"Lilly…" I hear someone whisper my name. I moan turning away from the sound. Snuggling against my pillow, I relax, not ready to wake up yet. "Llliiilllyyyyy…" comes the offending voice again, increased a little in volume. I sigh in annoyance, my lower lip coming out in a pout as I turn and open my eyes to see my older brother.
He has a big, goofy grin plastered on his face while yelling, "Happy Birthday!" I ball my hands into fists and wipe away the rest of sleep from my eyes. A smile dawns on my lips as what he says sinks in. I turn to him with a bright smile and tackle him with a bear hug, throwing us both to my carpeted floor. "Whoa," he chuckles trying to pry me off, "No need to suffocate me."
"Well look who's up," another familiar voice comes. I turn and see my other brother with arms across his chest and a smirk on his lips. I look back and forth at both of my brothers in total delight, not being able to hide the excitement I know today will bring.
"Kakarot! Raditz! Lilly! Come down and eat breakfast!" mother shouts, the smell of seems to hit us all. I run out of the room, forgetting about my brothers for a moment and jump down all the stairs. I land lightly but don't stop for a mere second because of my growling stomach.
When I come into sight, I see my mother at the sink and father drinking some hot tea at the table. Both grin warmly at me and say, "Happy Birthday Lilly."
"Thank y-" I end up getting interrupted as meaty arms encircle around my waist. Squealing in delight, I look behind me to find Raditz. A smirk is all the warning I get before being spun around rapidly.
"She's getting too old for that," Kakarot mumbles though there's a wide smile on his face as he watches his sister laughing out with joy.
"To believe my little girl's twelve years old," their father muses, shaking his head in disbelief. He puts his teacup down, a small smile pulling at his lips.
"Now eat, before the meal gets cold," mom commands. There isn't a single argument as everyone dives into the delicious food prepared specially for the birthday girl. Once every crumb of food is devoured, I get up and help mom clear off the table.
The multiple dishes clean and everyone full I beg, "Can I go see Hania now?" I look from my mother to my father with a begging expression quirking my lips.
They exchange a look and Mama answers, "Alright, but be back for lunch time! Afterwards we're going to open presents and have your birthday cake."
I smile widely and hug both her and Papa before leaving out the front door. Yelling a "thanks" over my shoulder before heading off, I run down the dirt street to find my friend.
"Apparently you haven't told her yet, have you?" Raditz states flatly, looking at his parents for an answer. Mom turns immediately and continues to scrub the dishes while Papa looks at his tea in great interest all of a sudden.
Kakarot sighs, "So you haven't." He says this in a voice equally as flat as his brothers.
"How are we supposed to tell her?" their mother whirls around to face them with confusion and sadness clouding her eyes.
"You'll have to tell her sometime soon," Raditz says shaking his head, sadly, at the thought. He brings one of his hands up to his forehead to relax the tense muscle below. "You'll have to tell her that she must to report to the Royal Castle for the choosing that happens in merely two days," he tells this with disgust thick in his voice. The household becomes uncomfortably quiet as the truth is spoken.
Kakarot angrily slams his fist into the table making everyone in the room flinch. "I still think it's wrong!" he pretty much shouts. "She's twelve they're at least supposed to be fourteen!" He couldn't hold in all the anger that had been building up inside him since he first laid eyes on the invitation. "More like a requirement than a request," he roars noisily. "I mean," he continues, not giving Papa a chance to intervene, "they might as well demand her presence or else we all die!"
"Isn't there a law or something that states she has to be fourteen?" Raditz questions, looking to their father since he's part of the Saiyan army.
Their father sighs in defeat. "There is, but seeing that your sister was born Super Saiyan, it caught the Royals' eyes. And seeing they are Royals, they can change the laws whenever they so choose."
"My poor baby," their mom whispers. Turning towards her husband she cries out, "Should I have dyed her hair black as soon as she was born? Would that have solved so much trouble?"
Securing his bride in his arms, Papa embraces her shaking form. "It will be alright. I'll have another talk with the King's royal appointees and see if I can set this straight."
"Better hurry," Raditz murmurs, heading back to his room.
"Two days are going to by quickly," Kakarot mutters in revulsion at the thought of how his sister's birthday can be ruined by such a selfish Prince.
Looking around the busy market place, I see Hania working at the usual pottery stand. I run up to greet her but stop short when I feel something amiss about her appearance.
The everyday, low-class outfit we both must wear is the same, along with her silky dark brown hair. Upon closer inspection, I see she's wearing a different top than what she always has. Every girl, lady, and woman receives a top that just covers the chest, a short skirt, and leggings all in an ugly brown shade.
Hania, on the other hand, has the same top, but with straps falling off slim shoulders. Catching my confused glance, she sends me a quick smile and starts rushing the customer.
The buyer gone, I walk inside the stand and observe the throng of people around us cautiously. "Hania," I whisper, "What are you wearing? You're going to get caught!"
The brunette waves a hand briskly in front of my nose, trying to blow away my worries. "No need for all the concern! Since I'm married to a upper-class man, I can change my attire a little."
"Oh! Okay!" I breathe a sigh of relief and smile.
"Hey, I have something for you!" Reaching under the table holding all of her pottery, Hania brings out a small box. "For you, dear! Happy Birthday!"
In a rush, I take the tiny box and open it to find a beautiful sapphire necklace. "Oh Hania, I couldn't!" I recognize the necklace for the one she wore to her own choosing just weeks before.
"Oh goodness! I wore it for my choosing and thought you could wear it for yours, that's all!"
I freeze up when what she says does not make any sense. Trying to pass it off as an overreaction, I ask hesitantly, "Why not give it to me when I'm fourteen? I could lose it before my choosing."
Hania's eyes widen significantly, and her smile disappears. "Um…" After a few more moments of silence she roughly grabs my shoulders and inquires, "Your parents haven't told you yet?"
The panic in her eyes frightens me. "No. What are they supposed to tell me?"
Like a switch, Hania starts laughing and thumps my back harshly. "Nothing! They must want to keep it a surprise!" Swiveling me around, she snatches up the jewelry and starts fastening it around my neck.
"If you say so…" I mumble, feeling the necklace tighter than expected. "Can't you loosen it?"
"Nope," Hania shakes her head, "It's meant to rest on your collar bone."
Touching the smooth jewel, I peek back at my only friend. "Hania…can you tell me what a choosing is?"
The panicked look is back in her brown eyes. "That," she gulps, giving a tremulous smile, "You should ask your mother about things like that."
"But I want to know what your choosing was like," I push, turning back to face her.
"Well…" she hesitates, attempting to look away from my imploring gaze. "Alright," Hania gives, giggling when I give a loud "whoop"!
"Do you know the different class choosing's at least?"
I shake my head, and tell her to continue.
Sighing, she starts from the beginning, "There is third-class where a man only needs to ask your parents for your hand in marriage, then upper-class where a few girls are taken to a man's home and he chooses someone from there-"
"How did you get into an upper-class choosing when we're the lowest?" I interrupt, muddled by all this information.
"Sometimes, appearance triumphs over class." She smiles kindly and gets a glazed look to her eyes. "I still can't believe I was chosen out of all those other pretty girls."
"Is there more types of choosing's?" I ask, trying to get the brunette back on track.
"Ah! Yes, then there's high-class that hold a choosing with many girls to pick from! Finally there's-" Hania pauses, her face tensing as she fights over whether to tell me something or not. Deciding to go through with it, she continues, "Finally, there is a Royal choosing that only happens when the prince of Planet Vegeta comes of age. Unfortunately, I'll miss out on the grand event, because I'm already married, but we have a prince that just recently turned 16. All girls, beautiful enough will be invited, despite their class."
"Oh," I sigh in relief.
Curious, Hania questions, "What was that sigh for?"
Grinning, I bounce on my heels having her wait for my answer. "I'm just pleased I won't be chosen because I'm not of age yet."
"Really…" The small smile the brunette had been wearing, wears thin.
"Hania! Get back to work!"
We both jump at her superior's booming voice. Once we see each other's wide-eyed look of surprise, Hania and I end up laughing.
Rolling his eyes, the boss goes back inside his workshop.
"Hehe, guess I need to do actual work when at work." The brunette scratches her cheek in a nervous tic.
Giggling, I take a look around the small tent to see quite a few customers. I scrunch my nose up in confusion when I notice they are all men and looking at me.
Nervous fear runs through me and I give Hania a frightful glance. She's looking right back at me. A man steps forward, catching her attention.
"What can I do for you?" she greets warmly, moving in front of me.
Immediately, the customer moves to see me again warning us both of his true intentions. Hania's hand squeezes my arm in reassurance.
"How much for that piece of work, there?" the burly man looks me right in the eye while speaking. His sneer grows when I blush and plaster myself to Hania's back.
"She's not part of the show!" Hania growls in a warning.
"Um…Hania? I should get home," I whisper, tugging on her arm.
She gives a glare to the men around the shop before suddenly changing her personality. Though I think her smile is sweet, the customers all visibly shiver. "One moment, please!"
Pulling me to the side, Hania brushes a curl out of my eyes and places her hands on my shoulders. "Lilly, you need to run back home as fast as you can, ok?"
The nervous fear turns to chilling fright at her words. "What do they want with-?"
"You need to go! Now!" she interrupts, pushing me out of the tent and giving another shove.
I take her advice and start a sprint. After hearing a scream, I can't help turning around to see Hania covering her chest.
"This pervert just molested me!" I first feel so worried I about spin around, but then she turns to me and winks.
Smiling, I make my main focus getting home. Once there, I slam the door behind me and fall to my knees, panting.
"What's the matter Lil?" Raditz asks, getting up from his seat to help me to my feet.
I look up into everyone's worried faces. With a trembling voice, I murmur, "A lot of men were looking at me weird." Either from the run or the panic I went through, my body starts shaking uncontrollably. Kakarot makes his way over and tries to ease the tension.
"I'll go with you next time, Lilly!" He pounds his chest in a show of strength. "You're big bro will protect you!"
Embarrassed, I hide my face and mumble, "No, you don't need to do that."
Catching on, Raditz adds in, "Oh? I should come along too then!" He joins his younger brother by pounding his chest with smug grins on their faces.
Frantically, I wave my hands back in forth. "No! No need for either of you!"
"Lilly." Papa's voice carries over my brother's laughter and has everyone go silent.
I walk over to where both mama and papa are sitting. "What is it?"
Everyone exchanges glances and I wonder if a surprise present will soon appear.
Papa continues speaking, "Lilly, your mother and I have something to tell you…"
Turning slightly, I look at mama expectantly waiting for the surprise. After a brief look my way, she flinches at my eager look. Tears gather in the corner of her eyes and she ends up attempting to sustain sobs.
My excitement dulls when she mutters, "You're chosen…for the Royal Choosing…"