Of course I didn't get such escape.

They took hold of me the same way they did when they took me to the stage. I sighed as I got hauled back.

"You want a reward?" Derek asked.

I shook my head, "No, I just want to sit down."

"You want to sit down?" Tony asked, "staff! Could you please get a chair for the lady?"

"No! I meant back there!" I protested but the staff already put a chair at the stage.

Derek and Tony forced me down on the seat as the crowd laughed.

"Stop resisting, princess," Hudson said behind me.

He and Damien, too, have approached us. It looked like we were posing for a picture.

What Hudson called caused an unpleasant feeling in my chest, "I'm not a princess."

I felt Tony squeeze my shoulder, "Nor am I a prince but that doesn't mean you can't answer the question," he said.

I sighed, "Do I really have to answer jt? I'm sure there are a lot of girls here who know the answer and are willing."

Derek rolled his eyes, "But you're already here, so Sophie, tell us who Anteros is."

Having no choice but to answer—because Tony and Derek held me bu the shoulders to keep me secure—I gave up and just replied, "Anteros is like Eros's twin or something," I said, "Eros is the god of love, right? His partner—Anteros—is the god of love reciprocated."

Tony smiled and it was like my anger towards him vanished. He pulled me up and kissed my knuckles, "Thank you for your time, Lady Sophie."

I felt my cheeks heat as I smiled, "It was not my pleasure, Sir Haris," I said as I curtsied.

Derek had his eyebrow raised at our demeanor, "Well, Miss Sophie. I'm glad you answered the question, now we have no need of your presence and you may proceed to where you were going before."

I nodded and left the stage. When I stepped off from it, lots of girls ran to me and hugged me or held my hand. In short, I was mobbed and pushed around.

"Oh my god! It's Derek's smell!"

"You held Anteros's hand! Let me touch it!"

"Oh my god! You're so lucky!"

I was in heels and it was a miracle that I haven't tumbled to the ground yet. In our side of the seats, the sirens and muses just looked at me with either a smile, a glare, or a jealous stare.

I begged them with my eyes to help me out from the grip of the girls and sit back down.

"How did you do it?"

I gave them an awkward smile and inched closer to my seat, but no, I was pushed back to the center of the crowd, "I don't know," I replied.

"I want to be called up there too!"

"You're so lucky!"

"I hate you! It should've been me!"

"No it was supposed to be me!"

"I'm sure it wasn't supposed to be me," I told them and walked away but they were persistent. Every time I tried to walk away, I'd either get pushed back or they'll follow me.

"Looks like the fans are going wild there," Hudson said through the mic.

I met his eyes and begged him. He only laughed and shook his head. I groaned in annoyance. Hudson and Damien were laughing. Even Derek had an amused expression. Tony chuckled.

I swear, these guys just love torturing me.

I glared at Hudson and threatened him with my eyes.

He smiled, "Alright, alright. That's quite enough now, my cupids."

The girls obliged and went to their seats but only after they screamed in my face of their love for the four men on stage.

I blew a sigh of relief and walked back to my seat. Psyche and Vanessa stared at me as I sat back down.

Vanessa scoffed and flipped her hair, "If you hadn't stood from your seat, it would've been me who they approached."

Psyche snorted, "Yeah right. I bet they'll pick you when pigs fly."

Vanessa glared at Psyche, "Oh yeah? Well they'll choose you when you get pretty!"

"News flash, Vanessa," Psyche said and snapped her fingers, "I already am."

"You call that pretty?" Vanessa asked.

"Of course!" Psyche exclaimed, "Why? Is your definition of pretty your face? Well, if it is. I believe you've been taught wrong."

"I'm—"

"Stop!" I exclaimed, "both of you please just stop."

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" Vanessa asked.

I'm Iole Haidee Eudora, the fiancé of your prince. "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you give peace to the people around you."

"I am peace," Vanessa stated and flipped her hair, "you're—"

She stopped talking when the doors burst open with two dozens of guards—palace guards—marched in. I gasped as the guards encircled the stage.

"What's happening?" Psyche asked.

The proclamations of love stopped as all of us stared at the trespassers.

"What's happening?" Hudson said through the mic.

A man in white made his way in front and took the mic from Hudson. He cleared his throat, "To all citizens of Illéa, you are invited to watch the coronation of Prince Gabriel Illéa today at the palace. The palace has prepared limousines to take you there right now. Please vacate the room quietly and in one line."

"He's being crowned today?" I asked in disbelief.

Vanessa uncrossed her legs and stood, "I only knew today but that doesn't matter. I'll make the prince fall in love with me and make me his queen," she smirked, "so good luck with your life from now."

The other girls followed the instructions with murmurs of excitement. I met Tony's eyes and his eyes told me to act like nothing's wrong.

I took a deep breath and followed the other girls out of the auditorium.

Psyche kept talking behind me but I didn't understand any of it. I just nodded and nodded to make her believe that I was listening.

When I saw the black limousines glinting from the sunlight, I felt a bittersweet feeling in my heart. I pursed my lips as I observed the people.

The guards were holding the door open for the girls and the girls giggled when the guards bowed to them. I watched as Vanessa smile like she already won Gabriel's heart. When the guard bowed to her, she didn't even acknowledge it and just went inside.

When it was my turn to go inside, the guard bowed to me.

"Code?" He asked.

"You mean the number?" I asked him and he nodded, "36."

"Please stay behind, the lot of your kind have a special entrance," the guard stated.

"Oh, um, really?" I asked. I have a bad feeling about this.

He nodded, "Now if you could please wait at the back, that would be great, Miss."

I squeezed Psyche's shoulder, "I'll see you later."

"This isn't fair!" She exclaimed, "I want to have a special entrance too!"

I laughed without humor, "If only we could exchange."

I walked to the back where Tony was already waiting with the other people.

"Hey," I greeted as I approached.

"Hey," he greeted in reply. We stood side by side in silence until he spoke up again, "Did you enjoy our performance?"

I hummed and pretended to think. I shrugged and gave him a smile.

"Come on, Dee. You know you loved it," he whispered.

I laughed, "Yeah, okay, fine. I did. But I must ask," I raised an eyebrow at him, "were you and Derek fighting on stage?"

He shrugged and scratched his nape, "Maybe?"

I sighed, "What happened?"

"It was an unspoken fight," he replied, "we didn't have any sort of fight before the competition."

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief and asked, "Really?"

He nodded, "Yes."

I still had my doubts but I let it slide. If something did happen, he'd tell me when the time is right.

When the rest of the limousines left, it was only about 30 people left in front of the company. A lot of people were feeling special because of our supposed 'special entrance' but I was worried.

We were finally coming back where we came from. From where we escaped to live. I had a really really bad feeling about this.

After about three long minutes, five lustrous white carriages stopped in front of us. Five guards suited in white made us enter the carriage orderly.

The people were awes at the sight of the beautiful carriages and was more than excited to ride it.

Inside the carriage were the comfiest looking cushions that were just as comfy as they looked. There were two long couches that faces the middle where a long table was set with cups of tea. I roamed my eyes more at the room and gulped at the sight of cameras inside the carriage.

Tony took my hand and squeezed it lightly to tell me that he was there with me. I took a deep breath and acted normal.

The other people inside the carriage were already acting like elegant nobles who were sipping tea and chattering.

I took my own cup of tea and sipped it. My tastebuds craved more of the drink that I used to always drink in the palace.

There was also a television at one side of the carriage. In it was the live coverage of the progress of Gabriel's coronation.

"Here we are live at the palace where we see the citizens being brought by limousines to watch the coronation!" the woman said, "as tradition, the coronation will be held at the chapel inside the palace and will be crowned by the priest in front of the lucky Illéans who got to watch the coronation!"

"That's right, Karen," the man beside her agreed, "from what I observed, there were only selected places which were picked to watch. But I heard that from every province, a group of people is always chosen."

Those must be us. The code 36.

The camera man zoomed in on the people leaving the car and being rushed inside the palace. I didn't know if I was correct, but I think I saw Laurence and Scuzette.

"Did you see them?" I whispered to Tony.

He nodded and rubbed his thumb on my hand, drawing circles on it, "It was really them."

"Now let's call on Phil for the inside coverage of the coronation!" Karen said.

The scene changed and now they showed us what happened when the people were rushed inside.

"Thank you, Karen. Inside here, we see the women and men being pampered by the palace staff and being dressed in formal attires for this occasion," Phil stated.

Indeed, the people were being pampered and dressed. The girls certainly loved the attention and so did the boys.

"Let's interview one of the lucky ladies to be chosen to watch the coronation of our prince," Phil said and walked to a girl near him, "Good afternoon, Miss. You're looking dazzling for the coronation."

I scoffed when I saw Vanessa's ugly face which was cakes with makeup.

Vanessa laughed, "Oh stop flattering me, good sir."

Phil smiled, "How do you feel being one of the few people who get to watch his majesty's coronation?"

"Oh I am absolutely delighted! Our prince is surely one of the most compassionate princes Illéa has seen," Vanessa answered, "I hope for him a long and peaceful reign without rebels interfering."

I rolled my eyes at her disgustingly sweet voice. She sure was making sure the whole world saw her breasts with that revealing choice of gown.

I admit, she looks pretty, but maybe it was just the makeup.

Without noticing, the carriage stopped and a guard opened the door for us.

The ladies who were really excited ran out thinking that it was first come first serve.

"Follow me, please," the guard said and led the way.

He lead us inside the palace where the corridor splits into two. It was all too familiar to me, most especially to Tony.

"Ladies, please go to the right to the women's room where you will be prepared. Men, follow me to the men's parlor," the guard said and split the group.

Unexpectedly, Tony hugged me, "Don't be afraid," he whispered and left.

My was beating rapidly at that gesture. I stood there frozen as the other girls went to the direction of the women's room.

That was incredibly stupid but it was worth it.

I followed the other girls when I snapped out of my reverie. They kept commenting about the palace, the prince, the wanted prince, the rebels, but I didn't even care anymore. I kept thinking about the consequences his gesture brought and at the same time, how I missed his warmth.

The girls squealed at the sight of the makeup and the dresses. They hurried to a seat where a stylist waited. I walked in last and sat on the last available seat.

When I looked through the mirror, my eyes widened in shock at what I saw.

Standing just behind me were the people I've been with since I entered the palace.

I bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from crying.

"Miss? Are you okay?" Hannah asked.

I gave them a smile and nodded, "Yes, I am."

I wanted to tell them who I really was but somewhere deep inside me, I wanted them to recognize me.

I saw Vivianne whisper to Georgia and our eyes met briefly before she bowed her head.

"What's your name, Miss?" Georgia asked and started fixing my hair.

I don't want to lie to them again, but I have to, "I'm Sophie Reese."

Hannah started with my makeup, "You have very similar features to one of the selected we handled before."

I raised a brow, "Who might that be?"

Vivianne took my hand and looked at my nails, "What color would you like for your nails?"

I took my hand back, "Sorry, I don't really use nail polish."

"Would you like an updo?" Georgia asked.

"Surprise me," I replied.

"I like your hair," Vivianne commented.

Georgia smiled, "You'd look good in any color."

Hannah stopped dabbing foundation at my face and grinned, "No matter who you pretend to be."

Vivianne broke into a huge grin, "We'll always recognize who you are, Haidee."

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Wii <3 the three are back 😂😂 sorry for the late update I was busy yesterday 😂

This book is almost finished!! Thank you to those supporting this :)

Btw thank you for the votes and comments 💛 the notifs of those made me remember to publish this chapter 😂😂 if I received no notification, I would've published the chapter later, so thanks again!