Chapter 7 - Prince Adrian

Adrian clapped Louis on the back. "Good luck."

His brother gave him a glance of fear, before turning, taking a deep sigh, and walking through the doors. Inside the selected were waiting.

It was early morning and Adrian had accompanied his brother to the doors. Rules stated he wasn't allowed to go in with him, but there was nothing about giving him a bit of comfort beforehand.

Adrian ran a hand through his hair and shut his eyes as everything went blurry. After a moment his eyes cleared and he sighed. He knew he should get them checked out, but what kind of royal wears glasses? He was refusing.

Adara came walking around the corner and smiled in his direction. "Bonjour."

"That means hello, right?" He asked.

"Vous ne connaissez pas le francais." She smirked at him.

"I don't know what you said, but I expect it's probably true."

She laughed in amusement. "Oui."

Adrian looked at the girl. "If you're going to keep speaking French, I'm going to go have breakfast without you."

"I'm coming. I'm coming." She smiled and sped up so she could catch up to Adrian, who had already turned the corner.

Together the pair walked into the breakfast room, where long tables were being set up for the selected. Adrian looked up at his mother, father and the twins, who were all already seated at the table. Louis would come join them after he was done interviewing the selected. They couldn't eat until everyone was in the room.

Adara smiled and nodded to the queen as they approached. Adrian sat in the chair and Adara sat next to him. He glanced around at his family. Nicholas and Isabella were chatting cheerfully with his father and his mother sat quietly, playing with the napkin, a habit that Adrian shared with her.

His mother turned to him. "How is Louis?"

Adrian was thankful as Adara turned and pretended to be absorbed by the breakfast menu.

"He's fine, a little nervous, but fine." It was true enough, but Louis was scared, not nervous.

His mother nodded. "I'm not ready for any of you to get married, you are all still my babies."

Adrian clasped his hands on his lap as his mother continued talking.

"I remember my own selection. I was so excited to be in the palace. Your father was a stuttering mess around us."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, skeptical of the previous statement.

His mother tilted her head. "Adrian, your father may be harsh, but he does it because he worries about you."

It took all of Adrian's will power to keep from rolling his eyes.

His mother shook her head slightly. "Just remember, your father has had some rough days, cut him some slack. Please?"

Adrian flushed pink, remembering Adara sitting next to him. "Okay." He mumbled. His mother smiled, before turning to his father and beginning a conversation with him.

Adara smiled as he turned back to her. "Don't worry. My parents are like that too."

Adrian chuckled slightly and opened his mouth to say something, but was cut off by the sound of the selected walking in. The sound of heels clicking made everyone look up.

"Sounds like an elegant stampede." Adara muttered and Adrian let out an amused chuckle.

Adrian quickly scanned the crowd. So Louis was being serious about getting rid of several girls. There was only about twenty-five left. Amongst them stood Riley Marchande, Gracelynn Apollo, and Marguerite Krumm. At least that's who he thought they were, their faces blurry instead.

All of the girls had dropped into a low curtsy. Penelope had looked each of them in the eyes, scanning them thoroughly, as if she could read their thoughts, before finally curtsying. Adrian shifted uncomfortably. Something about her made him feel awkward.

Adrian glanced over at his father, to find him nodding approvingly, his gaze only darkening at the two sevens left in the competition: Summer Flanagan, and Penelope Wright.

Louis came walking through the doors and the girls all immediately curtsied towards him.

"Please ladies, sit." The girls all quickly made their way to their places as Louis walked behind the table and sat in the chair between his mother and Adrian.

Adrian leaned across his chair arm to whisper to him. "How'd it go?"

A small groan was the only noise Louis made as he pretend slouched in his chair. Adrian laughed, his brother joining him, a small chuckle escaping Adara as she'd seen what he had done.

A quick look from their father had the two brothers stopping, looking over at each other quickly.

"What can you do?" Adara mouthed rhetorically to the two. Louis gave an amused shrug before turning to look at the girls, many of whom were watching the three with curious expressions.

Adrian turned pink slightly at all the attention, turning back to Adara, who met the girls gazes head on, silently challenging them.

Adrian blinked. "Where did you learn that?"

Adara looked over at him. "Learn what?"

"Learn how to scare them like that? With only a look?"

She shrugged. "Martin, Clara, and I used it to scare the diplomats and advisers when we were little. Now I use it when people underestimate me."

Adrian's eyes widened. "Terrifying."

Adara lifted a glass of water to her mouth. "Don't you forget it." She joked.

Later, Adrian stood alone in his room, and looked up as a knock sounded at his door.

"Come in."

Louis walked in and collapsed backwards onto his bed.

Adrian loosed a chuckle, stacking up his papers on the desk. "What happened this time?"

"I have to speed date, because they need something to tell Guido Amet on Friday for the interviews for the report. You're lucky, at least Adara's nice. I think some of the girls hate me."

Adrian shrugged. "Except for the part where I am going to go through life in a love less marriage because of a stupid betrothal."

Louis nodded. "You never know though, you might learn to love her."

Adrian chuckled. "And you might learn to love one of the selected."

Louis scrunched his nose. "You're right," He paused. "Adara is sweet though."

"You go ahead and marry her."

"Eww, no, I'm already starting to view her as my sister-in-law."

Adrian made a face at his brother. "You're as bad as father."

Louis laughed. "We both know that isn't true."

"Don't you have some speed dating to do?" Adrian asked.

Louis let out a groan. "I should probably stop avoiding them."

Adrian nodded as his brother stood up and walked out of the room.

"Speed dating? I didn't know that was a thing." Adara told him as they walked through the garden. She held his arm as they walked, their sides brushing.

Adrian looked down at her. She wore a dark green dress, which stood out against her dark hair and eyes. "He has to get through twenty-five women in a week."

Adara made a face. "Thank you for not taking me out on the roof this time."

Adrian laughed. "Not a problem."

They turned the corner and Adrian groaned as he spotted Isabella and Nicholas walking towards him. Adara looked up at his curiously.

"Hey lover-boy!" Isabella greeted.

Adrian scowled, ignoring her.

"Have fun together tonight." Nicholas quipped.

Adara let go of Adrian's arm and spun around. "What is your problem, can't you leave him alone?" She asked.

Adrian's eyes widened. "Don't bother," He muttered. "They are impossible."

Nicholas raised his eyebrows at the girl. "I was unaware you were concerned with his well being."

Adara gave him a look of disgust. "Leave us alone."

Isabella laughed as Adara turned and linked arms with Adrian again, the pair walking off.

Adrian blinked down at her. "Thank you."

Adara shook her head, getting rid of the angry haze. "You're welcome. Those two are awful."

Adrian nodded. "They have been like that since I was little."

"Wow."

Adrian nodded as they headed inside. "I just learned to deal with it. My parents aren't going to do anything about it. Well," He paused. "My mother might, but not my father."

Adara shook her head. "My mother's kind of like your father, and my father's like your mother, but my siblings are pretty okay as far as siblings go."

Adrian nodded. "Louis isn't bad, but we've gotten along since we were little."

They entered the castle and turned, walking upstairs to their bedrooms.

Adrian paused outside her door.

"Good night Adara." He lifted her hand to his mouth, and kissed it gently.

"Good night Adrian." She replied.

Adrian turned and began heading to his room, his face flushed pink at his own actions.

A/N - Hey Guys! Here you go! The next chapter! Hope you enjoyed it! I got a chance to show a bit of the selected, and maybe a little bit of a romance is beginning to blossom. ;). Nicholas makes me mad!

I'll see you all next week!