I didn't remember breakfast as one of the most quiet times inside the palace. But that was what happened. On the head of the table was Gabriel—obviously—and on the left side were us girls and on his right were the boys. The men wore dress shirts that varied in color while us girls wore day dresses.

My maids dressed me in a cap-sleeved dress that flowed until my knees. My waist was made evident by the ribbon on the waist line. My hair was in an up-do and my make up looked natural but there were actually a lot of layers.

I hated it.

The other girls obviously loved their new appearances. They were all smiling and eating the dishes happily. The food was amazing but then again, I could not appreciate it.

Gabriel would probably learn that Tony and I were here. I had a feeling. I really think we should escape early.

The king cleared his throat and spoke, "Guests, your schedule will be postponed for a while. We will first issue a . . . test to make sure none of you are the ones we are looking for. This shall happen once a week for safety reasons," he smiled, "surely we don't want serial killers among us, do we?"

The guests laughed and so did I—although it was forced. I wanted to tell him that he should kick himself out because he was the killer, not us.

He rose and bowed, "I will be taking my leave now. All of you will stay here and wait to be examined before exiting. I have matters to attend to," he said and motioned for the lady commander waiting by the door.

The girl nodded and talked to the other guard beside her. The guard quickly ran off. When Gabriel left with the lady commander, I took a deep breath and pretended like nothing happened.

The chatters inside the hall increased when he was gone.

"What matters do you think he's attending to?"

"I think he's searching for a wife."

"Maybe he's organizing that charity work mentioned on the Report."

One girl snorted, "Yeah right. I bet he's off killing innocent people again."

"You could be right."

"I doubt it. Look at him! He's such a cutie!"

"A good face doesn't mean his decorum is good too," I muttered and took a sip of tea.

The girls' heads turned to me.

"See? I told you! Even she doesn't like him!"

"What? Miss, you're clearly mistaken," the girl told me, "look at the charity works he's already done!"

I shrugged, "Well, I haven't seen any change."

The other girl smiled, "She's right, you know?"

The girl scoffed and crossed her arms, "What do you know? You're Sophie right? The addition to the Muses."

I nodded, "Yes, I am."

She rolled her eyes, "See? You're just a trainee. All you know is singing and dancing. You have no idea about politics and projects, so don't talk."

I raised an eyebrow and stared at her right in the eye, "And you do? Excuse me, but just because I'm a trainee doesn't mean that it's all that I know. Haven't you considered that I may have studied law or some other course before deciding to become an idol?"

I should've just closed my mouth. I should've pretended not to listen. But all these things that were happening were pushing me to my limits. I can't just listen, sit down, and pretend like nothing is happening.

The girl scoffed and rose from her seat, "Well, excuse you, miss. Don't you know who I am?"

"Do you think I'd talk back to you if I did?" I shot back.

She crossed her arms and raised a brow, "Well I'll have you know that I'm the cousin of Beatrice Rowell, the supposed to be queen if that b*tch Haidee didn't fake her injuries."

So that's why her decorum isn't good. They're related.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Tony's head snap to us with a raised eyebrow. I took a deep breath to calm down and not lash out on this girl and accidentally telling everybody who I was.

"What? Can't say anything, can you?" She scoffed, "I knew you were just some ambitious girl."

"Calm down, Kiara," her friend said and pulled her down bit Kiara stood tall.

"No, Delaney," Kiara negated, "this b*tch needs a lesson."

I was thinking about apologizing or telling her some arguments which would shut her up but I decided on not saying anything. It'd look bad if I get on a full cat fight.

Kiara smirked and raised her palm, ready to slap me. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I clutched my hands to keep them from fighting back. I didn't want to cause a commotion, if anything, I don't want to get caught in another problem.

The murmurs of the other guests got louder. Some were laughing—most of them were for that matter—but some were trying to stop her but all they did was tell her to.

Then the first slap came and it stung. The impact made me face sideways. I huffed out a breath and faced her again.

"So? Still not sorry?" She asked.

I didn't say anything again. So naturally, she did it again, this time on my other cheek.

"Stop it, Kiara!" Delaney exclaimed and held her hand back.

I've tolerated Beatrice, Natalie, Diamond, Margarette, Leigh, Harmonia, Violet, and Clover so how can I not take this beating from a trying hard witch? Margarette's slaps were more painful. Violet's threats were scarier. Beatrice's attitude was worse.

Kiara didn't stop. She slapped me again and again but this time, I didn't let my head be moved to face the side. I stayed still and looked her in the eye.

"I should've been the one selected from Angeles," she sneered, "not some petty girl who's a dumb blonde."

My eyes were getting glossy from the repeating slaps on my face, but I didn't let the tears fall.

"Your face is so thick that my hand is getting hurt," she told me. With an insulting smirk, she said, "Let's finish this."

She took her glass of hot coffee and got ready to pour it on me. I didn't breathe and waited for the sensation of boiling water on my skin.

"That's quite enough," a male voice said.

There was Tony holding Kiara's hand to prevent her from pouring it on me. The coffee spilled on her dress due to the impact.

Kiara gasped, "My dress! You're gonna pay for this! Let me go!"

"For your information," Tony said, "the dress isn't yours. It's property of the palace so stop whining." He forcefully let go of her hand and approached me, "And if you're so jealous of not getting selected because of Haidee getting it, then don't take out your anger on other people," he took my hand and helped me out of my seat, "besides, I doubt the prince would even like the likes of you inside his palace. Come on, Dee."

"Excuse you, mister. Don't talk for the prince! You aren't him and you will never be! Prince Thornton was a gentleman and would never embarrass girls!"

Tony rolled his eyes and whispered under his breath, "Well new flash, my dear. You are talking to him."

My eyes widened but I followed him outside. Before completely getting outside, I still heard the chatter of the others.

"Dee? Did he call her Dee?"

"I thought her name was Sophie?"

"Hey, did you hear what he said?"

"Yeah, I think he said something about talking to him."

"Do you think he's the one?"

"Come on, Kiara. Let's get you another dress."

When we exited the room I faced him and asked in a hushed voice, "Why did you call me that in front of the other people?!"

He scratched his nape and gave me an awkward smile, "Sorry. Just kind of slipped out."

I sighed, "They're going to get suspicious, you know?"

"I know," he said and took my hands, "but forget about that. Let's get your cheeks some ice. They look really red right now."

"Don't worry about it," I told him, "think of it as an additional blush."

He laughed, "But it's still painful."

"Nah, don't worry about me. I'm a strong girl," I said and smiled, "by the way, thank you for saving me back there."

He grinned, "Don't mention it. I'd always save my girl."

I blushed and rolled my eyes, "Sure, lover boy, but don't you think we should head back inside? Gabriel said to stay there for inspection."

"And why should we follow it?" He asked.

I linked my arm through his and turned him around so we were facing the door to the dining hall again, "Because, if we don't, we might get caught."

"Might get caught about what?"

I tensed and turned around. The lady commander was there.

Oh my god, we're dead.

Tony laughed awkwardly, "Well, we were about to run off to the garden but Sophie reminded me about the inspection."

Her eyes glinted suspiciously as she looked at us from top to bottom, "I see."

I forced out a chuckle, "We're sorry, miss. We'll head back now."

I pulled Tony inside the hall with the commander right behind us. When they saw us coming, Kiara—in a new dress—stood and exclaimed, "So? Back so quickly? Cowards."

I ignored her and parted with Tony to take our seats back. When we left, the guests saw the lady commander and quickly removed the noise. Kiara awkwardly sat back in her chair.

"Let us start the inspection," she said and two guards entered the room holding two big guns.

I gulped at the sight of them. The two men themselves looked like sumo wrestlers with muscles and holding those guns, they sure made a statement.

"Boys proceed to Sergeant Zack and girls proceed to Sergeant Jay," General Firman said, "after their inspection, come to me. And after my inspection, you will be free to go to your classes."

In a single line, the girls went to the sergeant. I didn't know how this inspection would work but I was nervous. Would I pass? Or would I die?

Before I got in line, my eye caught Tony's eyes. He gave me a little nod that calmed me down a little. I took a deep breath and waited for my turn.

As I waited, I tried to see what was happening in front. But I couldn't so I eavesdropped on the chatter of the people in front of me.

"What are they doing?"

"I'm not sure, Danny, but I think I saw some green light though it's faint."

"That's not helpful, Bella."

"Well what can I do? That's all that I saw."

Green light?

I decided not to think about it and just act normal. Like a pissed off impatient girl. I tried to keep my mind blank so I wouldn't overthink but I guess overthinking is my talent.

My thoughts went rampant when I got closer in front. It was a scanner. A fingerprint scanner. A girl put her thumb on the scanner and it lit up green.

I glanced quickly at Tony and saw him have a slight tremble on his hand.

Oh god, what should we do?

It was Tony's turn but he seemed calm. He raised his thumb and just before he put it on the scanner he yelled, "Now!"

Some of the guards raised their guns and pointed it at the lady commander and sergeants.

The three were shocked and so was I. Everyone didn't expect it.

"General Firman," Tony said in a commanding tone, "stand down and surrender if you value your life."

The general looked up and met his eyes with a burning glare, "Thornton Zeke Koskinen, glad to see you've shown yourself."

I didn't know what he was doing but I prayed that it'd succeed. This was our chance. Gabriel was nowhere to be found. It was three to ten.

Behind me, I heard Kiara gasp, "He was the prince? Then that means she's—"

I faced her and smirked, "That's right. I'm Iole Haidee Eudora," I said then flipped my hair as I made my way to Tony.

Furiously, I whispered to his ear, "What are you doing?!"

"I have no idea," he said. He stared at the commander with his 'I'm-the-future-king' look, "Guards, get everything they have."

Two guards came and confiscated their belongings except for their clothes.

"You'll never get away with this, you scum," General Firman stated and glared at us, "justice will prevail!"

Tony raised a brow, "Justice? What do you know about justice? You supported Gabriel who has not done anything to help the people."

"Nothing?" She laughed, "good joke."

"Joke? I wasn't joking," Tony said firmly, "he's been killing innocents for no good reason!"

Some murmured agreements behind us. Good, they're on our side.

"Without a reason?" She asked, "he kills them for disloyalty! Anyone who supports the likes of you needs to die!"

"I've done everything I can for them!" Tony argued.

"Did you really? Or were you just trying to impress your girl?" She asked, "you gave houses only to those near Angeles! What about the other states?"

"They didn't recieve any because you lot dethroned me! We were already building their homes, but you just had to interfere."

"Really?" She asked, unconvinced, "whatever the case, you're dead now."

"No," he said, "you are."

She smirked as the doors opened revealing Gabriel in all his horrible glory with an army behind him.

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Surprise!!! Btw I'm going to publish the last chapters so be prepared 😈