Chapter 9 Outdoor Encounters with Clara

I had no intention of eavesdropping, but when I heard them talking about me, I paused mid-step.

Regina suddenly opened the door, catching me off guard. Her previously flattering smile instantly changed to one full of hostility as she called my name.

Kane seemed to notice this tension and asked Regina to leave first. I explained that I had come to provide additional information about Elva's allergies, and after finishing, I hurriedly left.

The following days passed in a whirlwind of intensive training. Both Elva and I were assigned professional stylists who meticulously managed every detail from our hairstyles to our gowns and even the color of our nail polish.

Training instructors corrected the depth of my curtsy and the straightness of my posture, forcing me to walk with books balanced on my head until I achieved the fluid grace they demanded. They even criticized the way I waved until it met their exacting standards.

During meals, all candidates gathered in the dining hall, though the Silver Moon family was conspicuously absent. Our only freedom came during the mandated hour of outdoor activity each afternoon when we were escorted through the gardens.

One day, as we strolled through a beautiful field of wildflowers at the edge of the estate, Elva came running to me with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, offering them to me.

"Where did you pick these?" I asked, kneeling down to accept the bouquet.

Elva excitedly showcased the flowers. "Do you like them? A kind older sister picked them and gave them to me. I thought you deserved such beautiful flowers."

"Which girl?" I asked, just as one of the candidates appeared behind Elva.

"Hope you don't mind," the girl said softly.

"Her!" Elva pointed excitedly.

I looked up at the young woman. She was younger than me, eighteen at most, with pale hair and round features. She stood awkwardly, hands twisted together at her waist, looking like she might bolt at any moment.

"I'm Clara," she introduced herself.

"Hi Clara!" Elva exclaimed. "I'm Elva, I'm three."

Clara gave Elva what appeared to be a genuinely warm smile. "Hi, Elva." Then to me, "She's adorable."

"Yes, she is," I agreed, standing up. Elva immediately lost interest in our conversation and began picking flowers.

"May I walk with you both for a while?" Clara asked hesitantly.

The other candidates had been keeping their distance from me. Between Elva, the trainers, and the maids, I wasn't exactly lonely. But the prospect of talking with someone my age, someone who wasn't being nice out of obligation, was appealing. I missed Amber.

"Sure," I replied.

Clara and I continued walking, keeping Elva within sight. Occasionally, I'd call her name and she'd come running over with flowers clutched in her small hands. When her hands were full, she'd transfer them to me. Clara took some of the blooms and wove them into a crown.

"For our princess," she said, placing it atop Elva's head. Elva jumped up and down with delight.

Halfway through our outdoor time, I noticed one candidate moving between groups of girls like a hostess at a party.

"That's Sophia Maxwell," Clara said quietly. "She's always trying to form alliances for advantage. Be careful of her... oh no, she's coming over."

Clara immediately wrapped her arms around her waist as Sophia approached us. Not once did Sophia look at me, focusing entirely on Clara as if I didn't exist.

"Clara, we're forming a sort of alliance. We'll look out for each other. You and I have known each other for ages, so I'm obviously including you," Sophia stated confidently.

Clara anxiously rubbed her hands together. "I don't..."

She was clearly uninterested, but was her shyness preventing her from declining directly?

"I'm not sure..." Clara began.

Sophia pressed on. "I'll count you in, Clara. You don't want to be left out, do you? Having us on your side would be beneficial."

"I really don't think—"

"I'm doing you a favor," Sophia interrupted.

"I don't think Clara wants to take sides," I interjected, tired of Sophia's pushy attitude. Clara was obviously uncomfortable, and Sophia seemed not to care.

For the first time since approaching, Sophia shot me a sharp look. "I wasn't talking to you."

"You weren't talking to Clara either," I countered, "since you weren't listening to what she was saying."

"She's shy. Sometimes I have to fill in the blanks for her."

"No, I..." Clara cleared her throat. "No, thank you, Sophia."

Sophia's gaze shifted back to Clara. "What?"

"I don't want to join your alliance," Clara said more firmly.

Sophia's eyebrow twitched. She smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "Suit yourself. But remember, if you're not with us, you're against us. Hope you know what you're up against."

She stormed off without waiting for a response. Clara and I walked in silence for a moment before she spoke.

"Thank you."

I didn't need her gratitude, but I nodded anyway.

"I hate bullies," I explained simply.

"Me too," she replied. After another moment, she added, "Maybe we don't have to be rivals."

"Maybe we could be friends?" I suggested.

She ducked her head, hiding a gentle smile. "I'd like that."

Later that day, our training ended early so we could gather at the bottom of the staircase for an announcement from Marcus. He stood on the steps, looking down at us, his voice echoing through the hall.

"Your first public appearance will take place tomorrow," Marcus declared.

Regina stood at the bottom of the staircase, offering a pleasant smile to each candidate. When her gaze fell on me, the smile vanished instantly.

"You will line up in front of the estate," Marcus continued. "A photography crew will be brought in. You will wave to the public via livestream when the cameras are rolling. We will also permit a select few to stand inside the estate grounds to form a crowd for you."

The girls whispered excitedly; one clapped her hands while another laughed.

"People are eager to see you, ladies. They want to put faces to the names they know. Make sure you give them the best first impression."

I noticed movement at the top of the stairs. There, leaning against the wall leading to the west wing, stood Kane. No one had noticed him. He gazed down at us with an impassive expression. He was too far away to know exactly where his attention was focused, but my skin prickled with goosebumps nonetheless, reminiscent of three years ago when I would often find him watching me from across a room.

"Well, ladies," Marcus said, "are you ready to show yourselves to the entire pack?"

The girls erupted in loud cheers. I remained silent, my eyes fixed on Kane. Soon, he pushed away from the wall and disappeared down the corridor.

That night, I dreamed of him again.