7

I relaxed in the chair when I saw it was Fiona, I watched in surprise and confusion as Fiona closed the door behind her, and a lip-splitting smile overtook her facial features. She looks happy, like genuinely happy, with her eyes twinkling. I can't recall the last time I saw such a smile on my cousin's face.

"Guess who I just danced with?" She asked excitedly, causing me to raise a brow at her.

"Uncle Zaius?"

She rolled her eyes at me, her smile not deterring one bit, "Very smart."

I shrugged, "How am I supposed to guess who you danced with when I didn't even get to attend the ball?"

She rolled her eyes at me again, "I danced with him!" She squealed

"With who?"

"The crowned Prince!" She squealed once again, jumping up and down in delight.

"Okay?...." I inquired, trying to know what the fuss was about.

She looked at me in confusion, "What do you mean by 'okay?' Don't you know what it means to dance with the prince, not just any prince, Prince Gerald!?"

"Okay? Let me get this straight, is he a human being?"

It was her turn to stare at me in confusion, "Yes?"

"I must say that I am quite disappointed. I thought he was an angel or God or something other than a human being to make you act like a 13-year-old!"

She looked at me in surprise before she said, "Do you know what it means to dance with Prince Gerald?"

I shook my head, and she took it as a cue to continue, "It is an honour to dance with him! And to know that I would be getting married to him soon makes it more wonderful!"

"I see."

"By the way, I came to tell you that it is almost time. Time for you to join the party."

I felt my heart skip a couple of beats. I was almost tempted to tell her about my plan to lessen the guilt but I just smiled at her, or that is what I hope I did.

If she can cheat her way to the throne, then so can I.

No, I am not even cheating. I am doing the right thing because I am an eligible princess. And I am participating in the competition myself. If I win then I deserve to be by the prince's side and if don't, then so be it.

I have to do my best in this competition because I believe this is an opportunity presenting itself to me on a platter of gold. This might be the only chance I have of finding the beast. This might be the breakthrough I have waited all these years for, a chance to change my life forever—

"Hello? Earth to Gwen!" She snapped her finger in front of my face, causing me to jerk in my seat.

"Sorry, what? Were you saying something?"

She raised one of her brows, "I hope whatever you are thinking about has to do with winning the competition."

You bet.

"Gwen, you have to win this for you and me. I already talked to my father, and he has agreed to help you, but on the condition that you win the competition."

"But you said he would help me whether I win or don't."

"I tried to convince him, but you know how he is." She flashed me an apologetic smile, but I could tell she wasn't sorry at all.

I smiled at her and said, "I understand. Don't worry, I will do my best." but not for you.

"I know you will."

This is her plan from day one to put me under pressure at the last minute so I could win the competition for her. If she had any plans of keeping her part of the agreement, she would have told me this before now then it would have been left for me to help her or not. But being a goofball, she decided that this was the right time. Deep down, I already knew there was no way she would help me if I didn't win, so her telling me this now didn't surprise me one bit.

Now, I am glad to have every reason to push through with my plans tonight.

No more guilts.

"Hello!" Once again, Fiona snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"Huh? Sorry, I am just nervous."

"No need to be nervous. I was asking if you stepped out of the room?" She asked and glanced at the untouched food on the table.

"Yes."

"What, are you crazy?!"

"I was hungry."

"You could have waited."

"Relax, no one saw me." Except for that arrogant man.

"Fine, you should get going now."

"Right."

Don't forget to put my name at the end of the drawing."

"Okay."

"Don't forget I will be waiting for you behind the curtain."

"Okay."

I was almost out of the room when I heard her say, "Don't mess this up."