I had a dilemma. My best friend was from Hansport but that's beside the point. The point was that I can't seem to get out of her friend's shadow. My friend, the grand Melina Castaway. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't seem to outshine Melina. When the piece of parchment that sealed my fate arrived I had to hold my breath and pray that it would never leave my sight. On that particular morning I wasn't in my best mood. "Pull tighter!" I shrieked as my maid fastened my corset on. I breathed in tightly as my corset fit around my waist perfectly, plastered to my body. Once I was finally dressed I made my way downstairs. My brother Mason and his girlfriend Zara were perched at the coffee table sipping tea. Zara gave me a winning smile but I ignored her. I bit into a delicate piece of muffin expecting flakiness and crumbs but instead getting a faceful of jam. Jam squirted from inside the muffin onto my tight white corseted morning gown. I gasped in dismay only to hear light laughter coming from Zara. My pale skin flushed red and I grabbed the muffin and pointed it at her like a weapon. Jam squirted over her and Mason and they jumped apart. 

Mason got up angrily but I simply placed the muffin down, smirking and saying, "That's how I like my muffin." Zara stared angrily back at me as I walked down the hallway to change out of my dress. I could stand up to Mason and Zara so easily but Melina was a different story. After I finally changed into an ombre gray to black ankle length morning gown with an under corset and did my white blonde hair into a long sweeping display. My maids rushed to put dark ash shadow on my eye's and a deep black lip. I looked in the mirror once more before leaving after shooing my maids away. I looked the picture of beauty. Pale blonde hair. Skin almost white. Ice blue eyes. High cheekbones. I gathered myself before entering again. Zara was holding two pieces of parchment in her hands, her eyes wide open. When I walked back in she reluctantly handed one to me. I pursed my lips at the sight of the royal crest. My cheeks must have turned a lovely red because Zara exchanged a glance with Mason.

 I opened the letter and read the contents. I quickly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. My hair, my makeup, everything had to be perfect. I immediately bolted to my room. Zara looked at the letter longingly before throwing it in the trash, earning a grin from Mason. I rolled my eyes before I entered the door. Who would give up such a chance? Then it hit me. She knew I was going to win. She knew that I was the one and all of a sudden I knew. I was the one. Tears stung my eyes. Melina was special, I would admit that. Everybody loved her. But I found someone who didn't, someone who loved me. The prince. My future became shockingly clear. My head swam as I watched the prince mover forwards. It was up to me and Melina. Melina looked at him with her winning smile and waved to the crowd. She was ready to be the queen. My name was shouted through the air as prince Dedrick asked me to marry him. As we embraced Melina screamed in agony. I would treat her as a friend and allow her to occasionally visit me and my husba- I mean the prince. Before I got ahead of myself I began to change. I called my maids to help me look perfect. I changed out of my dress into my third outfit of the day. It was an off shoulder black dress with a high low skirt and layers. Metal points embroidered the belt and the edge of the skirt. 

I wore a choker and anklets with spikes and my black chunky low boots had them as well. My hair was down and wavy and my lips were painted black. I wore a smoky eye shadow. I quickly wrote the form, pausing only to consider if being pretty was a special skill. Instead I went for athletic experience. Some ladies refused to learn to fight and some got way too involved, even helping with the war. I was in between. I knew hand to hand combat and could knock a guard out easily. After finishing I folded the slip of paper holding my future and walked out the door. When I posed to get my photo taken I placed my hand on my hip, opting for a confident grin. As my photo snapped I saw a moment pass, clear before my eyes. The prince and the king looking through the photo's. Prince Dedrick paused as he saw my photo. A blush seemed to form on his face out of thin air. "This one." He said to his father. I knew it wasn't true but yet somehow I had hope. Hope that the moment the prince saw my face he knew I was the one.