I walked back inside my home thinking about Dorian's offer. I can't believe I was going to do it. My mother, who was peeking out the cloth covered window. She looked at me with a guilty expression before morphing into an excited one.

"I knew it! I knew my daughter was always meant for greatness! But, queen... oh my! My daughter is going to be a queen!" She went on and on hugging me tightly. Great, what did I just agree to?

"But mama, I don't want to be queen," I said quietly. She threw me a dark look that had me cringing. Oh, that was not good.

"You are getting to experience what every girl wishes for and yet you don't want it? After everything I've done, those nights I've wished for you-" She stopped speaking turning pale. "Oh my, I think I'm going to be sick."

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. My mom always tried to guilt me like this. I held her hand helping her sit down in the kitchen. She started to fan herself letting out a loud sigh.

I knelt down on my knees next to her. "Mama... you know I will try for you," I said taking her hands into mine again resting them on her laps.

My mother squeezed my hands in delight before a smile took over her face. "You are? I knew you'd come around! My daughter the queen! I can see it."

Just nod your head and pretend to agree. The door suddenly creaked open.

"Liana? Poppy?" my father's voice called out to us.

"In here papa!" I replied. My father came into sight along with my younger brother Jacob.

My mom jumped up from her seat and ran to hug him. So much for feeling sick. "Oh Nicholas! Our daughter is going to be queen!"

"Queen?" My father looked back and forth between us confused. "I heard a man from the palace's royal guard had come over to propose?"

Propose? So that's what the village have spread.

"The boys in the village were pretty upset, their beloved is about to be wed and leave us," teased Jacob earning a dark look from my mother. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, she'd have both our heads.

"She is not getting married... yet. She is joining a royal competition for queen," my mom boasted as she told them the whole story.

"A competition? A merchant came by two days ago saying he heard a few rich men talking about seeing it on those witch boxes from the pre-nuclear war era," my father tapped a finger to his chin. "I think it was called a television."

Oh my! Those exist? Rumors say that there were magical items like wagons without horses and speaking through a small box with someone on the other side of the world. They were all destroyed when the nuclear war happened two centuries ago, it had destroyed the world, but rumors believe some of it still lived. Either ideas, ruins, or sketches with instructions. Only really rich men would know of these.

"Whoa! Will you get to see one?" Jacob asked me with sparkling eyes. I shrugged my shoulders not sure how to answer his question.

My mom was now frowning at me. "Don't shrug, it's not proper."

Oh lord!

My father walked up to me putting his hands on my shoulders. "I am very proud of you Liana, you really have saved our family."

My felt my chest clench. There was no backing out of this, not when my family is treating me like their savior. They held so much hope and joy in their eyes that any thoughts of dropping out of the competition had vanished.

The whole village had come to see whether the gossip was true and were flying with glee when they found out about the competition. They had so much hope for our village now. They had donated a beautiful emerald fabric that brought out my eyes as to wish me good luck.

I wanted to stay up all night with my family to savor every moment but my mother didn't want my face to look too tired by the time I get to the palace. We slept together in the same room as I tried to fall asleep listening to their soft breathing.

Morning came sooner than I would have liked. My family was smothering me in kisses and advice like they did yesterday.

"Oh my beautiful daughter! I am going to miss you so much! Now, don't eat too much or else you'll scare away the Queen," my mother said while playing with my dark hair, trying to style it.

"I know mama," I sighed.

"And try-"

"-Really hard, I know mama," she's been repeating this all night. She leaned back and smiled at what she'd done to my hair. Holding out a mirror, I could see what she braided my hair elegantly and woven flowers into it.

"You are going to blow them away, I just know it," she assured me. She seemed so sure of it.

I raised a brow challengingly, "oh yeah? How would you know?"

"Please, I could tell from the moment that Captain of the Guard lay eyes on you that you are not just beautiful in a mother's eyes but to others as well," she winked.

"Mama, the captain didn't look at me like that. He was probably embarrassed on my behalf," I felt my cheeks turn pink just thinking about it. I was exclaiming my love for soup and bread before shrieking at the sight of him, dropping the pot's lid, bumping heads with him trying to reach it only to fall on my behind and start laughing like a mad woman at the turn of events. Talk about bad first impressions.

"Well if not the captain, then find yourself a good man," my mother said as she looked me over trying to find any flaws in my appearance. I think she was more nervous than I was. "I know I've always been strict, but it's always been about your best interest. I want only the finest for you."

I nodded my head afraid if I speak I would start crying.

"Mama," whined Jacob watching her. "Are you almost done?"

My mom opened her mouth to reply but a knock on the door stopped her. I guess my time was up. Moments later, my father walked in with Dorian behind him. Dorian spotted me slightly widening his eyes in shock before going back to that neutral face he has mastered. At least I wasn't a mess like last time. A gave him a weak smile and small courtesy which he returned with a nod. My father came up to me and squeezed me into a strong hug. He didn't let go until my mom complained that he was going to ruin my hair and wrinkle my dress.

My father looked down at me and smiled encouragingly. "Don't stress yourself too much, the rest of the competition has nothing on you, my wonderful daughter. Remember where you came from. Remember your kind heart. Don't let any men hurt you, you heard that captain?" my father looked sternly at Dorian who nodded in response. "You take care of your health. You're my little girl and I love you."

"I love you too papa," I ran a finger under my eyes trying to wipe away the tears. Good lord, I was going to miss them. I now faced my little brother. "Remember what you promised me Jacob?"

"To take care of mom and dad, to listen to them and grow up healthy and strong so I can start my own family," his bottom lip trembled and I could tell he was trying to be strong and not cry. I ruffled his hair and he threw his arms around my waist squeezing me. I kissed the top of his head. The rest of my family came and joined our hug.

A cough reminded me that we had an audience, "I'd hate to cut this short but we have a long journey back. We have to pass through the rest of the villages to pick up the remaining the contestant."

I mumbled an apology and left my home with just a family portrait done as a favor from one of the village boys. I had tucked it into my dress ignoring the uncomfortable prickling the parchment was doing to my skin.

My spirits lifted a bit when I saw Niya. I ran up to her, petting her beautiful mane.

"Lady Liana, are you in this competition for the title or for my horse?" Dorian asked gaining my attention. A blush covered my cheeks as I realized I found another way to embarrass myself. It doesn't seem like I was going to be making it very far in this competition.

Dorian held out his hand to me which I took. I've never mounted a horse before, nor did I imagine I'd get the chance, especially on one so large. I put my leg on one of the saddles and tried to throw my leg on the other side. I should have seen it coming due to my clumsy nature but I didn't when I found myself falling again. Dorian's hands clamped themselves on my waist making me gasp in shock. Never had I ever had a man touch me so. He picked me up placing me on top of the horse surprising me of his strength, well of course he was strong if he was the royal captain!

A blush covered my cheeks as Dorian mounted his horse in front of me. I avoided looking at him, instead I looked back at my family that were standing at the door. I waved goodbye before I felt Niya start moving. I let out a shriek before grabbing onto Dorian's waist. It was awfully inconvenient to ride a horse with a dress and with both your feet dangling on one side.

We rode through the village as everyone came out waving and cheering me on, rice and flower petals were being thrown, you'd think I was getting married. I waved kindly to them, thanking them with a smile. A few kids ran after us as we started approaching the edge of the village. I sighed as we were out of sight walking down an empty dirt road. I've never been outside our village, it was bizarre.

After a moment of silence, I decided to speak up. "Where are we going exactly?"

"To meet my party," said Dorian. "They are camped out in the forest to avoid someone hurting one of the contestants. Five other parties have been sent out to scout contestants. We will meet them all back at the palace in a few days."

Oh... There must be a lot of girls then. Will I even make it past the first round?

Dorian was stiff and silent the whole time. His facial expression never changing. Now that I think about it, he does try really hard to remain neutral. Was it hard to stay this composed all the time? I knew I'd never be able to, my mama always said I was an open book.

I continued to try and start conversations by pointing out pretty things I saw on our way, or questions about Niya, he always managed to keep his answers short and straight to the point. I sighed in defeat and stopped trying to converse with a man that didn't want to be spoken too. So serious.

We finally arrived to camp filled with men dressed in the royal guard uniforms. They all stood on guard saluting their captain. Their little movement reminded me of how important Dorian was, and whom I managed to constantly make a fool out of myself in front.

The men eyed me funny as Dorian brought Niya to the middle of camp. Dorian hopped down before helping me down again by placing his hands on my waist. Dear lord my cheeks were on fire. I kept my head low not to show Dorian how his actions affected me, after all he did it only to help me.

Dorian pointed out one carriage out of the three. "That will be yours. We just need a few more villages to fill it up before heading back to the palace."

I nodded my head before hearing my mom yell in my head to use words and not action. "Yes, thank you."

Dorian didn't say anything before taking Naya to a tree and tying her up. Seeing that he is completely ignoring me, I probably should just get into the carriage.

One of the guards ran to the carriage door opening it for me. I gave him a kind smile before taking his hand to try and get on. One of the girls came forward and took my hand trying to help me get on.

"Thank you," I said breathlessly. She was radiant. Her scarlet hair brought a fire to her kind hazel eyes.

"I'm Harriet," she gave me a wide smile, which I returned.

"Liana."

Harriet's expression morphed into complete euphoria once she saw me smile. "Oh goodie! Come sit beside me! Those two are Nasira and Serena."

They were indeed beautiful. Nasira's beauty was what one would call Arabian beauty. She has a mix of light and dark features that would have you look twice. Serena was a dark beauty, with eyes that sparkled like the night sky, it was hard not to be in awe. Wow, this competition was going to be hard.

Harriet leaned in for a whisper. "It was hard to get their names out."

"Only because you wouldn't stop pestering," Serena mumbled under her breath which we all heard. It earned an amused smile from Nasira.

I gave them both a soft welcoming smile which neither returned. Dear me. They were both very serious about this. There was no room for friends for them. I'm guessing Harriet was the friendliest of them since she at least made the effort of knowing our names. I decided to sit beside her, it was going to be a long trip and she seemed like a giddy ball of amusement.

She was ecstatic to see me sit beside her. I could almost swear she was jumping in her seat.

"It's sort of amazing, that they're picking one of us to rule the country. Who would have thought huh..." she went on and on. Wow, she's got a mouth. It was entertaining. She filled the silence.

"I hope our next queen is as kind as she is beautiful," I replied. I knew they were picking out the most beautiful girls in the kingdom, but looks weren't all we had. My papa always taught me that kindness was what made a person sincerely beautiful.

"You're saying that as if you do not want to be queen," sneered Serena.

"No, not really. I'd rather be one of the top contestants, that way I can supply for my family," I replied honestly. Should I have told them so? Would this get me eliminated? I really did not want to be queen. I can't imagine myself having all that responsibility. The faith of the kingdom all my hands. It's too much for me.

Both Nasira and Serena snorted. Harriet frowned at them, "don't listen to those two. I hope you get what you want. It's very noble of you."

I smiled at her kindness. I wouldn't mind if Harriet was queen from what I saw so far, she was very nice. How wonderful would it be to have a queen that is that sweet?

"Enough of that, let's talk about that hunk of a captain," said Nasira surprising me. I was surprised they wanted to engage in conversation, I guess the silence bored them too. I was also surprised at their frankness.

"Ugh! I know right? I would drop out the competition if he offered to wed me," said Serena.

"That's if he ever smiled," mumbled Harriet. The two girls sent her scornful looks. She was right though, Dorian never smiled. Well, except for the time where I made a fool of myself in front of him. I swear I had seen the corner of his lips twitch into an almost smile. I could feel my cheeks starting to blush in embarrassment just remembering it. Oh lord!

We made several stops at different villages filling up the carriages with girls. Our carriage was filled with four more girls, there had to be eight girls in each carriage, and three carriages per traveling party.

The girls in my carriage shared their names and ages. Some girls showed off, others intimidated, some were just kind and grateful to be there. I didn't know whether to be scared of not even making it to the next round or glad that there were good potential queens with me.

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Sorry it took so long to update! I haven't had time to breathe! To award your patience, I'll be posting another chapter today!

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Love ya!