*Disclaimer: I do not own any of The Selection characters or story.
Chapter 1: I run down the hallway towards Mom and Dad's room. A maid was sent to tell me that they want to give me something. I'm not surprised. It's my nineteenth birthday, after all. I pass a few guards on the way who call out
"Happy Birthday" as I run past them. When I reach the door, I tentatively knock.
"Come in." Mom answers. I open the door to find my parents standing there between my younger siblings: Crystal and Nathan.
"Happy Birthday, April!" The exclaim when I enter.
"Thanks, but it's really not a big deal." I say.
"Of course it is!" Mom exclaims.
"Sweetheart, you're now seen as an adult in Illèa!" Dad says.
"And, this year you'll have your own selection!" Crystal exclaims.
Crystal is a bit boy crazy. It's appropriate. I mean, she's fourteen. Nathan is sixteen. We have an older brother, Lance, but he married a four last year and gave the throne up to me. He is living in the palace, but he isn't going to be King. Mom and Dad decided that it would be best for me to have a Selection instead of an arranged marriage. I get what they're saying, but is a Selection really the best solution?
"Now as you know," Mom says as she gestures for Crystal and Nathan to leave. "The Selection will be a bit different this time."
"The Selection Ball will be in a week." Dad says.
"We've chosen fifty young men we think will be great candidates for you." "You will meet them all."
"By the end of the night, you will have to eliminate at least forty of them."
"After that, the process will be similar to my selection."
"Mom, Dad, I got it." I say. "I can handle a few twenty-year-olds."
"What about the ones that are nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three?" Dad mocks. I smile a little at that. I didn't notice how tense I was until now.
"Is this really necessary?" I ask.
"What do mean, Sweetheart?" Dad asks.
"The whole selection thing?"
"We thought you might be better off this way." Mom says.
"But what about Illèa's tradition of the arranged marriage for the girls?" I ask.
"Don't you want to have more freedom than that?" Dad asks. He seems shocked since I'm usually a little more independent.
"I know, but I feel like the whole thing is too much of a big deal." I say.
"That's how I felt," Dad says.
"But that's how I met your mother." He pulls Mom in for a kiss.
"Ewww!" I say in a faux disgusted voice.
"April," Mom says after she pulls away from Dad.
"I have total faith in you that you'll find the man that's right for you." She walks over to me and embraces me.
"Alright. I trust you too." I say, conceding defeat.
I usually wouldn't mind this much freedom, but the problem is... I'm in love with someone else: Prince Christopher of Swendway. I thought Mom and Dad were going to marry me to him anyway! When they told me that I was going to have my own Selection, my heart sunk. The worst part is, Christopher is going to have to marry Princess Juliette of France. That ancient book, Romeo and Juliette, doesn't apply here. My Romeo doesn't want to be with Juliette.
"Honey, why don't you go prepare for the party tonight?" Mom asks.
"Okay. I'll see you tonight." I say giving a small wave before walking away.
"We love you!" Dad calls.
"Love you too!" I call without turning around.
"We're proud of you!" Mom shouts.
"I know." I half-call half-mumble. Mom and Dad are always sure to tell me how great I am. I don't know why. I don't have self-esteem issues...At least I don't think I do.
"Good afternoon, your highness." My maid, Elle, greets me.
"Good evening, Elle." I say as I walk in.
"So," I sit down on my bed. "What outfit have you created for me?" I ask.
"I think you'll like it, Miss." Elle says.
"Well, I know I'll like it. You created it! I just want to know what it is."
"I'll have it out in just a moment." She goes out of the room for a few minutes and comes back with a black clothing bag and a medium-size bag.
"Ooh! Is it a puppy?" I joke.
Elle giggles. "I'm afraid not, Miss." She sets the bag down on the bed and unzips it. I gasp when she reveals the dress. It's a floor-length, silky, alternating light blue and white gown. It has tiny sparkles on it that shimmer in the light. She then opens the box to reveal a pair of silver heels.
"Oh Elle, I love it!" I hug her.
Elle really is my closest friend at the palace besides my siblings. The only problem is, she keeps calling my Miss and your Highness.
"Well, I can't take all the credit. Tara and Paige helped a great deal too." She says being modest, as always.
"Speaking of which, where are they?" I look around the room.
"Your mother is having then prepare for the party tonight. She thought they might be a good choice since they know you so well."
"Well, you do too. So why are you here?" I joke.
"To help you look beautiful for your nineteenth birthday party!" She exclaims. "Speaking of which, we should get started."
Elle helps me shower, she does my nails, adds extensions to make my hair look thicker, curls my hair, does my makeup in a natural—yet stunning—way, and finally, helps me put my dress on.
"Oh Elle," I say as I look in the mirror. "I love it! Thank you so much!" I turn around and hug her.
"Your welcome, Miss." She says. "Now let's get your shoes on. The party will begin in about twenty minutes. Your mother and father want to see you in five minutes."
"Alright." I say.
As Elle helps me on with my shoes, I can't help but ask, "Do you know who's coming to the party?"
"Yes. Many royal families. France, Italy, The German Federation, Swendway—"
"Swendway?" I cut her off.
"Yes, Miss. Swendway's King, Queen, Princess, and Prince were all invited to come."
"Oh, good." I say, trying not to be obvious.
I head down to my mother and father's office. I knock on the door. To my surprise, father opens it himself. "Hello, Sweetheart." He says.
"Hi Dad." I say as I walk in. After he shuts the door, he embraces me.
"Oh!" I say a little surprised that he's showing this much affection. I don't think he's hugged me since I was fourteen when I broke my ankle.
"What, is something wrong?" He asks, suddenly panicked, I might add.
"No, I'm just a little surprised that you hugged me, that's all." I reply. "Where's Mom?" I change the subject to make things less awkward.
"She's getting your birthday present ready." He responds. It's going to be a bracelet. I think to myself. Mom and Dad always get my some sort of jewelry item. Last year it was a silver locket that I'm wearing right now, so this year...
"Ah! Here she is!" Dad says as Mom walks in in her blue gown. Blue's a nice color for her. It matches her fiery hair.
"Good evening, April." She says.
"Hi Mom." I say sweetly.
"Happy birthday." She says as she hand me a small box. I open it and find "A bracelet!" I say, faking excitement. I don't go too big with the celebration so Mom and Dad don't catch on.
"Thank you both." I say.
"May I help you put it on?" Dad asks.
"Sure, that would be lovely." I respond. It's a blue and silver bracelet with a charm that says A on it.
"Thanks Dad." I say after he puts it on.
"Your welcome. Happy birthday." He says.
"Now, be sure you have fun tonight. This is your birthday party, after all." Mom says.
"But remember, this is going to be shown on the report, so act properly." Dad says.
"Be confident."
"Be polite."
"Be friendly."
"Stand tall."
"And most importantly, be yourself."
"Okay. Anything else you want me to be?" I ask a little irritated.
"Sorry, it's just... We love you so much, and it feels like we're losing you." Mom says sadly.
I grab her hand."Mom, you're not losing me. I'm just growing up." I shrug.
"I know," Mom dabs her eyes.
"I should just accept that." She smiles.
"Come on, let's go to the party." Dad says. He takes Mom's arm and I follow them to the ballroom.