Chapter 3 Exciting News

It was Steven, her queer bestie since childhood who called. At this moment, she just wanted to be alone and think about her miserable life but she just couldn't ignore the call. "Hi Steve, what’s up?" “You won’t believe what I just heard on the news.” “What?” Catherine asked, her interest piqued. “All single ladies aged 20-28 from prominent families were asked to upload their data and basic information on the royal screening website. King Shawn is about to choose a queen.” Steven said unleashing a screech filled with excitement. ”Really?” Catherine replied flatly. “Yes really. And why is your voice so down? Aren't you excited?” Steven asked curiously. The whole world was excited about this. King Shawn, every woman's dream man, and the world's most powerful king would be choosing a bride. He had finally given in to the people’s demands to have a queen. “I'm fine, Steve. I just caught a really bad cold,” Catherine lied through her teeth. Steven knew her so well and could sense the falsehoods in her voice but decided not to press further. One thing he was sure of was Catherine still thinking about her foolish ex, Tristan. He wishes he could smack her through the phone. “Cool. So aren’t you going to apply? I mean, you have all the qualities they’re looking for,” Steven nagged. His best friend was born with a sharp brain and an amazing level of intelligence. At just 23, she had already bagged two major degrees from two of the best universities on the planet. Not to mention, she was young and gorgeous. When he thought about it more, he saw that she had a great chance. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not interested in tying myself down to a stranger just because he’s a king. Besides, I know they won’t choose me anyway.” “Come on, Cat,” Steven pleaded. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You’ll never know if you'd be the lucky girl they chose. You’ll be living in a palace, wearing beautiful gowns, eating the best meals and you’ll have everything you could ever want. Plus, think of the impact you could make as a queen.” Catherine sighed. She knew Steven had a point, and he had also purposely mentioned something about food which he knew damn well that she couldn’t resist, as the obsessed foodie she was. Catherine nodded, even though Steven couldn’t see her. “Okay. I’ll apply for it. Thanks for letting me know. You’re the best as always.” She couldn’t deny the fact that she felt a spark of curiosity and intrigue about the idea. Catherine thought that Steven was right. She thought about all the good she could do, all the people she could help, and it made her heart swell with pride. But at the same time, the thought of leaving her comfortable life and job as a journalist in New York scared her. Catherine's mind wandered, envisioning herself standing beside the handsome King Shawn, commanding respect and wielding influence. But amidst her daydreams, a pang of doubt gnawed at her. What if she was merely chasing an illusion, seeking solace in a fairytale that didn't truly exist? The wounds from her past relationship with Tristan still lingered within her, casting a shadow of skepticism over her heart. Could she truly trust love again, especially in the context of royalty and power? “Now you’re talking. You see that’s why you’re my favorite bitch. I’m hanging up now I wanna call Vanessa to also check on her if she’s done uploading her profile as well,” Steven’s voice jolted her out of her deep thoughts again. “Okay, bye, love you,”Catherine replied heartily. After hanging up with Steven, Catherine proceeded to the royal seal website. When she was done submitting her personal information, she quickly scrolled through her gallery, searching the folder where she stored her photos. After scrolling aimlessly for a while, she saw a photoshoot she had done a few months ago. Although it didn’t look elaborate and she wasn’t particularly dressed to the nines, she felt it was decent enough. She wore a V-necked, thigh-slit royal blue dress, sitting on a simple wooden chair while looking straight at the camera with a small smile playing across her face which wore nude makeup. Her hair was styled in a smooth and sleek down ponytail without any jewelry except her old purple wristband. She hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the "Upload" button. She knew damn well she isn’t one of the favorites or among the popular elite female socialites who stood higher chances of getting the crown. So never in her wildest dreams could she even dream of becoming the queen of Australia. But why was something in her guts urging her to do it? It was as if the universe was whispering in her ear, daring her to take a leap of faith and challenge the status quo. As a top-tier licensed freelance journalist and a foreign correspondent in the United States, Catherine had a great portfolio. So she couldn't say she didn't stand a chance of being noticed and picked for this, especially since they said they were going for the best. She has published for numerous top media outlets like The Daily Mail, New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and more. Unlike most young ladies from highborn families across the country, Catherine was hardworking and her career was very promising. She couldn't care less and frankly wasn't interested in this queenship stuff at all. It seemed like a long shot, a mere fantasy she was entertaining. But something in her stirred, a flicker of hope that whispered of the possibilities that awaited her. She thought about how she would never have bothered to sign up for this if she was still happily in love with that jerk, Tristan. With a deep breath, Catherine summoned the courage and clicked the upload button. Just then, an anonymous text message appeared on her phone. Her face turned pale and her breathing hitched in an instant.