Author's note - I know my story has started off allow but the next chapter will be about the makeover and then the selection begins. I'm having a really fun time with this story so please please please fav and follow or at least review.
Chapter 4 Asher's pov
Today is the day that the girls come to the palace. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm scared or excited, in reality I'm more anxious. I'm anxious to see who came for money, or for the crown, or even for Stryker, and if anybody came for me.
I try and be like Stryker today and go unnoticed, he sits and observers. I'll find him in window sills or sitting in the corner. He just blends in with the background, and he likes it there too.
I sit in the coop of a window sill near a couch on the second floor, where most of the guest rooms are and where the selected are staying. My room's on the third floor, same as my families, and is restricted for the selected.
Many servants are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Maids are being given last minute training, and dresses are being swooped into each room. The only other time I've seen everyone so frantic was when Noah was born and we hosted a celebration.
No one notices me in my hiding hole, and it's nice. No ones bowing or worried about manners, they are being one hundred percent themselves.
I see a few maids arguing over one of the most gorgeous gowns I've ever seen, and coming from me, that means that the dress is a stand-out. It's a beautiful ivory colored dress, with green trimming around the chest and where it ends at the knees. It's cut off at the shoulders, and is perfect for a day when it's warm in the palace.
Apparently, the dress was meant for one of the selected and was given to someone else. I don't care who wears it, I just want to see it modeled.
I decide to walk back to my room and study the girls again. Stryker knows each girl by heart, their name, caste, and appearance. He's taking this selection way more serious than I am, and I know that makes father furious.
I enter my room and hear a buzz of men, and the strong smell of brandy.
"Ah, there you are my prince." Michael says grabbing me and leading me toward a tray full of alcohol.
He fills his glass to the brim, and proceeds to pour me one too. I'm not a big drinker, even when I'm technically old enough to drink, it will be only on special occasions.
"What's going on?" I politely say setting my crystal glass down.
"What's going on?!" Michael shouts as if it's obvious.
"Why my dear boy it's the day your future bride comes to the palace, proceeded that you meet her tomorrow. Why would we not celebrate to the future of Illea?!"
I look around the room and find most of the advisors of my father. All of them are terribly drunk, and a few are singing verses of the Illean national anthem.
I grab the folder containing my girls from the top draw in my dark oaken desk, and briskly walk out of the room before anyone can stop me. I know that my father had something to do with this, he's trying to distract me, but why?
I stride my way right to Stryker's room, right as I'm about to enter and ask if he knows something I hear the king himself.
"Look Stryker, I know that Asher's the oldest and he'll become king, but I need your help. Asher's not taking the selection seriously, and I know that you are. It's supposed to be your selection too, but finding a wife for Asher's more important."
"Father, I know already. I'll stay out of Asher's way and only like the girls that he doesn't. As for finding him a wife... well that's up to him." I can tell Stryker's getting closer to the door, for some reason dad's making him nervous.
"Stryker," King Brutus yells in his deep commanding voice. "I need your help. If Asher won't take the selection seriously i need you to find him a girl he'll like. Eliminate the girls he won't have a future with, and guide him to his dreams."
"What about me, father? Am I going to live in the selection for Asher and not get a girl?" Stryker sounds so hurt, and I don't know why the King's making him do this.
"You'll find love, Stryker. If you don't then just make sure you get a pretty girl to spend the rest of your life with, ok?"
"Whatever." Stryker replies flatly.
I hear the golden metal door handle turn and I run to the library, it's close and often a pace I go, so it won't look suspicious if anyone sees me.
I try and ponder at what my dad just implied. He wants Stryker to choose a queen for me, since I'm not taking the selection seriously. It's just so stupid. If I'm going to find love at least let it not be more forced than it already is.
I flip through the selected. If my dad wants me to be more serious then I will. I'll prove him wrong, I'll show him I do care.
I've studied each girl fifteen times, it's taken me more than two hours. Some girls like Cassidy Roy, who has porcelain skin, will be easy to remember, others like Alandra Evans, who has regular yellow hair and green eyes, will be hard to remember because every other girl is a look alike copy.
A few girls in particular stand out to me, just based on looks. Tracy Morgan is one of the prettiest with her light brown cinnamon hair, light brown skin, and gleaming golden eyes. As a 2, it's no wonder why Tracy's starred in movies and commercials.
Another stand out is Kristen Gables, a 4 from Dakota, who has perfect ocean blue eyes, and a streak of confidence that I can see, even though it's only a picture.
I decide to glance at the old grandfather clock we have sitting in the library. To my agony it's only eleven o'clock in the morning. The clock always seems to be my enemy. When I'm having a great time it ruins the fun by telling me how late it is. When I'm bored out of my mind, it torments me by reading how early and slow time passes.
I head down to the dining hall, I know I'm early for lunch, but it will be the last meal my family ever has alone together, then the selection will come, and after that Stryker and my brides will be here.
I open the doors to find the hustle and bustle of an array of gourmet foods and smells. Butlers and waiters, are setting up the long tables that are always used for selections.
Everyone immediately stops what they're doing to look up at me and bow. A few maids and servants run up to greet me, and ask what they can help me with. I tell them that I'm just waiting for lunch and proceed to sit down at my spot at the head table.
After seventeen minutes of waiting, the dining room is all set up and complete for tonight's dinner with my family and Melanie walks in. We have a nice chat about what to look for in a girl, and she tells me not to base my opinion on looks because girls are born the way they are and have no control over them.
After lunch I have a short security briefing and a budget meeting to discuss about the selection. Stryker gets to come to both of these since they concern him, and it's a nice change of pace. He actually has a lot to say about the importance of guards, and has good ideas on how to save and spend our budget. After the meeting I give myself a personal reminder to ask Stryker about meeting stuff when I need help in the future.
Sometime in the afternoon I hear screaming and cheering and rush out to the balcony to see what all of the commotions about. I'm praying that it's not another rebel attack, and to my relief it's not. It's worse than a rebel attack though, the first of the selection girls have arrived. Their matching black and white uniforms tell all.
"So this is really happening." Stryker says his voice full of amazement.
"I guess so little bro." I say patting him on the back.
"Get ready for your whole world to be shattered."
