The Court.

"Why do you want too?" She asked me with her straight and serious face. She sat there judging me and it was obvious that she had done this for many years.

"Why not?" I replied staring at her, this was my last option and she could definitely see it, but that did not mean I had my invitation.

"Can you be more specific?" She asked watching me, I looked down at my nails while I picked at them in anxiety.

"I'm tired, I'm lost, I'm hungry, and I..." I paused trying to consider the best answer. I looked around the small interview room, it reminded me of a prison interrogation room, you would never know the actual place it was in.

As with all applicants they had me enter through the servant's entrance and after asking to join they left me in here waiting until she came in, her pure blond hair pulled back into a long and straight ponytail as her long sculpted goddess legs held her up in her shiny black heels, her makeup was natural but enhancing of her natural angelic beauty, and her clean and straight white dress that showed off her slim but fit body, she was cleaner than me. I felt so small compared to her.

While waiting for my answer I had to go through this interview as do all applicants.

"Ms. Toni?" She asked making me look at her, my eyes were drooping from exhaustion and dehydration. My clothes are layered for warmth, covered in dirt and dried rain while holes were weakening each garment I wore, while my 5-year-old sneakers were about to fall apart.

"Sorry, I've been on the streets for a while," I said rubbing my eyes and trying to wake up.

"If anything... I want to find my place in the world, and it is hard to get anywhere when your homeless." I said showing how hopeful and driven I am.

"Why were you homeless?" She asked me looking up from her tablet.

"I ran away..." I said remembering back to my small bedroom and the many nights I spent crying in fear.

"Any particular reason?" She asked me with a straight face.

"Nothing I'd like to get into," I replied easily.

"Ms. Toni, you are aware that we get hundreds of runaway applicants a year that makeup only 12% of the total amount of applicants we get." She explained still with a straight face.

"Yes ma'am," I replied.

"So you are also aware that out the thousands of students we get a year only 10 of them make it to the finals." She said with assurance but still straightforward.

"Yes ma'am." I matched her straightforwardness.

“Very well then. Please wait here while we delegate your application.” She said standing up and exiting the room.

I looked down at the warm tea they set in front of me along with a small plate of sandwiches, I sipped the tea and carefully nibbled the sandwiches, I didn’t want to shock my stomach with the first food and warm drink it’s had in weeks. As I sat there thinking I reminded myself of what I would be entering, I looked up at the camera that was mounted to the ceiling knowing that probably a billion people were already watching me. The same show that comes on tv every year and over 96% of the world’s population tune in to watch it. A show called ‘The Court’ and no it wasn’t another show about a judge, this show was about the opportunity of a lifetime for many ladies who like me just need a chance, that one stepping stone to help them on the path of a lifetime.

“Ms. Toni?” I heard as I finished the last sandwich.

“Congratulations, you have been invited by The King to join The Court.” The Lady said without a smile and just her straight face. Because she knows and I know she knows that I know and why. I guzzled the last of my tea and stood carefully, she held open the door for me, there was no turning back now.

From the bland interrogation room to the grand hallways of the palace, the walls were lined with gold fabric wallpaper and dark cherry wood buttresses and furniture while the floors were white marble and lined with Chinese rugs.

No matter where I looked, I saw cameras I could practically feel how many people were watching me. I can only imagine the nicknames, fanfictions, and merchandise that will be done about me.

My first stop in preparation for entry was the bathhouse.

I cannot even remember my last hot bath it had definitely been a while, I left home about a year ago, so the feeling has long been forgotten, just cold showers in the local shelter.

But being stripped and sat down next to many other girls while servants washed, plucked, shaved, tweezed, and scrubbed my body was not what I was expecting as a bath, the pain of callous scrubbing wasn’t too easy to ignore but I really tried, and it hurt even worse when I had to sit in very hot water that was scented with bath salts. I always thought I had gotten past awkwardness during my time on the streets but sitting in the same large Japanese style bath with a hundred other women while they rotated around in a big circle pulling out one woman and replacing her with someone else keeping an order in place all while being watched on Tv was completely embarrassing, the only upside was the shock on the servant's faces when they washed my hair and it turned from a muddy brown to a shiny auburn.

My homeless clothes had been taken away to be burned along with any belongings I brought with me, I sat dripping wet and naked in front of a vanity I sat still as they picked up a large pair of scissors grabbing the matted lumps of my long hair and began to cut. My hair fell to my butt but now only fell in clean brushed shiny waves just past my shoulders.

I was lined up naked next to other women and we all endured being rinsed from the shower. I was dripping wet when a servant came up to me with a fluffy pink robe and helped me slip it on my wet body, cleanliness had become a distant memory and felt strange but my skin was shiny and a few shades lighter now.

I stood in line with other ladies as we waited to be examined quickly by the many female doctors that gave each of us full checkups, physicals, and bloodwork. Many people considered this to be Round 1: Health and Wellness, if your not up to par enough then you're ‘released from duty’ AKA your cut from the program and given your pension, unfortunately for the many girls I’m seeing been cut would only be given $1,000 a month and no husband match.

After my turn with the Doctor and having been cleared for Health and Wellness I stood in line with other ladies waiting to be escorted to my room.

I have watched The Court since I was little always hoping that it would be my salvation though many other children thought it was all about the glitter and glamour of Royal life and other said it was just like a Nunnery, but I knew better, even as a child I knew better.

The Court wasn’t about being Royal, nor was it a Nunnery, it is actually a school when Young ladies over the age of 18 sign their vows to The Court they are giving away their freedom to serve the Crown. Just like Nuns wear their Habits and take their vows of marriage to Jesus, we Ladies of the Court are trained in the art of Ladyship and behaviors of the Courtier and we live as wives to the King.

I plan on working hard at being a Courtier, though I may not make it, but depending on how far in the competition I get will determine my monthly income I will receive for the rest of my life even an advantageous marriage. At the very least I am aiming for is passing to the 5^th round, if I can get to the 5^th round at least then I will have a pension of $5,000 a month for the rest of my life which is above minimum wage and the King will set up a marriage for me with someone that makes at least $5,000 a month and with both $5,000 that will give me and my husband $10,000 a month to live comfortably.

Honestly, I would be shocked at myself if I got any further in the competition.

The room I was given was a small room in The Court dorms, I know you're probably thinking a small dorm might be similar to a college dorm, but these were anything but.

My room had pink walls, black furniture, and a tall vaulted ceiling, Once I arrived the servant took the robe from me and wiped me down with a towel before slipping on a white long nightdress and helped me to bed, the Bed consisted of pink satin sheets and a black down comforter, it had been so long since I had slept in a bed so comfortable so sleep came swiftly and quickly for me even with a servant sitting in the corner and the online Live stream camera set up in my ceiling allowing viewers to watch me sleep.

When being Homeless, sleep was sometimes hard, because being out in the open and vulnerable you never know who could easily come to you and either rape or kill you or even steal from you.

But in The Court, nothing around me was mine, not even my own life, I gave away that right when I signed the contract to be here.

I did not dream; pure exhaustion will do that to you. Waking up was hard though, when you spent a long time sleeping somewhere uncomfortable and you finally enjoy the MOST relaxing and comforting bed and location to sleep, you may have a hard time being awake as well.

Luckily, no one had to wake me up, they let me rest and when I did wake up, I felt better than I had in a very long time. Though today was not my favorite day. I always looked forward to it when I was young because I felt embarrassed for each of the Ladies therefore now that I am one of them to be in this position I can’t help to feel excited but very embarrassed.

The attending servant fixed my hair beautifully in waves and enhanced my beauty with smokey makeup. But when she removed my nightdress she just replaced it with a plain red dress though fashioned well into a form-fitting gown it had no details no accents and no decorations, just a full skirt down to the knees, long sleeves that caress the back of the hands and a low neckline that flowed from one shoulder to the next barely topping my bosom.

Once I was ready I stood in line with my head held high, no one spoke to each other because long ago the traditions of The Court were tested when many girls became friends in the beginning of the competition but then became enemies when secrets were used against each other and backstabbing became a normal, it became too troublesome for the King so he made thru le that no competitors are allowed to speak to each other casually to keep The Court a respectable program.

So, we all stood in silence waiting for our turns to be judged for Round 3 (technically Round 1). I watched as many girls went into the room behind the tall gold doors and only fewer came back through wearing pink robes instead of the dresses they went in with.

Patience was a virtue as my time grew closer and closer, with the competition already being in Round 3 Thousands of applicants have already dwindled down to the hundreds and I consider myself either lucky and smart for making it this far or unlucky and stupid for allowing myself to be here in the first place.

Finally, I stood before the doors as they opened slightly.

“Next!” The Blonde Lady that interviewed me said, I took a deep breath, pushed my shoulders back, and held my head up. I walked on my bare feet with reverence, confidence, and no remorse for where I came from. I noticed the thousands of people that all gathered in the humungous Throne room not to mention the many cameras all pointing at me allowing billions of viewers to watch me.

I stood at the apex of the room; all eyes were on me; however, my eyes were on him.

He sat in his Father's golden throne with accents of silver, the same throne that has sat Monarchs for the past 2020 years. He had been recently crowned King after his father the late King had passed away from old age, the many Courtier ladies that had won the competitions of The Court during his time were all given their pensions and sent to quiet homes for retirement with their children.

This man was the most qualified son of the late King, considering he wasn’t over the age of 30 and was a child of the Queen meaning a favored Courtier who he married.

The new King was tall with a strong muscular build, he sat on the throne with his legs crossed seeming bored, he bright green eyes shined behind his dark-rimmed glasses, he wore a gray shirt under his official King coat of black velvet lined with gold, adding slightly baggy pants that he tucked into knee-high black boots decorated with chains, his handsome features couldn’t hide behind his black fringe hair. He leaned on his right hand showing off his black polished nails and gold rings

I felt small in his presence but unafraid.

“Ms. Antoinette Everston” I heard the lady say behind me. The King eyed me fully, slowly sitting up to stare down at me. I bowed my head and did a small curtsy.

“King Elias,” I said in my bow showing my utmost respect for him allowing me to be here.

He tapped his finger against his armrest as he contemplated, then without much warning and almost too quickly he stood up and jumped from his perch landing right in front of me, luckily I didn’t even flinch, he stood towering above me trying to intimidate me but I stood firm and unmoving. Especially when he grasped the front of my dress and easily ripped it in half, the sound of tearing fabric resounded throughout the throne room and a breeze caught my nudity, my ruined dress was taken from me and King Elias stepped away to survey the body that had been given to him for a lifetime of servitude.

I felt the eyes of everyone in that room staring and judging me, though I was homeless I was not skinny, I had flabby skin, stretch marks, and fat that hung uncomfortably.

King Elias circled me slowly and viewed me with non-bias intrigue.

I waited patiently for his answer, depending on whether he wants me or not will depend on if I must leave the palace naked or if he chooses too…

He was Gentle in swinging a pink robe around my back and wrapping it around my nudity, he reached under my arms almost like a hug to grab the robe tie and allowing his hot breath to tickle my ear.

“I’ve missed you!” He whispered before he pulled the tie to my front and tied the robe closed. I gave him a smile and a wink telling him that I missed him too.

He gave me a half-smile and turned me around towards my escort. I haven’t seen Elias since Middle school when he was taken with his mother back to the palace after she ran away and the Elias I knew suddenly became King Elias and I was left alone in that big house with those people.

I walked with assurance back to my room. He remembered me and is happy to see me as much as I am happy to see him. The Moment I watched him being crowned on TV a year ago I knew that I had to come here and escape my abusive Foster family. He had always been there for me growing up with them and when he left my world practically shattered.

Will I get to the finish line or be cut early on?

Stay tuned and find out what happens next on ‘The Court’.