I woke up in my room. As in my room in the palace. I sat up but quickly regretted it. My head throbbed so I laid back down.

"Haidee!" Georgia exclaimed and ran to hug me, "You're awake!"

"What happened?" I asked as I gripped my head, my voice sounded raspy, "Wait. Why am I in here?"

"The prince brought you back." She answered.

I furrowed my brows but then the memories came flashing back. I put my hands over my mouth to keep myself from screaming.

They're dead.

I cried silently. Georgia patted my hair as I did.

"Haidee, you should go downstairs for breakfast. You didn't wake up for dinner yesterday." Georgia whispered.

I shook my head, "I'm not hungry," I said as I wiped my tears away. I took a deep breath, "I don't want to see anyone."

Especially him.

Georgia looked at me with sympathy, "The prince needs to discuss a few things with you."

"About what?" I asked.

"The Selection." She answered.

"What about it? Is he bringing me back?" I asked. I certainly did not want to talk to him about the stupid competition.

She shrugged, "I still don't know yet."

"Just tell him I don't want to talk to him. I really don't want to get out of my room," I said, "I feel dizzy when I get up."

She nodded, "Okay. I'll bring you your breakfast after."

I smiled a little, "Thank you."

She left the room without another word. I looked around the room. Nothing changed. It was still styled the way I liked it. I saw my backpack at the drawer beside me.

Who packed my things?

I don't know what will happen to me now. I don't have a family. Who would kill them?

Rebels?

What did they do to them that they killed them? I want justice. Not only for my family but for Mom, Dad, Aimo, Chantelle and the others who died.

They'll pay.

The door opened and Tony entered holding a tray with my food on it. He gave me a smile, "Hello."

I didn't smile back. I only nodded in acknowledgement. He gave me the tray and sat on my bed.

I stared eating, "What are you doing here? Where's Georgia?"

"I told her I'll bring you your breakfast instead so I can talk to you."

"Do you think I want to talk to you?" I spat.

He was hurt at my words and the look on his face almost made me take my words back. Almost.

He sighed, "I know you're upsetㅡ"

I scoffed, "Who wouldn't? You left me in mid air! I even doubted what you said was true."

He pused his lips and looked at the floor, "It was true, Dee."

"Do you think I'll believe that?" I asked with tears on my eyes, "Do you know how miserable I was the past few days?"

He didn't respond so I continued.

"Do you know how unbearable it was to constantly be reminded of you when I know I don't have a chance anymore?" I questioned, "You don't!"

He looked at me with tears streaming down his face, "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry I wasn't enough for you. Now you have to take care of this trash you discarded because their family died."

"Hear me out," He said, "I have a reason why I did that."

"And would that reason be enough for me to forgive you?" I asked.

"I-I don't know, but please listen." He took a deep breath, "It was hard for me too, okay?"

I wanted to talk back but I stopped myself and listened to what he was saying.

He ran a hand through his hair, "I didn't want to let you go but I had to. Gabriel told me to pick Christine, Harriet, or Bloom as my wife and that I had to eliminate you." He breathed again.

I stared at my unfinished food. I no longer had the appetite to eatㅡnot like I had one in the first place.

"He told me he'll kill you if I kept you any longer."

I snapped my head at him with wide eyes. Was this true?

"So I eliminated you." He continued, "For the past few days, I've been trying to find a way to get rid of the rebels at the same time as I get you back. Gabriel found out and he left the palace to kill you but he didn't find you in your house so he killed your family instead."

My breath hitched.

"I can't bring you back to the competition, Dee." He said and ran his finger through his hair again, clearly frustrated. "You can't let anyone know you're here. Gabriel is staying here and if he finds out I kept you here, I don't know what he'll do to you."

So this is really the end of us?

I cried without any sound, "I'm sorry I snapped at you. I didn't consider your side. I forgot that you lost your parents too and you even have a kingdom to rule. I was being inconsiderate. I'm sorry."

He smiled at me and hugged me. I embraced him back. The food was forgotten but I don't care.

"You have to hide." He said, "I can't let Gabriel know you're here."

"If it would be of any help, Uncle Ahren told me it would be okay if I stayed with them in France." I told him.

He nodded, "But doing so would alert Gabriel of your whereabouts. He has eyes everywhere, Dee."

"Then what should we do?" I asked.

"I can't let you be a staff." He said, "He's always at their rooms or in the kitchen."

"What if I change my identity?" I asked.

"Then what would you do when you change your identity?"

I scanned my ideas then snapped my fingers, "Samuel."

"Samuel?" He asked curiously.

"He's the owner of a record company. I can act like a singer or model or anything. Some stars have stage names, right? He'll help me." I said.

"Then where will you stay?" He asked.

"Right. I forgot about that." I said.

If I'm staying here then I'd need to get in and out of the palace and there's a possibility I'd run into Gabriel. It's too risky.

Tony's hand was supporting his chin as he thought about a plan. I know this isn't the time but he looked so handsome. I never want to be away from him again. He's all I have left.

"A royal," He stated suddenly.

"What?" I asked incredulously, "What do you mean?"

"You'll pretend to be a royal." He said with finality.

It would be nice to be treated like royalty but I've been treated like that for about five months, "And who would I pretend as?"

"What language do you know besides Italian and French?" He asked.

"Spanish," I said.

He smiled, "Then spanish it is."

"How can we make this believable?" I asked, "Claire, Christine, and Harriet would recognize my voice."

"You'd be speaking spanish most of the time." He said, "Pretend like you know little english."

"There's a problem," I said, "Christine speaks Spanish. She heard me speaking the language."

"Then I'll eliminate her," He said.

"What?" I asked in shock, "Wouldn't Gabriel be mad you eliminated two of his women?"

He shook his head, "There's still Harriet. He'd think I'll pick her."

I nodded, "Then when will we start?"

"Tomorrow." He said.

"Tomorrow? Don't you think that's too fast?" I asked.

He shook his head, "You'd need a place to stay at, so we need to execute this plan a lot faster."

I sighed, "Where can I stay until then?"

He paused for a moment, thinking about the right place, "Stay with Celestiana."

I snapped my head towards him, "So she has to know, then?"

He nodded, "She already knows you're here. I'll send for your maids to change your hair color to brown so you can enter Celestiana's room as if you were her."

"Okay," I said. "Do you have a plan on how I'll arrive?"

He nodded, "I'll have a car bring you to the airport and I'll give you a fake ticket. The luggage will already be at the car."

"Wait," I said, "Who's going to drive the car? We can't let anyone else know, right?"

"William." He replied, "I'm sure he already knows at this point. Celestiana doesn't keep secrets from him."

I took a deep breath, "Alright then. I hope this works."

He gave me a reassuring smile, "It will."

But even if it works, I can't stay here knowing you'll marry someone else.

I smiled sadly, "Until when should I pretend?"

"Until I fix this problem." He said.

That might take years to accomplish.

He rose from the bed and walked to me. He squished me in a tight hug, "I missed you."

I put my arms around him, "I missed you too," I whispered. And I'll probably miss you forever.

He kissed my forehead, "I'm sorry for your family."

"It's not your fault," I told him. Actually, it was but I won't tell you.

"It kind of is," He said and released me from the hug, "I'll see you tomorrow Princess Eldora Rufina Abrantes of Spain."

I rolled my eyes at the name, "Te veré mañana, príncipe de Illèa." (I will see you tomorrow, prince of Illèa)

He smiled and waved goodbye. The door closed with a thump and I am met with silence. I sat up slowly to prevent the nauseating feeling from coming. When I didn't feel dizzy, I approached the side of my room where the violin lays unused. I took it and placed it on my shoulder. I began playing a sad tune.

Mom, Dad, Austin, Atlas, Xavier, and Vince. I miss you and I love you. You died in my place and I offer this song to you. May you guide me in my everyday life, help me to survive in this cruel world and I'll forever keep you in my heart.

"It was a really hard day today
My heart aches for you
The only thing I can do for you
Is to be next to you, I'm sorry," I sang through the music of my violin, "You're so pretty when you smile
So every time you lose that smile
Even if I have to give my all
I want to give it back to you."

I shouldn't be moping around here and be productive but I wanted to give something to my family. Tell them what I feel and mourn for them.

"I want to cry for you
I want to hurt instead of you
I don't want any scars in your heart
Ever again."

I cried while singing. It turned my voice somewhat nasal. It didn't sound the best but I didn't care.

"When you love someone
So much that it overflows
It's so amazing
Because this is how it is."

My balcony doors were closed so I was sure no one would hear. The curtains were also closed so no one wondering outside would see me

"I hope I can be a little helpful at least
I hope I can be your resting place
I'll try to make you feel at peace
Whenever you think of me during your busy days."

My room was dark but not completely. The lights that were tinted orange were on so it wouldn't be obvious that someone was inside.

"You're such a soft-hearted person
Every time you are silently in pain
Even if I have to give my all
I want to make you smile again."

I only realized it now that I wasn't wearing the dress I was wearing yesterday. I was wearing a night gown.

"I want to cry for you
I want to hurt instead of you
I don't want any scars in your heart
Ever again."

My voice was breaking as I sang. But I made sure that my voice still held emotion.

"When you love someone
So much that it overflows
It's so amazing
Because this is how it is."

It hurts when you love someone so much. It's like you can't live a day with knowing they're gone.

"This is a song for you," I sang, "Oh I'm singing for you."

"This is a song for you
I'm singing for you
I'll give you my everything."

I put the violin down and made my way to the bed.

"I want to cry for you
I want to hurt instead of you
I don't want any scars in your heart
Ever again." I continued, "When you love someone
So much that it overflows
It's so amazing
Because this is how it is."

I sobbed quietly. Why can't I ever have anything I love?