The Dragon Queen Selection Chapter 13

LIRA

The midday sun spilled across the palace grounds like molten gold, warm and heavy on our skin as we gathered for the horseback riding lesson. I stood with the others, trying to keep to the edge of the group. I wasn’t in the mood to compete for attention, especially not his. Crown Prince Cassian had decided to show up, as usual, just to watch us like we were part of some circus show.

Lady Amara Fenwick was already fuming. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest as she scowled toward the group of girls crowding around the Prince, giggling and twirling their hair like fools.

“He is completely ignoring me,” she muttered, gripping her horse’s reins like they were someone’s neck.

“Maybe you’re not trying hard enough,” Lady Isla replied coolly, running her fingers through her thick black braids. “You see how the others act around him. Maybe try their methods.”

“I have tried,” Amara snapped. “Countless times. He always shuts me down, politely, of course. I’m tired of it.”

Isla didn’t look up. “It might be your approach. And your tone. You can come off a little… pushy. Try being softer next time.”

“Pushy?” Amara turned on her like a storm. “To even speak with him, you have to be determined. And I’ve never been pushy with His Highness.”

“Besides,” she added, her eyes narrowing, “who are you to give me advice? You haven’t said two words to the prince since the Prince's luncheon.”

Isla shrugged. “Haven’t had the chance. I’m not worried about that right now. It’s still early. We should focus on making it to the next round. My mother says it's important to make it through the first few weeks. At least if I don't win I can always find a good match."

Their bickering made me roll my eyes. Isla was right though, a few girls who knew they had no hope of winning just had to make it through the first few weeks, they would have marriage offers lined up by the time they were out of the selection.

As the lesson began, the instructors started showing us the proper form. I watched from my horse as Lady Selene Moorland struggled with hers. The poor animal kept shifting and twitching under her, clearly uncomfortable.

“You’re holding the reins too tightly,” Amara called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “No wonder the poor beast is terrified. Have you ever even ridden a horse before?”

Selene’s cheeks flushed. “I...I’m trying my best…”

“Trying isn’t good enough,” Amara cut her off sharply. “You either get it right or you fail. If you can’t ride a horse, how do you expect to ride a dragon?!”

“That’s enough, Lady Amara,” Lady Lenora Hawthorne said from across the group, her voice firm.

Amara scoffed. “Oh please. Every noble girl should know how to ride. If you’re not ready for this, maybe you shouldn’t have come here.”

Lenora glared at her. “Being queen isn’t only about riding dragons. You’d know that if you actually listened in classes!"

Lady Vivienne, who had been calmly brushing her horse, looked up. “I think we should all calm down.”

Lenora turned to her. “I’m not the one you should be telling. Amara’s been rude to everyone today because the Prince has been ignoring her."

Amara laughed harshly. “You think that’s why I’m upset? Worry about yourself, Lenora. You won’t last a day in this competition unless you actually use your persuasion powers to beg for the Prince's attention."

The group fell silent, the air thick with tension. Eyes darted between them, and I noticed a few girls shifting their weight awkwardly in their saddles.

Lenora gave up. She swung off her horse and stormed to the side of the field to sulk beneath a tree.

The lesson continued, but all the attention quickly shifted again when Lady Cassandra Evernight trotted past us on her horse like she belonged in a royal painting. Her dark hair shimmered in the sunlight, her posture graceful and confident. She turned her head toward the shaded bench where Cassian sat.

“Your Highness,” she called, her voice clear and elegant. “Care to join us? I’m sure the lesson would be more exciting with you leading.”

Cassian stood slowly, brushing dust from his coat. “You flatter me, Lady Cassandra. But I wouldn’t want to steal the instructor’s thunder.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’d improve it,” she said with a coy smile.

And just like that, he agreed. With effortless ease, he mounted a nearby horse, and all the girls practically stopped breathing. Even I had to admit, he looked good on a horse. But I hated that it affected me.

As they rode side by side, Cassandra leaned toward him and whispered something that made him laugh. She was doing everything right, just enough charm, just enough poise. She was playing the game perfectly. She also seemed to be the only one who could have easy conversations with the Prince. Perhaps because they were almost the same age?

By the end of the lesson, Cassandra stayed behind at the stables while the rest of us started walking back. I lingered near the back of the group and caught a glimpse of Cassian approaching her, hands behind his back like he was just strolling through a garden.

“Lady Cassandra,” he said smoothly. “You're more intriguing than I first assumed.”

She smiled, her expression perfectly measured. “I hope to keep surprising you, Your Highness.”

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation. In private.”

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t let it show.

“Of course,” she replied.

As he walked away, Cassandra’s lips curled into a smile. A victorious one.

By the time we got back to the girls' quarters, the air was thick with whispers.

“She just talked to him alone,” Evadne said, pacing in front of the mirror. “That’s against the Queen’s rules. She said no private meetings, no flirtating with the prince.”

“She’s older than the rest of us, too,” Saphira added from the sofa, arms crossed. “Twenty, I heard. Almost the same age as the Prince. She doesn’t belong here.”

Calista perked up. “Why do you say that?”

Saphira looked around. Her voice dropped.

“What I’m about to say does not leave this room,” she warned.

We all nodded. I didn’t believe for a second that it would stay secret. But I leaned in anyway, like the rest of them.

“Lady Cassandra told a big lie to enter the Queen’s Selection.”

My eyes widened, but I kept my face calm. Now things were getting interesting.