"The Queen's Selection is not just about magic or beauty Calista. It's about strategy, power, and perception. You must also ensure you make the right alliances. The Dornes will have their daughter there. I hear she is a timid little thing, Lady Elora. It would be nice to have them as acquaintances. Our family has been at loggerheads with the Dornes for years but we cannot ignore their influence."
"Make friends with her. Perhaps after the Queen's Selection and when you become Queen we can propose a marriage match between her and your brother. That would be good."
"Also the Trevannes. They are very important. Their daughter will be there. Don't worry about her; she will not be much of a competition. Her brute strength won't win her any favors with Cassian. I hear she had the strength of a hundred men and a loud mouth too."
"Yes father."
Calista said softly.
"We shall send gifts to all those involved—everyone from the royal advisors to the palace staff to the dragon keepers. Everyone who would be involved in the Queen's selections will receive gifts from the Harthwell family. They must see you as someone worthy of their favor, and they must treat you specially."
Calista nodded slowly, her lips curling into a smile that was both graceful and knowing. She understood her father's words well. He had prepared her for this moment her whole life, and she had no intention of letting his expectations slip away.
"You cannot fail, Calista. Compared to the other girls, you are the best of the bunch. You are the only one who can wield fire. You have been training your whole life for this. Your powers have been honed to perfection ever since you were born. You must repay us for our hard work and become the next Dragon Queen of Aurelia."
"I admire your confidence in me, father, but our family has lost the Queen's Selection once, even with so much preparation. What if I fail?" She asked, her voice like honey but with a tinge of fear beneath it.
Lord Harthwell's eyes darkened, his expression turning serious. He set down the letter he was holding and stood, walking toward her with purpose.
"Then you will be disowned. No exceptions," he said coldly. "You know the importance of this queen's selection. Your failure would bring shame to our name, and I will not allow that. Do not disappoint me, Calista. If you want to marry the crown prince, you must do everything possible in your power to. No mistakes."
Calista met his gaze, her posture unyielding as she absorbed his words. She had always known that her father's love came with conditions, but the pressure now felt heavier than ever. She took a breath, steeling herself for the trials ahead. She could do it. She had no choice but to.
"I won't fail you, Father," Calista replied, her voice unwavering. "I will make sure of it."
Her father gave her a curt nod, then turned back to his papers, as if the conversation was over. But Calista remained still for a moment longer, feeling the weight of his words press down on her. Disowned. That was not an option. She couldn't afford to fail—not with the immense sacrifice and effort her father had poured into this moment.
...........
At the same time, the royal palace began to buzz with activity as the first of the contestants arrived, each one representing the high hopes and ambitions of their founding families. Their carriages rolled through the grand gates, their horses' hooves tapping against the cobbled stone streets of the capital. The courtyard was crowded with noble men and women, servants scurrying about, and the occasional royal guard standing to attention, ready to ensure that nothing went awry.
Lira Sutton, in disguise as Lady Lira Vale, entered the gates last, her heart beating wildly in her chest. The journey had taken three days, but her preparations had taken longer. Combing through Lady Lira's wardrobe to find any suitable clothing she could take along with her has proven difficult. Her brother had scrapped every piece of coin he had to buy her some additional items and pay for a luxury carriage ride to take her to the capital.
Her every movement was calculated to blend in with the other noble girls. Her disguise was flawless—she had stolen the clothes of Lord Vale's late daughter, and she now presented herself as his granddaughter. She kept her head high, masking the fear and rage bubbling just below the surface. She was here for revenge, and she would stop at nothing to see the royal family pay for what they had done to her own.
Beside her, the other girls arrived, their carriages rolling in with varying degrees of elegance and flair, with Lira's own showing the least elegance and flair. She tried not to think too much about it; at least she was there. First was Lady Vivienne Trevanne, her long, dark hair cascading over her strong shoulders in waves of effortless beauty. The Trevannes were known to be strong. Their brute strength was known all over the kingdom. May you have the strength of the Trevannes, was a popular prayer and saying across town.
Next, Lady Saphira Caelum arrived in a silver and blue gown that sparkled like the night sky. The Caelums were known for their telekinesis abilities. They could lift or move objects without moving their hands. Lady Saphira Caelum was once said to have used her abilities to make herself float, garnering the attention and awe of many. Even now, as she walked, she appeared to be slightly floating.
Lady Elora Dorne, the sweet and naive heiress of the Dorne family, arrived with a humble air. She was far less striking than the others but richer than them all. The Dornes advantage over nature made them wealthy. They had the best farms, planted the best crops, and their connection to nature made them rich. Every Dorne had the power to give life to the soil and grow something.
As the girls disembarked and made their way into the palace, they could feel the eyes of the court on them. Every smile, every glance, and every interaction would be scrutinized. The Queen Selection had begun in earnest, and already the players had made their marks.
Calista Harthwell stood tall and poised as she entered the palace, her gaze never wavering from the throne that would be hers. She had already begun plotting her next move, calculating the best way to secure her place in the final two that would compete in the dragon trials. But in her mind, there was one thing she knew for certain: nothing—no matter how many gifts she sent or how carefully she played her hand—would be enough to guarantee her success if the crown prince was not captivated by her.
She would not be able to make it as far as the dragon trials if the crown prince didn't want her.
By all means possible, Calista was determined to make sure she won the Crown Prince's heart.
"Come in, ladies! Come come!" A royal instructor called out to all of them.
The girls walked eagerly to meet him, some of them walking in twos and threes. Lira trailing behind last, afraid to draw suspicion.
"We shall collect your sealed letters first, and then you all can move into the grand hall for the welcoming hall. Please form a straight line."
Lira's heart beat erratically in her chest as she stood on the line. She made sure she was last on the line to avoid whatever embarrassment she might encounter if her letter was not deemed to be genuine. Her brother Callum had certainly tried his best, but if any error or mistake was detected, she would be immediately labeled an impostor.
She might be executed for attempting such a thing in the first place.
Lira stood in fear, slightly trembling as the line got shorter and shorter; finally, it got to her turn.
She stood in front of the stern-faced royal instructor.
"Your letter, my lady."
He demanded.
Lira masked her fear with a small smile as she gave him her letter; it took everything in her to make sure she didn't look scared.
The Royal Instructor took her letter, examining the seal on it first before breaking it. He stood for a good minute, reading the contents of the letter. Lira started to feel uncomfortable; he was taking longer than expected. He didn't spend this much time on the other girls; Lira was beginning to suspect something was wrong. Perhaps the letter her brother was wrote was not convincing enough.
Give up now, a small voice in her head said.
You have been caught. The voice continued.
"Lady Lira Vale?" He asked again, confusion evident in his voice.