Chapter 1
Maddy's P.O.V"Maddy, the Selection is inevitable. You'll have to have one, it is after all tradition," my father said.
"Or you could arrange me a marriage and betroth me to some slum bag, whom I assume will be way better than any guy that can come from a Selection," I responded with a look of innocence.
" Maddy, your father is right. Plus the Selection worked great for us," she agreed, squeezing my father's hand.
"Ugh, PDA!"
"Just give it a chance. If you don't like anyone there, then we can either start over or, you can choose another young man to marry." "You can't just give me the crapiest compromise and expect me to be ok with it," I practically shouted as the car began to come to a rolling stop. I opened the car door to the limo and got out just as the vehicle stopped. "I need some air."
"Maddy," my dad called after me.
"I don't need your permission for everything, King Maxon."
I stormed off to the side of the road where gravel meets grass and started walking the opposite direction my parents were going. I recognized this part of Illea as an- in between wealth- area. With one story houses left over from some 4's and occasional 5's. The green grass was almost immaculate, and the autumn leaves were a pretty orange, but I was to mad to enjoy the beautiful scenery like I usually would. And being already unobservant, it made me less aware of the beautiful stranger that bumped into me next.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," I stammered as I helped him to his feet. When I looked up, I met his deep brown eyes and tousled black hair. I saw his tan skin and full lips, and I instantly melted.
"No that was my fault, your highness, I was in a bit of a hurry," he said.
Even his voice was beautiful.
"Totally mime, and please, Maddy. I hate all the formalities." "Well, Maddy, I see that we have something in common, over apologizing," he said smiling.
"Sorry, I-"
"And again..." Now it was my turn to laugh.
"And you seem to point out all my flaws. Next you're going to insult my looks."
"I could never diss your beautiful auburn hair or green eyes, Maddy. . . Insulting you like that would be like insulting the Mona Lisa."
I smiled hearing him calling my truthfully ugly hair beautiful. "So where are you headed," I asked, falling into step next to him.
"Away from where I left."
"Well then there is commonality number two."
"What would the princess be running from?"
"A forced Selection..."
"Ahhhh, but aren't you only eighteen?"
"Yes but next month the letters will have to go out, forcing me to choose from a lot of men that I might loathe, but have no choice but to choose as a husband. Princess or not, no one should have to go through the Selection."
"What if one of them were an axe murderer," he inquired, still walking.
"Precisely, well. . . I kind of need to go the other way. Even though talking kinda helped, I can't give up my protest so easily."
"Understandable," he said nodding.
"Goodbye-"
"Blake."
"Bye Blake."
"I hope to see you soon, Maddy.
And with that we turned around and started walking off our different ways, but I looked back. . . And I think he did too.