King Philip's POV

Present Day

13th day of April R.A.

Further in the palace…the force of the veil pulled me toward the other candidates.

The chambermaids walked with their candidates down the stairway toward the North wing where all the candidates were staying. The eight candidates walked quietly through the halls of the palace until one girl groaned in frustration, startling the others as well as the palace staff.

Rude.

“Really? We are all just going to quietly go back to our rooms like a dog cast outside for the night. Why don't any of you have a problem with that?” Pippa Dollyn stammered. The longer the group had walked in silence, the stronger the frustration on her face had grown. She had waited for one of the others to say something.

Light streamed into the grand hall from the top of the stairway. The stairway was cobbled together out of river rock, which had been an inexpensive material at the time the Mortar Castle was built. The staircase itself was at least twenty feet wide allowing all the girls to stop and look back at Pippa Dollyn in shock. Her blue gown with gold stitching was dirty from the chaos, and her hair was springing out of the delicate braids. Pippa’s make-up was smeared, and tears were threatening to leak from her eyes.

“What are you expecting to be said, Pippa?” Zoelle Orleans stepped forward toward the girl. “There was an attack on the queen’s life. The sooner we left the balcony, the sooner the investigation could truly begin.”

I knew I liked that girl.

“We were warned about the possible dangers of entering the Queen’s Challenge. This happened, but everyone lived.” Roisin Castile added. “The queen, your governor, and the general last night talked about the danger of being involved with the palace.” Several girls nodded in agreement.

Tylee Jones crossed her arms. “Given the protesters in each district and the calls for district immigration reform in the Chamber of Ministers and House of Service, should we be surprised the queen was attacked?”

Orianna Lyncaster looked at Tylee in shock over what she just said. “Are you saying there’s political unrest in the districts, causing an attack on the queen?”

“Duh,” Tylee answered Orianna.

“I haven’t seen such unrest in my district,” Orianna stated. “West Wind has always been a serene place to live.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Amity Bellrose grimaced at Orianna. “Not every district is like that. In Golden Meadows, every citizen is supposed to farm even if they own other businesses like stores in the market or transportation of goods. It’s a forced caste system that should have been retired when Ashland was formed.”

“The queen must know about the political issues in each district since she visits them each month. Why else would she have a candidate from each district here to compete in the Queen’s Challenge?” Zoelle responded.

“To make her look good after ignoring the growing issues in each district. In Toba, families in poverty line the street begging artisans or mine workers for scraps or a way to work. We have more people than jobs available.” Aziza Bane said. Her eyes were full of worry for the people of Toba Peaks.

“Each district has challenges. Ashland is only beginning to move out of the rebuilding phase after the Kaloth invasion. It’s only natural that our districts are struggling to work together. It was a loose alliance of countries that formed Ashland in the first place.” Roisin stepped forward trying to calm the conversation.

“A loose alliance that was burned to a crisp with few survivors after the Kaloth occupation and rebellion fires. Immigrants and survivors saw an opportunity with all the scorched dirt and took lands based on historical records. The new cities reformed the fallen alliance, which took away all the power from each city and renamed them as districts under the royal family,” Aziza recapped Ashland’s recent history. She seemed knowledgeable.

“But, it doesn’t seem like Queen Reia-”

Vestra Fairchild started to laugh, causing everyone around her to stare at her. Her laugh was dark and sarcastic. “This is ridiculous. You all sound like government ministers and servants arguing about the political climate of Ashland as if that would change anything. And, you are either blaming or defending the queen over your district’s problems. I am beginning to think you all don’t understand anything.” Vestra paused to look each girl in the eye. “Queen Reia may not have spoken to us directly after the balcony explosion, but I feel like you all forgot she was almost blown up less than an hour ago. She was the target. Have any of you thought about how she is feeling right now?”

Yep. Vestra was an interesting and sensible girl. I have a good feeling about her so far. Reia, I hope you can see this girl’s potential like I do.

Silence fell over the group of candidates. They had all forgotten the queen was a person at that moment. Yes, people were struggling all over the kingdom. They all had a responsibility to their districts, but they were here to compete in the hopes of becoming the next queen. Their individual district was important, however, this discussion could wait.

Then, as if Pippa was unsettled with Vestra’s words, she remarked, “What a speech from the pretender!” The girl gave a loud single clap. “A noble in peasant’s clothes walks among us, ladies. Don’t let her make you lose sight of your goals. She is nothing but a fake candidate.”

Vestra expected something like this after the rumors began circulating about her appearance in White Sands. Although she thought she might have more time before another girl brought up the rumor, she refused to let Pippa’s words diminish her. “Well, Pippa, I guess you have shown your true colors.” Vestra decided that staying here any longer would be pointless. She could see doubt in the other candidates’ eyes. No one here would hear what she had to say. “Very well. Good day, all.” Vestra turned and left the group of girls on the staircase as she continued on with her maid, Amanda, in tow.

Vestra refused to look back as the group began to speak again as two more girls from the balcony arrived at the staircase. She would swear her back was on fire from the intense gazes of the other candidates on her. Down the stairs, across an unnecessarily large room to the North wing entrance, Vestra felt the candidates watching her. She wondered if she had just set herself up for failure by speaking up against the others. Either way, it was too hard for her to listen to the other girls ignoring the queen’s feelings in this whole situation. Vestra heard the last of the candidates catch up with the group standing on the stairs. She wondered if any of the girls might have agreed with her before Pippa spoke.

Vestra sighed, “Time will tell. Queen Reia wants an Ashlander to succeed her. Hopefully, one of us will be able to stand for the whole kingdom instead of a single district. A true Ashlander will stand for all of Ashland.”