I’m in a game

5: I'm in the game

A month had passed and my body was no more on the verge of being blown away.

And in this past month, I still have no clue on how to get back to my world, to where my young brother at. Every passing day I became more depressed and hopeless.

I even begged Caleb and Eleanor that I was dropping out this school year so that I could focus on my research. I even tried to become a member of a cult hoping they had magical powers that they had been boasting in their website. Rowan found out and made me leave the useless group.

With disheartened I looked outside the window of the car. I was dragged out of my bed this morning, telling me that we were going to a place that I would love. There's no such place I would love other than having my younger brother with me.

I opened my mouth, yawning. Just looking outside made me want to go back to sleep. We've been traveling for two hours after we arrived at the airport in the Royal Capital and we still haven't arrived at our destination. Rowan and Garrett weren't with us since they had classes. They have dorms in their school and would come home once a month just to bond with us for two days.

Perhaps, I'll get back to sleep.

Caleb woke me up. I opened my bloodshot eyes with my head resting on Caleb's lap.

"We're here, Angel," he said.

I quickly sat up. "S-sorry."

He smiled. "What are you apologizing for?"

"Come now, daughter. The crown prince is waiting for you," Eleanor said.

We get out of the car as my brain starts to function again.

I stared at the large castle before me. The couples started walking towards the double door.

When I was about turn around so I could get back inside the car, the driver drove away.

I should have know. The place that I love. At Eirlys' beloved prince.

"Mo-mother," I said weakly. "My stomach hurts. I want to go back."

"Don't be silly, child. You're just anxious. You'll be fine," she said and took my hand holding with such iron grip.

We were greeted by a maid at the entrance, behind her was a large imperial staircase that divides into two on the half-landing. The black balusters of the stair were beautifully curved like vines with gold handrails. Above, a crystal chandelier hung on the white ceiling.

Everything looked so extravagant and bespoke.

"This way please," she said.

We took quite a lot of turns as we follow the maid and stopped at the two white doors. Music and laughter can be heard outside.

"Mother," I called before the two servant who stood by the doors could open it. "I need to use the restroom, please."

She stared at me, looking for a sign of bullshit before sighing after having a good look on my constipated face."It can't be helped. Will you take my daughter to the restroom?" She asked the maid who nodded. "Make it quick, Eirlys."

"Follow me, Miss," the maid said after the couples entered the room.

The restroom has its own mini chandelier. Wall painted in cream white with a mirrored wall over the cabinets. I sat on the circular white velvet couch with real diamonds pinned on it that was place in the middle of the room.

My stomach hurts but I didn't feel like it's the mother nature's calling. My head started to hurt from lack of sleep this past few days.

"Miss," the maid said outside the restroom. "I'll be going now. I have to go back to my position."

"Ah! Wait, don't leave... Hello?" I said but she was long gone. "I don't know how to get back."

I laid down, sighing.

Meeting with the prince was always a bad news. Maybe, I'll just greet him and be done with it.

With zero sense of direction, I got lost and found myself in the garden. I tried to retrace the steps but this was where I got. I should have stayed in the restroom and mother might have come.

I couldn't even find a single servant.

"Lady Eirlys?" Someone called.

With new found hope I turned around and saw an elegant woman. If it weren't from the golden crown sat on her head I would have no idea who she was.

"Your Majesty." I curtsied.

"My, why are you here?" She asked.

"It's shame to say this but I got lost."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of getting lost. It sometimes leads to your fate," she said giving me a smile. Her amber eyes shone as if remembering something. She then extended her hand. "Shall we walk to the party, together?"

I took her hand, praying that my hand won't sweat.

"Congratulation on becoming one of the candidates," the queen said as we walked at the corridors. "I hope you and my son would get along this afternoon."

"I hope so too, your majesty."

And there it was. The white doors. Two servants bowed at the queen and opened the doors. Inside was a banquet hall with a long table at the center.

"There they are!" The king said standing up. "My Queen." He kissed the queen's cheek while I was in an awkward position with the queen still holding my hand. The king looked at me with a charming smile. "Lady Eirlys, you made your parents worried about you."

The king was majestic looking with striking pale blue eyes and brown hair.

I curtsied with only one hand holding my dress while the other was still with the queen. "Your Majesty. I got lost on my way here. I am grateful that the queen found me in the garden." I glanced at my hand before giving a smile at the queen.

Now that I noticed. All of the guests were looking at us. I saw Caleb and Eleanor with a relieved smile on their face.

"Aurora, I think you should let go of the child's hand," the king said chuckling lightly.

"Oh my!" Aurora finally realized and let go of my hand. "I just couldn't help it. I always wanted a daughter." She then crouched and asked me, "Will you forgive me, Lady Eirlys?"

I smiled shyly. Having a closer look she was really beautiful. "There's nothing to forgive, your majesty." I lowered my voice and whispered. "Thank you for saving me."

I could see that she wants to hug me.

I sat beside my mother and avoided any eye contact with the others since most of them were shooting glares and jealous stares.

A servant immediately arrived to place a bowl of soup in front of me.

The king who sat on the end of the table cleared his throat taking our attention and stood looking at each one of us. "I want to congratulate all the girls who had become a candidate for my son's fiancé. This responsibility is not easy, soon the fate of the kingdom and it's people will rest upon your shoulder. There will be a lot of sacrifices to be made and challenges you will face. Will you still stand beside your husband with chin held up high or will you cower and neglect the duty of a queen, a wife, and a mother? If you have the slightest doubt in your heart please rethink."

This was a great news! I could back out the competition for the crown prince. I couldn't help but smile in relief.

Do I say it now? Or will I ask for a private talk?

"Please stand if you have doubts about yourself. It's okay, you will still be a candidate. You're still children and eventually, you'll become wiser and stronger. I just want to see the honesty in you."

I was about to stand when I heard that we were still candidates. There's no backing out?

I was now looking at the king stoically then my eyes moved to the queen who had already removed her crown and at the person who had been staring at me for a while.

The only boy in this hall. He inherited his raven black hair from his mother while his icy blue eyes from his father. The crown prince.

My brows slightly furrowed. He looked familiar. Where did I saw him?

"It seems all of you are determined to be Aeduan's fiancé," the king continued.

Aeduan. Aeduan.

I heard that name before.

Aeduan.

AEDUAN!

Crown Prince Aeduan Cale Havilliar.

This can't be happening.

I could hear my cousin, Maddie, shouting his name as she holds her game console.

My world spun. My head started to throb again. Then the next thing I knew my head was falling.