It's been two weeks since the ball and I still can't shake off the memory of dancing with the Prince. Every time I close my eyes, I see his face and feel his arms around me. It's like a dream I never want to wake up from.But today, all of that changed in an instant. I was in my room, daydreaming as usual, when I heard a car stop outside my house. I ran outside to see a guard waiting by the gate. I had never seen a guard like him before. He was tall and muscular, with a stern expression on his face. He wore a black uniform with a red sash across his chest and carried a sword by his side.I approached him cautiously, unsure of what to expect. "Good day, miss. I am here to see your parents," he said in a deep voice. I was taken aback by his formal tone and immediately ran inside to call my parents. I found them in the living room and told them about the guard. They quickly got up and followed me outside.The guard introduced himself to me as Captain of the Royal Guard and handed over a l

The guard led me inside the room and as soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a very strange sight. There was a man sitting there, with a big round belly, bald head, and big bulging eyes. He was munching on a doughnut and when he saw us, he stopped mid-bite and looked at us in surprise.The office was a mess. Papers were scattered everywhere, and there was an overwhelming smell of stale doughnuts in the air. It was clear that this man was not the most organised person in the palace.I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of this man, with crumbs all over his face and his round belly jiggling as he breathed. He looked up at us with a mixture of confusion and annoyance, clearly not used to being interrupted while he was eating.The guard stepped forward and said, "She is among the girls chosen by the Prince and her name needs to be registered."The man looked at me with disgust and said, "Are you sure? She looks like a peasant."The guard raised his voice and barked, "Of course, I'm su

"Come out, we needn't leave immediately. The other contestants have already left" My guard said, gently pushing the door open and walking me down the hallway.As I walked down the halls of the palace, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread in my stomach. I knew that I had been late for my scheduled meeting with the Prince, and I feared the consequences of my tardiness.Suddenly, another guard appeared in front of me, blocking my path. He looked stern and unyielding, his expression making it clear that he was not pleased."Arayah, is that her?" He asked, glaring hard at me.I nodded."We've been looking for you for the last two hours," he said in a voice that was both stern and firm. "The Prince is already waiting for you. I bet the meeting goes was already begun"Sh*t!I felt a pang of guilt in my chest as I looked at the guard's stern expression. "I'm so sorry," I said, bowing my head in apology. "Please forgive me."The guard's expression softened slightly, but he still looked s

As I hear the knock on my door, I groggily open my eyes and try to shake off the last remnants of sleep. I get up from my bed, feeling the softness of the sheets against my skin, and make my way to the door.I open it to find a group of maids, all with smiles on their faces. They greet me, and then they tell me that it's time for my ice bath before I go to exercise with my personal guard.My heart skips a beat. I knew that the competition was going to be tough, but I didn't expect it to start so early in the morning. I nod my head, trying to put on a brave face, as the maids lead me to the bathroom.The bathroom is beautiful, with white marble tiles and golden fixtures. The room is lit by candlelight, giving the room an ethereal glow. The maids enter the room with a bucket of ice packs and they tell me to get in.I hesitantly step into the bath, feeling the cold water against my skin. At first, the cold feels harsh and it takes my breath away. But as I settle into the bath, I begin to

"OK." I said, standing before taking his hand. The young Alpha, however, waved in our direction, causing the girls to wave back frantically. I flashed him a very dry smile and trudged on with Mark, utterly spent.As I walked hand in hand with the guards, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the immense crowd around us. The roar of the crowd was deafening and it felt like my head was ringing with the sound of it. People were cheering and shouting, their voices filled with excitement. I was sweating profusely and I could feel my hair sticking to the back of my neck.Just as I was about to complain because of the heat, someone seemed to notice my distress from the crowd and handed me a hand fan. I gratefully took it, grateful for the cool breeze it provided. The guards continued to lead me through the crowd, their pace steady and determined. I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for the guards, who stood tall and unwavering despite the chaos around us.As we neared