I watched as my stylist conferred with my maids about an outfit for dinner, obviously not sure what kind of look I was going for. Eventually they decided on ethereal. I was dressed in a dress that was a light cyan blue at the top and blended to light pink. The skirt was filled with thick layers of tulle and had butterflies dotting it in a trail. I wore lace pink and blue ombre boots with butterflies on them and chunky heels. My hair was swept into a short ponytail with thick strands hanging over my face. Scarlett had been asked on the first date by the prince. Scarlett had stolen something from me. And I intended to get it back. At dinner I sat down next to Bhianca, who was in a cherry red dress with pearls. She ate delicately making formal small talk. She thought she was the queen. It pained me that all these girls thought that they were the chosen one, when I knew in my heart it was me. I knew my strategy. It was beauty. And it wasn't shallow because it was my beauty on the inside out that made the prince keep glancing at me after my interview. It was my shining happiness that glowed above the other girls. I glanced at the prince, pouring all of my girlish excitement and of course my manners into a single devoted smile. The prince couldn't take his eyes off me. He smiled back at me and most girls followed his glance, looking over at me with envy. One girl, Neina tried to grab his attention, jiggling her coils of hair as she clutched at his arm. Ollia, Bren's friend, was wearing a pea green top with a dark leather skirt and her hair was in a bun. Her hair had been dulled to a pale orange. 

She was scowling at the prince while eating. Everytime he turned her way she would look away and pout her lips out, attempting to look like some kind of goddess. Instead she looked like a gaping chicken. It was hard to make direct eye contact with the prince frequently because so many of the girls were trying to. One girl kept staring at the prince, not even blinking. Whenever he looked her way she would look down, flushing. Then when he stopped, she would keep staring at him! These girls had no strategy. The next cut would be made sometime between today and Friday, interview day. Not that I was worried. A server announced that each girl would get a few minutes of alone time with the prince eating dinner. The prince chose who to ask. I sucked in a breath as he rose, looking slightly panicked. When his eyes reached mine he gave a reassuring smile. I looked beautiful. My warm smile reassured him slightly. His kind hazel eyes reached mine as he walked down the line, closer and closer to me. I grinned even bigger until he walked past me. He gingerly took Everly's hand and kissed it. She smiled and walked off with him, already chatting. She was wearing a soft black satin dress that had a deep neckline and flowy waves of fabric. Her hair was tossed over her head in glossy waves, in a somewhat messy but gorgeous style. Her bronze skin was highlighted and her face had the perfect amount of makeup. She was so beautiful it annoyed me. I turned back to the dinner table, hurt, not physically but in my pride. I sliced a soft delicate fish in white wine sauce, and poured myself a glass of a crystally drink with a luminescent pearly sheen. 

I let the fish melt in my mouth, staring at my competitors like an eagle. Who did they think they were? Did they really truly not know that I was the queen, or queen to be? I rolled my eyes when I heard giggles and swore to myself that I would take Everly down. When she came back all eyes rested on the prince once again. A girl sitting next to me let on a delicate smile that was so charming the prince held her gaze for a moment. She was a petite girl with red hair tied into a neat bun and a baby blue dress with a flowery lace over pattern. The prince took Scarletts arm and walked away. Biting back envy I turned back to my fish, ladling bits of sauce into my mouth and making idle chat with the girls. "Are you excited to be here? It's so different from my life as a four." Said the petite girl. I soon learned that she was named Avery and she had three sisters and two brothers, and had fallen in love with the prince the moment she saw him on tv. What a sob story. Avery sighed as the prince dislocated his arm from Scarlett's tight hold. "I do think I might-" Started Avery. She turned to me with a light blush. "Be in love." I restrained myself from screaming at her. No way was she gonna end up with the prince! She might as well give up. The prince delicately took Sayra's hand and she flushed a shade of red that made me want to vomit. Avery grinned from ear to ear, turning back to her food. Her gaze lingered on the prince as he walked away. A few minutes later the prince came back with a girl named Melina, who sat down and soaked up all the attention for being picked fourth. The prince's gaze washed over the room. Avery perked up, smiling delicately. When his gaze landed on mine, I simply smiled, channeling every fiber of beauty into one perfect gaze. He steadily walked over to me, taking my hand. Avery's face flushed red with disappointment, and a certain amount of bitterness could be seen in her light airy smile. I walked into the nook and sat by the prince. "Beryl, thank you for choosing me." I said. The prince nodded politely. "It must have been a great shock to think that your normally boring life would be filled with thirty six women all over the castle." I said, smiling. The prince chuckled. "My life can be exciting sometimes but you're right, it was a shock." After some more polite chatter he stood up and escorted me to my seat, kissing my hand. I smiled at him and sat back at the table. Fifth to be called. Not too shabby of a start. But I knew where I would end. First.