YAS! Another chapter! Let's do this! I'm so psyched about this book, and I've been fangirling as I've thought about the possibilities! So yeah, I hope all of you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it!
-MaddieBee
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Grayton paced around his room as he waited for his sister to let him know when to come to the women's room to meet the ladies. His mind ran over with crazy and ecstatic thoughts, each making him more and more nervous by the second.

A sharp knock on the door alerted him, and Grayton straightened his tie and fixed his suit. He did a quick check by the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair, making sure that his short mane was tamed and a little bit wild in the front, just the way he liked it. 

Grayton answered the door, where his younger sister Amberly was waiting.

"They're ready for you, bro. Give it all ya got," she smiled reassuringly, letting a gentle and calming hand squeeze his shoulder.

He nodded nervously, and a small smile tugged at his lips. Grayton walked slowly and steadily down the corridor, each step growing more and more nervous. He shook off the nervousness as best he could as he strode into the women's room.

Grayton put on his warmest smile as he greeted the girls. "Hello, ladies! I'm going to try to get to talk to all of you, but if I don't, I'll try after dinner."

Only a few girls had gathered in the room, the others arriving on different planes or getting the finishing touches on their customary makeovers. He noticed Lady Ashley and Lady Beatrice talking together and decided to join their conversation. They both looked up at him as he walked over to them.

"Hello! Lady Ashley and Lady Beatrice, wasn't it?" Grayton beamed.

Beatrice nodded. "Correct, but feel free to call me Bea," she smiled up at him softly.

"Yes, nice to meet you," Ashley stuck out her hand to shake his.

Grayton shook her hand and smiled. "Bea," he said softly, loving how soft and pretty the word was on his tongue. "I like it! What are some things you like to do in your free time then, Lady Bea?"

"I like to sing even when I'm not performing, but I also love to experiment with different types of dance, since my older sister is a dancer. I can climb a tree faster than most boys I know, and I can write decent poetry, but I usually set it to music," Beatrice answered, playing with the end of her brightly streaked braid.

Grayton smiled at Beatrice as she played with her colorful hair. "I'd like to read some of your poetry sometime. Sounds interesting."

Beatrice grinned. "Sure!" She said brightly.

He smiled at Beatrice warmly, thinking of a Shakespearean play where the lead character's name was Beatrice. Grayton turned to Lady Ashley. "What about you, Lady Ashley?"

"I'm a reader. A writer. A debater. A fighter. A musician," Ashley replied, a smile on her face as well, "My words are my weapon. But I'll use my fence. I've always loved sports just as much as I've loved books."

"Ah! Words are deadly weapons, especially when combined and concealed with the theme and charm of music. Debating, you say? Debating is my third language, next to English and Spanish," Grayton chimed, intrigued.

"I speak English and Spanish!" Ashley said as she rocked on her toes. It was habit she had whenever she was excited.

"Ah! ¡Si, senorita! ¿Hablas español?" he replied brightly in his Spanish accent he had acquired from years of Spanish, equally as excited as she.

"¡Por supuesto que sí mi amo! ¡Yo crecí hablando el idioma!" Ashley's eyes lit up.

"¿Realmente? ¡Eres muy buena en hablar español!" Grayton smiled at her.

"Gracias. Nunca se me ah pasado una palabra mal," Ashley answered. 

Beatrice chuckled at how excited they were. "My mother taught me some Spanish when I was about ten, but I don't remember most of it."

"Want me to teach you?" Grayton offered, now growing more interested in the girl with rainbow locks.

"Really? Thank you," Beatrice laughed slightly. "Then maybe I would know what Ashley is saying."

Grayton laughed. "Whenever you're ready for me to teach you, just knock on my door, and we'll begin!"

"Cool. Thank you!" Beatrice grinned.

"You're welcome!" he returned the grin. Grayton looked back at Ashley. "De nada. ¿Quién enseñó a hablar así?"

"Mi mamá. Es del sur u ahí hablan más español que aquí. Crecí hablando los dos idiomas," Ashley smiled.

"¡Oh! Me habían enseñado por un tutor aquí en el castillo," he nodded.

Grayton checked his watch and looked up. "I've got to talk to a few other girls here, Lady Bea and Lady Ashley. It was lovely meeting you both! ¡Adios!" He bowed and waved as he walked over to talk to Lady Kya.

"¡Que pase bien Dia!" Ashley chirped as he walked away.

Kya looked up from her book and saw the prince walking towards her. She stood and curtsied.

"That wasn't so bad," Grayton thought as he bowed to Kya respectfully. "Lady Kya, yes?" he smiled warmly.

She nodded, sharing his smile as her eyes met his. "Yes, that would be me, your highness."

"Lovely to meet you, my lady," he blushed demurely. "What do you like to in your free time? Just wondering, you know," he smiled as he sat on a chair across from her.

"Well,your highness, I enjoy reading and writing a great amount. I'm a student teacher at a local elementary school," Kya replied with a kind smile.

"Please, just call me Grayton. I feel old when people say "Your Highness", you know? And, the library has loads of literature, if you're interested in going there with me sometime," Grayton replied, his smile soft.

"I would love to, Grayton," she said kindly.

He looked around, glad that everything seemed to be going well and noticing she was the only other girl in here. "Do you want to go now? I mean, I've pretty much visited everyone in here."

Kya grinned. "That would be great! I would love to."

Grayton smiled brightly at her and took her hand to guide her to the library.

He might be able to actually do this whole Selection deal.

Maybe.