The Choosing Game

Tea Party

Lilliana's POV:

"What do you want me tell you?" I asked feeling a little bit annoyed "i told you everything already, i am tired and would like to go to bed," i rolled my eyes, turning to the other side of the bed.

She squealed "i just don't believe that after all the fuse he made about taking you out, you guys parted without even a goodnight's kiss"

Emily is a lot like Sofia, annoying yet loving. At this very moment i just wanted to hit her square on the head. I turned back around to face her "Ems you know me, i would probably scream bloody murderer if he tried to kiss me" i said with a smile.

She smiled "aww look at you Lils, you are smitten, i told you he is insanely charming"

Smitten? Me? My smile fell. I could not believe it only took one date to brake my resolve, i couldn't let myself go like this.

"I'm tired Ems. Goodnight" i said pulling the cover over my head.

"Alright, keep being in denial" she said leaving the bed "goodnight" with that she went into her room.

I woke up my usual time in the morning and went about my routine. After my morning spar at the gym, i took a warm bath and went to see Olga.

"Good morning miss Lilly," Olga greeted with her thick accent.

"Good morning Olga," i greeted back while drawing out a dinning chair.

"So tell me about it dear" she grinned as she started serving my breakfast.

"About what dear Ol?" I asked absent minded while i ate my food.

"Your date with the prince, i heard it went great" she sounded too excited for my liking. I stayed shut while stuffing my face with my eggs, if i spoke about it then it would have to mean something, even to me; so i stay shut.

"Oh miss Lilly, you have to tell me" she urged me, i rolled my eyes at her.

"Alright Olga" i said dropping my fork. "The prince kidnapped me and took me out for ice cream, we came home and parted ways.. yeah and uhm no, i do not plan on seeing him ever again, at least until the day of elimination."

"If you say so." She returned to her work, she didn't press any further on the issue, i ate up and bade her adieu.

I toke my phone from my room and head to the library. It was two hours into my library time that a voice interrupted me "i was told i could find you here"

I looked up and smiled "hello princess"

"Hi Lilly" she sang, slumming down beside me.

"Who told you you could find me here?" I asked her, setting my book down.

"Oh you know who.." she wiggled her brows.

"That's it then, i'm changing my hiding spot" i giggled slightly.

She turned to a ninety degrees angle facing me "i heard you are giving him a hard time" she said with a serious tone.

Anna and i never really hung out, well other than just the few minutes we spent on my first day. We never spoke about her brother or the choosing or any other serious issue.

"Did he also tell you that?" I raised a brow, challenging her.

She was quiet, we stared at each other for a while then she burst out laughing, i stared at her confused, like she had lost her mind "i am sorry, i am only messing with you."

I let out a breath i was holding in "pheww! I actually thought you were serious, just when i had started liking you" i joked.

She squealed and hugged me "i know right. We are definitely going to be friends." She sat back as smiled "don't get me wrong though, my brother is a great guy and i would like for him to end up with someone like you not one of those pretentious snobs"

I smiled at her "they are not all bad"

"Yeah sure" she dismissed the topic "so what's with you and this library?" She asked.

" It is magnificent," i simply replied.

"Nerd" she teased.

I rolled my eyes at her and she grinned like a mad person "what?" I asked.

She shrugged "nothing.. just that my brother said you do that a lot" she lowered her voice an octave when she said the last part.

I opened my mouth then closed it, how can he know that by just hanging out with me for two hours and why would he talk to her about me.

"So.. how do you feel about coming with me to my little sister foundation?" She asked.

"Sure" i sounded neutral but the truth was that i was bored out of my mind, i missed Nate and Sofia so much but i was too proud to call them and i knew i would be back home soon, so i stuck it up.

"Great but you have to dress up a bit" she said with a goofy smile.

I rolled my eyes "whatever"

She came with me to my room and picked out a black dress for me, it was a sundress that reached knee length, it had a little heart shaped cut on the back, i paired it with black strap heels. I brushed my hair and left it loose, put on a pair of hooped earrings and some clear lipgloss.

She had a security detail that trail us which made me wonder why the prince was allowed to roam around alone, i never saw any security with him. I brushed the thought off.

We reached a hotel plaza reception, she explained that she was hosting a tea party for the little girls. We entered and were greeted by the over-excited little girls, it seemed Anna was quite the celebrity amongst them.

"Hello girls, this is my friend Lady Lilliana. She came all the way from Elma to stay with my family" she explained to them.

"Hello Lady Lilliana" they chorused and curtseyed.

"Hello" i smiled

"Are you a princess too?" A little girl asked, she looked about five or so.

I chuckled at her question "No.." i was searching for her name.

"Alain" one of the women said.

"No dear Alain, i am not a princess." I walked towards her and squatted down to her height "my father is a Duke and my mother is a Duchess therefore, i am a lady not a princess" i explained.

"She could be a Queen if she marry's me Alain" i knew that voice. I wanted to scream, the little girls went "ohhhh" bursting into a fit of giggles.

I exhaled and stood back up, i turned to face him. I had no idea that he was so close to me, i got whiplashed by the proximity i almost fell. He quickly put his hand behind me at the little opening of my dress, at my spine and held me. The way his hand felt on my skin was not anything i ever wanted to feel again in my life.

I wanted to yank his arm off and move but i couldn't, i stood still and let him hold me "be careful my Lady, we wouldn't you getting hurt now, would we?" he said with a glint in his eyes.

I wiggled out of his hold and mumbled a quick thank you. I moved and stood beside Anna, while she looked at me with a mischievous smile.

We took our seats and the tea party commenced. I was sitting in between Anna and the prince, it was just too awkward. The kids were very nice though, they made me miss home even more.

"Lady Lilliana" one of the girls called my attention, i found that her name was Misty.

"Just Lilly dear" i said with a smile.

The girl smiled shyly "what do you do in Elma?" She asked, she was one of the older girls there.

"Well, i am going to medical school this year and if all goes well i will be a doctor. What about you sweetie?"

"I'm starting high school after this summer" she said proudly.

"That is great" i chipped.

"You are very pretty Miss Lilly" Ella, a seven year old said.

"Ella!" The little sister's director warned her and we all laughed.

"It's fine Ella, i think she's very pretty too" Alex said shooting me a charming smile.

I felt my face turn beet red, i didn't know how to stop it, i hated the feeling. I put my face in my palms to cool it, i could hear Anna giggling.

"Are you really going to marry prince Alex?" Misty asked.

Something jumped inside me, i knew he was only kidding when he made that statement but these girls certainly did not understand that and i personally was irritated by it.

"The prince is currently promising that to eight other girls Misty so no, i am not going to marry him" i said it with a smile but every adult there knew i was pissed. "Excuse me" i shifted my seat and head to the restroom.

A few minutes after my exit, Anna joined me. Her smile fell when she noticed the scowl on my face through the sink mirror "I am sorry, i shouldn't have tricked you into this" she tried to apologize.

"I thought we could actually be friends," i said sadly.

"Don't say that please, i really am sorry. I shouldn’t have involved myself in this" her apology sounded sincere but what good was it to me? I hated being here and i hated the position she put me in.

"No, you shouldn't have. You had no right!" I was getting angrier just thinking about how peaceful my day was until she ruined it.

She looked taken aback but she quickly recovered "you are right and i am sorry" she was calm and really sorry.

I looked away briefly. "Can you ever forgive me?" She asked with a small smile.

"It's fine Anna, it's my fault really" i said as i turned on the faucet and splash some water on my face.

"What do you mean?"

I sighed "you know what forget i said anything" i wanted to tell her that i did not see the need of making friends since i would be leaving anytime but i knew it would turn into a whole thing and my whole speech about me not belonging here would be lost on her but, i knew who to give the speech to.

She nodded and smile "let's get back please"

"Ok" i dried the water off my face and followed her back to the table. The rest of the tea party went fine, i was actually enjoying taking to the girls. It all came to an end and we had to leave, we said goodbye to the little angels and were escorted to the car by Anna's security.

The prince and Anna were walking in front of me talking as i walked slowly behind them, we reached the cars and the turned to me. "Hey Anna, would you mind if i rode back with your brother?" I asked nicely.

They looked at each other and she broke into a grin "of course not." She hurriedly entered her car "have a nice ride," she squealed excitedly. If only she knew.

He walk to the passenger's door and opened it with what i have now written off as his signature smile. I quietly entered, he walked to his door and entered. We zoomed out of the plaza in no time.

We were a few minutes into the drive when i asked "where is your security?"

He slightly turned to me "pardon?"

"I saw Anna's security team today and it made me wonder why the crowned prince roams about without bodyguards" i stated my observation.

"Very observant" he mused "i don't think any of the other girls noticed that," he said with a chuckle.

"Yeah well?" I pushed impatiently.

"You are observant but not all that because if you would look into the rearview mirror you will notice two black cars at a distance from us, one by each side of the road and there is one ahead. They trail me but do not get close unless i am out for official purposes and they only engage when there is a potential threat" he explained.

I only nodded. "How are you finding the capital? Most of the girls have been, only you and a few others haven’t. In fact some of them grew up here" he blabbered.

I looked at him and said nothing "Are you comfortable? Are you and the other girls getting along?" He pushed again, this time he spoke to me like a little child.

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"Sure, we put all of you together because we want to find out how well each of you cope with other people, or how good of a team player you can be" he explained.

I almost scoffed at the idea of me being a team player, i just rolled my eyes. "What is your biggest strength Lilliana?" He asked randomly.

"My stubbornness" i answered naturally.

"Why do you say that?" He asked.

I shrugged "it is what drives me. I'm never one to take no for an answer, i'm never one to quit halfway through anything i put my mind to and when i put my mind to something, i never stand down despite whichever consequences might follow."

He then asked "What about your biggest weakness?"

"My stubbornness?"

"How so?" He asked.

"It knows no bounds" i replied and he nodded.

We were quiet for a while, when i saw us approaching the castle i knew that was the right time for me to talk. I didn't do it earlier because i did not want to be stuck in the car with him after having said my peace.

"Look.." i called his attention. When he gave it to me, i continued "i know you brought me here to prove a point to me or something of that sort but i want to make this really clear."

I inhaled deeply and let it all out "i do not belong here, i am not being modest about this. I hate the idea of this choosing game, i hate everything it stands for. I see no future with you whatsoever so why bother try? Honestly i would wreck you if you even came too close.

I am not saying this to insult you or the crown but i feel suffocated here. I was forced to come here and here i am so if you have any shred of respect for your kingdom you will not keep me here"

I could see his grip tighten around the steering wheel, he looked angry yet confused "what do you mean you see no future with me? What makes me so unlikable in your eyes?" He sneered.

"Oh dear God!" I exclaimed. "Is that all that you picked up from that?" I was frustrated by his inability to grasp the point.

"I know what you are saying but i want to know why you made that statement” he demanded.

“Ok, fine then. Have you for one second thought of this choosing from our perspective? Not just mine, even the other girl? Let me answer that for you; no. You have only thought of yourself, it’s your duty i know but what about us? Most of these girls broke up with their boyfriends to be here because they believe they will be chosen by you.

You know who you are most likely going to end up with? Sasha. I don’t even doubt it, her father forbade her from going into any kind of relationship on the basis that she will be your wife, her mother has dedicated those years to training her for this. So what the hell are the rest of us even doing here?

So you are that person that plays with other people’s feelings and i would rather get hit by a train than to be the person that let’s you play with my feelings”