The Imperial Prince's Surrogate Wife

Chapter 1: Purchased by the King

The surrogates are leading their way onto the hall where the final test takes place. Given the training and etiquette, they are required to take the surrogacy test every time a royal blood wishes to purchase.

The high painted ceiling and opaque stained glass windows around the corner showed that the facility area was once a church. After dividing the territories into the caste system of the whole Kingdom, they later built the church beside the royal palace, where the two founding Houses are located.

They followed the dame down the ample marble stairs. Scents from the kitchen draft up the staircase, fresh baked-bread, and cinnamon. They passed into one of the areas; the door was open, and they halted for a second to gaze. The girls are young, presumably only nine or ten. Thanks to that genetic peculiarity, the poor people from the Soulhearth had the ability to save the royalties.

Czarina Green, a 19-year-old surrogate from Soulhearth who lived her life along the walls of the holding facility, had never experienced freedom. She has jade eyes, shaped like nuts, and set in a flawless oval face, and her skin is creamy fair skin. She lost her parents after the epidemic attacked the empire. She then became a prospect to be a surrogate for almost nine years, and now the auction will define her destiny.

"This will be my last day as Czarina Green," she whispered to her friend Titania, who is also a surrogate from Soulhearth.

The girls are seated at the victorian chairs with a small compartment beside them and a neatly folded handkerchief next to each one.

Titania frowned. "Do you have any idea about the rules of us being a surrogate for the noble family? Do you think we will have our freedom after giving birth?" she asked, maintaining her poise while sitting on one of the victorian chairs that the facility provided.

Czarina shrugged out of frustration. "Who knows. People like us in this world have no directions to follow. But you know what? I've already accepted my fate for me to lessen the grudge I am carrying for years now," she gritted her teeth after reminiscing about her past.

Poor laborers like them were thrown into different towns in the kingdom to earn a living. Czarina's parents died due to an epidemic that affected the empire's state for almost three years. She could still vividly remember how her parents died and how the officers took her to the facility to become one of the surrogates.

They all stood up and bowed down when the viscount of Oleas entered the hall; the distinguished guest arrived with two associates with him.

"Presenting Lord Timothy of Oleas." The dame announced who is currently on the hall's podium.

The Viscount smiled spookily, observing the surrogates. "These are all top tiers when it comes to their physique. You did a great job in training and molding them onto notable persons, Meridian."

The dame lightly giggled and gaped a look to the surrogates to settle down. The auction will start after the arrival of King Philip the II. They have no idea who will purchase them to abide by the rules of transparency. The rest of the room sits, and the conversation starts again but in low whispers.

Czarina, who is currently examining the Viscount, sniffled a snort. A hunch tells her that today is her last day in the holding facility. She prolly thinks that she will have her freedom after nine months of bearing the next heir to the throne. A moment passed, and they were given a set of numbers to replace their names.

"What's your lot number?" Lilac asked Czarina.

Lilac is two years younger than Czarina and the youngest surrogate. Her skin is rich cream color, and she has black hair but trimmed short, stick-straight, and glossy, unlike Czarina that falls in waves down her back.

"Lot three," Czarina mumbled, her voice as sweet as honey. "I hope whoever buys me lets me wear pants."

"Yeah, but we can't choose our outfits starting tomorrow if we ever get purchased. Or the day after that. Or...well, ever again." Titania tucked her hair behind her ears. "I'm lot five," she added.

The royal palace doesn't seem like the type of place where women wear pants unless they are servants who work in unseen areas. They are required to wear the Palace's attire.

"Mine's 14," Lilac responded.

A light smile formed on Czarina's face. Lilac is like a younger sister to her.

Titania grinned. "Looks like we're hot commodities."

Every auction features a different number of surrogates, and they are all ranked. The first ten to be auctioned are considered the highest quality and therefore the most desirable.

"Presenting Your Royal Highness King Phillip the II!"

The dame is tense after seeing the king. The king has the power in everything around Emerald City, and she must offer the best surrogate in Him. Recent news streamed the whole city after the wedding of the Grand Prince Grey Lincoln and the Princess of Croshine, Princess Arabella.

The auction to be held right now is much more unique and private since the King and the Viscount were the only guests to purchase. The bidding isn't really necessary.

The surrogates are all wearing a tattered white dress up to their knee, and a red ribbon tucks into their hair. The King settled down onto the royal rosewood seat together with his other associates, the Earl and the Baronet of Emerald Kingdom.

The surrogates stood up and bowed to the King. The hall fell silent as three matrons entered the hall. After a few minutes, Queen consort also arrived.

"I never thought she'd come," Titania uttered. "I mean, she's been tagged as the snob Queen whatever, right?"

"Queen consort Zephyrin!"

The parties for the auction are all present. Everyone settled down except for the dame and matrons, who will assist the King and the Viscount in choosing a surrogate. The dame passed the data of all the surrogates to be selected.

"Aren't you just excited? I am so excited! We get to see the Royal Palace. Can you imagine?" Titania gushed, a handkerchief clutched in her hands.

Czarina glimpsed at her. "I actually imagine things after giving birth. I want to be a worker from Leonidas and have my own family. Bearing children in Leonidas is allowed. Do you think we'll have that life?"

Titania giggled. "I just want a rich noble family to have me and get me fancy dresses and good foods."

Czarina liked Titania a lot. Despite her overwhelming enthusiasm and the fact that she didn't come from such a good family in Soulhearth. Her dad used to beat her, and her mom was an alcoholic. Being taken into the facility as a surrogate is actually a good thing for her.

"Who would have thought that after a decade, the auction will be opening again?" Czarina asserted.

Titania grinned. "I remembered when Ophelia got auctioned by our neighboring Kingdom; what is it again?"

"Hamlet. The Hamlet Kingdom."

It's been ten years since they witnessed an auction, and eight of their fellow surrogates got auctioned by different Royal families across the empire. Emerald City is the only city where you could get a surrogate.

"The first surrogate to be auctioned is lot number five!"

Czarina's body froze. Titania is sold; the house of Oleas auctions her only friend.

A wide smile formed on Titania's oval-shaped face. She couldn't be delighted hearing those words. At last, after nine years, she could finally leave the holding facility.

Czarina glanced at Titania, giving her a miserable look. "I hope I get auctioned too."

Titania took her chin in her hand and looked straight into her eyes. "You listen to me, Czarina Green. We are going to be fine. We're intelligent and courageous. We'll be fine."

"King Phillip the II has chosen lot number three to become the surrogate of his grandson Grand Prince Grey Lincoln and Princess Arabella of Croshine," the dame announced that made Czarina's body stiffened.

She can't believe that King Phillip would purchase her. Being rank number three is a hot entity, but lot numbers one and two are amply better than her.

"I told you!" Titania giggled.

The surrogates stood up and bowed down to the King and Queen of Emerald City. The Viscount of the house of Oleas followed them along the hall. The auctioned surrogates are being prepared for a night before leaving the holding facility.

Czarina and the rest of the surrogates stood up and left the hall into their respective rooms. Titania and Czarina were roommates together with Lilac and Bluebell. Lilac rushed to hug Czarina and Titania. She began to whimper that made the two worry about her.

"Am I not able to see the two of you again?" she asked while sobbing solely, gripping the hands of Czarina and Titania around her.

Czarina caressed Lilac's back to refrain her from crying. "I promise to see you again after giving birth, okay?"

"Stop sobbing, Lilac. I bet you'll be auctioned after us." Titania unzipped her leather boots and dragged herself onto the soft mattress.

Lilac wiped her tears and gave Czarina a big smile. Lilac thought that she shouldn't be affected; she must remain strong to survive. The only thing that should matter to her right now is her safety and assurance. No one knows what happens to a surrogate after giving birth. Some say they were being thrown into the bank to work and have their own family; some say, they become a slave to the royal family after giving the rights to them.

They quit talking when the door creaked open. The dame entered the room with two assistants with her. Both are wearing a black dress with white trim, with a full skirt at above knee-length—white half-apron, with laces and a ruffled headpiece.

"The two of you will be in a different room to stay tonight," she uttered while holding a white fabric.

Titania stood up and held Czarina's arms. She could feel Czarina's being timidly sweating and passing out.

"They will be your lady-in-waiting. You will live in the royal palace, Dearie." She pointed out at Czarina. "And for you number five, you'll be under the house of Oleas," she added.

Czarina started to feel nervous. It will be the first time she will leave the holding facility, and it's been nine years since she got outside the city.

"Should we go now?" Czarina asked in dismay.

The Dame nodded lightly. "Follow your lady-in-waiting, and you will be having your total makeover."

Czarina and Titania nodded. There are perks of being a surrogate. They get to adorn how they want, eat what they wish to, rest late on weekends. They get a decent education. They get fresh food and water, and they never had to work. They have never known poverty after living around the walls of the facility.

Except for freedom. They never seem to mention that.

Both of them bustled out of the room and followed their lady-in-waiting. The Facility corridors are paneled in teak; artworks hang on the walls, streaks of color that don't portray anything tangible. Czarina and her lady-in-waiting entered the empty room 1074 while Titania entered room 1075.

After getting into the room with only a single bed and a wooden chair inside, Czarina's lady-in-waiting insisted her to sit on the chair.

The girl opened the paper clutched in her arms. "Lot three. Age nineteen, height five feet and six inches, weight one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Unique eye color, eight years in training."

"What's your name?" Czarina raised a question, smiling.

She can't believe until now that she will be having her own lady-in-waiting.

Her lady-in-waiting started combing her hair. "Felice. I am the lady-in-waiting for Princess Arabella, but she instructed me to assist you here."