I sat back down on my seat in our table to rest after dancing. Grabbing the glass of juice, I sipped and observed the guests. Everybody was happyㅡexcept for the other selected who were glaring at either me for dancing with Tony or Christine for dancing with Tony right nowㅡand so was I.

Christine looked happy dancing with him but Irene, Gayle, Isabella, and Carmel certainly did not. Irene and Gayle were complaining and just looked furious. Isabella could kill Christine with her eyes. Carmel was down on a chair with her arms and legs crossed. The other selected weren't any better, they were either trying to get his attention or talking behind their backs.

Claire and Julianne were talking with Grace. Harriet was talking to Aino and Aimo. And I was alone, sitting on a chair, observing everyone.

"Hello there."

I jumped a little at my seat, my body stiffened. I looked at my right where the voice came from, "G-Good evening, sir."

He smiled, "Sorry for startling you."

I relaxed and smiled, "It's alright."

"I'm Earl." He said.

"I'm Haidee." I said. "No offense, but why are you here?"

"I'm the son of Aunt Eadlyn's friend, Josie Woodwork. She's not a Woodwork now."

I nodded, "But that wasn't what I meant. I meant why are you here talking to me?"

"You're one of the Selected, right?" He asked and I nodded. "I want to know my best friend's future wife. I've talked to almost every Selected."

"I didn't know he had a best friend." I said.

"I come to the palace rarely but even with the distance, we still remain what we are."

The music ended and Tony led Christine back to a seat.

Earl cleared his throat and stood. He walked in front of me and offered a hand, "May I have this dance?"

I smiled, "Sure."

He led me to the dance floor where Tony was dancing with Isabella. She had a smug smirk as she glanced at me, clearly bragging. I almost rolled my eyes but I held it in.

"You can show your displeasure with the other girls with me." He said, "I know that the others can be annoying."

I sighed, "It annoys me that the other girls brag about what they've been doing with the Prince. I mean, can't they just keep it in?"

He laughed, "I know what you mean. Some even suck up to me when I said that I was his best friend." He shook his head, "You were the only one who doubted it."

I turned slightly red out of embarrassment, "I'm sorry. I just really didn't know."

He smiled, "It's okay."

I was really curious about who he favored the most out of us, but it would seem as if I was desperate.

"So, I just realized. You were the girl that William was describing in one of The Reports right? Blonde hair, brown eyes."

I was shocked but I didn't show it, "No, I'm not."

He turned his head to the side innocently, "Really?"

I nodded.

He smirked and put his mouth to my ear, "I know about Celestiana and William's secret relationship." He whispered.

My eyes widened. I'm so stupid. He was his best friend. Of course he would know!

"What does that have to do with that?" I asked.

He shook his head, "It means that I know everything."

I sighed, "There's no secret with you then."

He chuckled, "It was my idea to make the contract."

"You came up with that?" I asked with wide eyes.

He smiled, "I just said it, didn't I?"

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not sure if I'll thank you or if I'll kill you."

"You'll thank me," He winked. "Celestiana, William, and I all know that you are the one who's going to win."

I blushed, "The Selection isn't over yet."

I wanted to believe him, I really do. But after that dream, I found it difficult to believe that I could be his and he could be mine.

"My dear, you can end it any time you want." He told me.

I sighed, "He has other girls that he likes."

He rolled his eyes, "You're impossible."

"Thank you." I said.

The song ended and he led me back to my seat. He placed a kiss on my knuckles, "I'll see you on William's wedding day and your wedding day. Or maybe some time in the near future."

I smiled and ignored the second part of the first sentence, "Until then."

He winked before he left. I scanned my eyes across the room and found a pair looking at me.

Those eyes said, 'Let's talk later'. I felt nervous so I asked him with eyes that said, 'What did I do?'. He only glared at me and took Bloom to the dance floor.

What did I do?

I sighed as I sipped my glass. I've never encountered an enraged prince before. I watched as he danced with Bloom. I could see that Bloom noticed his anger and she tried to reassure him and ask his problem but he only smiled at her as if to say 'it's nothing'.

"Hey, Haidee!" Grace called as she approached me with Abigail and Aino.

"Hello," I greeted as they sat down beside me.

"So," Grace started and looked at me suggestively, "What did you do with Zeke when we left?"

I blushed a little, "Oh, we just talked."

Abigail raised her eyebrow, "I doubt that. You danced with him, remember?"

I nodded, "That too."

"You got the first dance." Aino stated with a smile, "I believe that you're special."

I shook my head, "I'm as special as any girl here."

Aino smiled, "You're humble too."

I shook my head again, "Just honest."

Grace chuckled, "Haidee, we all know it's true."

I shrugged, "I really think I'm not that nice. I just respect people. When I'm really close to you I just relax and act improperly."

"Do you do that with Zeke?" Aino asked.

"Oh, um." My cheeks flushed, "I guess?"

They laughed.

"You look cute when you're embarrassed." Grace said, "I definitely want you to be an in-law."

I turned redder with that, "Thanks?"

Aino nodded, "I agree. If not you, then I guess Julianne."

"Yeah, Julianne is great too." Abigail said, "Whoever she is."

We laughed.

"Do you want to meet her?" I asked, glad to take the topic off of me, "I can go introduce you to her and some of the other Selected."

Abigail nodded, "That's a great idea."

"Let's go then." Grace said.

"Lead the way, Haidee." Aino said and we rose from our seats.

I led them to the other side of the room where the other Selected were at. I found Claire and Julianne at the table of various drinks.

"Julianne! Claire!" I called as we approached.

"Haidee!" Claire said while Julianne gave a wave.

They saw the people behind me so they curtsied.

"Grace, Abigail, and Aino, these are Julianne and Claire." I said.

"You're Aimo's twin, right?" Claire asked.

Aino nodded, "Yes and I saw you dance with him a while ago."

"Hello, Grace." Julianne greeted her.

"Hey, Julianne. We meet again." Grace said and pulled Abigail to her, "This is Abigail."

They started talking to each other the same way Claire and Aino talked animatedly.

"Haidee, Let's go meet the other Selected." Grace told me and pulled me away from the other four.

I saw Harriet with Catherine and Louise. We approached them.

"Harriet, this is Grace." I said.

"Oh, hello! I'm Harriet." She said and shook her hand.

"Grace, this is Christine and Catherine." I said and pointed to the other two girls.

"As Haidee has mentioned, my name is Grace Singer. I'm an extended family member of Aunt Eadlyn."

"You're a niece of the queen?" Catherine asked with wide eyes.

Grace nodded, "Yes."

"Oh my god!" Catherine squealed.

Grace looked at me with a little disgust and I chuckled. Aimo saw us and he approached us with another guy with platinum blonde hair and Earl.

"Hello, girls." Aimo said.

"Hello, Aimo." Grace greeted with relief.

"Haidee! I see I've met you again sooner that expected." Earl said as he put his arm around my shoulders.

I rolled my eyes with a laugh, "I thought we'd meet at the wedding?"

He smirked, "I guess that fate wants us to meet before that."

Aimo cleared his throat, "This is my cousin, Twain."

"Hello, sir. I'm Haidee."

Twain reached for my hand and placed a kiss on it, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Haidee. I've heard a lot about you."

I was confused as to what he meant so I figured that I should just introduce Harriet and the others.

"Well, this is Harrietㅡ" I couldn't finish because Catherine and Christine looked in surprise at someone behind me.

I turned around and saw Tony with burning eyes. Harriet, Catherine and Christine all curtsied.

"Zeke! I'm glad you finally came to see me!" Earl said.

"It's been a while Zeke." Aimo said.

Twain motioned for a high five but Tony didn't accept it.

"Oh, um. Hi." I said, a little nervous.

He glared at me and I shrinked. He removed Earl's arm around me and said, "I'm sorry but I'll be taking the lady for now."

Earl smirked, Aimo rolled his eyes and Twain scoffed.

"Wait. I was introㅡ"

"No." He told me firmly. He grabbed my arm and forcefully pulled me away.

"I'll talk to you guys later!" I exclaimed.

Grace waved with a smirk. Harriet and Christine said goodbye despite the confusion. Earl winked. Aimo and Twain nodded.

"Where are we going?" I asked as he still pulled me.

"Stop talking." He stated.

I was shocked. I never thought he'd speak to me that way. He led me out of the great hall. After a few seconds of silence, I couldn't take it and I removed his hand from my arm.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked him.

He scoffed, "What's wrong with me?"

"Yes!" I said exasperatedly, "Just tell me the problem."

He raised his eyebrow and smiled sarcastically. I definitely hated this side of him that I didn't know.

"You want to know what's wrong?"

"Yes! I already said it, didn't I?" I asked and looked at him pointedly.

"Fine! You were flirting with my cousins and friends!" He exclaimed.

I looked at him in surprise. This was what it was all about? He was jealous? My surprise turned to anger, "Flirting?! How the heck was that flirting?"

"I saw you dance with Earl!"

"Dancing is considered flirting? Tony! Are you out of your mind?"

He shook his head, "I saw you blushing when he said something. You even let him put his arm on your shoulders!"

"What?! That wasn't anything romantic! That was friendly. " I explained.

His eyes burned with rage as he stared at me.

"It's not just Earl." He said, "You danced with Aimo."

"That was dancing!" I said, already tired of arguing, "It was part of the steps, remember?"

"You also let Twain kiss your hand."

"That's courtesy!" I exclaimed.

"You know you can only have a relationship with me in this competition." He said.

I glared at him, "That was friendship! And need I remind you that I didn't sign up for this stupid competition. And even if I did, I would have been better with someone else because I'm not even fit to be queen!" I took deep breaths to calm down, "You're being irrational! I can dance with whoever I want! You can't restrict my freedom! You told me you wouldn't limit my freedom, Tony!"

"But those were my friends! They could steal you away!" He said, "Why aren't you being considerate? I've been careful about my relationships with the other selected since you've told me what you felt! Why can't you do the same for me?"

"Careful?!" I exaimed, "Tony, I tolerate what I feel when you're with the others! That's hard to do for your information. I can see you kiss their hands, make them blush, whisper things in their ears, and never have I mentioned anything to you since that day!"

"I've been making the effort to make time for you! Can't you see that? And when I'm not around, You what? Flirt with the other men?"

"For the second time, I wasn't flirting!" I exclaimed, "Tony, this was one time. I told you what I felt after weeks! Imagine what I've been going through! You saw me with Laurence when it was my birthday and you didn't complain! And now, You see me with your bestfriend and cousins, you doubt me? Don't you trust them?"

He huffed, "This is pointless."

"This whole competition is pointless!" I declared.

He glared at me, "We'll talk about this another day."

Without another word, he left to go back to the hall where his other girlfriends were waiting. I huffed and went back to my room.

I slammed the door shut and made my maids jump.

"Haidee? Why are you here early?" Hannah asked.

I didn't have the energy to respond. I sat on my bed and took the jewelry off of me furiously. Vivianne and Georgia looked at each other before helping me get the jewelry off. Hannah left to the bathroon to prepare a bath.

"What's wrong, Haidee?" Georgia asked.

I didn't respond. I don't want to take my anger on them and if I spoke, I knew I'd probably yell at them.

They helped me get the costume off in silence. They removed my make-up and led me to the tub.

How dare he say I was flirting? I just talked with his friends! I can't see what's wrong with that. He's so inconsiderate. I didn't complain when he danced with the other girls, so what right did he have to complain when I danced with other boys? I'm not his property.

I dressed in my night gown and slept after I dried my hair.

I can't believe he was like that!