I blinked, stunned into silence. Me? A front runner in the competition?

No. Clearly those people didn’t realize how much Nicholas hated me. Once the cameras were allowed

into the palace, and they saw the two of us interacting, they would learn the truth.

Nicholas hated me.

Julian only wanted to use me in his games.

And Joyce seemed utterly disinterested in the whole thing.

I wasn’t a front runner. I was someone barely hanging on.

Regardless, I thanked my maid for the information.

“Now,” the maid said, turning toward the closet. “It is time to prepare you for the banquet.”

The banquet. Right. Tonight was the first official banquet with all three princes and the candidates. We

would formally dine in the dining room.

The trainers had reinforced the required etiquette for mealtimes that I had forgotten over the past three

years. I felt comfortable enough to eat with the others casually, but to do so in front of the royal family and potential cameras, made me nervous.

to stay behind. A nanny had been

soon, I had

she seemed content enough, playing

fort.

the maid said, and led me toward the

wasn’t sure why I needed another dress. I liked

then the maid held up a velvet evening gown. Deep emerald in color, it was sleeveless with

remember the last time I had worn something like this. For work,

pants. On days off, I wore slacks and t–shirts,

Nothing like this

maid noticed my

she said. And you

She was right.

I barely recognized myself in

at me with comically wide eyes. “Mommy, are you a fairy

don’t know,”

certain. “You

compliment gave me the confidence I needed to

at

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