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I didn’t know the last three, but they were noble. Maybe they were of a higher moral caliber than the ones I’d met. Time would tell. At least it seemed as though Fitz was trying to keep a balance.
“Lady Sadie.” Fitz chuckled at the pairing. “That rhymes beautifully. As if it was meant to be. Will you please step forward?”
I leaned forward to catch a glimpse of Sadie’s reaction, but she still hadn’t moved. Where Blair had looked shocked, Sadie’s face had paled considerably. Her lips parted and she stared as if her worst nightmare had come true. Beside her, Carline nudged her forward and it was only then that she took her first steps. Like a hen covering open ground with a hawk circling above, she skittered over the marble floor toward Fitz. Flickers of regret crossed his face. Obviously, her reaction had him questioning his choice. Even as he leaned to catch her eyes, her bowed head wouldn’t lift to look at him.
“Will you take this charm as a symbol that your heart is true, your intentions are pure, and you are willing to serve the people of Nolcovia as their future queen?”
My heart thudded in my chest as we waited for her answer. Would she be able to speak? And if she did, was she actually going to accept him? What would happen if the prince was rejected on the live feed and by someone who was considered common blood by birth?
“Yes, Your Highness,” she finally squeaked out.
While he went through the process of attaching the charm, I glanced around at those who were left. I never expected to be picked early, that would raise too many questions. But I didn’t think I’d be in the lowest quarter.
“Lady Gwendolyn,” Fitz resumed the process as Sadie took a spot behind Blair, “please step forward.”
I had to give it to her. She looked the part. Gwendolyn carried herself with poise and dignity. Her long strides exposed no hesitation, but her elegant bow showed her respect for the crown.
“Gwen,” he sought her hand early, “I can’t promise I won’t make decisions you won’t like, but I swear, I’ll always listen to your side.”
Barbs of jealousy jabbed my heart. That felt like something I deserved to hear, but clearly, they had a friendship that went deeper than I’d expected. Once more, I wondered why I was here if Gwendolyn could have been his voice on the inside. Maybe I hadn’t impacted him as much as I thought. Maybe she was the real reason behind the changes he’d made.
“Will you take this charm as a symbol that your heart is true, your intentions are pure, and you are willing to serve the people of Nolcovia as their future queen?”
Where most of the others could hardly wait for him to finish before they accepted his offer, Gwendolyn only stared. Seconds stretched into awkward moments. She waited as though her answer wasn’t easy.
“Yes, Your Highness.” She pursed her lips and added, “For now.”
The hall went silent as if the entire room decided to hold their breath at once. Who would talk to the prince as though he had to earn her blessing first? Fitz’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t speak. With curt movements, he attached the charm and she left to join the rest.
The names continued, but not mine.
Lady Astrid.
Lady Minerva.
Fitz’s gaze danced everywhere but on me. Did he replace me with Gwendolyn, and he was too chicken to tell me? Did I come all this way for nothing?
There weren’t many of us left. He wouldn’t pick Chantal. I wasn’t sure about Lilith. I counted a handful of girls I didn’t know, all who looked moodier by the moment. Then there was Carline and Dagny, both wild cards.
And me.
With four spots left.
“Lady Dagny,” Fitz spoke her name with charm and appeal, “please step forward.”
She brightened immediately. Taking large swaying steps to the front, it was easy enough to imagine she was dancing with an invisible stranger. With a small twirl at the prince’s feet, she bowed to her invisible partner then turned her attention to Fitz.
He shook his head with a faint smile in place, as though he was questioning his sanity for choosing her. Nonetheless, he spoke the question that had been asked of so many others. I glanced at the rest who surrounded me. Even Lilith looked worried. With only three spaces remaining, we were starting to look like the losers who were last to be picked on the playground.
“Oh! It’s so tiny!” Dagny’s exclamation interrupted my thoughts. She held her bracelet and charm up to her face. “I shall name him Bob.” Fitz had no time to react to her words before she blew him a sassy kiss, gave a flirtatious wink, and skipped away to join the others.
Fitz stuttered for a moment, cheeks still slightly pinked from her display. “Uh, that is,” he laughed and looked at his shoes as if to gain his composure, “Lady Taglin, please step forward.”
Instantly, Lilith’s face soured. Obviously, she felt slighted, as if her position should have been ten names ago, and yet he still hadn’t called her. Taglin joined the others with her charm in place. Only two slots were left. My chances of staying looked horrible. The only hope I had left was that Lilith and Chantal were the worst possible choices, so maybe it would be Carline and—
“Lady Chantal.”
My heart dropped at the sound of her name from his lips. Not only because I wasn’t picked, but because he’d chosen poorly again. She was the worst person he could pick, and yet… I shook my head. Maybe it was good that he was sending me home. If this was his idea of good decisions, then I didn’t want any part of it.
