Heir of the Dragon Flame.

Chapter 16.

Larissa felt like she didn't belong at tea time.

The other girls also made that very clear. At least many of them.

The minute she walked in,  she could feel the glares on her.

"Took you long enough."

Astra said with contempt as she rolled her eyes.

It was still quote shocking to Larissa that Astra couldn't recognise her.

One of her biggest worries before was having Astra recognise her and she had thought she'd have to hide from her as much as possible but Astra didn't even recognise her.

She only saw her as Larissa, her competition, nothing more.

Her golden blonde hair was in a twist that fell to her waist and she was wearing a pretty blush pink gown, one of the many gowns that had been made for her.

She looked overdressed for the occasion and Larissa wondered if there was any chance that the Prince would join them, because that was the only explanation she had as to why she would be putting on a show in the first place.

The girls sitting next to her, Larissa was only able to catch a glimpse of them at the opening ball, but they seemed to be at her side then.

Seemed like Astra had made a fee friends. Which was weird, as Astra would never be friends with the competition, unless she believed they didn't stand a chance against her.

They were twins and they were putting on matching clothes.

If Larissa remembered them correctly, they were Darcy and Diana, from House Tyrrell.

She looked around the tea table and found that many of the seats were occupied.

Except for one which seemed to be between a small girl and a tall dark haired girl who's hands were in the folds of her skirt.

Larissa didn't hesitate to sit between them, ignoring Astra's question and the menacing look she gave her.

"Mind if I sit here?"

She asked the little girl who shrugged.

"I don't mind. Nobody wants to sit there anyways."

She said as she sighed.

Larissa sat next to her.

She couldn't imagine how lonely the girl must feel.

Away from her friends and family just to fulfill traditions. The Queenstrial had no age limit really.

Families will bring their girls as young as they are for Queenstrial just in high hopes of them being queen.

That was how it was.

Now it was more of a tradition that was met. And for the child to learn the ways of the court, which could be very useful if she married another noble family.

"I want to."

Larissa said softly as she turned to the little girl with black wooly soft hair and dark skin.

"I'm Larissa of House Whitby. And you are?"

"Lady Rue of House Norbrook."

Larissa raised her eyebrows, surprised that the little girl spoke so articulately for her age.

"Nice to meet you Rue. Are you enjoying it here?"

Larissa asked and the girl's smile seemed to fade a little but she smiled again.

"It's beautiful"

She answered and Larissa nodded. She was right, indeed it was.

Larissa looked around the table, trying to look at the people she knew and the faces she remembered.

Elizabeth sat at the head of the table.

Of course who didn't know Elizabeth of House Astoria.

The wealthiest noble house in Castamere. She was also childhood friends with the Prince.

Her parents were well acquainted with the King and Queen. She had has frequent trips to the palace as she wasn't new to the world but there was something off about her.

She was so plain.

As plain as a doorknob. Now nothing about her screamed Queen. Not even after being clothed in the finest jewellery and the most expensive silk dresses.

Elizabeth didn't just have it. But she had something else they all didn't have, a connection with the Prince and she flaunted it go as many people who wished to know about it.

Larissa sighed and looked around the table again, then there was Monica, who everyone wouldn't stop raving about.

Monica was from House Yemen. She was the oldest of them all, twenty years old, almost the same age with the Prince. She was in a previous engagement before coming for the Queenstrial.

Hydra had told her she was betrothed to the son of a silk merchant in a faraway land. After the wedding she was to travel to go and be with him.

But then the invitation for the Queenstrial arrived and her family had called off the engagement.

They were willing to take their chances with the Queenstrial.

Besides, Monica was a very beautiful woman, if she didn't get married to the Prince, she would have lots of offers from other men.

She was the only one in the group with bright red hair and a sinful and curvaceous body. And she didn't hesitate to show off all her features.

She talked animatedly with two girls next to her. Laughing occasionally and giggling.

And there was Marina from Morgause. She had come to General Well's house a few times for a play date. The friendship between Astra and her didn't work out so well.

They were two different people.

Marina was such a dull child. Even watching her talk showed Larissa that she hadn't outgrown much of her dullness.

"Hello Girls!"

A woman shouted as she walked towards them.

Her voice was chirpy and so was her face.

She looked plump and warm, with rosy cheeks and flowers in her hair.

"My name is Lady Livia and I am your appointed governess throughout the Queenstrial."

"I know you have all been spoken to when you all arrived about what the Queenstrial entails but I will repeat it again."

She said as she turned to Larissa who squirmed in her seat.

She was the only one who hadn't received a briefing. Probably because she had arrived late or they didn't deign her important enough to get one.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Many girls don't get this chance. And many will never get it."

She said softly and the girls hushed.

Lady Lucia's voice was soft but firm.

"Now this isn't only an opportunity to win the heart of a prince. It is an opportunity to be Queen."

Her voice sent chills down Larissa's back. She glanced around the table and noticed many of the girls were just as transfixed as she was.

"And if you think being Queen means just wearing pretty clothes and sitting on a throne you are grossly mistaken. And that is why I am here."

"I will not only teach you how to be Queen, I will teach you how to rule."

"And The Queenstrial is not only about teaching, there will be tests, there will be trials and exams. The royal family will be updated weekly about your progress reports but you wouldn't know who's the best of you until the Prince starts making his pick."

"You'd start seeing him display certain affections, time and devotion to some girls, or one."

Lady Lucia said as she shrugged.

"And if it's not you that can only mean one thing. Either the Prince doesn't fancy you very much or you are doing very poorly in your reports."

So that's how it worked?

Larissa thought as she groaned.

If they weren't going to be allowed to see or know their progress reports they wouldn't know how well they are doing.

The only way they would know is because of the Prince.

"So, over the next few weeks, we'll be learning a range of topics, from etiquette, to decorations, to ballroom manners, wardrobe, to events planning, household management and so and so forth. Even to the most delicate issues like the bedroom."

Her last words had the girls murmuring and Lady Lucia had to make them hush.

Lady Lucia continued to explain everything and each detail again and again. Each word turned Larissa's stomach.

How was she expected to get close to the Prince and get the gem if she couldn't even see him unless he demanded to see her?

And what time would she have to search for the stone in between her class schedules.

This would never work out!