Only You

Chapter Four

There's something about you that people notice right away. It's a light that beams outward and brightens everything it touches- M.H. Clark

------

Fai's P.O.V

It's been four hours since I arrived at the maiden house.

Four dreadful hours. 

During the first hour, I dealt with hateful and yet curious looks from the castle staff. The hateful looks, we all received and I don't blame them. I too would be mad if I had to leave a nice castle to go take care of dirty commoners. The curious look, however, only I received and I have a pretty good guess on why. 

It's because you look different. 

In the second hour, I was put in a bath and was scrubbed so hard my skin burns. They pour this liquid on me, a perfume so strong that I try to run off but was overpowered. After that, I was forced into this yellow dress. It wasn't necessarily my style but it did compliment my skin. 

Now I'm in the attic trying to fix my own hair since they obviously have no experience with thick hair before. They tried putting it into a bun like all the others, but it was just atrocious. 

"What are you doing up here?" One of the staff says, standing at the entrance red with anger. "You were supposed to be at the dinner table by now, and what on earth did you do with your hair?"

"I fixed it," I said with a small smile, walking past her as she glared at the low braided bun I did with my hair. 

I'm the last to arrive in the dining room. When I entered I received looks of confusion, which I also returned. There were so many girls, and I barely recognize the ones in my village. Everyone is so dressed up. 

The only one I recognize is a dark-haired girl with piercing green eyes, my friend May. She's so obsessed with dressing up and putting on makeup, the only difference is that the bun frames her face and makes her look even more beautiful. 

Did not think that was possible. 

"Now that everyone is here, let's get started." The head staff says, not forgetting to send me a glare. 

"You guys are to have dinner and talk amongst yourselves," She continued pacing around the room. "In two hours, you are all to report to the living room for the first elimination round. See you then."

Elimination round? On the first night?

"I bet you, they're going to eliminate us based on our looks," May whispers to me after the staff left, giving me a small smile. 

"Then you shouldn't worry at all," I say giving her a small smile. 

"Correction, we both shouldn't worry gorgeous," She says dragging me to sit next to her. 

Lies. 

For the majority of the dinner, I stayed quiet. May introduces herself to those around her, inserting her dominance. Everyone else stays within themselves or their own group.

No one wants to get to know each other and that's understandable. There were ten towns under the kingdom's rules, with numerous maidens from each town under one roof. Why make an effort to get to know people you might never see again after a day or two. 

Two hours later we all made our way to the living room, where the maid and some man were waiting. 

"This is the king's advisor, he will be the judge of the first elimination round, show some respect," The head staff says, making sure we're all lined up in a straight line facing the advisor. The old man looks at us, using his cane for support as he starts to walk around. 

Not how I imagine the royal advisor to look. 

"Too tall," She says looking up at one of the girls. May was right, this just about looks. Did the king command this? Is he that shallow?

"Too short," He says gesturing to five girls. They rush to the side joining the first girl. 

"Too skinny"

"Too big"

"Weird eyes"

"Not good enough"

"Just no"

"Interesting," He says, stopping and facing me. He looks at me, deep in thought saying nothing. Probably debating on what to say to me. 

Too dark. Too different. Too weird looking. 

He gives me another once over and looks at the girl standing next to me. "Why did you even try?"

He continued his judgments until there were only twenty of us left. The staff and the eliminated maidens look at him with questioning looks, not daring to say what they are thinking out loud.

How did he just know who to kick out so fast? Is the king really command for all of this? How did I get kicked out and the outsider stays?

"Now that all of this is done, those eliminated are now dismissed. You can keep the dresses as a participation gift." The head maid says ushering them out of the living room.

"It's getting late. You ladies follow me to your assigned room for the night" A young staff member says, gesturing to a small room.

We were all so exhausted that no one even dared to gossip about today's event. Everyone but me was deep in slumber when the door opened. I heard two voices, the head staff, and the advisor.

"Why did she not get eliminated? The king wouldn't dare to marry an outsider"

" Of course not. This is just part of the fun, and besides, she's not hideous. She could be a great concubine"

Of course.