Chapter 9

"The first task begins in four days and it will be overnight too! I get to spend a whole week in the palace with the prince" Crystal exclaimed on a wonderful morning as she barged into my room.

I groaned as I sat up, still half asleep as I gave her a dirty glare.

"It's six in the morning" I dead-panned.

She really ignored me.

"This is really happening. I've got my letter! That man must have truly been the prince!" She fell back on my bed, startling me as I tried to fall back asleep.

"Please Crystal… the afternoon- not now" I whimpered as I tried to pull my covers over me.

"A lady should be up with the sun" she recited some basic etiquette that I long since gave up, "Well anyway, the real reason I came here is because I don't understand why they didn't send your letter alongside mine".

"It must be another form of rejection" I replied with a yawn, deciding it was impossible to try sleeping.

"But everyone who got rejected received a letter?"

"Maybe the palace just forgot" I began to feel a prickle of worry. A strange premonition bothering me as I looked over what Crystal said.

Did they send it to my home address?

"The palace does not forget" she scoffed, "they have the best administration in the country!"

Ah… there goes that devote believer behaviour. A proud grandorian citizen. It wasn't that I didn't support Grandor, but I can't say I was proud to be a citizen. I had travelled around enough to see the worst of us. The poverty. The ignorance. The racism.

I had seen the articles about the previous queen. I had seen all the terribleness of Grandor in a single line. There were plenty articles and they went through peoples mouths to another's ears until everyone spoke the same. The king had banned any articles related to his queen with a penalty of death if you were caught. But that wouldn't have stopped anything.

It resonated in how people treated the prince. The obvious emphasis that he was more human than Vampire. Despite being half. I would never want to be a part of such a countries royalty.

"I actually heard a few rumours about the prince! Do you want to hear?" She leaned in.

"No".

"Apparently he's 6'4" she spoke it as if no man was ever 6'4. As if the very fact was so sacred that only chosen individuals heard it.

"That's too bad…" I muttered.

If he became my in-law then I'd have to break my neck just saying hello…

I suddenly recalled the man I danced with. He was tall too… but then, most people are at my height.

"Maybe for you, but he's perfect for me".

"I really advise against trying to be queen Crystal. Everyone will be on your case to start having babies immediately" I was wrong in thinking that would put her off.

"I want to have babies immediately!" She said it so loud I was sure the whole household caught that.

I gave a hopeless sigh, very encouraged to eat breakfast just to get away from her. I had to visit the store and then maybe decide on a opening date.

I had a short breakfast downstairs where Aunt Elizabeth drunk her tea with curiosity as she eyed me curiously. I blamed her interest on Crystals yelling.

"Don't start" It was all I said and she simply shrugged in return. Hopping up stairs to badger her daughter. I hadn't noticed Randall until he cleared his throat.

"I thought you would take care of her" he grumbled.

I sighed once again.

"Please Randall… just let me drink my tea" maybe he saw the tears of frustration in the corner of my eyes, but he stopped. Until I took my last sip that is.

"Now explain that" he demanded.

"I don't know" I shrugged at him, "true love apparently" I made a gesture to suggest Crystal had lost her mind. His face became a shade redder.

"She hasn't even met him" he argued.

"She thinks she has", I really should get going.

"How does one think they met someone?" He scoffed.

"You thought you met a ghost five years ago until I confessed it was me in a bedsheet" I retorted as I stood up.

"That's different!" His cheeks couldn't have gotten pinker, "Crystal is going to cause our ruin" he complained and finally left me alone to leave.

I could've ran out of the house and it would've been less obvious that I wanted to leave, but eventually I managed to get to my store. Where I noticed the men's tailor shop was beginning to get set up. The clothes had come in from my brother it seems.

I did not expect that a guest had been waiting for me, nor did I expect who it truly was.