Chapter 20

I could barely breath as I stared at Jules. Jules who had been with me in the garden earlier. Jules who I had danced with. Jules who I had threatened…

Red eyes, black hair… how could I have been so stupid!? I was sure the odds were near impossible, but now I felt truly a clown.

He looked like a prince of darkness despite the red cloak and white gold suit. His face immaculate and beautiful.

The paintings had not captured his beauty, but many had caught his aura. It was overwhelming, like the battlefield walked with him. Yet, I hadn't felt it so strongly when I was with him before.

He turned to us, and no matter how hard I stared at him he did not once look at me. He was Jules… wasn't he?

"Daughters of nobility and prestige, I thank you for your cooperation in today's task. I plan to score the points of your efforts myself today in hopes to understand how many of you view myself" at his words I cringed.

Oh shit…

Anastasia glanced at me.

We were fucked.

"Please stand before your paintings. I will make my way slowly through you, starting with the first to finish to the very last" he smiled in a princely way that made many of the women smile and fan themselves.

I squeezed Anastasias hand as we both stood up, everyone stood proudly before their painting while I could barely look at mine.

I wouldn't have cared if it were some random guy, but Jules… he's going to mock me. I found myself listening in on his conversation with Anastasia.

"This is… quite intriguing. Did the contrast of colours mean to portray something?" He asked in a voice that sent shivers down my spine.

"Yes" Anastasias voice shook, which truly meant he was terrifying, "I meant to convey how you are a ray of light for the empire. A saving Grace when we plumage to our darkest".

How… how could she sprout such utter nonsense with such skill?! I should take note!

I looked back to my painting.

Death… I'm actually going to die.

I heard his footsteps approach me and curtsied, eyes on the floor.

"Lady Colter, please stand" he said and then his feet turned to my painted and I heard his throat make a strange sound. I straightened my back, somehow accepting my death as I heard him let out a shaky breath, "Do- Do I truly want to ask what this is?"

"I- I could not capture your excellence your majesty. You are not a being that's beauty can be captured", I was going to die. I was going to die. I was going to die.

Laughter boomed in the hall and my head snapped up to see Jules covering his mouth with his hand, eyes in tears. The sound of his laughter was beautiful too.

I heard a few ladies giggle alongside him while others admired him with gaping mouths.

I may have been the same had I not been planning to commit suicide the moment I left this place.

"It's actually quite charming" he commented with a snort, "is that a goat?"

I felt my cheeks flush.

"It- Its- yeah… it's a goat" I sighed.

"How peculiar… flying goats…" he murmured, "we'll Miss Colter I remember how your eyes were quite tired when we met this morning and you must have been too tired to recall me so I'll excuse this. I hope you perform better in the next task" he teased and went to the next girl while I stood there planted.

The next task?

The next task?!

I went through all that humiliation for nothing?!?!

Anastasia sent me a look of pity.

Wait!- if Jules was the crown prince this whole time… then that meant I spoke like I knew the crown prince so well to the crown prince himself?!

You are insane Madeline Colter! Utterly insane…

When Jules finally went through each painting he retired back to this throne claiming he had work. After he left the ginger man started announcing our total points.

"Crystal Hart - 32 points. Anastasia Archangel - 30 points. Charlotte Willow - 40 points. Madeline Colter" my breath hitched, "-35 points. Suzanne leone - 29 points"….

I let out a cry of despair alongside Suzanne. The girls who failed let out small sobs and the ones that passed cried happy tears. Between it all were two anomalies, myself and Anastasia.