All Chapters of The Choice: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

"All done," Imogen said, stepping away from me so I could look in the mirror. I had to admit, I looked like a completely different person. One could see the sliver of a lady in me and even a pinch of prettiness. Imogen and Lucy had curled my hair so that it cascaded down my shoulders in voluminous waves that looked foreign on my face. They had applied some sort of powder which made my eyes sparkle and didn't forget to put the 'lip balm' on my lips. 

I dipped into a curtsy and watched as the girls marveled at the prince who looked great, despite his distasteful attitude. He was dressed in a sleek suit, adorned with medals showcasing the many achievements I guessed deemed him fit for a prince. He walked down the stairs, his expression warm but his eyes steely and cold. I couldn't understand why the Ladies fawned over someone who probably didn't have emotions. "Now, the Ladies dance with other eligible members of the court," Fiona whispe

Thankfully, I was whisked out of Prince Carlos and found myself back in the hands of Lord Amancio. Prince Carlos' words set an unnerving feeling in my stomach and my mind couldn't help but run in circles, wondering what he meant. Was it really possible that if I was caught at the royal wing I could be killed? "What did he say? You look petrified," Lord Amancio couldn't help but grin. 

Soon, we were riding into the thick forest that surrounded the rear side of the palace. It felt amazing. I took a deep breath, reveling in the feeling of the wind blowing against my face. Nature had to be my natural habitat. Inside the palace walls I felt confined, like some sort of prisoner, but outside, with the sun shining down on me, I was actually happy. But I couldn't say the same for my horse, who neighed uncomfortably and all but threw me off his back. Fiona and I trailed behind the rest of the Ladies, who chatte

"Somebody, anybody, help me!" I called, my voice starting to get hoarse. My cries for help were cut short by the rustling of trees and what I presumed were footsteps. Thank God. "Anybody here?" A familiar voice called and I couldn't help but sigh, annoyed. 

"Dance classes were terrible," Fiona emphasized. Since I wasn't to leave my bed, I had spent the day cooped up in my room, bored to death. Luckily, Fiona visited me, bringing with her a recap of the day and a jam tart. "You're the best dancer I know, Fiona," I said, truthfully, in between mouthfuls of the pastry. 

"Good evening, Ladies. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance in a less formal environment. I hope this tea will help us get to know each other better," Prince Carlos addressed before sitting down. I tried my best, to no avail, to avoid his gaze but as soon as he sat, our eyes clicked. 

"Come in, Lady Madeline," Prince Carlos' voice called from inside the library. I took a deep breath before pushing the door open and the same feeling of awe washed over me. It was what I imagined heaven to look like, books covering every wall, the ceiling an amazing mural of clouds and cherubs. 

I don't know how I made it back to my room but I had somehow managed to find the Ladies' wing, which was dead silent due to the fact that it was so late. I hadn't even noticed how much time that flew by while I was in the Royal Library. My hands still shook from what I saw and I couldn't help but feel very unsafe. I quickly took off my day dress and clambered into bed, falling into a light, restless sleep. 

It was a little past lunchtime when I returned to my room. It took me a lot of willpower and if not for the obvious growling of my stomach, I would have stayed under the sun and read till moonlight. Just as I had predicted, my plate of lunch lay untouched on the table, my stomach grumbling in protest as I walked past it. The Lion's Heart was an amazing book. Possibly the best piece of writing I'd ever read. It told the tale of how a young man called Aeschylus, born into pover