te her mother's inability to otherwise show any sort of fondness for her daughter, she had seen that every last

he time the eighth course was served. Likewise, her favorite chocolate mousse had nearly gone untasted. By the time the dancing began, she was quite certain her elegant blue gown, ado

to match her gown, as well as a soft blush pink that she could only imagine matched the rosiness of her cheeks, stood in large golden vases around the perimeter of the dance floor while the tapestries that hung above them in matchi

to your liking?" her mo

onfirmed. "You've rea

e than the last." When her mother smiled, her lips pressed together in a thin line that bowed up at the end, and one eyebrow raised

e how her mother could outdo this particular event. Something to

their hands. Some of them were familiar; others Kit was certain she'd never met before. She took the hand extended most closely to her own and began a waltz, thinking

n't place him at all and felt a bit foolish asking his name, so she only thanked him and minded her steps. She wasn't particularly impressed with his physique either, and she decided fairly qui

attend to, Kit supposed, and much of what he was responsible for, she probably never even gave a thought to. Keeping her safe was his paramount duty, one she

periphery, but her eyes could not find his familiar face, and she sighed,

ess?" her partner asked, his brown

lash him a smile. "It's just... there a

the queen's charities months ago in hopes of receivin

as if he realized he likely wasn't supposed

from across the realm wanted to come, and

er mother was taking bribes or if this was just this man's mother's way of e

w with his head when he said the name, and sh

rmalities so quickly. "And what is your name?" She decided

ile broke out with his correction, and Kit couldn't help but make

th? That's quite some dist

mother is one of the town council members,

ratulations. I hope that you're able to do so. Are you my age then?" She imagi

final refrains of the song, which happened to be one of Kit's favorite tunes. "I hope to see

ost of these gentlemen here because they hoped to be Representatives during her Choosing? The idea changed the way she looked at each of them. The Exploration was all about having fun, getting to know what pleased her and what did not, but the Choosing was something else altogethe

eart aflutter, and when he pulled her in closer and began to twirl her around the dance floor, Kit felt a stirring inside of her, something she'd