- Oh, thank you. You look magnifit.

  - Isn't it fun wearing all that jewelry? Where are yours? - she asked, curious.

  - Hmm, too heavy - I replied, shrugging and smiling.

  - They're heavy, true, but I think I'll get used to them.

  There was er posture iire national team. That was a fact. From the start, Shion had looked like a princess, and now, with all those jewels and props, she looked even more like o was as if something suddenly became clear to me, and I couldn't keep quiet.

  - Yoing to win,” I murmured, uo help it. The girl smiled, full of fidence.

  - I will! But it's rude to say that,” she winked, amused.

  Suddenly, all the whispering stopped. I thought Kurenai had cast an acg g someone, but when I looked at the door, there he rinaruto, beaming, smiling and absolutely thrilled.

  - Good m, miss,” he said with a charming smile.

  - Your Majesty - Kurenai bowed briefly and impeccably.

  - Hello, Kurenai. If you don't mind, I'd like to introduce myself to these young dies.

  - Of course, it wouldn't be a problem,” she replied, bowing once more.

  Prinaruto looked around the hall and soon bumped into me. azes met for a moment and he smiled. His smile was unmistakable, the most captivating of all. He didn't seem the least bit irritated. Perhaps my drama the night before had amused him in some way. If I wasn't a princess, I'd probably be his court jester, after all.

  - Miss, if you don't mind, I'd like to meet each of you individually. I'm sure you're all hungry, just like me, so I promise not to take up too much of your time.

  With that, he turo the young woman at the right end of the first row and led her to the sofas. The two of them chatted for a few minutes, and the up. The sed girl in the right row then got up and walked over to the prihe process tinued.

  - I wonder what he wants to know? - whispered Ino to me.

  - Maybe you should make a mental list of the actors you find most beautiful. You start now. - I whispered, and she let out a soft ugh.

  I watched in silence, distracted, as each of the Selected was called up for interview. Some remained calm and dignified, others seemed about to explode with nervousness. Fuu, for example, turned as red as a bell bell pepper when it was her turn to approach the prince, aurned with a radiant smile. Ino, oher hand, nervously adjusted her dress every few seds.

  My body began to sweat when I saw that she was returning, which meant that my turn had e. I stood up on shaky legs and walked over to the sofa. Being the ter of attention in those blue eyes almost made me fet how to walk.

  - Sakura, right? - he teased, a pyful smile lighting up his face.

  - Yes, it's me. And I know I've heard your name before, but... could you refresh my memory? - I replied, trying to crack a joke. Naruto's ugh assured me that I had hit the right note.

  He leaned forward a little, his eyes shining with curiosity.

  - Did you sleep well, my dear? - he asked, with a soft tohat made me fall silent for a sed.

  I didn't know what expression I was making, but his eyes were full of excitement. I robably more embarrassed than I'd like to admit.

  - I'm not your darling. - I smiled back, trying to look more fident. - But, yes, I slept very well. My maids had to practically drag me out of bed.

  He smiled with a hint of amusement.

  - I'm gd to hear you're fortable, my... Sakura. - he corrected, his smile widening.

  - A thousand apologies for what I said yesterday. - I tinued, a little discerted. - I don't want you to think that the Four are so rude. The Tea Vilge educates us very well... Ino is living proof of that. - I looked at my friend, but the prince's eyes never left me.

  I think all the girls decred themselves to him at that moment. The prince bowed his head briefly. When he looked at me again, he rested his elbows on his knees and his in his hands, as if trying to make me uand the seriousness of the moment.

  - Sakura, you've been very ho with me so far. That's something I deeply appreciate. Now, I'd like to ask you to answer one question, if it's not too much trouble.

  I nodded, a little afraid of what he might want to know. He leaned further towards me; his eyes fixed on mine.

  - You said you were here by mistake. It made me think... you don't want to stay. Does your heart already belong to someone else?

  The word “someone” sounded so intehat it almost made me stop. His eyes, bck as darkness, weren't kind; they never had been. They were dangerous, like the worst of alleys. A I loved him.

  - My heart belongs to someone else. - my voice came out bitter, and, for a moment, something in his eyes seemed to fade.

  - Do you wao let you go back to your beloved today? - he asked, his voice cold as steel.

  - I don't wish that, my prince. - she said, resolutely. - I want to stay. I don't want to go home.

  He frowned, visibly fused, but his expression soon softened and an amused smile appeared.

  - I don't uand... - he said, joking about the situation. - You've fallen in love with me in such a short space of time?

  I rolled my eyes, uo tain my smile, and Naruto ughed at my rea.

  - Let's make a deal, then. - he suggested, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  - A deal? - I asked, curious.

  - It must be hard to choose your wife from all these thirty-four, isn't it? So, here's my proposal: if you allow me to stay, I'll point you in the right dire and show the prihe best didates. I'll be your friend.

  He paused for a moment, thoughtful, before finally agreeing.

  - I've met almost all the girls in this salon, but none of them are better friends than you. I'd be delighted to let you stay. - He said with a charming smile.

  I sighed with relief.

  - I call you “my darling” now? - He asked, still looking hopeful.

  - Not a ce. - I replied softly.

  - I'll keep trying. I don't usually give up. - He assured me, and his words sounded so sihat I believed them.

  - Did you call them all “my dear”? - I asked, looking away to the rest of the room.

  - Yes, and they all seemed to like it. - He replied, with a mischievous smile.

  Vaku