Realm of the Chosen: A Reverse Harem Romance

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Standing on the dais next to her mother always made her heart thunder in her chest, but after the day she’d had, and in light of the announcement she was about to make, Kit could hardly breathe her heart was racing so quickly. Not to mention, the last of her forty-two men was waiting out in the hallway somewhere to meet her. It seemed like the Choosing would truly begin at that moment, when he made his entrance, and she was no longer waiting for anyone or anything. The fact that she’d already made connections with some of the other men, particularly Cassius who was standing almost directly in front of her now, looking as appealing as ever in his province’s colors of white and red, didn’t seem to make too much of a difference since she still had six more men to select. Her eyes glanced through the crowd, and certain faces caught her attention, men she wanted to know better, those who may as well go home now, and a few she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

The ballroom smelled divine, and Kit’s stomach might’ve been growling if her heart wasn’t insisting on center stage. There were tables of food set up all around the periphery, her mother’s newest idea for creating a unique experience. There was no place to sit, however, and the queen had explained to her daughter this wouldn’t be a problem because all of the menu items could be eaten while standing. Kit would have to see it to understand, but the scent of roasted meat caught her attention, and she was looking forward to attempting to eat a lambchop while dancing.

Large bouquets of flowers filled sconces on the walls in the royal colors of purple and red. There were also large spheres in the same shades everywhere Kit looked, including hanging from the ceiling from thread so thin they appeared to be floating. It was a striking effect, and Kit thought her mother had outdone herself this time. The music was a complete opposite from the last occasion; rather than an orchestra so large it filled a quarter of the ballroom, there was only a five piece ensemble situated in the corner at the far end of the room. Kit wondered if they’d even be able to hear the music over the din of the partygoers, but she wouldn’t dare question a queen who’d given pardon earlier when none had been required.

Her mother wore the same purple gown she’d been wearing during Kit’s audience, and Kit wished she’d known the colors the queen had chosen for the ball. Perhaps she would’ve also chosen purple or red, rather than silver and blue, but she wouldn’t dwell on it. Her ladies had insisted she looked as gorgeous as ever before she left her room the second time, still wearing the slippers instead of the heels, though thankfully they could not be seen beneath the hem of her gown.

The room was crowded with noblewomen and their husbands, as well as the delegations from the different provinces. This would be the last event before all of them were sent home, save one liegeman per Representative. Kit was thankful that she wouldn’t have to worry about meeting the families of all of the Representatives. It would be nice if she could meet the loved ones of the Roomed, but that would have to be discussed with the queen at a later time. Everywhere she looked, she saw smiling faces, except for a few of the Representatives she hadn’t gotten to know well yet who looked nervous, and she imagined some of them might be thinking the queen wanted to address them because Kit would be sending some of them home.

“Ladies and men!” Queen Rona shouted, gathering everyone’s attention. “Representatives, your loved ones and delegations, I want to thank you for joining us tonight. Though our festivities have been delayed slightly, it is with great joy that I announce the official start of my daughter, Princess Katrinetta’s, Choosing!” There were cheers and whistles from all sections of the room but particularly from where her Representatives stood. Kit smiled at all of them, taking her time to catch the eyes of a certain few.

“Now, despite this being the official start, I gave Katrinetta permission to begin to get to know the men over a week ago. In that time, she has spoken to all of them, taken meals with them, even participated in an unofficial contest or two. And tonight, the princess would like to announce her very first Rooming!”

Once again, the crowd went wild with applause, and Kit’s eyes caught many surprised expressions in the audience, particularly among the Representatives. She didn’t want to give anything away before she spoke, but she thought Cassius and Reeve both looked very nervous, and suddenly she wondered if perhaps she should’ve warned both of them. Would Reeve be disappointed it wasn’t him, or would he know better than to think it could be? Surely, Cassius had to know how she felt about him, didn’t he?

Her mother went on to say a few more words about the Choosing process, outlining what it meant to be Roomed, that the Representative would be given one of seven special rooms, closer to the princess, and that if she wished, Kit could now visit that Representative in his own Chambers. She explained that it was an assurance that the man would be allowed to stay until the first phase of the Choosing was over, that he was essentially one of seven finalists, and that it was a high honor for the Representative and his province.

She also explained how Kit could decide to send a Representative home at any time. As she rattled on about how a man shouldn’t feel rejected should he be sent home, Kit scanned the room again. This time, she wasn’t looking for the face of a man among the chosen few who could potentially become her husband. Rather, she was looking for the one she would’ve selected to be a Representative if given the chance to do so. But as she looked through the myriad of faces, she didn’t see Eli anywhere. Her hope was that he was outside with the delegation from Eastbury. Perhaps it would be easier for her to make the announcement about Cassius if she couldn’t see Eli’s face. But then, there was nothing she could do to make it any easier on either of them. She couldn’t choose Eli, and she had to choose someone. At least the man she’d selected for her first Rooming had her dear friend’s approval.

“So... it is with great pride, that I now allow the princess to make her announcement!” The queen finally concluded her long-winded speech, and there was another round of applause, though this one seemed shorter, possibly because at this point, everyone just wanted to get on with the Rooming, meet the new Representative, and then discover how one ate stew while gallivanting across the ballroom.

“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,” Kit said, not caring that her mother groaned whenever she said the word “gentle.” She cleared her throat so she could be heard in the back. “It is with great honor that I announce to you this evening my first Rooming. This Representative is someone who is well-liked by all who meet him. He is handsome, strong, intelligent, and always knows how to make me laugh.” Kit wanted to keep her announcement short and impersonal because she felt it was no one else’s business why she chose Cassius. Now, it just sounded generic to her ear, but she didn’t care. With another deep breath, she pressed on. “Without further ado, I would like to extend an invitation for my first Rooming to... Cassius Peet from Warchester Keep!”

His eyebrows shot up as soon as she said his name, as if he hadn’t been expecting it, but she was certain Cassius knew she was speaking about him the moment she said everyone else liked him. Who else fit that description? The other Representatives clapped his back and shook his hand, though some looked hurt or jealous. The rest of the crowd cheered loudly, and Cassius stepped past the few people separating them to take his place on the dais. He kneeled before her, and said, “Thank you, Princess, for this high honor. I am proud to be one of your Representatives and will do all that I can to serve you as one of your Roomed.” His eyes twinkled, and when he kissed her hand, Kit’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, there was no one else in the ballroom, and she would’ve gladly let him sweep her away from the crowd.

But this journey was just beginning, and as Cassius rose to kiss her cheek, and then turned to kiss her mother’s ring, Kit remembered she had one more important duty to get through before she could enjoy herself at the ball.

Cassius stepped back off of the dais, catching her eye one more time. She knew she’d see him later but was rethinking her decision to ask someone else to her chambers. Her mother’s voice infiltrated her thoughts, and Kit turned her attention back to the queen. It was time to meet her farmhand, assuming that’s who Eastbury had voted for in their second selection.

“As all of you know, the council determined to let Eastbury hold another election after the unfortunate situation with their first Representative.” The queen’s tone had changed. No longer jubilant, she sounded as if she were about to tell the citizens of the realm they must pay more taxes, send more supplies, or give up their first born child to be raised by wolves. “I have been informed that Eastbury has made their selection, and the new Representative is here with us tonight. So let us all welcome the delegation from Eastbury!” She made a flourish with her arm, and the queen’s guardsmen by the doors pulled them open.

When the delegations had initially arrived outside, they’d carried large flags and banners, but in the cramped area in front of the dais, there was no room for that, so the flags were much smaller, and there was only one banner baring the colors and shield of Eastbury in the same red and blue Jecob had worn. It was difficult for Kit to see past the first flag bearer, but then she saw Eli walking in with the rest of them. There were not as many as she expected, and only one older woman who walked with a limp. The rest were all men, most of them middle aged or older, except for Eli, and Kit was confused. Where was her farmhand?

She looked at her mother and saw nothing but ire upon her face. Her arms were straight down to her sides, her hands in fists, and when the woman stopped and bowed before the queen, saying, “Your Majesty, I am Minta of Arnast of Eastbury, and as the Head of Voting for the province, I have been asked to present our Representative in lieu of a family member or nobility.”

“Yes, yes,” the queen said, waving her on with her hand. The little old woman looked confused, but since the queen had dismissed her, she took a few steps over and paused in front of the princess. “Your Majesty, Princess Katrinetta, I am Minta of Arnast of Eastbury...” she began.

Kit wasn’t listening the second time the woman repeated her phrase. Instead, her eyes locked on Eli’s. He was standing next to Minta, and the look on his face confused the princess even more. He looked anxious. She’d never seen him so pale before, not even when he was bleeding all over the infirmary floor. Kit’s eyes scanned back down the line. She still wasn’t sure what was happening and had missed most of what Minta was saying because she thought it was the same speech she’d just given her mother.

Until she went back over the last line one more time in her head.

“Allow me to present to you the new Representative from Eastbury.”

Kit swallowed hard, feeling herself choking on air as her lungs restricted, and her eyes bulged.

“Eliason Goedwig of Eastbury.”

With no air in her lungs and her heart beating out of her chest, Kit took a step backward, bumping into Avinia, whose strong hands steadied her. She looked at Eli, and then back at Minta. “What?”

Her mother cleared her throat, and Kit turned to see her nose in the air, her face tightened like she’d just eaten something bitter. “What?” Kit asked again, not of anyone in particular but of the entire universe, of every goddess in the realm of sky.

“Your Majesty,” Eli said, addressing her, and she imagined he’d already said something to the queen or else he wouldn’t be speaking to her, and her mother’s face might not look quite so puckered. Kit tried to hear his words over the crashing waves inside her soul. “I’m honored to represent my province, and I’m looking forward to... getting to know you better.”

There was an irony in his words she couldn’t conceive of at the moment, something she’d have to ponder later. It was all too much. All this time, all these days and months and years thinking this wasn’t even a possibility, and yet here it was. He was reaching for her hand, to kiss it, to kneel before her, to join her Choosing as a Representative. Kit placed her hand in his, but her thoughts were a jumbled heap of uncertainties as she tried to decipher exactly what this meant. All she knew for sure was from that moment forward, nothing else in her life would ever be the same.

End Book One

Loved by the Princess: A Reverse Harem Romance

Realm of the Chosen Book Two