💞 ROSES For RACHEL
{Painter}®
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💜#Episode_24
Master Pedro looked at me throu-gh narrowed eyes.
“You can trust me.” I as-sured him and he smiled.
“Oh really?” He laughed. “The girl whose mouth gets her in trouble all the time wants to convince me she can keep a giant secret from her future husband?”
My heart fluttered a little at the mention of marrying Calvin.
“Pedro, I promise, I won’t tell.”
He sighed and leaned in again. “Fine, but this is big, Rachel.” He whispered. “I don’t know that it is something you should know about anyway.”
“Well if it has to do with why people want me dead then I think I deserve to know.” I pointed out.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” He whispered urgently. “It’s not just about you…It’s much much bigger than that.” He looked down at his hands. “I worry that you knowing may cause you to be in more danger than you alre-ady are.”
I threw myself back on the be-d and huffed. “For the love, Pedro, just tell me!” I begged.
Pedro gro-an ed, ru-bbing his face with his hands. “Fine.” He relented. “I was talking to Fern’s friend, Rebecca, and I mentioned to her that Fern had told me about some whispers before she died, and I hinted to her that I wanted to know what they were.” He explained. “At first she seemed really skittish about it, like she didn’t think she should tell me, but I reminded her how good of friends Fern and I were and she finally gave in.” He paused to loos£n his blue tie a little. “She told me that some of the other handmaidens, ones who work for the lower ranked officials and workers throu-ghout the castle, had been gossiping about some big plans…ones that would change everything.
Apparently these plans could be messed up if you married Calvin.” He explained. “These people, they want…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It’s ridiculous, there’s no way there is any truth to it.”
I sat up fast, sma-cking my hands on the be-d. “Pedro!” I shouted. “You can’t just tell me that much and then not finish.” I told him. “What do they want to do? Who are they?”
He looked pale as he turned his face to me. “They’re traitors, Rachel.” He whispered so quietly I could ha-rd ly hear him. “A rebellion.”
I opened my mouth to insist he tell me more, but there was a swift knock on the door, and Maria walked in carrying a dress bag, and behind her the other two girls who usually help with my hair and makeup walked in behind her. “Good evening, ma’am. Prince Calvin told us we could find you here.” She said as they walked over to the vanity and started laying out their things. “We’ve got to start getting re-ady if you want to be on time.” She smiled.
I turned back to Pedro, who was alre-ady standing beside the be-d. “I’ll find you later.” He promised. “I’ve got to go make sure everything in the ballroom is re-ady.”
I nodded to him. “What should I expect tonight?” I asked, feeling a little flutter of nerves in my belly. It’s been a while since I’ve had to be paraded in front of the people.
Pedro patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t be worried.” He said.
“Everyone will be there, you’ll each make a statement on why you’d like the prince to pick you, when that p@rts done, the people will make a vote, and then the prince will choose.” He noticed my worried expression when he mentioned the people voting. “Don’t worry, the people’s vote is just a formality, just a thing the king thought would be fun for the people, it won’t have anything to do with who Calvin chooses.” He sighed. “After the eliminated girl is announced, the auction will be immediately after.” He gave me a smile then excused himself from the room.
I let the girls get me re-ady in a daze. My mind was bouncing all over the place. What kind of rebellion could he be talking about? Vampires don’t rebel, do they? And against who? I had so many questions. Even more importantly, what did a rebellion have to do with me?
“Almost done, ma’am.” Maria said cheerfully, although I had hoped this would take longer. I still nee-d to figure out what I’m going to say to the people. This is the kind of situation that usually gets me into trouble, and I don’t want to make things ha-rder on Calvin.
I stared at myself in the mirror and I could tell this was another go-wn picked by Master Pedro. It was floor length black lace, skin ti-ght of course, the shoulders were expo-sed, and it had elegant long sleeves. It was S-xy, but very regal at the same time, probably exactly what vampires like. My hair was curled around my face, and my eye makeup was dark and dramatic.
I was esc-rted to the ballroom with four guards, while I noticed the other girls either arrived alone, or with their tutors.
“Someone still thinks they’re pretty special.” Regina tea-sed as I arrived with my entourage.
“Shut up, guys.” Greer c@m£ to my defense, but I knew she was only doing it to try and get on my good side.
We all stood together outside the grand doors waiting on Lexton to arrive. When I heard the cl!çk!ng of heels I turned around to see her coming with four guards of her own. She looked so beautiful in her elegant white silk go-wn that made her dark tan glow, that I couldn’t help the tinge of jealousy I felt from seeing her. Calvin had as-sured me that they are just friends, but all of us girls are here for the same reason-To make the prince fall for us. So far the only one who made me worry about my chances of winning was her.
“re-ady girls?” One of the guards in front of the doors asked and we all nodded our heads. I looked around our small group and I could see the real concern and panic etched onto each of their faces. The other girls may pl@yit tough, but we are all scared, just the same.
The doors open wi-de and I see the enormous crowd, all dressed in fancy dresses and suits, as they turn to look at us. Tessa takes the lead, walking down the grand staircase and down the red carpet to the large stage set up in the back of the room. We all follow her, hearing our names being cheered from all around. The giant screens are all set up again and they are pla-ying snippets from all of the d@t£s, which I try to ignore watching as I take my seat on stage. I glance to the left of the stage and see Master Pedro behind his podium, and Cal and the King sitting in their large chairs beside him. Calvin smiled coyly at me and my face heated up.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!” Pedro cheered into his mic. “Let’s hear a big cheer for our 6 beautiful young ladies!” He coaxed and the crowd erupted with hoots and hollers. “Now show our beloved King Gordo, and Prince Calvin some love!”
Pedro chuckled into the mic as the crowd quieted down. “We’ve got much to do tonight, but first I want to inform you all on a little change to the programming. There will be two, instead of one, girls eliminated from our competition tonight.”
He announced and I heard my own g@sp echoed around the room by everyone else. “So, girls, now is your chance to let Prince Calvin know why he should keep you here for another month.”
He went down the line, the terrible three ma-king longwinded speeches about how much they love Calvin and Castrum de Petra, and Frankie even made some crude comments towards him. Greer’s plea was short, and her voice shook the entire time, ma-king me feel for her. I silently wished I had spoken to Calvin about her, even if she had been a terrible friend, I don’t want to watch her get sold.
Master Pedro st©pped in front of Lexton and she took a de-ep breath before standing and taking the mic. “Hello,” She greeted the people. “I don’t have much to say, other than, Calvin,” She said looking over at him. “I’d love the chance to stay here and keep getting to know you better, you’re a truly special person, and if tonight is my last night, I’m so grateful for the time I had with you.” The crowd awed at her and cl@pped as she handed the mic over.
Now that it was my turn, I really had no clue what I should say. I had gone over it time and time again, but I wasn’t sure if I should say what I’d planned, especially after Lexton’s sweet speech.
I pushed down my fear and only looked over at Calvin, his eyes meeting with mine and giving me strength. “I don’t have a lot to say either.” I said. “Mostly because whenever I do speak, I seem to make a mess of things, so I’m going to keep this really simple.” I smiled bashfully, but the nerves in me were alre-ady subsiding. “I’m falling for you.” I admitted.
“It’s scary and wonderful at the same time, but it’s so true. I’ve never been as happy as I am when I’m around you, and so I hope you’ll keep me.” Calvin looked truly t©uçhed by my words, then he shocked me and probably the whole world who was watching when he walked across the stage to pu-ll me into a hvg.
It was short, but it was just what I nee-ded. He re-leased me with a smile and waited for me to hand him the mic. “Thank you all, ladies.” He said into the mic, walking to the center of the stage.
“Everyone may put in their votes now, and then I will reveal mine.” He said happily.
I watched as everyone in the crowd pu-ll-ed small devices out from un-der their chairs, cli-cked a few things on them, and then put them back down. The screens in front of us showed a chart with all of our names, and bars beside them that filled up with votes, then sorted our names in the order of most votes to fewest.
In first place was still Tessa, followed by Lexton, and surprisingly, right behind her, was my name, then Regina, then Greer, and finally Frankie.
“Well, your highness, the votes are all in, now let’s find out who has your heart.” Master Pedro prompted Calvin.
Calvin walked down the line of girls, coming to Regina first. “I’m sorry, Regina, I just don’t see a future between us.” He said remorsefully. He held out his hand to her, and he walked her to center stage, then walked back to the rest of us. He glanced up and down the line, finally st©pping at Frankie, and going to her.
“Frankie, plea-se join Regina up front.” He told her gently.
My heart broke as I watched both Regina and Frankie begin to lose their composure, tears streaming down their faces. “Ladies and gentlemen, the auction is open.” Master Pedro announced and the crowd began shouting amounts and girls names fas-ter than I could follow.
After only a couple of minutes, Pedro announced that Regina was going to some official whose name I couldn’t un-derstand over the yelling, and then Frankie was being s£nt to someone who had bought her over the phone. Regina seemed to relax a little when she found out she’d be staying in Castrum de Petra, but Frankie was going to someplace called La Tente.
I couldn’t help the bile that rose in my throat at the thoughts of what might happen to them. I may hate them both, but that doesn’t mean I want something bad to happen to either of them.
Master Pedro announced that we could be excused and I went back to my old room to wait for Master Pedro to come finish telling me about the whispers.
While I waited, I la-id back on the be-d, staring up at the glittering chandelier and let a few tears fall for the girls I prayed would still be alive in a few hours.
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To_be_Continued🍇
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