Groupings

CHAPTER NINE

Him Again

~Ariee~

Rows of candidates stood arranged in a loose formation at the center, their gowns a blend of color and elegance, each woman carefully positioned as though even standing still was a performance.

After breakfast, everyone had been summoned here to received instructions for the first task. My blood pumped with nervousness and anticipation as I tried to image what they would be asked to do.

At the far end of the hall, a raised platform stretched beneath a line of dark banners bearing the royal crest. Guards lined both sides, unmoving, their presence heavy and absolute.

I stood slightly behind Fiona, as always, my hands clasped neatly in front of me, gaze lowered just enough to avoid unnecessary attention but not so much that I missed anything important.

A sharp sound cut through the quiet.

“Candidates.” The voice was deep and carried effortlessly across the hall. It belonged to one of the royal officials standing atop the platform—a tall man clad in dark ceremonial attire, his silver-trimmed cloak draped over one shoulder, his gaze sweeping across the room with authority.

Every murmur died instantly.

“Today marks the beginning of your first official trial.”

I felt it immediately—the shift. Subtle movements. Shoulders straightening. Chins lifting. Eyes sharpening. This was it.

“This stage, however, will not test you as individuals…” He paused, letting the words settle.

“…but as leaders. As allies. As women capable of standing not alone but among others.”

A ripple passed through the crowd. I didn’t react but I paid very close attention.

This was going to be a group task.

“Form groups of seven and waiyt for further instructions,” he finished.

It started with a few hushed whispers, then silk rustled, heels clicked sharply as the candidates began to move. What had once been a room filled with carefully curated elegance dissolved into controlled chaos.

“I’ll take her, she sounded really intelligent yesterday.”

“No, we need someone taller for presence.”

“Come to our side, we already have four…”

Voices overlapped in a rising tide of urgency. Smiles turned strategic. Eyes scanned, judged, accepted, rejected, all in seconds.

I stayed where I was behind Fiona, observing.

Groups began forming almost instantly. Some women moved with confidence, already surrounded by allies they had likely secured beforehand. Others hesitated, scanning the room with forced smiles, trying not to look as uncertain as they felt.

No one wanted to be left behind. No one wanted to choose wrong.

I glanced at Fiona. She hadn’t moved.

Of course she hadn’t.

She stood there like she was above it all, chin slightly lifted, arms loosely crossed, her expression bordering on bored irritation as the other women scrambled around her like ants. Her gaze swept over them once, unimpressed.

“They’re acting like this is a marketplace,” she muttered under her breath.

I resisted the urge to sigh.

“They’re forming alliances, my lady,” I said quietly. “It’s important…”

“They should be begging me to join them,” she cut in smoothly.

Ah. There it was. Confidence. No, probably delusion.

I pressed my lips together, choosing my next words carefully. “Perhaps… but they may be waiting for you to make the first move.”

Her head snapped slightly in my direction, her eyes narrowing just enough to make it clear she didn’t appreciate that suggestion.

“I don’t wait,” she said coolly. “And I certainly don’t chase.”

I glanced around the hall again. Groups were filling up fast. One. Two. Three… I counted silently. Already half formed.

And not a single person had approached Fiona. Not one. If anything, they were avoiding her. Subtly—but very intentionally. I couldn’t even blame because I would do same if I had a choice.

A pair of ladies who had been walking in our direction suddenly veered off the moment their eyes landed on her. Another group whispered among themselves before shaking their heads almost in unison.

Message received.

No one wanted to be associated with her. I rubbed my temple lightly. This was bad. Very bad.

Because if Fiona didn’t get into a group…

“We’ll be fine,” she said suddenly, as if reading my thoughts. “They’ll come.”

I almost laughed. No, they wouldn’t. And deep down, I think she knew that too. She just refused to accept it.

“My lady,” I said gently, lowering my voice, “the groups are almost full.”

That got her attention.

Her gaze flickered across the room again, assessing and counting. For a split second—just a second—I saw it. Realization. Then it was gone, buried beneath pride. Her fingers curled slightly against her arm.

“They have poor judgment,” she said stiffly.

Yes. That was definitely the problem. Definitely not your self-entitlement and arrogance.

I exhaled slowly. Alright. If she wouldn’t move then I would.

“Stay here,” I said before I could overthink it.

She frowned. “Where are you going?”

“To fix this.”

Before she could question me further, I stepped away.

The moment I left her side, I felt it—the shift in attention. A few curious glances. A couple of raised brows. A maid approaching candidates directly? Unusual. But I didn’t really care.

I scanned the room quickly, my eyes landing on a group that wasn’t complete yet. Six women stood together, their formation slightly open.

Perfect.

I approached them with cautious steps, keeping my posture respectful but my gaze confident despite the nerves.

“Excuse me,” I said, offering a small bow. “My lady would like to join your group.”

Six pairs of eyes turned to me. Then, almost in sync they looked past me. At Fiona. And just like that, the atmosphere shifted.

One of them, a tall woman with sharp features let out a small, humorless laugh.

“Your lady?” she repeated.

Another crossed her arms. “The one who called us idiots this morning?”

Ah. Straight to the point. Fair.

I forced a polite smile. “She meant no offense…”

“She absolutely did,” a third cut in flatly.

Okay. Time for a new approach.

“She is… direct,” I amended carefully. “But she is also capable. Strong. And—”

“And insufferable,” the first one added. A few of them chuckled.I inhaled slowly.

Patience, Ariee. Patience.

“We only need one more member,” the tall woman said, her tone turning dismissive. “And we’d rather not spend the entire task arguing with her.”

That was that.

Rejection. Clean and simple.

I bowed my head slightly. “Understood.”

No point pushing. I turned and moved on. Next group.

This time, I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before the answer came.

“No.”

Another group?

“We’re full.”

A big lie. They clearly weren’t.

Another? A polite smile. A subtle shake of the head.

Rejection.

Rejection.

Rejection.

By the time I approached the fifth group, I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me. Not embarrassment—no. I had long grown past that. This was something else.Pressure. Time was running out. I glanced back at Fiona.

She was still standing there alone.

Her posture was just as proud, just as composed but I could see it now. The tightness in her shoulders. The slight stiffness in the way she held her chin. She felt it too.

At least I wasn’t the only one panicking.

I turned back to the room, scanning quickly.

Think.

Who would take her?

Who needed her?

My eyes landed on a group tucked slightly to the side. Five members. Not six. Five. And unlike the others, they weren’t actively calling people over.

They looked… uncertain. Less confident. Perfect.

I walked toward them immediately.

“Excuse me,” I said again, softer this time. They turned to me, their expressions cautious but not hostile.

I guess that counts as progress, right?

“My lady and I are looking to join a group,” I continued. “You currently have five members. With us, you’ll have seven.”

They exchanged glances.

One of them—a petite girl with kind eyes—tilted her head. “Your lady is… the one from earlier, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

No point denying it.

A pause followed.

“We don’t want trouble,” another said quietly.

Fair.

“But you also don’t want to be outmatched,” I replied, my voice calm but firm now. “Every group here is building strength. My lady is… not easy. But she is not weak either.”

That got their attention.

“She speaks her mind,” I continued. “She doesn’t bend easily. In a task where we don’t yet know what we’re facing… that might be an advantage.”

Silence fell between us.

I held their gaze, letting my words settle. This was the only negotiation I could come up, unfortunately.

Another glance passed between them. Then the petite girl spoke again, softer this time. “…Will she cooperate?”

I hesitated. “Yes.”

A lie. A very bold lie. Fiona was the most impossible person to deal with. But it was a necessary one.

After a moment, she nodded slowly. “…Alright.”

Relief hit me so fast I almost sagged. “Thank you,” I said sincerely.

I turned immediately, walking back toward Fiona.

Her eyes locked onto mine as I approached, searching, questioning.

“Well?” she asked.

I thought she said we couldn't bother. I allowed myself a small smile.

“We have a group.”

Her brows lifted slightly, surprise flickering across her face before it was quickly masked.

“Of course we do,” she said, like she had expected nothing less.

Naturally. I shook my head with a smile.

I gestured toward the group. “They’re waiting.”

She glanced in their direction, her expression unreadable for a second.Then she straightened and walked. Like a queen returning to her throne.

I followed behind her, exhaling quietly. One problem solved. Now, I just hoped they wouldn’t kick her out before qwe finished the task.