A FEW DAYS after the first meeting with the selecting royals progressed smoothly and effortlessly. no more earthquakes jolted the ground, no more falling and shattering of the enormous and sumptuous cut-glass chandeliers. no more fear, no one to scream. everything remained still and sound. causing everyone to believe that - perhaps - the royals and the horrendous stories about the castle were nothing but some silly myths. perhaps the royals weren't as unusual as they were considered to be.

however, there were still questions that had not been answered. like why the royals locked everyone out for continuously four centuries? and why after four hundred years there was this need to hold a selection? what were these royals hiding? what happened to the firstborn royals who were said to be cursed? were the stories true? were they still haunting the castle?

but on the night of the second week of the selection, something was about to change. the royals were aware that someone among them was trying to sabotage the selection - and they had taken significant measures to avoid any sort of misfortune to ever happen again. of course, the selected were kept far away from such disturbing information. not wanting to see them running for the hills. but no matter how careful and mindful the guards were ordered to be, no matter how the maids kept their eyes open for any sign of trouble- someone crept in into the kitchen before the dinner was served and poisoned the food prepared for the twenty guests at the royal's home.

after the dinner, one by one, the selected started to grow sick and weak. lips turning a hue of blue, eyes as pale as death. the drowsiness took over their judgment, more saliva oozed out and drooled down from the corners of their mouth. and it wasn't just with one person. in no time all the selected ( or at least the ones who did not skip the dinner ) were tumbling down on the floor with thuds, one after the other. leaving the royals horrified and bewildered out of their minds.

it must have been the great luck of the royals a family doctor was around that night. soon enough the selecteds were carried to the infirmary. nurses tended each one of them, additional doctors were invited to speed up the treatment. twenty-four hours had already passed by the time the hapless situation finally felt under control. all lives were saved except for one. Diana Lockelake, a girl who could not be saved.

two day after the entire fiasco, the selecteds were discharged from the infirmary, a funeral was organised by the royals themselves, concerned families were requested to come and say goodbye to their daughter for the last time. sorrow reeked from every corner of the huge castle, the calmness of the castle felt disturbed. there was no one who did not seem remorseful after such a huge loss.

the same evening, two guards were said to be caught and accused for poisoning the dinner. to everyone's surprise, they admitted to their crime as well. thrown into the dungeons, followed by an immediate and overnight execution, the royals were glad to declare the justice was served.

now the royals have a new challenge to face and new questions crying for answers. what was the status of the selection? was it safe to continue the said event? did the royals /truly/ discover who was behind the incident? who were they? and why did they do it?

however, once again, the royals had left the choice to the concerned selecteds. if they choose to leave, no one would stop them. and if choose to stay, then what were the conditions? and for that, a special meeting is arranged at the royal office. the selecteds can meet the royals they fancy to make their final decision. it would be upon the selecting royals to convince the participants but they would refrain themselves from forcing anyone who had already made the choice.

ʟ✥ᴏ✥ᴄ✥ᴀ✥ᴛ✥ɪ✥ᴏ✥ɴ✥

1. office - kaine

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2. office - bruno

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3. office - sylvia

OH YES THAT HAPPENED !

❖  if your selected has received the bracelet ( despite the chain being incomplete ) you are allowed to start on this chapter !

❖ yes, the selected is also allowed to meet more than one selecting royals

❖ the selected can also make independent chains with any other selected they like, at any place that had been mentioned so far.

❖ please read the chapter carefully and in case of any confusion, contact me !

❖ mind the timeline and the development of the plot. also, NO NEED TO WORRY IF YOU CAN'T START ON THE CHAPTER RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I'VE EVERYTHING PLANNED AND THERE IS NO ONE FIRST OR LAST. EVERY CHAIN WILL MOVE WITH ITS OWN STORY, I JUST HOPE YOU ALL WOULD FOCUS ON ENJOYING THAT.

also also question time: I'm hoping to have a main chain on during the next chapter, would you all be alright with that??? 😅😅😅

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