Chapter Forty-one

As the Prince announced Meredith and me as winners, I felt a surge of excitement mixed with a sense of uncertainty wash over me. The grand court was dead silent as the Prince continued to speak.

"I have made a decision, there will be no more competitions. Instead, one of you will be married to me and the other will serve in the Packhouse. Congratulations to you both. You have truly proven to be the best of the best," the Prince said with a smile.

Meredith and I looked at each other in shock, wondering how this was going to play out. We were both winners, yet only one of us could win the grand prize. As we walked back to our room, we were both deep in thought, trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

Back in our room, we sat in silence, reading through some of the congratulatory messages that had been sent to us. Suddenly, we heard a knock on our door, and Meredith went to answer it. It was three of the girls who had been disqualified from the competition.

"Congratulation