The Royal bride selection trials

chapter four

I spent the rest of the day and the next in the room Callum provided for me. When the maid came to call me to the dining room, I asked her to bring the food to me instead.

I had gone through the file front to back several times. I felt like I knew Isabelle like the back of my hands.

Maybe I should have asked how he'd gotten her identity and invitation. I was afraid I already knew the answer.

I shook the thoughts away and prepared for what was coming. Tomorrow, I would be Isabelle Sinclair.

After the hairstylist showed up, of course.

There was a soft knock on my door. It opened slowly, and Callum walked in.

He stood by the door, and I sat up immediately, avoiding his eyes.

"I've memorized the files."

"Your mother would like to speak to you." He held up a phone.

I walked to him and took it away, placed it on my ear, and turned away from him.

"Mum?"

"Callum says you'll be going away for a while. Why didn't you tell me?" I could hear Richie making his weird sounds behind her.

"I was going to call you tomorrow," I lied.

"Darling, why did you keep such secrets? The new job, the apartment, and that friend of yours."

My eyebrows furrowed. I looked back at Callum.

What did he tell her?

"I'm sorry, Mum. We'll talk about it later."

"Richie says hi."

"Loserrr!" I heard him scream behind her.

I laughed, genuinely for the first time in days. He was such a child.

Callum took the phone away and placed it in his pocket.

"You've been avoiding me." He walked closer.

I stepped back immediately.

"I've been memorizing Isabelle, and I liked to rest now." I went for my bed, but he dragged me by the waist to face him.

I was about to protest when his lips touched mine.

I should have pushed him away. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He lifted me so easily, walking forward until my back touched the wall.

His tongue danced inside my mouth. I could barely breathe.

He pulled away, staring down at me.

"When you go to that place, remember where your loyalties lie." He kissed me again.

This time, more intense. His lips were warm and soft. He tasted like coffee and chocolate.

I pulled away to catch my breath, my heart beating loudly.

"I don't have much of a choice. I wouldn't want to end up like Isabelle." The words came out before I could stop them.

He set me down slowly, giving me a look I didn't understand.

"What do you mean, end up like Isabelle?" His eyes flicked to the file I left on the table and then back to me.

"I know how you got her invitation. I want my family to remain safe..." I bowed my head, waiting for a reaction.

He buttoned up my shirt that had come undone during our little session. His hands stayed on the last button for a while.

"You think I... I said I wasn't your friend, I didn't say I was a monster."

He stepped back, with the same look I still didn't understand, and walked off, closing the door as gently as he had come in.

My knees gave way as soon as the door clicked, and I fell to the ground, my breathing still uneven.

I needed to leave this place. I didn't like the effect he had on me.

I picked myself up from the ground and lay on my bed.

I tried to sleep, but memories of the kiss I had just shared with Callum flooded my thoughts.

Maybe if I had kept my mouth shut, he'd still be here kissing me. Even better, he'd be...

"STOP, f**k!" I said out loud, forcing myself out of those nasty thoughts about him.

I tossed and turned on the bed until my body was finally tired enough to go to sleep.

The next morning, I was woken by the maid. She informed me that the hairstylist was here.

I groaned.

"Mr. Corvane picked out this dress for you." She dropped a neatly packed box next to me on the bed and left the room.

I took a shower and waited for the hairstylist to set up her workspace.

In a few hours, my dark brown hair had become a rich copper with gold highlights, and the contacts had turned my brown eyes a deep amber.

It was me, but it wasn't. I looked beautiful.

After the hairstylist left, delayed by me giggling, telling her thank you, and running around the room.

I changed into the dress Callum had picked out for me.

It was a black silk dress with a fitted waist and dramatic open at the back. It was paired with a gorgeous gold back chain and simple gold jewelry.

It was perfect. He even knew my size.

The maid came to tell me that a car was waiting to take me to the capital.

She smiled on her way out, and once again, I was a giggling mess.

Callum waited by the entrance, avoiding my eyes. My smile faded. I was hoping I'd get at least a you look beautiful.

Instead, he handed me a small phone.

"You'll get further details from me. Be careful with that. Phones aren't allowed during the trial."

"Okay."

I placed the phone in my purse and walked to the car.

"RUE," he called.

I turned, waiting for him to say something, at least acknowledge that I wore his dress.

He clenched his jaw.

"Don't mess up."

I entered the car, and he walked back inside his mansion.

I pushed thoughts of him away and focused on the mission ahead.

I was going to the capital. I was going to meet the royal family.

I shouldn't let Callum be a distraction.

I relaxed on the car seat, going over the details in the file, including a map of the Thornwood estate, also known as the Royal Palace.

I was about to fight to be queen.

Available next action: Create a downloadable DOCX file here in this chat containing the editable prose above