Celia
I walked into the room, to see King Maxon sat in a plush armchair, reading a newspaper, which he quickly set down on a small table beside him when he saw me enter.

"Please sit down," he smiled and gestured to another armchair close beside him.

I curtsied and did as I was told.

"Lady Celia is it?" He asked.

"Yes your majesty," I smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Well, you are the first of many girls that I will meet today," he sounded quite relaxed at the prospect, "I really hope that you feel at home here in my home. Anything that you need, all you have to do is ask and we will do the best to get it for you."

"Will we be allowed outside?" I asked, "in the gardens I mean. They looked so beautiful when I saw them on TV and the little glimpse that I got of them on the way in just reinforced that."

The King laughed, "yes, I am sure that you will get the chance to go outside. Do you like flowers? I can't help but notice them on your dress."

"Oh yes, I love flowers. My parents own a gardening company, and they taught me to garden since the time I was a little girl. I find nature so very relaxing!"

"Well, I do hope that you love the palace gardens when you see them," he smiled, "I'm very sorry to say that our time is up."

I got to my feet, "Thank you, your majesty," I curtsied again, before making my way out of the room. When I was back in the corridor, I was waved towards the room beside the one I had just left.

In this room, I found one of the princes. He looked quite nervous and was running his fingers through his hair.

Once again I curtsied and took the seat opposite him. He looked too nervous to say anything, so I started the conversation.

"Hi, I'm Celia," I stretched out my hand to shake his.

"I'm Shalom," he smiled, and took my hand, shaking it. I let out a breath, that had excused me some embarrassment in asking which one of the twins he was.

"The palace is beautiful," I said, I looked around, and saw that even this small room had intricate carvings and beautiful paintings on the walls.

"Isn't it just," he seemed to become less nervous at this topic.

"All of the paintings are beautiful," I gestured at the landscape on the wall.

He looked at where I had gestured, "my grandfather and namesake painted that one," the prince smiled, "my mother made it her life mission to gather anything that he had ever painted and display it at the palace, many of the paintings that you will see around the palace were done by my mother's family."

"They're so talented," I admired. As I looked at the painting, I noticed the prince's ice blue eyes analysing me curiously. He had the same look in his eyes that the King had as if they were trying to work out exactly who I was.

This look unsettled me and made me feel self-conscious, wondering what was so wrong with me that they looked at me in this way.

"It was very nice meeting you," The Prince smiled at me, a clear indication that our time was up. I got to my feet, nodded to him politely, and left the room. As I walked out, I heard the distinct sound of a pen scratching on paper.

The next Royal that I met was Prince Aspen. He seemed much less uptight and nervous than his brother, he pulled me in for a hug in way of a greeting, which caught me off guard.

"You're Celia right?" He asked, pulling away from the hug, and sitting down in one of the chairs.

I sat down too, "yes I am, and you're Prince Aspen."

The prince rolled his eyes, and mimed vomiting, "please just call me Aspen, I can't stand titles."

"Says the man who could potentially be the next King of Illea," I laughed, this was by far the most comfortable meeting yet.

"King-shming," he waved his hand as if throwing the word away.

"I suppose that there's one way to look at it," I shrugged, "you're quite different to how I expected."

"In what way?" He frowned.

"Well, you just greeted someone who you don't even know with a hug, and basically disregarded the entire pretence of the monarchy."

"I do like to surprise people," he winked, "I'm sure that you will see even more of that in the weeks to come."

"Does that mean that you're not eliminating me on the spot?" I asked jokingly.

"Of course I'm not, that is more my brother's style than mine. I think he's looking for an instant connection. Anyone who he doesn't have that with," Aspen slid his hand across his neck, indicating that the girls who Shalom didn't have a connection with would be cut from the competition.

"You do seem quite different," I agreed, "but I'm sure your brother is just as friendly as you are when you get to know him."

"Oh of course," Aspen agreed, "he's just shy." He glanced down at his watch, and sighed, "it seems Lady Celia, we have run out of time."

I got to my feet, and mock curtsied, "I hope to see you soon Prince Aspen," I replied jokingly, before exiting the room.

I realised that I only had one Royal left to meet, Queen America was my last stop. I sucked in a deep breath and entered the final room.

Queen America was wearing blue like she normally did. When I walked in she looked as though she had seen a ghost, but this expression was quickly replaced with a wide smile.

She rose to greet me, stretching out her hand, I took it, and we shook hands.

"Forgive me, there are so many of you that I have no hope of learning all of your names," Queen America said.

"I'm Lady Celia," I smiled. The two of us sat down in the two chairs.

"Ah, from Angeles, unless I'm mistaken," she said, I nodded with a small smile.

"The palace is so lovely your majesty," I told her.

"Don't worry, I remember exactly how overwhelming it can be coming here," she assured me, "you just wait until you try the food, it's to die for!"

"I'm looking forward to it," I smiled. I couldn't help but notice that she was looking at me in the same way that King Maxon and Prince Shalom had. It seemed that all of the royals apart from Prince Aspen thought there was something incredibly wrong with me.