Hi! New story. Yay. I hope you enjoy. Just a little side-note. All of the names used in this story mean something significant that will help you understand each character, so if you like the story, you might want to look up the names you see!

I will accept about 5-10 applications for OC characters. PM me if you want to submit them, and I will give you details about it. THE CHARACTER YOU SUBMIT MUST BE A BOY. This story will be about a princess having her selection, and I won't lie, it will be intense. I hope you follow and favorite, because I think this will be my best piece of writing yet. ENJOY!

-Property of Illea :)

Chapter One: Turning Eighteen

Thump...Thu-Thump...Thump...Thu-Thump...

My heart beats fast, and my mind races.

"Adara."

I'm fading in and out. In and out of reality.

Thump...Thump...

"Adara Haim Schreave."

Oh, not that voice. Not that voice.

Fingers snap in front of my eyes, drawing me back.

"Will you please focus, Adara?"

I blink a few times, and will that ugly hand away.

"Adara! I won't ask you again. Focus."

Thump...Thu-thump...

Seconds pass, but finally, I speak. "I'm focused, mother. Please proceed."

Wow. My voice sounds off. Almost...weak.

"Fine. Well, as I was saying before my daughter zoned out, the rebels have started to gain more followers in the East. This poses a problem for our country and the monarchy."

No kidding.

"Our plan of action is simple. We will not let them come to us, like in years past. That has proven to fail time and time again. No, we must try to stop them head-on."

I smirk and pick at my nails. This plan won't work, but I don't plan on telling mom that.

"What is our plan of action, my queen?" A very prim-looking man in a tailored powder-blue suit asks.

"We will draft men. We will, of course, pay them generously for their service, and we will deploy them to every large city and small town that even looks like they might hold rebels. Then we attack. Synchronized and strong."

She looks so proud of herself. I hold back a scoff.

"They'll never see it coming." My mother grins and puts her hands on her hips. "Any questions?"

Papers shuffle, and heads bow down.

They're all afraid to speak.

You're a demon. I scowl her way, then get up and leave the room. I can't wait until I am queen. I'll turn this country around. I'll make the lives of every Illean better. Most importantly, I'll never be like her.

The Selection is in a day. I turn 18 when the men arrive. It's almost fitting, that amid all of the turmoil our country faces, we have a very posh and elaborate competition to feed the monarchy's ego. I should be happy to find a husband, but I'm not. Why can't I rule alone? Why can't I find love my own way, without my mother's hand-selected group of boy toys to choose from? At this point, I am fairly certain that I will hate every one of these men, if not because they're here for the crown, then because they're dishonest about not wanting the crown. This whole competition is a waste, and everyone in my crippled country knows it, except mother.

"Addy!" A child's scream wakes me up.

I panic.

No. Not now.

"Addy!" The voice gets louder.

A sob escapes me, and I run to the door of my suite. It's locked for the night.

"Adara, please!"

I look at the clock in the corner of my room. 1:28 AM. I overslept.

"Cadman! Cadman, please open the door! You know she needs me." I cry, "You know she needs me, Cade! Please!"

I bang on my door.

"Cade!" I yell.

I feel hopeless.

"Cad-"

The door swings open and arms wrap around my frame. His lips touch my ear, and I shiver.

"Be back in five, or your mother will have my head."

I nod rapidly. Anything if it means I can help her.

"ADDY!" The screams get so loud, I cover my ears.

"Go, Adara. She needs you."

"Hannela?" I cry, dashing to her room. "Hannela, I'm coming, but you've got to open your door, sweety."

I'm out of breath, but she is worth it.

"Addy, I'm scared." A whimper.

"I know, Hannela, I know. Please just...open your door, okay?"

Thu-Thump...Thu-Thump...

I'm terrified. It's as simple as that. I hold my breath as I hear feet shuffle towards the door. The handle rattles, like it could shatter at any second; but soon the door glides open an inch, and every ounce of my energy is focused on my sister.

She looks so weak.

Pale as a ghost, bags under her eyes, no fat on her hunched form.

She's only ten. Only ten.

"Oh Hanna..." I whisper, drawing her into my arms.

She shakes, but no tears fall from her eyes. She can't cry; not anymore.

"What's wrong, my little jewel? What hurts?" I draw back to stare into her cornflour-blue eyes.

She sucks on her chapped bottom lip, and squints at me. There's some blood in her mouth; I can tell she's been coughing.

"Addy, can you feed me?"

I let out a deep breath and nod. If this is all she needs, then tonight will be a good night.

"Of course, Hannela. But let's get you in bed first."

Her arms stretch around my neck, and I wrap her legs around my waist so I can hold her securely. Then we travel to her bed, and I lay her down on soft pillows. She cringes, even though they are soft as feathers, and I close my eyes to stop my tears.

Stay strong.

"What would you like today, little jewel? Prune juice or apple sauce?"

She squirms uncomfortably on her pillows, and I turn away to get her food.

There's nothing you can do to ease her pain, Adara.

"Hmmm...no answer? How about we do both then?" I grin down at her, and she tries to smile.

"Okay. Here you go, Hannela. Open wide."

Apple sauce enters her mouth, and she shudders. The taste isn't the same anymore, and we both know it.

Finally, she swallows.

"O-okay, Adara. More." she breaths out.

And I feed her more.

Its been more than five minutes, and Cadman will be mad, but at this point, I can't even try to care. Right now, all that matters is my dying sister.

I wake up early in the morning. It's 6:00 AM instead of 7:00. Cadman, or Cade, as I like to call him, is still by my door when I walk out in my day dress, and when I stop by his side, he doesn't even acknowledge me. He can't. Even if we do have some sort of friendship at night, we both know the rules. He can never do more than walk beside me and protect me every day. Guards have their duties, and they must do them or pay.

"You were late getting back. If your mom woke up and saw that you were gone, she'd have had my head, Addy." he murmurs through barely-parted lips.

"But she didn't wake up, did she, Cade? So sadly your head is still yours for keeping." I whispered back, looking ahead of us. "Now let's go to breakfast, shall we, Mr. Lennard?"

He sighs and nods.

I can't help but laugh. My five minutes turned into an hour, and we were so lucky no one caught me. He had to see how lucky we were.

Two minutes later, I am in my seat next to my father, King David Schreave II of Illea. Mother sits to his left and stays silent, but nearly everyone else is full of cheer.

The selected are arriving in one hour.

No one wishes me a happy birthday. They're too busy to notice me. I could waste time pouting about that, but I'd rather enjoy my last few minutes of freedom.

Because, if I was right about my mother's motives, these next few months would be my own personal hell.