Page 13 of A Heart Too Tender

They all screamed their questions at once. My nose wrinkled in disgust, it was abhorrent behavior.

“I am Governor Julian, the overseer of the trials. Each morning I will meet with you all one-on-one to ask a series of questions. The first trial will take place tomorrow, and then each remaining trial will take place every third day. After the trials have been completed, the Prince will look over my reports on each of you and make his final selection.”

I rubbed at the ache in my lower back. My muscles were knotted thanks to my atrocious sleep, and my thoughts drifted away to soft feathers, airy comforters, and the startling blue eyes of masked strangers. I could still vividly remember how his thumb had felt on my lip, and the way my stomach had clenched in response to his nearness.

Charles cleared his throat loudly, startling me, and jerked his chin towards Julian. “The governor asked you a question, Princess Colette.”

My face burned with mortification, and I shrunk into myself. “I sincerely apologize. Could you repeat your question, please?”

Julian’s left eyebrow arched, and the skin of his scarred right cheek tugged with a twitch of his lips.

“I said—can you begin with the introductions? Your name and where you hail from, if you please.”

“Oh, my apologies, of course. I’m Princess Colette, from Silver Hills. And it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I forced myself to look each person in the eye with a smile. But I was met with a sneer and scowl from the two princesses I had yet to be introduced to.

The princess beside me flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’m Elizabeth.” She raised her chin. “And I’m from Swan Lagoon.”

Elizabeth swished her yellow dress back and forth. The gown made a hissing sound against the marble and I wanted to recoil from her. She had no doubt been chosen for her beauty, for I don’t think there was a princess in all the realms who could have matched her.

“I’m Gisela, from Black Wood,” the princess in the purple dress said. She pinched the fabric between her fingers and scowled. Her raven-black hair was half up, but the rest hung in loose waves to her waist. I was beginning to feel plain standing beside all these beautiful women. But Gisela had a sharpness to her eyes. Coupled with the way she had centered herself in Julian’s line of sight, she was exceptionally cunning.

Zuri rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. “I guess we saved the best for last.” Julian’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “I’m Princess Zuri, of White River.”

I smiled warmly at Zuri as her gaze met mine. Zuri could have been chosen for any number of things like her confidence, humor, or beauty.

“Now that the introductions are made,” Charles drawled, grasping the lapel of his navy jacket. “You are free to have this day to explore and become familiar with your surroundings. All meals will be served in the dining hall, but you may also take them in your own rooms if you prefer.”

The rest of the princesses gazed about the room, looking anywhere but at the man speaking, or the one beside him. Except for me—and Zuri.

“That is all. You are dismissed,” Julian said flatly.

His eyes darted between each face, unwilling to look back at him. But when his eyes settled on me, I smiled and nodded my thanks.

“Have a wonderful day,” I bid him, before turning back to finish my examination of the art in the gallery.

Zuri took my left arm and walked with me to a painting of Wimberley I had yet to finish studying.

“So …” she whispered, looking over her shoulder. “Who do you think will win?”

I giggled, stopping in front of a painting of a grand castle on a hill. “You, of course.”

Zuri looked down briefly. “I’m only here because my parents forced me.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, just in case anyone was listening.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be here, I would gladly perform my duties, it's just that⁠—”

“You’re heartbroken,” I finished for her.

“Exactly,” she replied, looking at the painting of Wimberley. “This is such a marvelous place, with a rich history. It would be an honor to be Queen, but I would rather someone be on the throne that was actually in love with the Prince. He deserves happiness, too.”

I followed her gaze and sighed. “I honestly don’t know too much about this place.”

“But you would love him—when I could not.”