Chapter 5: Administrative Details

Celeste's stomach burned in hunger as the weasel of man arranged his paperwork on the grand table in her family's sitting room.

"There are certain things that we need to discuss. As of Friday, you are considered property of Illia. You must take care of your body. I have some forms for you to sign to indicate that you understand these rules. Any failure on your part to comply will result in your removal from the selection. Do you understand?"

Celeste rolled her eyes. "Of course. I'm not an imbecile."

Celeste's mother placed a hand on her arm, trying to appear as if she was offering support. Celeste pursed her lips; surprised that he mother was making the effort even though no cameras were on them.

"Be polite," he mother hissed in her ear.

"I realize that as a two, you have access to vitamins. Do you take them regularly?"

"Yes," Celeste said in a falsely sweet voice. Her mother removed her hand.

"I have the results from your physical. It looks like you have lost about nine pounds in the last week. Is there a problem?"

Celeste's mother smiled. "She still has a ways to go, but we're on the right track. We're planning on having her lose another five pounds before she departs."

The weasel frowned. "She's at a healthy weight for her height."

"Yes, she is. That's what we're trying to fix."

The man's frown deepened and he made a note in his book.

"I need confirmation that you are a virgin. If you're not, we need to know immediately."

Celeste snorted. "I'm not stupid enough to get pregnant with an illegitimate child."

"There are black market birth control pills available to the higher castes. We are not oblivious to these things."

"Wouldn't that show up on my blood screen? Again, I would have to be ridiculously stupid to sign up for the selection if I had ever indulged in birth control."

The little man reddened, and he shuffled his paperwork. "I suppose that's true. I still need your word that you're a virgin."

"I'm a virgin."

"Of course she is," Celeste's mother trilled.

He handed her a form to sign, which stated in writing that she had never broken that particular law.

"The rules are very straightforward. You cannot leave the palace on your accord. The prince is the only one who can dismiss you. Even the king and queen cannot force you to leave, they can only advise Maxon. You will be required to stay as long as the prince needs to make his choice. You do not arrange your meetings with the prince. He will decide when and where you will meet. You may not sabotage another contestant."

Celeste twitched. She fully intended to sabotage the other girls. What kind of contest would it be, if she didn't stack the deck in her favor? She'd just have to be subtle. Very subtle.

"Your only romantic relationship will be with the prince. If you are found to be consorting with another man, it will be considered treason and be punishable by death," he continued.

Could she make that work to her advantage? Would any of the other girls be foolish and promiscuous enough to develop a relationship with another man at the palace?

"You may not wear any clothes or eat any food not provided to you by the palace."

She had such a lovely wardrobe; it would be a shame if she couldn't take advantage of it. And she would have to be careful with the food, her mother would not be happy if she gained back all of the weight she had just lost. Ugh.

"You will be courteous to the journalists who will be filming your life at the palace. Illia will be judging you based on how you comport yourself. Of course, your family will be compensated, although by the looks of it, they hardly need it. If you go to the end, you will marry Prince Maxon and be crowned a Princess of Illia."

She smiled. She was going to be a princess. That would make everything all right.

He gave both Celeste and her mother forms to sign. Celeste's form attested that she would abide by the rules, and her mother's form attested that she had received the first set of funds.

"Will you escort me to the door, Miss Celeste?"

"We have a manservant who can do that."

"Show him to the door Celeste, I think he has one more thing he wants to say to you."

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes.

"There is another thing," he confided once they were out of earshot of her mother. "When you are invited to do something with Prince Maxon, you do not refuse. No matter what. Do you understand?"

Celeste laughed. "Of course I understand. You don't have to spell it out. I know how this is going to work."