"Benvenuto!" Harriet exclaimed.

The Italians entered. There were a lot of them. Probably 20 or so. Most of them were children.

Celestiana hugged her parents and Francisco. Two of the teenage boys man-hugged Tony and William.

The setting in the great hall was different from when the French royals came. The colors in the hall were from the Italian flag. Some of the dishes were Italian and some were Illèan.

I don't know who to talk to. I should socialize with the Italians but I don't feel like it. I just offered them a smile.

I wore the flower pin on my hair and the key necklace. I wore a light blue simple gown and my hair was styled in a low bun.

Mary and Bloom were gone. We were now down to seven. The lessons were getting more frequent and hard. Even I think it's hard.

I was constantly keeping watch of the other Elite to observe if anyone was a rebel. I couldn't identify who else was a rebel.

Maybe it was just Bloom.

"Haidee, I'll introduce you to the other bridesmaids." Celestiana said, magically appearing beside me.

I nodded, "Alright."

She pulled me to where two girls were talking. One had black hair and the other had light brown hair.

"Abrianna, Cara, this is Haidee. Haidee, these are Abrianna and Cara." She pointed to the black haired girl then the light brown one. They smiled.

"Hello, Haidee." Abrianna greeted.

I smiled and curtsied, "Ti stai divertendo?" (Are you having fun?)

Cara nodded, "Vedo che parli italiano," (I see you can speak Italian).

I smiled, "Non sono molto fluente, però." (I'm not very fluent, though)

"To answer your first question, yes. We're having fun. It's been a while since we came to Illèa." Cara replied, Italian accent thick.

I grinned, "I'm glad you're having fun."

"You girls go talk, I need to go to William." Celestiana said and took off.

Abrianna sighed and shook her head, "She is so in love with him."

I laughed, "If only you see them do googly eyes at each other all day."

"That's so disgusting," Cara commented.

Now that she's gone," I said, "We're throwing a bridal shower for her on wednesday."

Abrianna nodded, "Where and what time is it happening?"

"We'll just have someone knock on your doors when it's going to happen." I answered. They nodded as a reply. "Why don't we go eat some food? I'm sure you're hungry from the flight."

They smiled and said their agreements. I led them to the food table and got a cupcake for myself.

"Haidee!" Diana called.

I raised my eyebrow at her, shocked that she's talking to me, "Yes?"

She linked her arms with mine and I knew it was obvious that ny confusion grew.

"I was looking for you!" She exclaimed and looked at me with wide eyes as if to say 'introduce me to them or I'll kill you'.

I sighed and cleared my throat, "Abrianna, Cara, this is Diana."

Diana smiled brightly and held out her hand, "Hello! I'm Diana."

Abrianna shook her hand, "We heard."

Diana turned her hand to Cara, but she didn't want to shake her hand, so she returned her hand back in shame.

"So, are you one of the Selected?" Abrianna asked.

Diana beamed, "Elite, actually."

"And do you think you have a chance at winning?" Cara asked with a blank face.

"Of course! I'm in the top seven. So, yes." She answered confidently. Diana turned her head at me and unlinked her arm with mine, "Haidee, I think your maids are looking for you."

I raised my eyebrow and was about to ask but sighed and rolled my eyes. If she wants me to walk away so she can suck up to the Italian royals then she could've just asked.

"Alright. Abrianna, Cara, I'm leaving for a bit." I told them.

"I'm coming with you," Cara said and pulled me away from the fuming Diana. When we got away, Cara sighed and shook her head, "Is she really manipulative?"

I shook my head, "She wasn't like that before but I guess the competition got to her head."

"Poor Abrianna." She commented. "Anyway, let's go. I'll introduce you to my cousins."

Without waiting for my answer, she pulled me to her little cousins and crouched down. I followed her lead and smiled at the kids.

"Kids, this is Haidee. She's nice," Cara told them.

I smiled and waved my hand, "Ciao."

They gave me smiles and started giving me their names. I couldn't track every name since they were talking all at once. One of themㅡa little girl with blonde hair and stunning blue eyesㅡasked me to pick her up. I obliged and smiled at her. I held another boy's hand with my left hand. He had brown hair and brown eyes. He pouted at me because I chose to pick up the girl who was obviously much younger than him.

"What's your name?" I asked the girl in my arms.

She grinned from ear to ear, "Il mio nome è Oria!" (My name is Oria!)

I smiled, "Hai un bel nome, Oria." (You have a nice name, Oria)

"Grazie!" She thanked and played with my necklace. (Thank you!)

I turned to the little boy on my left, "Come ti chiami?" (What's your name?)

"Rafaello," He replied. "I want to be up there too!" He complained.

"Wait," I told him and put Oria down. I carried him and smiled, "Happy?"

He nodded with a bright smile. Oria looked like she was about to cry. What should I do when children are about to cry?

"I want there too!" She complained as tears fell down on her cheeks.

"Shh, don't cry." I told her and put Rafaello down and picked her up, "There."

Now, Rafaello was about to cry as Oria wiped her tears and flashed me a smile.

"Pick me up!" He complained.

"I can't carry the two of you at the same time, Rafaello." I told him softly and patted his head.

He cried, "Then don't carry Oria too!"

"No! I want here!" Oria countered.

I was torn between these two. I looked for Cara but she was gone. What should I do?

Then, a boy suddenly picked Rafaello up, "Don't cry, kiddo."

I sighed in relief as Rafaello stopped crying.

"I see you have trouble with children," He said.

I rolled my eyes, "Don't tease me."

He chuckled, "Oria looks a little like you, Dee."

"Really?" I asked incredulously.

He nodded, "Except for her eyes. She has blue eyes."

"Like yours." I said, "Rafaello has your hair," I commented.

He nodded, "And he has brown eyes, like . . . My mom's . . . And yours."

I gulped and blushed. These children almost look like ours. Well this is awkward. He also had a tint of red painting his cheeks as he looked away. This is too coincidental.

He cleared his throat, "Anyway, I was meaning to ask about your bridal shower. I mean Celestiana's. It's in a few days. Have you told anyone?"

I shook my head, "Have you?"

He shook his head, "Alright, I should go to Earl now. We're going to make finishing touches on the stag party."

I nodded as he put Rafaello down. I put Oria down too so they wouldn't complain, "Bye."

He smiled and waved. He walked away out of the hall. I turned to Oria and Rafaello and crouched down to their level.

"I need to go now, it was nice meeting you." I told them with a smile.

They nodded with smiles.

"Arrivederci, Haidee!" Rafaello said. (Goodbye, Haidee!)

"Bye-bye!" Oria exclaimed and waved.

I smiled and waved back before I left. I scanned the room for a familiar face and saw Christine by herself sitting down. I approached her but she didn't see me coming. She looked preoccupied.

"Hey," I greeted.

She jumped a little at her seat but calmed down when she saw me, "Hello."

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

"N-Nothing. Just about . . . Life."

I nodded and didn't ask any more questions. Instead, I busied myself with eating the pasta that I was served. Diana was now with the kids and I could see her genuine enjoyment with them. Claire was talking to Abrianna. Julianne was with Cara. Louise was talking to the king and queen of Italy. Harriet was talking to Francisco. Celestiana was with William and the other two teenage boys. Tony was gone and like what he said, was with Earl. Mom and Dad were talking to some of the other adults. Christine kept checking her watch and after about the sixth time she checked it, she excused herself and left the hall.

Due to curiosity, I followed her out of the room. I saw her go inside her room but she shut the door before I can even peek inside. I couldn't hear anything so I just went to my room and rested.

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This story is almost at the end! Sorry if this is a short update but it's approaching the exciting parts.