AN: Here is the actual chapter one lol
Chapter One: Monday, April 1st
For the first time in a while, Angeles is raining without the help of Princess Selena. The skies aren't their usual light blue; grey clouds, forceful winds loud claps of thunder, and bursts of lightning cover the sky. There's a risk of the power going off and there is still work to be done.
While Selena would rather be outside, basking in the cool rain and rushing wind, witnessing the thunder claps and the sudden lightning flashes, she's stuck in a meeting. Instead of taking in the atmosphere, Selena is listening to her parents and their advisors drone on and on about politics and updates on Illéa Olympia.
Her father, King Tyrell, catches onto her zoning out, "Lena, please pay attention."
She turns her head, she faces away from the window and looks each of the other people in the room in the eye.
"May I proceed?" King Tyrell's advisor, Ms. Herring asks. Her heel taps against the floor and the pen she is clicking are in unison.
Selena mutters a quick apology and turns her head downwards.
"Anyways一" Ms. Herring coughs, breaking up her statement, "we were talking about public backlash of the rebel executions."
"What are they saying?" Selena lifts her head, intently focusing on Ms. Herring.
Queen Pallas speaks up, "Honey, they're defending the rebels."
"They were actively planning an attack on a legacy!" Selena clenches her fists under the table, her foot taps rapidly, "Gods, it was Gideon for fucks sake!"
Her father reaches for her hand, "Honey, stay calm."
A louder clap on thunder occurs, messing with the cycle.
"Your Highness," Gideon Blanchard, Queen Pallas' advisor, "I am fine. Really."
"Ahem," Mrs. Herring wants the attention again, "Thank you. Now, the public is in an outrage. Apparently, they care more about the lives of criminals more than the lives of the innocent."
"It's because we're legacies." Queen Pallas points out. She explains, "The rebels are only attacking legacies and their families. Gideon, I suspect that since you work closely with us and are a legacy of Hermes, the rebellion saw you as a fantastic target."
"We can't show weakness, we need to show the public that legacies and, more importantly that the royal family, is stronger than ever." King Tyrell addresses, "So, if the advisors think that it's a smart move, then I was thinking about jump starting Selena's selection."
"I thought you were going to make me wait on it." Selena almost jumps out of her seat, a smile forming on her face, "I'm not complaining though. I'd love to have a selection."
"Thoughts, Gideon?" Queen Pallas asks.
"It would help covering up the public unrest." Gideon replies, going through his files, "Plus, it'd give you something to do because your studies are over.
King Tyrell asks, "Milly?"
"If she can grow up, sure." Ms Herring, otherwise known as Milly, replies, closing her files, "I have places to be Your Majesty, can we continue this meeting another time?"
"Yes Milly." King Tyrell declares, "This meeting is dismissed."
The rain is slower now, the wind isn't as unforgiving, the thunder and lightning are gone. Still, Selena lays on the ground in middle of the courtyard.
The dark grey skies pair nicely with the dark castle. Dark green trees and blood red rose bushes line the edges of the courtyard. On days like today, the palace fits the dark and foreboding aesthetic it's going for.
Two guards each are at the four entrances. The courtyard, which lies at the very center of the castle, is outdoors. All types of weather enters the courtyard.
Luckily for Selena, the rain can fall onto her no problem. The gift from her patron god Zeus, the small, clear droplets fall around her. Plunging from the sky, the cold bits of water splash on her face.
With closed eyes, Selena takes it all in. The rain, the breeze, and the unusual chilly weather. Zeus really is blessing her today. Today in general has been a good day.
The sound of boots hitting the concrete sidewalk causes her to open her eyes.
"Are you seriously sleeping outside in the rain?"
Selena looks up to see her sister, Princess Luna Luciana, standing above her.
She asks, "Luna, what do you want?"
Luna holds up an old Nintendo Switch. The only words she gives Selena are, "Mario. Party. Rematch."
"Right now?"
"You could forfeit."
"Don't even suggest such a thing."
"To the parlor room Selena." Luna tells her, "Or, you forfeit and another victory is added to my list."
"Gods that'd be terrible." Selena replies, "Let's do it."
Following her sister, Princess Selena heads to the back wing's parlor room. It's distance from the more diplomatic parts of the castle, plus it's more modern look made it become the lounge room for the King and Queen's three children.
"Oh Drew, I didn't know you were back from uni." Selena notes as she enters the room.
Prince Drew is sitting by a window sill. His laptop and textbooks are sitting on the desk.
"No professor, no class." It was his only answer before going back into his work.
Luna rolls her eyes, "Let's get to Mario Party."
Luna sets it up while Selena gets comfortable. She sits on the couch and catches the controller.
The girls play a twenty round game; a standard in the Selena-Luna competition. Up until the very end Luna is winning. Thusly, once again, giving Selena another point on the scoreboard.
"Who won?" Drew asks, not looking up from the board.
Whilst doing a terrible victory dance, Selena answers, "I did! Thank the gods for the slowpoke bonus star!"
"Hmpf," Luna tosses her remote onto the ground and crosses her arm.
"Get over yourself, sissy." Selena adds a point onto the scoreboard. She turns her head towards Luna, "Get over it Luna and bow down to your queen!"
A laugh escapes Selena's lips and Drew smiles at his sister's antics.
Luna notes, "You aren't the queen yet. Our father has to die and you have to have someone to rule beside."
"Speaking of that一" Selena starts.
"No!"
"Can I finish my sentence?"
Drew asks, "Are you about to have a selection?"
Selena nods with a smile on her face.
"No!" Luna gasps, "If you are getting married so soon, dad will expect that I get married earlier as well."
"Actually I'll get married before you Luna." Drew notes, "I'm the older one."
"Shut the fuck up," Luna turns to face Drew, "You're only older by six minutes."
"I'm still older, thusly I'll be married first."
"Whatever." Luna, once again, rolls her eyes.
The rain has stopped. Dinner was over. Night has fallen.
And, after all of that, Princess Selena is in the temple, kneeling in front of the shrine of Zeus.
Unlike most visits, Selena places a sacrifice to his shrine.
"Dear Zeus, King of Olympus, King of the Gods, Ruler over the skies and all inhabitants of Olympus and the Earth, I, your newest legacy, sit in front to your royal shrine to give you an offering." Selena recites her 'hi, its me' to Zeus. She continues, placing the sacrifice onto the shrine, "All I ask of you in return is to listen to me and offer me guidance. As tradition, I am holding a selection."
She bows her head and closes her eyes; continuing to speak, "However, I am conflicted. While on one hand, I've been looking forward to this my entire life; on the other hand, I am doing this to distract the public from greater issues are great nation is facing. I know that when I am queen I'll have to make tough decisions like this and do what's right for the public, but this goes against what I've been taught and what you stand for. To me, this seems unjust. So please, my patron god, give me guidance and send me on the correct path."
Lighting a candle in front of the sacrifice, she leaves, retreating to her room for the remainder of the night.