When my name was called it was like my heart began pumping faster and faster. My cheeks flushed and I smoothed my gown down. I wore a tight fitted yellow dress that flared just above my ankles and a tiny short sleeved yellow lacy swear. My hair was in a braid twined with yellow sparkly string and I had on a light lip and gold glittery eye shadow. A small gasp escaped me but was soon overtaken by the noise of Bree shrieking in rage. She wore the same thing as me but in blue and shorter. She quickly collected herself before the camera shifted. "You always take everything that's mine!" She shrieked. I put my hands out in front of me. 

"This was never yours dear sister. This opportunity is mine and so is the prince." Bree's rage deepened but so did the red in her cheeks. I crossed my arms. "You do not like the prince." I said. "Do you?" I spoke in a whisper, pained by the thought. "I do." She insisted. My mouth slowly opened then closed. "That's why I'm glad you're not in the selection with me, your heart would be broken." I cast my eye's down low. "No, you're just glad because you're worried the prince will like me better!" My sadness for my sister melted into rage. "When I am the queen-" I began. 

"You will not be the queen! I will!" Said Bree. That was the end of my patience. "Look at me! Perfect in every way! I will be the queen, dear sister and when I am you will regret using that sharp tongue, when I am the queen you will be embarrassed at yourself for liking somebody so out of reach!" Bree gasped in rage. Then I heard it. "Ah!" Gavril announced. "This year to spice things up, we're adding one other girl to the mix, from the same province as another!" Bree's face lit up. She smoothed her dress and gave a winning smile to the screen. "The special lottery card that accepts the thirty sixth girl, a second from one province, Bree Katz of Waverly, Three." "NO!" I shrieked, regaining my composure once the screen flashed to us. "Yes! Yay!" Squealed Bree. Bree stared me up and down, placing one hand on her mouth and the other on my shoulder.

 "If you expect to be my competition, you best look better than that." Without another word, Bree flounced from the room. I sat in my room once mother had left. I had changed into a strapless red dress and layered short skirt with red lipstick and a red headband, my hair combed and laid behind my back. I heard the footsteps and Bree's irritating voice before someone opened my door. Miss Katz, I am here on behalf of the royal family." I curtsied and gestured to a white table with two chairs in my room. He gazed around in wonder at my room. When you walk into the left is my canopy bed on a raised platform with the table across from it a bit to the right. 

I have a dresser to the left of the table and chairs and a tv directly across from my bed, hanging between the wall and the ceiling. "Please, sit." He sat down before lacing his fingers together. "Mrs. Katz, being a part of the selection, you are now considered property of Illéa." I sucked in a breath. Quickly I covered it up with a polite smile and nodded. He mopped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and placed it on the table. I discreetly pushed my chair slightly farther away from his sweaty handkerchief. "You must take care of your body as usual and more. I have many forms for you to sign so we go through this information. Any failure to comply on your part will result in your immediate removal from the Selection. Do you understand?" I dipped my head politely. "These are vitamins." He gestured to a clear container filled with pills. "Since you are a Three, you most likely already have access to the necessary nutrients but just in case, please take one of these every day. You are on your own now but at the palace you will have someone to help you." I couldn't believe it. It was real. My future was real! "Here is a form for you to sign with the vitamins." I carefully wrote my name in a neat scrawl. 

"I have with me the physical from your doctor. Your record shows small signs of sicknesses and a bout of flu in this past month but beside that, decent health." I gave a charming smile, hoping to cover up the rage that he had just called my health "decent". "Now, I know this is personal, but I've had to talk about this to every contestant, so don't hold back. I need confirmation that you are in fact, not in a relationship." I felt my cheeks warm. In fact I was not, though it seemed my future held a steady spot for the prince. I didn't know who would be the final two but it was the best to picture me and Bree. The prince smiled at each of us and Bree grinned at the crowd, waving as though she were queen. She looked at me. "You're going to regret ever being mean to me when I am the queen." Then I heard the words. "Bhianca Katz, the most beautiful girl in the world, will you marry me?" I placed a hand on my heart before responding with a, "Yes!" Bree cried in rage, trying to make the prince choose her but it was too late. He had chosen me. Suddenly a little cough brought me back to reality. "No, indeed I am not in a relationship." I said. 

"Brilliant. Please sign this form to confirm your statement." I eagerly signed my name, waiting for the next question. "Now, to the rules. You cannot leave the palace of your own accord. You have to be dismissed by the prince himself." The prince would not dismiss me. "Even the king and queen cannot force you out. They can tell the prince they do not approve of you, but he makes every decision on who stays and leaves." "There is no set timeline for the Selection, It can be over a matter of days or stretch into years." "You do not arrange your times with the prince. He will find you for one-on-one company if he wishes." 

My inner girliness almost squealed at the thought of the prince asking me out. "If you are in a larger social setting and he is present, that is different. But you do not go to him without invitation." While no one expects you to get along with the other thirty-five girls, You are not to fight with them or sabotage them. If you are found laying hands on another contestant, causing her stress, stealing from her, or doing anything that might diminish her personal relationship with the prince, it is in his hands whether or not to dismiss you on the spot." I almost gasped, who would do such a thing? "If you are found breaking any of Illéa's written laws, you will receive punishment tied to that offense. 

Your status as one of the selected does not put you above the law. You must not wear any clothes or eat any food that is not specifically provided for you by the palace." The food and clothes wouldn't be an issue, in fact I couldn't wait to drown myself in silks and gourmet food. "This is a security issue and will be strictly enforced. On Fridays you will be present for all Capital Report broadcasts. On occasion, but always with warning, there will be cameras or photographers in the palace, and you will be courteous and allow them to see your lifestyle with the prince." My cheeks warmed. The people seeing my relationship with the prince? "For each week you stay at the palace, your family will be compensated. I will give you your first check before I leave. Also, should you not stay at the palace, an aide will help you adjust to your life after the Selection. Your aide will assist you with final preparations before you leave and your aide will seek new housing and employment. Unless, as you are a three, You do not wish to. Should you make it to the top ten,". I knew I was top ten material, it wasn't a question. 

"You will be considered an Elite. Once you reach that status, you will be required to learn about particular inner workings of the life and obligations you would have as a princess." A princess! "You are not permitted to seek out such details before that time. As you are a three, your status will remain the same. Now, if you could just sign this form saying you've heard all the official rules, and your parents sign this form saying that you received your check." I eagerly nod my head. "Your flight will arrive in precisely three days and your province will wish you goodbye. You will be flying with a few other girls, including your sister." My lips tug into a scowl at the thought of my sister. I cover it with a polite smile and nod. He wipes his brow again, standing up. "That is all." I watch as he waddles out the door. In three days I would arrive at the palace, on the set path to my future! "I better choose an outfit." I murmur. 

I browse through the racks of silk dresses until I find the one. It's pale pink with a leaf design on the bottom. The top has diamonds encrusted in the bodice. The dress goes to my knees. I quickly find a hair piece, a diamond encrusted leaf clip, and set out my curlers so I can sleep in them tomorrow. After finding a pair of pale pink heels I settle into bed, staring up at the screen. I was going to be a princess.