Numbered Balls
He waved a hand and two assistants wearing skimpy outfits walked out onto the stage, each holding a box.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, in these boxes are balls. Each ball has a number that corresponds to each Avgo Female on stage."
He turned and indicated at each Avgo contestant.
"Since there are only six Avgo Females for seven Princes, each Prince will get to pick the ball of their choice, resulting in the Seventh Prince getting the last ball." He winked at Slate.
"The Crown Prince, on the other hand, will get to pick from all six balls. This means one lucky girl will get picked twice."
The guests gasped.
He gave a quick wave of his hand and the assistants approached the Princes' table first.
Byron reached in and pulled out a ball with the number 5 clearly marked. It was Bethany's ranking number. This meant Bethany was the one who would get picked twice.
The second assistant, with another similar box began to offer it to the remaining Princes for their pick.
Dante got the number 2 ball. Leonardo picked out number 6. Lucas got number 1, Jason got 3, Jared got 4. And Slate was left with the last ball which was number 5.
"Princes. Take a look at the ball in your hand. That is the woman to whom you will ask one question. She will not know the question in advance, so her answer will be unscripted and unplanned."
He smiled with that wolf-like grin on his goat face.
"Crown Prince Byron. Please approach the center of the stage with your numbered ball."
Byron rose with unhurried languid moves.
His eyes looked bored as he made his way to the center of the stage. There was only one girl he wanted on the other side of the platform, and number five was most definitely NOT her.
Lorem Ipsum turned to the Avgo table.
"Coming in at number five, Bethany Dresden, please approach the center of the stage."
Bethany made her way to the center stage in her white hover chair and faced Byron.
This tall red haired demigod was the man she had been fighting with no holds barred to snatch away from all the other women. And here he was, standing in front of her, about to ask her an important question.
Byron gave her a stony look without saying a word. The silence stretched on.
Lorem Ipsum cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Your Royal Highness. You must ask a question."
Without moving a muscle, Byron gave a sidelong glare at Lorem Ipsum. Then he focused his gaze back at Bethany.
"What makes you think you're good enough to be my wife?"
The crowd gasped. This wasn't even a real question. He was, in essence, telling her she wasn't good enough.
Bethany was unfazed. She had been fighting this battle the entire time with the one unwavering thought.
All is fair in love and war.
She was willing to play as dirty as it took to win. There was nothing she would not do to win because winning was the only thing that mattered. Everything else was losing.
She raised her chin.
"You are the Crown Prince, with countless advisors and generals at your beck and call."
She narrowed her gaze.
"However, at the end of the day, when you are alone and struggling, you need someone to be by your side who will fight alongside you with everything she has to ensure that you win, regardless of the cost to herself. I can be that person."
Byron stared at her, unfazed.
"Fair enough. If winning at all costs is my ultimate goal, you would be an acceptable bride."
Lorem Ipsum laughed and clapped his hands.
"Good answer to a very good question!" He gestured for the assistants to usher the first couple back to their assigned seats.
"And now we have Prince Dante with his number two ball, Jenna Natoli. Please approach the front of the stage."
Candi watched as the familiar tall figure of Dante approached the stage front, even as the gowned figure of the cougar rose from her seat next to Candi and reached the stage before he did.
"We're ready any time you are, Prince Dante."
Dante turned his eyes to look at the strong sexy feline facing him.
"Unlimited wealth brings with it, unlimited possibilities. If, tomorrow I lose all my wealth and have nothing left, what would you do if you were my wife?"
Jenna Natoli laughed.
"You are the most astute businessman anyone has ever met in this galaxy. Were you to lose everything tomorrow, you will have gained it all back by the following year."
"It would not be a gamble for me to push the entirety of my world's vast riches into your fingertips to do with as you pleased. The wealth of my world, Calendula would be at your disposal."
Lorem Ipsum's eyes lit up. Calendula was a mineral and metal rich world that supplied the computerized robotic parts for the vast majority of the galaxy. Aside from Erenveil, it stood as one of the wealthiest regions of space.
Jenna Natoli was not joking when she said she was able to hand over that immense wealth into the hands of the Second Prince. She was no mere Princess. She was one of the Queens of Calendula.
"Ahhh." He clapped out loud as the rest of the guests joined in applause. As the assistants guided Dante and Jenna back to their places, he was already calling the next Prince.
"Prince Lucas!" Lorem Ipsum called out. Immediately, a loud cheering came from all sides of the ballroom. This was anomalous. The Royal Ball was not a place for such vitriol.
But Prince Lucas was special.
Everyone knew who Prince Lucas was. His face was so famous, it was a household common sight to see him in all visual places and spaces.
The bright and shining Prince of Erenveil with the soft blond and pink hair stood up with an engaging grin and moved towards the front of the stage, waving his arms at the guests.
Standing in the limelight was his forte. Owning the stage was his specialty. He was at his best when all the lights and visuals were aimed at him.
He was so exquisitely handsome and so powerful an image that everyone forgot for a moment that there was supposed to be another person joining him on stage.
For a few minutes, he stood alone at the forefront, basking in the accolades and the attention that his adoring fans poured out to him.
From behind, Lorem Ipsum wisely gave him center stage for the precious few minutes that he was up there. Prince Lucas was a huge attraction and they needed to milk it for all they could get.
As Prince Lucas interacted with the guests, Lorem gave a gesture for Candi to join him on stage.
"Ahem. Prince Lucas seems to be the highlight of the Face to Face event." Lorem Ipsum laughed.
The rest of the guests laughed with him.
"But we do have the next Avgo Female who is to join him onstage."
He turned back and gently took hold of Candi' arm, leading her forward into the limelight.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Avgo Female ranked number one." He paused for effect.
"Candace Farrah!"