The Royal bride selection trials

chapter three

Callum's home was absolutely amazing, my jaw dropped as the driver pulled into the wide black gate, his family crest boldly plastered on the gates.

The driveway was in between a perfectly maintained lush garden, Trees lined the ends of the driveway evenly spaced. Behind them were rows of beautiful peonies that surrounded the garden.

The Corvane mansion was absolutely glorious, I almost wanted to put my head outside the car window to get a better look.

"Woah" the words came out before I realized and suddenly I could feel his eyes burning the back of my head.

I turned away from the window and sat up straight

"it's okay, we spent a lot of money on it, It would be a shame if no one admired it" he smirked

I scoffed, So he was arrogant too

"show off" I whispered

"what?"

"Nothing" I faked a smile.

The car didn't stop in front of the mansion, instead we drove behind the mansion revealing a smaller but equally beautiful building.

It was obvious this one belonged to him, not his family.

He stepped down from the car and I followed, we walked into the building and he pointed at a door right beside the entrance

"you can freshen up there"

He walked off before I asked anything and I was left to my thoughts.

**************

The shower was the perfect balance between cold and warm. I couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed having a bath.

I stepped out with a towel wrapped around my chest and my hair dripping wet.

"You really took your time"

"f**k!" I flinched, quickly wrapping my hand around myself, worried the towel would fall off or something.

If that happened I'd crawl into a hole and die.

Callum sat comfortably on the Queen sized bed. watching me as water slowly dropped from my hair and body to the floor.

He had changed into a shirt that he had barely buttoned revealing his perfectly toned abs.

I looked away immediately

"what are you doing here, you have no respect for people's privacy!"

I walked to the wardrobe to find something to cover myself up

He followed behind me.

I swallowed, my hands trembling as I opened up the wardrobe.

He put his arms around my waist and turned to face him. I could barely breathe and my heart threatened to fall out of my chest. I slowly closed my eyes as he pulled closer and then he stopped barely an inch away from my lips.

"What is it about me that makes you forget that I have your family... I am not your friend, Rue" he removed his hands and my knees almost dropped.

He laughed, it was the first time I heard him laugh and It made me want to lock myself in the wardrobe.

"It's okay to be attracted to me, I understand," he said between laughs as he left the room.

I could still hear him seconds later.

This was nothing but a game to him, Everything he did was planned.

I realized that the reason he picked me was because he knew he could manipulate me.

I was the perfect puppet for Callum and I hated myself for it.

I wiped the tears forming and got dressed, picking out a random dress in the wardrobe.

I needed to get away from him as fast as I could.

Even if it meant winning the royal bride selection trials.

I was pulled out of my head with a knock on my door. I made sure there weren't any more tears before I opened the door.

A woman in a maid's uniform stood by the door holding an empty tray.

"Mr Corvane asks that you join him at the dining table"

I wanted to refuse, stay in my room instead. But my stomach growled so loudly my cheeks turned red.

We both stared at each other for a few seconds before she turned around.

"I'll take you there" she said as she walked off.

I followed quietly behind, still embarrassed.

She stopped by a large door and turned to face me.

"you can join him when you're ready" she gave me a small smile

"Thank you" I said, she nodded and was gone before I blinked.

I pushed the door open to find Callum sitting at the head of the very long dining table.

He gestured towards the seat beside him

I bit my cheeks as I walked towards him, praying my stomach wouldn't embarrass me again.

I sat quietly and a few minutes later, a man showed up pushing a cart. He served the food and left as quickly as he had come.

We ate quietly, the only sounds were our utensils touching the surface of the plates.

"I suppose it's time we go over the details." He broke the silence as he placed his utensils down and cleaned his mouth with a napkin.

I had no words for him, so I nodded and continued eating.

"Rue."

"Yes I suppose it's time."I kept my eyes to the plate in front of me but I could feel his eyes watching everything I did.

"The Royal bride selection trials are held for every son in the royal line regardless if he is the crown prince."

"I already know that, they don't reveal who it's for until it starts" those were more words than I wanted to say to him.

"The Thornwoods believe that a royal bride and Queen should be qualified." He watched me push the plate away from me.

He called for the butler and in a few seconds he had cleared the table and left the room.

"The trials start in two days and you will be going as Isabelle Sinclair"

He reached for a bag I hadn't noticed earlier and pulled out a file.

"Some eye contacts and a little bit of hair dye and you are Isabelle" he placed the file in front of me.

inside were details of my false identity, age, date of birth, habits, everything. It was the most comprehensive file I had ever seen.

"Is she an actual person?"

He paused. Looking between me and the files on the table.

"Yes. You can only get in if you have an invitation and you aren't invited." he pushed his hands through his hair.

"And Isabelle was. I understand" I asked nothing else, the less I knew the safer I would be.

"memorize the files"

I stood up and left the room before he could say anything else.