Beyond Her Beauty

CHAPTER 7 (Family √)

I stoop in the line. Keeping my feet close to each other. Girls in the massive foyer of the palace, bouncing on the balls of my feet.

“Lady Lily,” Milvia put her face near my ears then whispered. That was all it took to know I was behaving in an unacceptable way. As our main tutor for the Elite finalist.

She took our actions personally. We need to be respective to people. We need to be perfect — elegant — beautiful.

I tried to still myself. I envied Milvia and the staff and the handful of guards who were moving around the space if only for the fact that they were allowed to walk. If I could do the same, I’d feel much calmer.

Lezen will be much happier if Kaden was already here. Then again, Lezen be it would make me more anxious. I still couldn’t figure out why, after everything, he doesn't have much time for me. Don't know why, maybe, he changed his mind, maybe he likes other elites now.

“They’re here!” I heard through the palace doors. I wasn’t the only one who made sounds of delight.

“All right, ladies!” Milvia called.

“Butlers and maids proceed against the wall, please.”

We tried to be the lovely, regal, young women, and be the best version of ourselves.

The second Kriesha, and Liezel’s which are our parents, made it through the doorway, it all fell apart. But I saw different people, different parents which is Liezel representative family. I'm so shocked. What was happening here? Are they mistaken or not? But it is impossible, Liezel is my sister.

Seeing Liezel's face, I knew she missed them too much to bother with decorum. They ran in screaming, and Liezel dashed out of the line without so much as a pause.

"What was happening here?" I asked myself, with a dash of whispering.

Selena’s parents were more put together, though they clearly were thrilled to see their daughter. She broke rank as well, but in a much more civilized way than my sister Liezel. I didn’t even register Natalie’s or Elise’s parents, because a short figure with wild red hair blazed around the open door, her eyes searching.

“Lezen!” I called my younger sister.

She heard my call and saw my waving arm and rushed to me, Mom and Dad following her lead along with Liezel. I knelt on the floor, embracing her.

"Who's them?" I asked.

"Who's what?" she's confused.

"You know, your fake parents earlier?"

"Auhm, ahhh Lil—"

Mom quickly spoke. “It's part of the rules Lily, we need to hide that Liezel is your sister in public."

What? I never heard that before. But Queen, Kaden, and others know it.

We are three siblings and we have L at our first name; Liezel, Lezen, and Lily.

"Just be quiet, Kitty," Dad said.

“Lily! I can’t believe it!” Lazen crooned, admiration and jealousy in her voice. “You look so gradient today!"

I couldn’t speak. I could barely even see her, I was crying so much. As an older sister to them I barely love to see us complete together.

A moment later, I felt the steady arms of my father taking us both in. Then Mom, abandoning her usual propriety, joined us, and we all held one another in a heap on the palace floor.

I heard a sigh that I knew was Milvia’s, but I really didn’t care at the moment.

Once I could breathe again, I spoke. “I’m so happy you guys are here.”

“We are, too, kitten,” Dad said. “Can’t even tell you how much we missed you.” I felt his kiss on the back of my head. My pen name is Kitten.

I twisted so I could hug him better. I didn’t know until this very moment how badly I had needed to see them.

I reached for Mom last. I was shocked that she was so quiet. I couldn’t believe she hadn’t already demanded a detailed report of my progress with Kaden. But when I pulled back, I noticed the tears in her eyes.

“You’re so beautiful, sweetheart. You look like a princess.”

I smiled. It was nice not to have her question or instruct me for once. She was just happy in the moment, and that meant the world to me. Because I was, too.

I noticed Lezen’s eyes focus on something over my shoulder.

“That’s him,” she breathed.

“Hmm?” I asked, looking down at her. I turned to see Kaden watching us from behind the grand stairwell. His smile was amused as he made his way to where we were huddled on the floor. My father stood immediately.

“Your Highness,” he said, his voice full of admiration.

Kaden walked up to him, hand outstretched. “Mr. Swift, it’s an honor. I’ve heard so much about you. And you, too, Mrs. Swift.” He moved to my mother, who had also risen and straightened her hair. My mom is a great singer and my dad is a great musician. No wonder why I can sing a little. I'm not confident about it but sometimes I sing every time I feel relaxed and alone.

“Your Majesty,” she squeaked, a little starstruck. “Sorry about all that.” She motioned to the floor as Lezen and I stood, still holding each other tightly.

Kaden chuckled. “Not at all. I’d expect no less enthusiasm from anyone related to Lady Lily.” I was sure Mom would want an explanation for that later. “And you must be Lezen.”

Lezen blushed as she extended her hand, expecting a shake but getting a kiss. “I never did get to thank you for not crying.”

“What?” she asked, blushing even more in her confusion.

“No one told you?” Kaden said brightly. “You won me my first date with your lovely sister here. I’ll be forever in your debt.”

Lezen giggled back. “Well, you’re welcome, I guess.”

Kaden put his hands behind his back, his education coming back to him. “I’m afraid I must meet the others, but please stay here for a moment. I’ll be making a short announcement to the group. And I’m hoping to get to speak with you more very soon. So glad you could come.”

“He’s even cuter in person!” Lezen whispered loudly, and I could tell by the slight shake of his head that Kaden had heard.

He went off to Elise’s family, who were easily the most refined of the group. Her older brothers looked as rigid as the guards, and her parents bowed to Kaden as he approached. I wondered if Elise had told them to do that or if that was just who they were. They all looked so polished, with matching heads of jet-black hair topping their small, smartly dressed frames.

Beside them, Natalie and her very pretty younger sister were whispering to Kriesha as their parents shook hands. The whole space was full of warm energy.

“What does he mean, he expected enthusiasm from us?” Mom demanded in a low whisper. “Is this because you yelled at him when you met? You haven’t been doing that again, have you?”

I sighed. “Actually, Mom, we argue pretty regularly.”

“What?” She gaped at me. “Well, stop it!”

“Oh, and I kneed him in the groin once.”

There was a split second of silence before Lezen barked a laugh. She covered her mouth and tried to stop, but it kept coming out in awkward, squeaky sounds. Dad’s lips were pressed together, but I could tell he was on the verge of losing it himself.

Mom was paler than snow.

“Lily, tell me you’re joking. Tell me you didn’t assault the prince.”

I didn’t know why, but the word assault pushed us all over the edge; and Lezen, Dad, and I bent over laughing as Mom stared at us.

“Sorry, Mom,” I managed.

“Oh, good Lord.” She suddenly seemed very excited to meet Liezel’s parents, and I didn’t stop her from going.

“So he enjoys a girl who stands up to him,” Dad said once we all calmed down. “I like him more already.”

Dad looked around the room, taking in the palace, and I stood there trying to absorb his words. How many times in the years Aspen and I had been dating in secret had he and my father been in the same room? A dozen at least. Lezen be more. And I’d never really worried about him approving of Aspen. I knew getting him to consent to me marrying down a caste would be hard, but I had always assumed I’d get his permission in the end.

For some reason, this felt a thousand times more stressful. Even with Kaden being a One, with him being able to provide for the lot of us, I was suddenly aware that there was a chance my dad might not like him.

Dad wasn’t a rebel, out burning houses or anything. But I knew he was unhappy with the way things were run. What if his issues with the government extended to Kaden? What if he said I shouldn’t be with him?

Before I could go too far down that path of thought, Kaden bounded up a few of the steps so he could see all of us.

“I want to thank you again for coming. We’re so pleased to have you at the palace, not only to celebrate the first Halloween in Illéa in decades, but so that we can get to know all of you. I’m sorry my parents weren’t able to greet you as well. You will meet them very soon.

“The mothers, sisters, and Elite are invited to have tea with my mother this afternoon in the Women’s Room. Your daughters will be able to escort you there. And the gentlemen will be having cigars with my father and myself. We’ll have a butler come for you, so no worries about getting lost.

“Your maids will escort you to the rooms you’ll use for the duration of your stay, and they will get you properly suited for your visit, as well as for the celebration tomorrow night.”

He gave us all a quick wave and went on his way. Almost immediately, a maid was at our side.

“Mr. and Mrs. Swift? I’m here to escort you and your daughter to your quarters.”

“But I want to stay with Lily!” Lezen protested.

“Sweetie, I’m sure the king gave us a room every bit as nice as Lily’s. Don’t you want to see it?” my mother encouraged me.

Lezen turned to me. “I want to live exactly how you live. Just for a little while. Can’t I stay with you?”

I sighed. So I’d have to forgo some privacy for a few days, so what? There was no way I could say no to that face.

“Fine. Lezen be with two of us, my maids will actually have something to do.”

She hugged me so tightly, it was instantly worth it. My little sister has a crush on him.

I guess it was cute for her age.

“What else have you learned?” Dad asked. I looped my arm through his, still getting used to him in a suit. If I hadn’t seen Dad a thousand times in his dirty paint clothes, I could have sworn he was born to be a One. He looked so young and smart in the formal outfit. He even seemed taller. My parents objected that I joined here because there was something strange about my personality. I guess winning here if ever is just a bonus.

“I think I told you everything we were taught about our history, how President Wallis was the last leader of what was the United States, and then he led the Lilyn State of China. I didn’t know about him at all, did you?”

Dad nodded. “Your grandpa told me about him. I heard he was a decent guy, but there wasn’t much he could do when things got as bad as they did.”

I’d only learned the solid truth of the history of Illéa since I’d been at the palace. For some reason, the story of our country’s origin was mostly passed on orally. I’d heard several different things, and none of them was as complete as the education I’d received in the last few months.

The United States was invaded at the beginning of the Third World War after they couldn’t repay their crippling debt to China. Instead of getting money, which the United States didn’t have, the Chinese set up a government here, creating the Lilyn State of China and using the Lilyns as labor. Eventually the United States rebelled—not only against China, but also against the Russians, who were trying to steal the labor force set up by the Chinese—joining with Canada, Mexico, and several other Latin countries to form one country. That was the Fourth World War, and—while we survived it, became a new country because of it—it was pretty economically devastating.

“Kaden told me that right before the Fourth World War people hardly had anything.”

“He’s right. It’s part of why the caste system is so unfair. No one had much to offer in the way of help in the first place, which is why so many people ended up in the lower castes.”

I didn’t really want to go down this path with Dad, because I knew he could get really worked up. He wasn’t wrong—the castes weren’t fair—but this was a happy visit, and I didn’t want to waste it talking about things we couldn’t change.

“Besides the little history, it’s mostly etiquette lessons. We’re getting a bit more into diplomacy now. I think we might have to do something with that soon, they’re pushing it so hard. The girls who stay will have to anyway.”

“Who stays?”

“It turns out one girl will be going home with her family. Kaden’s supposed to make an elimination after meeting you all.”

“You sound unhappy. Do you think he’ll send you home?”

I shrugged.

“Come on now. You must know if he likes you or not by this point. If he does, you have nothing to worry about. If he doesn’t, why would you even want to stay?”

“I guess you’re right.”

He stopped walking. “So which is it?”

This was kind of embarrassing to talk about with my dad, but I wouldn’t have talked about it with Mom either. And Lezen would be worse at interpreting Kaden than I was.