Kai
My father stands on the podium as he announces this year's Selection. He has 4 prince sons and he expects them all to find lovely wives. I don't mind having a wife, because at least here I'll get to choose who. My brothers, Ze'ev, Carswell, and Jacin stand in line next to me.
Ze'ev has a large build, bulky and broad. His muscles have always been his leading attraction. He has dark hair and striking green eyes.
Carswell is something of the 'ladies man'. He does anything for attention, and hits on all of the girls that come to the palace. I bet he'll love being in the Selection. Carswell's caramel hair and light blue eyes can catch almost any girl.
Jacin is the perfect image of expressionless. He rarely shows emotion, and I doubt that he'll find a pair - even if you have to. He has blond hair and icy blue eyes.
I'm lanky and of medium height, with jet-black hair and light skin. I'll scoff if anyone finds me attractive at all.
The king continues to announce, and finally we're allowed to see the female contestants for this year's selection. The first is a girl named Cinder, a 6 who clearly does not want to be where she is. She glares into the cameras, with a grease stain on her forehead and messy brown hair pulled into a hasty ponytail. She's someone who I might forget in a crowd, but also oddly cute.
The second girl is Scarlet, a 7, and she has flaming red hair that is barely tamed with a rubber band. I can see the top of a handgun poking out of the waistband of her jeans, and Ze'ev finds this oddly attractive.
The rest of the ladies pass in a blur, only a few of which are memorable. The crowd gets a laugh when Carswell takes one look at a petite, blond girl who is a 3 with hair to her knees and mutters, "Aces. Is that all hair?"
Winter, a 3, appears on the screen last and Jacin blanches. I don't know why, but he stays frozen and rooted to the spot for the rest of the time after he sees Winter.
As everyone troops back to their needed places, my brothers and I trudge back to our room. We originally were offered our own quarters but chose to share an extra-large room.
"Carswell, I could've sworn that you blushed when that girl Cress came up." Z remarks with a grin.
Carswell scowls. "Look who's talking, what about Scarlet, huh?" It's Z's turn to flush when Carswell brings Scarlet up. I'm suddenly glad that I adopted an air of nonchalance the entire time and didn't react differently to any of the girls. Jacin and I both remain silent while Z and Carswell bicker the rest of the way up.
Tomorrow is when we get to meet the girls on the screens, and as we slip into our beds my mind whirs with the thoughts of what could happen tomorrow.