywhere.

"There you are! Oh my, you all look wonderful!"

I looked at the girl in front of us. My jaw dropped.

"Celestiana?" I asked and eyed her.

She laughed and nodded, "Pretty costume, right?"

Her hair was dyed blonde and she was wearing the dress I wore on the way here. The royal blue dress.

"Oh my god! You look like Haidee!" Harriet said.

Julianne nodded, "I knew that you looked like each other but this is so surprising."

"Why did you dress up as me?!" I exclaimed.

She laughed, "To confuse others." She winked. She showed us her camera, "Would you mind if I take a picture of you?"

We shook our heads. She smiled and told us to smile. Harriet was in the middle and I was in her right. Beside me was Claire. On Harriet's right was Julianne and beside her was Christine.

"I want to join the picture!" Celestiana complained. She quickly looked for some random person and told her to take a picture of us.

She rearranged us. She replaced Harriet in the middle and put her beside me. She said that the three of us should placed next to each other so everyone would see that we looked alike.

She thanked the girl and looked at the pictures with a satisfied smile on her face.

"I'm going back to my table now, enjoy!" Celestiana said and waved goodbye.

"So, now that she's gone. I believe we have business to take care of." Claire reminded.

"I'll talk to Aino Koskinen." Julianne volunteered.

"I'll talk to the Singers." I said.

"I'm coming with you." Christine said.

"Then Harriet and I would talk to the rest of the Koskinens." Claire said.

Then, we separated ways. Christine and I looked for the Singers. It wasn't that hard to find them, their red heads stand out. We went to their table and saw only two teenagers.

Christine and I curtsied to them and they motioned for us to sit down.

"Hello, I suppose that the two of you are in the Selection?" The girl with red hair and blue eyes said.

"Yes," I replied.

"I'm Grace." She said, "This is Abigail." She pointed to the girl on her right which had a brownish red hair and brown eyes.

"I'm Haidee and this is Christine." I said.

"How's the Selection? Is our cousin causing you trouble?" Abigail asked.

"No. The prince is a gentleman." Christine replied.

Grace nodded with a smile, "He is."

I cleared my throat, "As you know, your other cousin, Prince William, is going to be married to Celestiana. We're her bridesmaids."

"We're throwing a bridal shower on January 14." Christine said.

"We were wondering if you'd like to join us. Do you want to join?" I asked.

"Of course! It would be an honor." Grace replied.

I smiled, "We'll just let you know if it's statting."

"Okay." Abigail said.

"So anyway, how many dates have you gone on with him?" Grace asked.

"2." Christine answered.

"How about you, Haidee?" She asked.

"Um. . . let me think." I said.

"Does that mean you've been on a lot of dates with him?" Abigail asked and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

My face turned red, "No! It's just that I don't know if some of those are considered dates."

"So you mean you've been with him a lot of times." Grace said.

I nodded, "Yes."

"I watched The Report where you were interviewed and oh god! You and Zeke fit each other!" Grace exclaimed.

Heat rolled my cheeks and I could feel the discomfort of Christine beside me.

"I totally ship you guys!" Grace said.

"Grace." Abigail called and looked at Christine discreetly. Grace followed her sight and her eyes widened.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Christine." Grace apologized.

Christine smiled, "It's okay."

Abigail cleared her throat, "So anyway, How is your stay in the palace?"

"It was great." Christine replied, "The people were great, the food was great, the places are great. Everything is great."

I nodded, "I agree."

"Don't you miss your family?" Grace asked.

"Of course I do. But I'm from Angeles, my family is close to the palace. It's just a 10 minute drive." I answered.

"Well, I do miss my family. And Lakedon is far away from Angeles, but they make sure to send me letters once a week."

"You'll see your families when you're an elite, right?" Abigail asked.

"If we make it to the elite." I said.

"I'm sure both of you would make it to the elite." Grace said encouragingly.

"How are you so sure?" Christine asked.

Abigail smiled, "Look behind you."

We looked behinds us to be startled by Tony.

"You blew my cover." Tony told his second cousins.

Grace laughed and shrugged, "We'll be going now. Have fun!"

She dragged Abigail into the dance floor giggling.

"Lady Christine, would you like to dance with me after this song?" Tony asked her.

Christine blushed and nodded, "Yes, Of course."

Tony smiled, "Great. Wait for me at the refreshments corner."

Christine left to the refreshments without a second thought.

"Now that we're alone," Tony said.

"Wait, you said that just to make her leave?" I said laughing.

He laughed and nodded. Tony looked amazing tonight. He wore a dracula costume and besides looking intimidating, he looked handsome. His cape reached the floor and it was dragged whenever he walked.

"You look amazing." He said while looking at me up and down.

I blushed, "Thanks. Your costume fits you as well."

That's when I remembered. He was a vampire. Julianne was a vampire. They look like they were the king and queen of vampires.

My smile faded a little but I forced it back, "You and Julianne look like a couple."

He raised his eyebrow, "Why would you say that?"

I pointed to Julianne, "You are the only vampires in this room. Anyone would think you're a couple. You two fit each other nicely." My eyes never left Julianne as I talked, "Everyone's eyes would be on the two of you."

"But I have my eyes on you."

I stopped and my eyes widened, "What?"

He pulled me up from my seat and held both of my hands, "We're both vampires, and that's where it ends."

"But she's also competing for you, remember?"

"Right. I forgot about that." He said and scratched his nape.

I smiled, "Why don't you go dance? I'm sure a lot of girls would like to have a chance to dance with you."

"That's the thing. I want you to be my first dance."

I turned my head to the side, "Really?"

He nodded, "I thought you won't accept anyone to have it but you?"

I smiled, "You remember that?"

He shrugged, "I have a great memory."

"Well then, Mister Dracula, It would be my pleasure to be your first dance." I said and curtsied dramatically.

He bowed deeply, "Please, the pleasure is all mine."

We smiled at each other as he led me to the dance floor. My ears perked up at the music. Foxtrot.

"Do you know how to dance to this?" I asked him.

He smirked, "Of course, I do. I know every ballroom dance."

We started dancing to the song. The other people who don't know the dance left the dance floor, leaving me and Tony, Claire and a brown haired guy, William and Celestiana, The Queen and the prince consort, Grace and who I assume to be the queen's youngest brother Osten, Aino Koskinen and Kaden Schreave, Abigail and a man who seems to be about the queen's age.

"Who's the guy that Abigail's dancing with?" I asked.

"That's Uncle Kile." He answered with a smile, "He's my favorite uncle. He taught me how to sketch."

"You know how to sketch?" I asked with wide eyes.

He smirked, "Yup. Guess you don't know everything about me."

I rolled my eyes, "You also don't know everything about me."

He smiled, "Good point."

"Anyway, who's the guy that Claire is dancing with?" I questioned.

He looked at the brown haired guy, "That's my cousin. Aimo Koskinen."

"Don't you have a cousin who's name is Aino?" I asked, a liitle confused.

He nodded, "They're twins."

I nodded understandingly, "I was wondering. Why don't you and William have finnish names?"

He scrunched his nose, "My name wasn't supposed to be Thornton. It was supposed to be Tahmelapachme."

I laughed, "That's too long."

"That's why they didn't use finnish names with us."

"If yours was Tahmelawhatever, what was William's?" I asked.

"His was worse. Waeringawicum."

"I'm glad your parents decided to ditch finnish." I said while shaking my head.

"I'm glad too." He said as we exchanged partners with Claire and Aimo.

"Hello." He greeted.

I smiled, "Good evening, your highness."

"I'm Aimo." He said.

"Haidee." I replied, "So I heard you have a twin?"

He nodded, "Ah, yes. Zeke told you?"

"Correct. I was also told that her name is Aino."

He rolled his eyes, "What else has he told you?"

"That's about it." I said.

He breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness."

"What does it feel like to have a twin?"

"It's alright." He started, "Your twin is like your other half and you understand each other the most."

"It was nice meeting you, Sir Aimo." I told him.

"Please, call me Aimo." He said as I left.

It was the part that only the girls were dancing. People watched us as we danced. The Selected criticized Claire and I for dancing with the royals. Julianne was eating. Christine and Harriet were talking to Bloom. Some of the guys who were our age looked at us with lust. I was disgusted but I shook it off and just enjoyed the dance.

We went back to our partners and continued the dance. I wasn't with Tony, however, I was with William now.

"You're quite a large dwarf." I commented.

He snickered and rolled his eyes, "You're quite ugly for a swan."

"Thanks." I told him and rolled my eyes, "By the way, do you know why your one true love dressed up as me?"

"She wanted to confuse the guys around the party. She also wanted to know how the other selected treat each other." He replied.

I nodded, "Clever."

He smiled, "Of course she is. She's my one true love after all."

I rolled my eyes and looked disgusted, "That's so sweet and disgusting. You're smitten with her."

He smirked, "The same way you are with my brother."

I blushed a little but rolled my eyes, "Right."

"I can see you blush, Haidee." He said and laughed, "Don't worry, I won't tell my brother." He said and winked.