ROYAL CONTEST

4| CHAPTER FOUR

ALYSSA'S POV

I was right when I said these people are different from me. We were told to wear our usual clothes for our first meeting with the prince and I did exactly that.

I just wore tights and a tank top which is my usual clothing. I didn't expect the other girls to wear gowns. It's like they are attending a ball or something.

I was out of place and I was confident that the royal family would ask me why I was like that but they didn't say anything.

When the prince came to me earlier, I thought he was going to ask me that but he just asked me my name and complimented my name.

To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I didn't think he would be nice to me and when he paid no attention to what his brother or cousin said, I wanted to hug him.

"Some people are audacious. Where do you find the nerves to greet the Crown Prince of this land in shorts?"

I knew this girl had a problem with me the first time I saw her yesterday. She has been trying to provoke me ever since and I don't have time for her.

"The royal family said nothing about it so I don't see why you should be worried about what she wears. They said we must wear our regular clothes and if these are her usual clothes, I don't see why she shouldn't greet His Highness wearing them."

I wanted to say thank you but before I could open my mouth, the prince and Princess Clara joined us. It wasn't hard to notice that they heard everything.

When the other girls rose from their seats to greet him, he raised his hand to dismiss them. I didn't even know we are supposed to greet him every time we see him.

"At ease. You don't need to do that." He smiled and I swear, his smile is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I wish he can smile more often.

I found myself smiling at that. Who am I to wish that the Crown Prince of Harrington Empire would smile more often just because I want him to?

I felt eyes staring at me and when I looked up, everyone was looking at me. What did I do? Oh my God, I hope I didn't laugh out loud!

"Anything to share with us, Lady Alyssa?" I looked at Lily. I swear to God this girl is testing me.

"I was just thinking how beautiful our prince's smile is. Anything wrong with that?" I didn't realize the prince had been drinking until he sprayed it all over Princess Clara.

Kill me now! Why did I even say that?

"Owen, What the f**k?!"

"Language Clara!" The empress gave her a look I don't even know how to describe.

"Sorry, Your Majesty but look at what he did to my dress? I spent three hours getting ready and he just ruined everything for me!"

"I'm sorry my dear. You can go and change." She then looked at her son. "Care to explain how you did that?"

"It's okay, it's not his fault. I will go and change."

"I didn't mean that and I'm sorry." I guess life isn't boring in this palace. It's just that we won't be having our dinner with the royal family every day so I'm going to miss out.

"You will never stop will you?" The empress kept looking at her son.

"It was a mistake mother. I didn't even realise that I ruined her dress. I know it is hard to believe but it is the truth." He gave her that beautiful smile of his.

Speaking of that smile, I almost forgot that it was that smile that started this whole thing. I shouldn't have said anything.

It would've been better to just ignore Lily and pretend as if I didn't hear what she said.

"We have guests, stop arguing in front of them."

"Your Majesty." We all rose from our seats as soon as he entered the dining hall. Both mother and son kept quiet after that.

"There's no need for all the formalities. Sorry to keep you waiting." He also has the same smile as his son. Good genes I guess. It's not fair!

"I wanted to meet you ladies last night to ask how you're doing. I hope you're enjoying your stay here in the palace." The empress asked as soon as we finished our dinner.

"Everything is perfect Your Majesty. Thank you for asking." Of course, she is the one who responded. Who does this girl think she is?

"You were the first to arrive, Lily. Are you adapting?" She smiled brightly, I guess she enjoys the attention the empress is giving to her.

"It is not too different from what I'm used to. It still feels like I'm back home." What the heck?! She is comparing her home with this palace?

"Your father called yesterday." Huh?

"He did?" Are they close or what?

"He was asking about you. I assured him that you're being taken care of." Even the emperor is joining in in the conversation. How close are they? I guess that's why she thinks she owns this place.

She must be thinking that the prince is already hers. Good for her, at least I know I don't have to put in much effort for something I already know I'm not going to win.

"You don't have to worry about anything, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay with us." She then turned to me. "Alyssa right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I had no idea that Clarissa has a beautiful daughter. Did your father ever tell you that you have your mother's eyes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have lost count." She smiled at me and I found myself smiling along with her.

"And her smile as well." I almost choked on my own saliva when the emperor said that. My dad always told me that she was close to the empress but I didn't know that she was even close to the emperor.

"Yes. Your mom had a beautiful smile. Her smile could brighten everyone's day. She was the sweetest person I've ever met in my entire life and she made the journey for me in this palace so easy.

"When I learned that she died while giving birth to you and your brother, I was heartbroken and I somehow wished that I was there for her.

"I have no doubt that she would've been a wonderful mother to you both." She gave me a small assuring smile and I had to blink away the tears that were threatening to make themselves known.

I didn't miss the looks the other girls gave me. The worst of them all was from Lily, I don't know what I did to that girl for her to hate me this much.

The empress spoke to the other girls too, she asked them random questions and what they were doing before moving to the palace.

"I was part of this modelling agency in the city and it was going pretty well. I had to leave though because I had to come here. The manager said I could come back anytime and I'll do exactly that."

"You're not confident that you will win the contest?" The crown prince who has been really quiet finally asked something.

"Your Highness, I know my limits. I'm not going to lie and say that I came here to win this competition because I don't.

"I only wanted to honour my father. I asked him to speak to the emperor about replacing me with someone else but he was adamant that he wants me to be part of this.

"I love modelling and I don't think being a princess is for me besides, with all these beautiful ladies, I'm not a fool to think that I stand a chance."

Who doesn't want to be a princess? From the way they looked at me when the prince asked my name and when the empress spoke to me, their eyes said it all. Does she think that we're fools?

"That's alright, no one is going to force you into anything. I would've granted you your wish but you're already part of this contest and you will have to stay with us until the end or when the prince doesn't choose you for the second round."

"Second round?" I covered my mouth as soon as I said that. I thought I was just asking myself but somehow I said it out aloud.

"We have six rounds. This is the first one which consists of all of you girls. My son will pick 15 of you girls for the next round which means the remaining five will be going home.

"He will do the same thing until only five of you are left. Then he will pick three for the next round and then two for the final round."

I've just embarrassed myself. My dad told me to check the email sent by the royal secretary to know all the rules but I didn't think it was necessary.

"You don't need to worry though, this is going to be a fair competition. I have made all the arrangements and the organisers have prepared everything.

"You're going to be tested fairly and we are not going to allow any excuses. I know you girls are different from each other but that is a good thing for every one of us.

"I know if you're not good at cooking, that doesn't mean you're not good at anything. I assure you that there is at least one thing that each and every one of you is good at.

"We made our own research the moment you girls were notified that you will be coming to live with us and even though we don't know everything about you, we know what we need to know and we used that to create every single challenge that you guys are going to take."

I wonder who also likes cooking as I do. When I went to culinary school, my dad was worried that I wasn't going to be able to fit in considering I didn't even know how to boil an egg but it was easy to adjust.

I wanted to open my own restaurant but my coming here to the palace ruined my plans. One of my dad's hotels doesn't have a built-in restaurant and he agreed to let me open my own restaurant there and I know it was going to be wonderful.

My twin brother is a fourth-year medical student and sometimes people find it hard to believe. My twin brother is a medical student while I, on the other hand, a chef.

To be honest, it doesn't really make sense. It would be easy to understand if I also went to the health industry, maybe not medicine but still something somewhat similar like nursing or pharmacy.

I hate hospitals so I know I wasn't going to fit in which is why I did something that first came to mind. Funny thing is that I took that decision overnight.

I was just lying on my bed one night and thought about being a chef and when I woke up, I told my dad that I was going to apply for it.

"I'm so sorry ladies, but it is time to retire to my chambers. I hope to see you some more tomorrow. You also need some rest before the challenges begin." She smiled at us briefly before she left with her husband.

"I will have to leave too. I wish you all a good night, I will see you tomorrow." He also smiled at us before leaving. I guess this family likes smiling.

I am very grateful that they are friendly people otherwise my life here would've been miserable. I have to call my dad and Matt to tell them that they should stop worrying because I'm fine.

I wonder if my mother is proud of me wherever she is. This was her wish and I will try my best to honour it.