24 First Trial 1

I woke up early, not because the maids were ringing bells, but because I can't even sleep.

I only got 2 hours of disturbed sleep since I can't get the image of the girl and the Prince kissing off my mind.

I'll get a few minutes of sleep then my dreams will show that scenario and that'll wake me up.

I know I shouldn't think of it too much because I was looking from the inside and they might not even be kissing in the first place.

But what if they were?

I rolled around the bed then I stood up and took a bath before the sun even rises. I know I'll only end up being awakened later if I still continue to sleep.

It's better that I'm awake early. I should take a quick walk in the garden for a while to cheer up my spirits.

I wore the cloak the kids gave me, this fits for the day's temperature.

There were few guards around, and they all greeted me when they saw me. Some of them looked like they just arrived for work while the others looked like they're about to go home.

The cold breeze was refreshing and painful at the same time. I put my gloveless hands in the pocket of the cloak while I walk towards the middle of the garden.

It's the first trial today.

I have to do my best, but I don't feel good.

I didn't know I can be greatly affected by such a view yesterday. I'm so immature about this emotion.

I never knew jealousy can make my whole spirits go tired.

I already knew that the Prince might be flirting with the other candidates, I shouldn't be so shocked.

But Regin told me that he's not that type of person. He even threatened to cut my head off that time when I called the Prince a pervert.

I sighed and sat down on a flower box.

I can see the whole mansion from here, and not very far from the mansion was the castle.

I've only been there when we were presented to the Prince.

It looks like it's out of a fantasy story, especially that there's a fog and the outside was starting to glitter from the morning dew.

Scenes like these somehow make everything better.

Beautiful unexpected things make me realize that there's always something that you can look at when you feel down,

"Miss, you might catch a cold if you stay here any longer," a gardener told me while he cuts off some leaves off a bush.

I stood up and greeted him, "Good morning, sir," I said, "Aren't you feeling cold?"

He looks like a normal person, except for his long fingers like a branch.

He stood in his position with wide eyes as if he has seen a ghost.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked as I brush my skirt incase I sat on something.

"Nothing," he shook his head, "I was just surprised that you greeted me."

Oh, yeah. I forgot this world doesn't have manners especially those who have high positions.

"Oh," I forced my laugh, "Anyway, I'm Amelia."

Now that I remember, the first trial is about agriculture which focuses on farming and harvesting. Maybe he can help me.

"What is your name, Sir?" I asked, "Can I ask you something?"

He smiled at me, then he stopped cutting the leaves.

He bowed with a smile, "I am Lonvrok, Miss. One of the castle's gardeners. I'll do my best to answer your question since you are very polite."

I smiled, this is one of the sincerest compliment I have ever received.

"Well, today will be the first trial of the bride candidates. And we'll have to harvest and plant on a field. Can you tell me things that can help me do those correctly?"

He nodded then smiled, "I see. Miss Amelia, have you ever planted and cared for a plant of any sort?"

I sat down then I stared at the part of the castle's that the sun's lighting, "Well, I have few plants in my house. Most of them are indoor plants."

"Can I ask you something, Miss? Are you the human bride?"

I looked at him and nodded, "Yes, I am."

"Plants in the human world are very hard to take care of here, Miss. They're delicate. Which makes the plants, any sort of plants, in this world very easy for you."

I furrowed my brows, from what I've seen, we have the same sort of plants.

"And that means, you can do the first trial just fine. Just do what you always do to your plants. Be gentle. When you're harvesting, think of the fruit as a delicate little fairy."

I smirked, I have never seen a fairy, but I'll think of it as a very sensitive thing.

I stood up and bowed, "Thank you so much, Sir Lonvrok. I'll tell you what happens after. See you around." I said as I walk back to the mansion.

Now that I now that I can possibly win this, I hurried back to my room, only to see the Prince and a bunch of guards in my room.

"What is happening?" I asked.

Prince Forest immediately ran towards me, "We thought you run away again."

He looked like he just woke up, with his messy hair and tired eyes. His voice even sounds so sleepy.

"I just took a quick walk outside," I said as I brush off some hair off of his face. It's blocking my view of his eyes.

"I was so scared, it felt like a nightmare," he said as he suddenly grabs my hand that brushed his hair and put it on his cheek. "I thought you left me again." He whispered with his eyes closed as if he's falling asleep again.

"I'm here," I whispered back.

You know what, I don't care what happens between him and his candidates.

But I'll do what I can to win.

I can worry about his other brides later when I'm sure that I can win this game.

I can just go home if I found out that he loves someone else.

But for now, I'll fight.

Prince Forest went back to his room to get prepared while I also changed into my square pants and wool sweater.

I'm sure it'll be cold, but after a while in the field, it'll be warm for me. I don't have to wear such thick clothing.

All of the brides were called in the hall.

And surprisingly, none of them are wearing perfumes.

They all smell like bath soap and flowers.

And they're all wearing dresses, not that it's surprising. I know that women here love wearing dresses.

I have never seen a lady wearing pants, and this square pant I got looked like it's been stuck for a while.

"What happened?" I suddenly asked myself loudly when I entered the hall not being greeted with the suffocating smell of perfumes.

"The Prince ordered the brides to stop wearing perfumes during meetings with the other brides because one of them is allergic to strong scent," a butler answered me as I walk to my position.

I restricted myself from smiling after hearing that because every bride is staring at me like they're predators ready to hunt their prey.

Did the Prince do that for me? Did he order them to stop wearing perfumes because of my allergy?

He must've been bothered when I got sick.

I let out my smile when I was already at the end of the line.

The Prince appeared on the stage, then he raised his sword and point it to the kingdom's flag, "This trial will test whether you can be a Queen fitted to help our agriculture blossom. Whoever wins this will still continue to be a bride candidate. I hope that all of you have the heart for helping the farmers, not only because it is your trial. Now, we shall go to the field, and remember what I told you, do not enter the forest beside the field."

We all went and rode our own carriages with our attendants.

Regin was staring at me as if I'm going to do something nasty, he's like a guard dog, watching my every move.

"Miss, please keep in mind the instruction you were told."

I just nodded because I suddenly felt sleepy during the travel. Now is the time that I take the sleep that I lost.

I woke up with the noise of ladies screaming.

When I opened my eyes, I saw granny sitting in front of me in the carriage while watching the scene outside, "You're awake," she said, then she turned to me, "Come on, let's go out."

I saw the other brides yelling from seeing the mud, insects, and other dirt.

Regin assisted me, who's just standing outside the carriage, "Miss, please stay in your tent while we are preparing the field."

I saw Lili rushing towards me with an umbrella.

The sun was hot, yet it's still cold, and this is the things that make my skin go dry.

"Miss, let's go. We put the tent far from the other brides so you can still continue your sleep." Lili smiled as she covers me with the umbrella.

I saw Lulu preparing snacks while Lala was fixing a hammock in the tent.

"You don't have to put that," I told Lala.

"No, you should have a good rest, Miss. Go on, that's fixed!"

I smiled and tried the hammock. Since I still feel sleepy I landed all my body mass on the hammock, but suddenly I heard a loud tear where the hammock was hanging then I felt my butt land on the dirty ground.

"Miss!" The maids called, then Regin rushed towards me, but when he saw what happened, he smiled.

I'm sure he wants to laugh right now.

The hammock's strings were all over me and my pants are now soiled.

"Alright," I snorted, "Help me," I told Regin then he pulled me.

Granny was staring at us as if she'll pinch our ears any minute.

Then, the Prince suddenly appeared, "What happened?" He asked.

He's been worrying since this morning, I kind of pity him. He's either working, flirting-- I mean, meeting his brides, or working again.

"Nothing, I just fell that's all," I answered with a smile.

"Please, be careful. I don't want you to get hurt." He said, and he was about to hold me but Regin stopped him.

"We're in front of the others, please don't do anything that will make trouble for the Miss," he said.

Of course, if the other brides catch him holding me in public, they'll get enraged and it'll be bad for me if another gossip goes around.

The Prince looked so tensed ever since we got here, as if there's something that may happen, and every time I take a glance at him, he's looking my way with worries.

The Prince went back to his tent and guards were all over him, while some we were so patrolling around the field.

"Is there something wrong, Regin?" I asked as Lili and I swing on the hammock he fixed.

"Nothing, just do what you have to do, Miss, then we're out of here."

I shrugged, if they don't want to tell me what's wrong, then I will just pretend that everything is fine.

A few minutes more, the captain of the field, a farmer, started the trial.

He told us what to do in harvesting root crops, then each of the brides was given a certain land on the field to harvest.

We are to harvest crops, and our harvest will be judged depending on how good we did it.

I saw farmers watching us with worries. Of course, this is still a harvest, and if we mess it up, they'll lose a great deal.

I was the first one to go inside the field. Thank goodness the soil wasn't that muddy or else, I'll rather use my feet than sink my shoes in the mud.

Everyone was watching me, while some brides even look like they don't want to go in the field, except for the girl I saw yesterday with the prince.

The little bride with long beautiful moss green hair and eyes.

I was concerned about her for a while, but I remembered what I have to do.

I took the tools I needed, well, for this I think I only need a trowel since I'll have to pull the root of the crop, I'll only have to dig the soil a little.

The sun was getting higher and hotter as I dig, and some of the brides also went in the field.

When I also reached the largest root, I pulled it out with the strength that I need.

And voila!

"I got it!" I said as I show the maids, granny and Regin the potatoes I got.

Regin clapped, while the maids cheered.

Then we heard the other side of the field, the moss green girl already took a lot more than I did.

She's faster than I thought. I guessed she was only going to dig and then she'll back away because of the dirt, but here she was. Digging much faster and better than I do.

"Go on, Miss! You can finish it faster than the Princess of Delta Kingdom!"

I looked back, if she's from the Delta Kingdom, she has earth powers?

No wonder why she looks so earthy with her hair and eye color.

"Alright!" I screamed then I pulled my sleeves and dugged once again.