The Royal bride selection trials

chapter six

"Some of these rules are ridiculous"I said, turning to senna who was now emptying my suitcases and filling up the closet.

"We can't seek out the prince, it's a ground for elimination"I flipped through the pages, looking for anything on going outside..

"we can't go outside until after the trials end or if you're eliminated. ohhh...you can't leave this building too unless summoned." I shook my head.

"lady sin.... Isabelle, you have to follow the rules or you'll be eliminated" she said softly

"oh I know, it's just so many, there's even one about how many times we're allowed to eat."

she was done organizing my clothes, she zipped up the suitcases

"A queen's life is filled with many unnecessary rules" she replied pushing the suitcase into the closet.

"senna? How old are you?"

She closed the closet doors and turned to face me.

"16"

"Aren't you a little young to be a lady in waiting?"

her cheeks flooded red almost immediately.

"I hope to be a chief maid someday" she smiled.

I nodded, thinking about my ambitions, how I'd settled for a mediocre life of work and then back home, never pushing for anything else. Anything that would keep me from my mum.

"well I hope you become the best chief maid this palace has ever seen"

"And I hope you become Queen"

I swallowed, what type of Queen would I be, one who competed under someone else's identity.

One who was here to tear down the Royal family.

"you may leave"

it must have come out harsher than I intended because senna flinched and left without looking back.

I picked up the rules book and went to the trial section.

[POINTS ARE REVEALED AT THE END OF EACH STAGE AND TWO CONTESTANTS WITH THE LOWEST SCORES ARE ELIMINATED.]

STAGE ONE

GARDEN PARTY WITH FELLOW CONTESTANTS

STAGE TWO

CHARITY EVENT

STAGE THREE

FORMAL DINNER

It went on to stage five. It did not give more details of the stages or even how points were earned

At the fifth stage, when we were down by Ten.

A "major event" would be revealed and five contestants would be eliminated and the rest would go on to the "final stage."

It would be an intense two months and with the tension I noticed, it would be even more brutal.

I locked my room door and went to find the phone I had hidden

still no messages, I placed the phone somewhere it would be more difficult to find.

I took a shower and changed into a simple sun dress and placed my hair in a bun.

A large bell chimed which from the rulebook meant we should make our way to the dining hall.

I waited for ten minutes before making my way down.

There were Ten tables two seats each and a larger one on a platform

I assumed the queen would be joining for dinner.

I looked around the room,some people were already seated but others talked among themselves.

The girl with the blonde hair walked towards me, I could barely remember her name, I knew it started with a c

"Camille and you are?" she extended her hands

I took it

"Isabelle"

She held on. I tried to take my hands back but she held tighter pulling me towards her.

"I hear you had a word with the Queen Dowager" she whispered

I yanked my hands away from her

"we merely shared a laugh"

she forced a smile, pushing me aside as she walked past.

I was barely a day in and I had already made an enemy.

I sat on the table closest to the entrance and continued to watch.

"They make friends quick"a voice said

I looked up to find a girl about my height, dark brown hair and black eyes, like me she wore a sundress but her hair fell to her shoulders

she gestured to the seat opposite me and I nodded.

"Anastasia." she said extending her hands, I eyed them for a while before taking it

removing my hands almost immediately.

"Isabelle, nice to meet you"

"Likewise."

a smaller bell chimed and all the girls took their seats.

Queen Briella walked in the queen Dowager by her side.

The girls stood to courtesy and I quickly followed behind.

No one sat until they were both seated.

a minute later, several carts were pushed out and we were served our food.

I picked a spoon.

Anastasia gave me a look.

I rolled my eyes

"I doubt they're scoring on etiquette, they can teach you things like that, it's most likely things you can't be taught like... kindness" my eyes fell to Camille who took the table closest the queen

If her mission was to be noticed she was doing a fine job. helping up a waiter who had just fallen only to she had tripped him over her own leg.

Anastasia laughed, drawing my attention back to my table.

"I didn't think anyone else would figure that out"

she picked up a spoon too and I smiled

We hit our spoons together like we were making a toast and began to eat.

afterwards the queen stood to make an announcement.

the dining hall fell silent.

"The Royal bride selection trials have officially commenced, please abide by the rules and do your best"

the girls clapped softly.

She turned to leave the table but her knees buckled. She was quickly held by her lady in waiting.

me and Anastasia exchanged a look.

"I've heard rumors that she's dying," she whispered.

"might be an exaggeration" I replied, my eyes going back to the queen who was now walking past us.

" might not be, it was nice meeting you Isabelle"she stood up and left the table.

I waited for as many girls to leave before I followed.

Camille stood by the door.

she gave me a cold calculating stare as I walked by.

If a small interaction with the Queen Dowager made me such a threat what would she do when points started getting revealed.