Chapter 5

I could count the amount of parties and balls I had gone to on my hand. I only attended anything necessary and always had my head stuck in a pile of work, but I knew it wouldn't be disagreeable to say that this ball was magnificent.

The ballroom of the castle easily fit in the 200 or so girls easily. But that was the least impressive thing about it.

The chandeliers the size of a commoners roof, with diamonds hanging down and bouncing off light to create a mirage across the ball room. The deep red curtains hanging from windows the size of a three story house, made of the clearest glass.

I could stare around the room for hours on end just taking note of all the details.

A hand slipped tightly in mine and steered me to a nearby pillar.

"Stop gawking" Crystal jabbed her finger at me, "everyone was staring at your country bumpkin like attitude. You need to straighten yourself out otherwise you won't survive the capital Madeline".

"Oh dear… thank you Crystal. I haven't seen a place like so I- thank you for warning me" I could feel my cheeks burn.

I wasn't one to be caught off guard and always did my best to appear sharp, but it was always when I least expected it did I slip up.

"It's fine. Everyone's like that the first time, but they usually experience it as children so no one pays them mind. At our age, anything can ruin you and since you're new here they will go quite hard on you" she patted my back as if a coach steadying me in a boxing ring.

"That's right. Have you ever seen the prince?" I found myself finally interested as I noticed a long line of men along the farthest wall of ball room. All sporting the same dark hair and mask covering their eyes. I may have thought it was a ridiculous number of twins had it been possible.

"When he was young…" Crystal answered, her eyes also looking to the men with interest, "he's got dark hair… all those men kind of resemble him" she frowned.

It wasn't just us who noticed. The other woman turned their heads and whispered to each other. The music had yet to play and only the bustling of women was heard as more pour in.

"Why are they just waiting there?" I heard Lady Jones ask from somewhere.

My mind searched for answers.

Here we are at a welcome party for us. There's a ridiculously large number of us that it's clear it would be time consuming to test us all. They did clarify that this was simply a welcome party, but was that true?

A looked to the men lined up, any one of them possibly the prince but all of them definitely belonged to him.

It was when the large doors we had entered through shut with a resounding bang did I finally understand. The music began and the men bowed and stepped forward, beginning to draw the dainty hands of young women.

"The test has begun" I muttered to myself, but Crystal heard it and gasped.