even more senseless festivals were celebrated. They already seemed now to have forgotten where it came from. Never Heera would have expected that the events would develop so. While they looked more critical her own sister, whom she loved more than anything, she began to appreciate Lean. He was not as bad as she had expected. Quite the contrary. He had humor, was quick-witted and goodness it did not seem to be lacking him.
Before Heera late evening entered the dining room, she heard already the girls weep bitterly. Something had to have happened. She quickened her pace. They immediately looked to the table at which the ranking was published. Already at first glance you could see that some of the missing names. She stepped closer.
1.) Erina
2.) Xenia
3.) Heera
4.) Medea
5.) Phoibe
6.) Acelya
7.) Agnes
8.) Daphne
9.) Celestia
Lacked the name of Jone, Lenya and Selene. It was clear to all what that meant. The girls were eliminated and now had to leave the castle. But what Heera more than met, was the fact that her name was now in third place of the ranking. About Medea.
She had not even passed the exam, which the queen had made them. The girls had Prince Lean observed as he left late in the evening Heera’s room and now she stood in third place. That was bad blood, that was for sure. Only for Erina she was pleased that was the number one with the Prince now. She had this position earned more than any other. Before she could look around, she felt her sister came up behind her. She recognized Medea to her step and her smell: delicate as peach blossoms.
"Did you tell him the truth?" Medea whispered anxiously in his ear.
"What kind of truth?" Heera replied blankly.
"About the strawberries! Did you tell him that we have found them together? "
"No!"
"But why are you standing over me then? You must have told him anything! What were you talking about? "Her words were urgent, her eyes looked suspiciously. It hurt less that they had lost a place in the rankings, more that her sister was standing over her. Although Heera was the older, people had always preferred Medea. She was the prettier, the more talented, the nicer and especially the more congenial. Although she loved her sister, it was hard for her to deal with it.
"I told him that you're the right bride for him!" Swore Heera, but Medea did not believe her.
"I told you, you should stay out of you!" She snapped injured, close to tears. "Why are you still here? You wanted to go yet! "
Heera was running out of patience at the end. She had understanding for her sister, but she did not accuse unjustly. "Stop crying, be glad that you're still there! The rankings can change at any time again! "She instructed her younger sister cope, in the moment when the Prince entered the room in person. The three girls were sobbing at the same time resigned, while Medea fell silent immediately and bowed to Lean.
"Good evening, ladies," Lean greeted them. "I'm sorry that for some of you the day ends with bad news."
He turned his attention to Jone, Lenya and Selene. " Please take my decision not as a discredit to your person. You are all three wonderful ladies, who one day will make a man very happy, but I am not this man. I had to come to a decision and the time was too short to get to know you. Please forgive me that I could make you not happy.”
"It was an honor to you to be close for a few days, Prince Lean" Jone assured him politely.
"These few days were the most beautiful of my life," Selene said.
Lean kissed one after the girls' hands goodbye. "You may keep your gifts for granted. In addition, I can deliver meals to your families, so that your return can be celebrated. You will care for a year with food from the castle, so you have to get worry about your welfare. I'm sure there are a lot of men to stop your hand. Choose wisely! Let your heart speak, because only the heart alone will choose the right. "
Jone, Lenya and Selene left the hall. Lean looked at
Alice Munro
Marion Meade
F. Leonora Solomon
C. E. Laureano
Blush
Melissa Haag
R. D. Hero
Jeanette Murray
T. Lynne Tolles
Sara King