Chapter 5: The Selection Ball
1295 Words
Seraphina stared at her reflection for what felt like the hundredth time that day. The girl in the mirror looked elegant, almost unreal, wrapped in layers of expensive satin and delicate embroidery that shimmered softly beneath the warm candlelight. Her hair had been carefully curled and pinned away from her face, allowing strands of silver jewelry to rest gracefully against her neck and shoulders.
She looked beautiful.
Everyone kept reminding her of that.
Yet all Seraphina could focus on was the sick feeling twisting violently inside her stomach.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the vanity table as another wave of nausea washed over her. She inhaled slowly, forcing herself not to panic, but it was useless. The uneasy feeling had been there since morning, lingering stubbornly in her chest no matter how much she tried to ignore it.
Something about tonight felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Contrary to her mother's gentle reassurances and the excitement buzzing throughout the estate, Seraphina could not shake the dreadful certainty pressing down on her heart.
Tonight would be different.
And that frightened her the most.
Her instincts had never failed her before.
Ever since she was little, she had always sensed when something bad was about to happen. Small things at first—a servant dropping expensive china moments before it happened, a storm arriving despite clear skies, a horse throwing its rider before anyone noticed its agitation.
And every single time, that same dreadful feeling had appeared beforehand.
The exact same feeling sitting heavily inside her now.
She wished desperately that this was one of the rare moments her instincts were wrong.
Because if she was right…
Then being chosen tonight meant everything was over.
A soft knock sounded before the doors swung open.
Several maids entered at once, carrying jewelry cases, perfumes, gloves, ribbons, shoes, and carefully folded fabrics draped over their arms. Their movements were quick and coordinated as they spread themselves across the room, placing accessories neatly across tables and chairs.
"Set the diamonds over there."
"No, the silver ones match her gown better."
"Careful with her gloves."
"The carriage should arrive before sunset."
Their voices blended together into meaningless noise.
Seraphina barely heard any of it.
She continued staring at herself in the mirror, almost as though she were trying to memorize the person she used to be.
The Royal Selection Ball was only held when a prince of the royal bloodline was considered ready for marriage—and eventually, the throne itself.
Which meant tonight's event was
Every noble family across the kingdom attended it with one purpose: to present their daughters before the royal court and the kingdom's elite. Officially, it was described as a celebration of unity and honor.
In reality, everyone knew what it truly was.
A marketplace hidden beneath gold chandeliers and expensive music.
Girls were dressed beautifully, taught how to smile gracefully, how to speak elegantly, how to dance perfectly—all so powerful men could decide which families were worthy of favor, alliances, and influence.
And this year, the royal family was searching for a bride for one of the king's sons.
Every influential household in the kingdom was desperate for their daughter to be noticed.
Especially her father.
Seraphina's jaw tightened slightly at the thought of him.
Commander Armand.
One of the highest-ranking military executives in the kingdom and one of the king's most trusted men.
Respected.
Feared.
Powerful.
And utterly ruthless when it came to ambition.
To the outside world, he was a loyal servant of the crown and a disciplined military genius. But behind closed doors, Seraphina knew exactly who her father truly was.
A man obsessed with power.
A man who viewed everything—including his own daughter—as a tool to elevate the family name further.
"You have no choice in this."
His words from days ago still echoed painfully inside her mind.
She remembered standing in his study, trying desperately to reason with him while he calmly signed military documents as though they were discussing something insignificant.
"I do not want this marriage," she had said shakily.
"One day, you'll understand better," he replied without even looking at her.
The memory alone made her stomach twist again.
She had wanted so badly to understand him.
To believe there was some deeper reason behind all this.
Perhaps duty.
Perhaps pressure from the crown.
Perhaps fear.
But no matter how hard she tried, nothing justified what he was doing.
Nothing justified sacrificing his daughter's future simply to gain more influence within the royal court.
If she was chosen tonight, the Armand family would gain direct ties to the royal bloodline.
Military power combined with royal favor.
It would make her father nearly untouchable.
That was all this was about.
Power.
Wealth.
Control.
Not her happiness.
Never her happiness.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips.
Her mother, Evelyne, was no different from the other noblewomen trapped within the kingdom's rigid expectations. Seraphina knew she cared. Knew she hated this situation almost as much as she did.
But caring and stopping it were two entirely different things.
Lady Evelyne had spent years surviving quietly beside a powerful husband. She had learned long ago that opposing him openly only made things worse.
So instead, she endured.
And expected Seraphina to endure as well.
The thought made her chest ache painfully.
One of the younger maids approached cautiously with a necklace in her hands.
"My lady," she said softly, "may I?"
Seraphina nodded absentmindedly.
The maid fastened the necklace carefully around her throat. Emerald stones rested against her skin like chains.
Everything tonight felt like chains.
The dress.
The jewelry.
The expectations.
The future waiting for her beyond those palace gates.
A few maids stepped back to admire their work.
"You look breathtaking."
"The prince will certainly notice her."
"She looks like nobility from the old stories."
Seraphina fought the urge to laugh bitterly.
If only they knew how terrified she truly was beneath all the silk and diamonds.
Her eyes drifted once more toward the mirror.
She hardly recognized herself.
The girl staring back looked poised and graceful, exactly what the kingdom admired in women.
Obedient.
Elegant.
Silent.
But beneath that carefully crafted appearance was someone screaming internally.
Someone desperate to run.
A sudden image flashed through her mind—herself fleeing before sunset, climbing onto a horse and disappearing far beyond the kingdom walls before anyone could stop her.
Freedom.
The thought lasted only seconds before reality crushed it instantly.
There was nowhere she could go that her father would not find her.
Commander Armand commanded soldiers across half the kingdom.
Escape was impossible.
The doors opened again.
This time, her mother entered quietly.
The room immediately fell silent.
Lady Evelyne approached her slowly, her expression softening the moment she saw Seraphina.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then her mother gently cupped her cheek.
"You look beautiful," she whispered.
Seraphina swallowed painfully.
"I do not want to go," she admitted quietly.
Her mother's eyes filled briefly with sadness.
"I know."
"Then why does nobody care?"
The question slipped out before Seraphina could stop herself.
The room became unbearably still.
Her mother glanced away for a moment before answering softly, "Because this kingdom was not built for women like us to have choices."
The words hurt because they were true.
Seraphina looked down at her trembling hands.
Outside the estate, she could already hear distant carriage wheels rolling across stone roads as nobles made their way toward the palace.
Evening was approaching quickly.
And with every passing minute, the dreadful feeling inside her only worsened.
Something was coming.
She did not know what.
But deep down, Seraphina knew tonight might mark the end of the life she had known until now.
- Writer
