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"The greatest loss you can feel in your life is not grief, not heartbreak, not failure. It is abandonment. When you're abandoned, your heart breaks over and over again over someone who was naturally supposed to be there. And when you're abandoned by two parents as a child, you grow up feeling like a failure - now, that is something to live with."
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Ichor had its fair share of politics.
The Rebel wars existed long before Annabeth was born but its scars were like stone engravings, permanently etched to the society. Even after the wars ended and Ichor permanently scrapped off the caste system, it didn't mean peace.
Sure, years went by smoothly. Poseidon was crowned King and then what? Many anti royal protests started erupting. It took years to understand that the best approach to the situation is to let the kingdom have more than just law personal and royals for justice. That's how constitutional monarchy was born.
The common goal of many protestants was one : Existing laws did not provide equality and they did not punish the ones who still discriminated based on caste.
Answer to that? Reforms.
Equality reforms like free education till end of school came up and a 'quota' system came into place. Now everywhere you go, be it college, work or entrance exams, you had to mention your caste, even if it was just as a number.
It is the reason why the Selected needed to be selected from 7 different polls and exactly 5 girls each: To keep things fair and square.
There was something called 'general category' where everyone could participate irrespective of caste and get seats purely on merit. There was another category : Chance Reserved. Only people of 5s or lower could compete in it and they had a 25% quota, meaning 25% of all seats were reserved for them.(It had specific rules on least number of 7s and 8s too)
It started as a way to uplift the lower castes and give them chance to get jobs which were previously only for the upper castes but now, tables have turned. The upper castes have started to protest that it is unfair because someone with better merit loses seats to someone else based on caste. The lower caste debate on the other side and troll the upper castes for years of injustice.
It hence became a never ending debate.
One thing was clear though, the concept of 9s, the untouchables was changed forever. They were all merged into 8s and no one could call another an 9 oruntouchableeven as a joke anymore. ANY discrimination to the existing 9s-turned-to-8s now comes under grounds of criminal punishment.
The punishment for treason was also revised. Previously, all offenders were declared a 10 and were publicly shamed and tortured untill the royals were content. Now, there was no change in their caste but they were exiled from the kingdom (and all its benefits)afterthey were publicly shamed (now on a timed basis).
Ichor had its fair share of mysteries too.
Top of the list? King Poseidon got lost at sea.
They never said died but eventually, all hope was lost that he would come back. Queen Sally had to conduct her own Selection more for the sake of the country than herself. When Paul came by, he explained to the media that he'd taken in an orphan named Tyson (who had one day been found in front of his house stranded in a fridge) and that he couldn't give him up even for the sake of Selection. You can imagine how good of a media attention that got.
But, it wasn't just that. Paul naturally became Sally's favourite overtime. He refused to let her and Selection go even after it went on for nearly 3 years amidst civil war scenarios. He was tough, resilient and strong - like a real King.
Only problem? Marrying Paul left only one royal have true royal blood - Percy.
Being the eldest, naturally he was next King but there was far more than just the title weighing on his shoulders. If he died, then Ichor would lose the Royal bloodline forever. It may be forced to give the Kingdom over to New Europe or promote Blofis family line as the royal family - a weak point many would like to exploit. Percy was guarded as much as Sally and Paul were, sometimes more even.
He had to have children, preferably, at least one son. He had to run Ichor and unlike how all other Princes of the rest of the world stepped in only after their mother or father (whomever had royal blood) died in their old age; Percy had to do it when he was 24. Not only that, he had to find a Queen bold and strong enough to hold the weight of the sky with him and not crush under it.
He would be 23 in a few months. He was running out of time. It gave, at best, 7 months for him to choose a Selected. And not just someone who he could love but someone who could actually step into that authority role in such a young age, stand in the spotlight and take decisions that would make or break a thousand lives.
Just thinking about it made Annabeth want to lock herself up in the royal library.
Apparently, even after dealing with him for years, the crown Prince of Ichor had a few more surprises up his sleeve.
Why, you ask?
No one was eliminated during breakfast the next day.
Annabeth was sitting in front of Percy this time, with Piper next to her and much to her irritation, Rachel was sitting right next to Percy.
I would rather sit in the back than talk to him while she 'innocently' puts her hands on his arms.
Worst part? Either Percy was okay with it or he didn't tell her off in front of everyone - both of which Selected Annabeth wasn't ready to handle yet.
Rachel spoke, "-- you all should have seen it. So hilari --"
Piper cut her, "Hey, but how would you balance with a half-board? I've only tried the standard ones."
They were talking about surfing -- a topic which Drew, Rachel, Piper and Reyna knew about but Annabeth had no clue except that Percy loves it.
Percy spoke, "I could teach you Lady Piper. You'd learn it easily because you already know basics. Definitely easier to teach you than anyone else."
Piper hummed, "I don't want a class though. I want a race."
He raised his eyebrows, "You'll lose. I promise."
"Let's see."
Annabeth cut him, "What about the eliminations?"
His eyes snapped to hers and he frowned at that. "What about it?"
"Well we didn't have exams for no rea--"
Drew cut her, "Lady Annabeth, Miss. Willow told us that we'd not have any eliminations for three weeks. It hasn't been three weeks yet, has it?"
He nodded, "Yes but since you've already wrote the test so next set ofthingsshould start soon."
Rachel teased, "Oh and what are these things?"
He smiled a little and turned to her, "I have to keep something in wraps, right Rachel?"
Can I get outta here?
She tightened her fist below the table and Piper put her hands over it wordlessly. She gave a flawless smile to Percy though.
Annabeth envied how Piper could put on a perfect 'nothing affects me' face. She was just naturally outgoing and easy to get along with. She somehow got on to everyone's wavelengths and showed different sides of herself depending on who she spoke to. Annabeth didn't need to think twice to know how good of a partnership she and Percy would make.
Too bad she wasn't interested in him.
Or is that a good thing?
"Next eliminations would take even longer though. At least the ones based on classes. You'll need some time to keep things fair." He turned to Annabeth then, "This time Lady Annabeth may have an advantage. Lady Clarrise and Lady Reyna too."
Reyna asked, "Sports?"
No but I think I know what.
"Something like that." As if on cue, he turned to Annabeth, "If you guessed it, don't say it to anyone."
"I didn't guess it." She lied.
Percy was clearly still cold to her but she wanted him to be. It made disliking him easier.
...
Surprise number 2 -- when she got back to her room, none other than Frederick was waiting for her.
Frederick Chase. Her father.
"D-Dad?"
Annabeth didn't know what to think of him. Before she could say anything however, she got an unnecessary one sided awkward bear hug.
"It's been so long!" He said.
"Wha-what are you doing here?"
"Oh come on, I don't need an excuse to see my own daughter!"
Um... Do you need one to see her after months?
The last he came to see her was during Percy's coronation, nine months ago. He was the Supreme General of Western Airforce in the military. The only reason he and maybe 25 others were there was because they had to represent the military air force.
Percy probably had more meaningful conversations with Annabeth's dad than she herself did.
"Is --"
He waved it off, "No, she isn't here. You know how she is. She didn't wanna come."
"Bobby and Mathew?"
"They're with her. It's just me, Annabeth. I'm sorry."
She nodded and sat back on the bed.
He explained, "I have some meetings to attend here. I thought I'd drop by to see my princess after so long."
You didn't need to.
"Right."
They went onto an awkward silence and as if on cue, Malcom opened the door.
"Hey sis, mom wants you to finish the--" He stopped abruptly as he saw she had company. "Oh um... Should I wait outside?"
"No Malcom, come in. I'm sure you know that this is Frederick Chase. Dad.. um.. this is Malcom, he works with me in the architecture department."
They shook hands.
"So.. Malcom, what did Athena want?" Annabeth asked.
She doesn't know if it's just her or if her dad's expression really does turn sour.
"Nothing important. It can wait."
Mr Chase turned to her, "Selection, huh? I didn't know you liked the Prince that way."
Well, I don't know. Maybe if you had stayed--
Malcom answered for her, "They make a good team. She and Percy."
Why is he acting angry too?
"I see." He looked curiously at photos on her daughter's desk. "Should I threaten him to not hurt my daughter then?"
He said it like one would say: Take off in three, two, one. No emotion. Just words. Fuck that, Frederick probably had more emotional connection to his non living aircrafts than living daughters.
Malcom didn't catch on though because he chuckled. "List of the number of people waiting to break his bones keeps increasing. Everyone wants to be first. Good I'm not in the competition I guess--"
"Dad, why are you really here? I mean I appreciate it and all but is there a reason?"
Mr. Chase sighed, "Your step mother keeps asking us to move to Hudson but now... Well, she's got a job there, Annie. My year's almost up too so I could fit in a transfer. We - We're going. And if this doesn't work out for you then you could always have a home far away from --"
Annabeth felt a cold fist curl around her heart.
They're moving all the way across the country? It was one thing being not welcome by your parent but still be possible that you visit anyday. It was another feeling left out like this.
"What about the house?" She reasoned.
He started speaking but Annabeth didn't need to hear to understand that they were going to sell it: the house that she still had a room in, the house in which she spent her childhood, the house that once her father and mother bought as a symbol of their love.
"-- You understand, don't you?" Mr. Chase pleaded, "We need the money and I don't see --"
She cut him, "I get it, dad. I get it. When are you leaving?"
"In a week."
So in a week, all the memories, feelings and promises make there would be thrown away. In a week, Annabeth would officially have nothing to return to. It was as if they wanted to erase all existence of Annabeth's mother from the place. In a way, they wanted her, his own daughter, out of the equation too.
Annabeth had had many memories of feeling unwanted in her life but this just hit like a dagger through her heart.
...
Later that day, Piper was sitting with the other Selected in the common room when Annabeth came in. It was the first time when Queen Sally was sitting with them too.
Annabeth didn't even ask her before grabbing her wrists and walking over to the Queen.
"What are you doing?"
"Come on! Let's talk to Sally."
What?
Oh no.
Annabeth did not just suggest talking to the Queen, of all people.
She dragged Piper over to the Queen no matter how many times Piper said she'd pass out and die. Few Selected watched them.
Piper did the decent thing. She bowed. "Good evening, your highness." Her voice was so low, it could have qualified as background noise. The Queen didn't even look up from her newspaper.
"Hello Sally!" Said Annabeth.
Miss. Willow widened her eyes from behind the Queen. She looked like she tasted something sour.
"Hey Annabeth! How are you?" The Queen smiled at Piper, "And you are?"
Huh? Wait what? What was I supposed to do? Right, bow, wish.
She bowed again. "G-Good mor-..noon-..er-evening, y-your highness. I'm Liper." Her face scrunched up, "Piper. Piper. I mean I'm Piper."
Nope, I did not just forget my name. No.
Annabeth looked like she didn't want to laugh.
"Hmm.. Lady Piper. I've heard about you. Please, take a seat."
Annabeth sat in front of Sally without an invite and dragged down Piper to make her sit.
"H-heard about me?"
She waved it away, "Oh, don't worry. Only good things."
"How are things with the military?" Asked Annabeth.
Piper didn't know much about the situation at hand but it must be bad because Queen's face fell. "Not good. We're expecting a retreat with a new plan though. All planning is done. Now we have to wait for results." She forced a smile. "What about you girls? Is Percy treating you well?"
Piper nodded but didn't speak up.
The Queen smiled at her, "I'm not gonna kill you for talking you know? I've been sitting here for the past 2 hours and no one comes to talk to me! How am I supposed to get to know you girls if you're all so scared of me?"
Annabeth laughed openly which got her a few glares. "You do look intimidating sitting here reading newspaper as if no one else is in the room."
That's true.
"Oh really? Why didn't someone tell me this before?" She looked at Miss. Willow and back at Annabeth. "What do you suggest I do then? Should I go and talk to the girls?"
Piper wanted to say something but it came out as, "Uh no." Annabeth nudged her. "I don't think that's a good idea, your majesty. Imagine I tell someone off for nudging me and find out it's the Queen." She looked at Annabeth.
"I suppose that's --"
The Queen stopped speaking as they heard a knock on the door. It was one of Percy's guards. Piper may not have been around enough to know everyone's names like her friend did but she remembered this guard as Jason's partner.
That made her eyesight suddenly better. Was Jason here?
"The Prince is requesting permission to enter." He said.
The Queen nodded.
Piper felt glued to the sofa as she stared. Percy was wearing a maroon suit which surprisingly looked really good on him. His thick hair looked like he just ran his hands over it a few times. His sea green eyes looked from his mother to Annabeth to herself like he was assessing a situation.
Oh, don't misunderstand. Percy wasn't making Piper feel pinned to her seat.
It was Jason who did.
It was the first time Piper saw Jason in regular tees and jeans. If he looked good in the guard uniforms with about 95% of his skin completely covered... Gods, he looked amazing in regular cloths.
Yeah, that makes complete sense. Percy, the freaking Prince of the damn country is in front of you wearing a well tailored suit but you're eyeing his personal guard.
This is wrong. Completely wrong.
Annabeth didn't seem to be in half the daze she was in - which was surprising considering Percy was looking like chocolate about 10 feet away from her. He nodded at his mom and the Selected started to get up and bow. Annabeth didn't move an inch though. She was still drilling holes to Percy's head.
Jeez Annabeth, it was one kiss. What are you gonna do when there are more?
"Good evening to the Privileged. Please, quit the formalities and sit. All of you are required to assemble in the 4th floor meeting room number 17 after dinner today."
A few of the Selected started asking questions but Percy ignored them. "No questions. It has come to my attention that certain parts of your tests were not assessed properly --"
Is he staring at Miss. Willow? What am I missing?
"-- No worries though. It's our job to ensure fair grading and eliminations aren't expected till this sunday anyway. Don't wander around the 4th floor. When in doubt ask the guards. We scheduled your next classes starting tomorrow but this may change plans. Either way, you'll assemble in the ground tomorrow after breakfast with sports dresses. Mr. Chiron will guide you through the next classes untill this issue is resolved."
Did he glare at Miss. Willow again?
Piper looked questioningly at Annabeth but she looked clueless too. It was her selfish side speaking but she had to admit, it felt good to know that Annabeth didn't have any clue either. Piper always felt like a shadow next to Annabeth who roamed the palace like it was her home.
It kind of is, her mind reasoned.
More importantly, it could be in the future too.
Piper remembered that morning when Rachel very subtly flirted with Percy. The look Annabeth gave to Rachel made Piper glad that she was more interested in Jason.
Annabeth never really put her heart on her sleeve but some things she allowed to be out in the open like :I'ma horrible enemy to make.
Piper couldn't disagree.
...
When Annabeth walked into the meeting room after dinner without Piper (she was still eating), Percy wasn't there. Two Selected were though. Unfortunately one of them was Drew in a overly scandalous dress showing a lot of her hips and cleavage and the another was Rachel.
Drew scoffed, "Hey sister in law. Didn't I tell you? Look at her. She looks like an oversized mannequin. No style. No curves." She touched her shoulder. "No skin."
Annabeth was wearing the exact same dress she wore for the original test.
Drew touched her hair now, "At least you have hair. Only, it's pale. Lifeless."
Just then a guard came to the door. "Next?"
Rachel stepped out but Drew put one hand on her. "I'm next, princess. This makeup doesn't last forever and my dress has been waiting too long. Bye bye." She walked to the guard who looked uncomfortable but didn't say anything.
Annabeth sat on one of the chairs. After a while, to her utmost irritation, Rachel occupied the chair next to her.
"She's just tryna mess with you. If you stay quiet, she'll get off of you."
Annabeth crossed her arms. "You don't need to tell me what to do. I can take care of myself."
She ignored her. "People keep asking and saying stuff to me too. I play dumb."
Annabeth raised her eyebrows, "Was it hard?"
Rachel frowned but didn't back down. "Percy doesn't want to fight with you, you know? You're making things harder for him."
Annabeth got up, "None of your business."
Rachel looked away. "I said what I wanted to say. Even if it is hard. You should too. It's that simple."
Thankfully, Annabeth didn't need to retort because just then, they saw Drew leaving. Rachel got up and started walking to the door.
The guard nodded at Rachel. "Lady Annabeth?" He asked.
Rachel turned around, surprised. Annabeth replied, "Why? She was here first."
"Prince insisted you to come first, miss."
Rachel started to walk back but Annabeth said, "Then tell him to stop being a jerk. I'm coming next." He looked like he wanted to protest. "That's final."
"Miss, but…"
"Tell him I said so and don't worry, he won't scold. If he does, come tell me, I'll slap him for you."
"Okay…" he said, still reluctant.
In no time, it was Annabeth's turn. Percy was holding a set of papers – probably her assessment - and standing in front of Miss Willow, Councilwomen Hecate and Artemis. Miss Willow stood next to Councilwomen Hecate and Artemis with a poker face better than Mr. D himself and that guy played a lot of poker.
Percy once almost died when Mr. D called Annabeth as Alfer Chaksun. (Say it together then separately, you'll see what I mean) (But seriously, how is that a girl's name?). Annabeth also lost a big bet to him sometime and had to roam around wearing a suit decorated with grapevines. (Long story.)
To her surprise, Councilwomen Aphrodite was also present. When she entered, Aphrodite beamed at her.
Oh no.
Aphrodite was one of the biggest – what do they call it? – cupid believers? That meant she loved setting people up and hearing love stories. Her idea of a love story isn't your idea of one. Believe Annabeth on that.
Selection was basically her idea of an entertainment zone and not the theme park or Disneyland kind. The race cars and sword-fights to death kind.
As soon as they saw her, Hecate and Artemis crossed out something in their papers.Was it just her or did she see Percy smirk at Miss. Willow?
Their atmosphere wasn't bright though. Still ignorance.
He passed his pages to her. "Lady Annabeth, that's your final report. Please point out to anything that you feel wasn't assessed correctly."
Miss. Willow started, "Prince that's not the procedur--"
"We also agreed that I'll do this if I feel I forgot some parts, right?" He turned to the councilwomen. "Votes?"
They all nodded except Hecate who shrugged.
Annabeth didn't look at him anymore. He stood right next to her now and she kept her eyes on the paper. The first description was of the dress. It told that she wore a cream color dress - correct - with a low neckline and lace hands - wrong. "The dress!", she said.
Percy raised his eyebrows at them. "That's taken care of. Anything else?"
Okay. Someone must have done some mistake because at least half of the information was screwed up. It said the arrangements wasn't perfect, that balance was a complete fail, speech wasn't completed well, etc etc.
Miss Willow did this didn't she?
Annabeth wanted to shout at her but... The fact that Miss. Willow tried so hard but still her overall was just slightly below average gave Annabeth weird sort of pleasure.
Like: With a cheating paper, I still passed and you didn't get what you wanted.
Oh and you made things worse for yourself.
While all others took maximum 10 minutes, Annabeth was there for a good 30. Maybe 45.
At some point Jason even vouched for her dancing and said that there were no mistakes on her part (definitely) and if anything, it should have been his mistake that the O to double infinite shift was messy as described in the paper- which in reality was perfectly smooth according to Percy.
How does Percy know anything?
Then, Annabeth thought: Is he really blindly supporting me?
Despite their recent argument, the kiss and everything else - Annabeth felt warm on the inside.
When they were done and off record, Percy turned to Miss. Willow, tone harsh and commanding, "Did you really think you were gonna get away from something like this?"
He slapped the papers and looked at Annabeth's eyes for the first time and she felt a weird sort of jolt like the one she felt before they kissed.
Honestly, it wouldn't have mattered. Even with the unfair marking, she still wouldn't be too far down the line. Miss willow's parts were negative but that still left the councilwomen's positive parts. Of course, Miss. Willow was responsible for 50% but so what? Still, he vouched for her, blindly, and made up an entire fiasco of testing everyone's papers just to get her justice.
He didn't hold on the gaze though, which hurt her a little.
"There will be changes after this. Clearly you don't take my warnings seriously. Lady Annabeth, you may go."
She went to the doors but at last moment, she felt like she wanted to talk so she turned.
We need to clear the air.
Percy was shuffling over the next set of papers, not paying her any attention.
"Lady Annabeth?" said a guard. "Miss, you can't stay when another Selected is here."
Percy turned his rotating chair little towards her. "Hey." He said it like they were okay again and Annabeth wanted to believe it.
Just for a minute.
"We'll talk later, okay?" she said.
Percy looked surprised but nodded.
Without thinking twice, without caring about around 10 people watching them, she walked back to Percy.
What do you think she did?
Hit him on the head of course!
Who else agrees with me on the fact that it was a much needed smack to his head?
Annabeth's family is moving away! How will this impact her already detached emotions? How will Percy react to it?
Most importantly, the other Selected's true nature is slowly starting to peep through the holes... Will their relationships change because of this?
P.S. None of those answers will be revealed in the next chapters, LOL. Just trying to spike your curiosity here.