Here's the next chapter guys! Please enjoy!
All The Characters for this chapter belong to Cookiedoodles168.
SYOC is still open and closes on 7/12/19 so bring in your characters! Here are the Provinces and characters so far! You can find the SYOC sheet on chapter 6!
Chapter 10- Alina, Elodie, and Celia
Alina POV
"Alina dear," Alina looked up from the thick medical book and squinted at her Grandma Rosa, a slight frown on her face. "Shouldn't you be doing something else?"
"Like what Grandma Rosa?" Alina asked, pushing back her medium chestnut brown hair as it once again fell into her hazel eyes. She winced as strands of hair got caught on her glasses.
Grandma just shook her head, "You should be getting ready for the Selection. Don't you want the Prince to think that you're pretty? And have you gotten your contacts? You shouldn't wear those glasses at the palace."
"Are you saying I'm not pretty?" Alina asked, blinking at the woman who helped raise her.
Her Grandma shook her head, "I think you are absolutely beautiful Alina. But, unlike your Sister, you have never really tried to get a suitable man and there is no one more suitable than the Prince."
"I'm still young." Alina pointed out, but she closed her medical text and joined her Grandma where she sat. "Why didn't you ever bug Seraphina about finding a husband?"
"Because Alina, your Seraphina has practically been engaged to Daniel ever since they were children. She never needed any encouragement." Her Grandma said calmly. "She didn't let medicine fill her life as you do and your Father and Mother do."
Alina scowled. "The work I do is important." She said, feeling the need to defend her profession.
Her Grandma nodded, "I completely agree and I am extremely proud of what you do. But, you need to find someone special in your life. You're wasting your best years away."
"And you think the Prince can be my special person?" Alina asked, completely skeptical. He looked like a nice person, but she couldn't really trust looks. "Besides, the rest of those girls are probably wicked, there's no way I can survive with them. They'd stab me in the back the first chance they get."
Grandma Rose gave her a sweet smile, "I'm not going to promise you that you'll end up with the Prince, Alina, but it will at least get you out there. And you can't believe that all the girls will be horrible. Give them a chance before you judge them."
"I can't dance." Alina pointed out. It was true. She had tried a few times and both her and her partner always ended up with more bruises at the end of the night than the beginning. Her dancing was a complete disaster.
"They'll teach you." Her Grandma said. "They have to teach you to the palace, Alina. This is an opportunity for you so don't throw it away."
Alina nodded after a moment of reluctance. There was nothing she could do anyways. She'd been chosen so there was no turning back. She'd have to leave work for who knew how long and it bothered her. At least she'd have her medical books though. If anyone tried to take her books away she'd completely snap.
But maybe her Grandma was bright and she should look at this as a chance to help expand medicine to the lower caste. To help the lower caste get medical attention at the same level as the higher caste. After all, it had never sat right with her that some people were denied treatment due to the fact that they didn't have money or weren't high enough on the social scale. She'd use the Selection as an opportunity all right... just not to complete catch the Prince's attention.
Elodie POV
"Are you excited?" Elodie looked down at her younger sister, Lia, who was almost the spitting image of her, just instead of blonde hair, her hair was brown. "You're going to marry the Prince!"
Elodie laughed, "I'm not sure about that, Lia. But I am excited to meet him and see the world outside of Tammins." They were walking back home after getting groceries for their family. "But I do promise, Lia that after this, everything will change for us."
"Promise?" Lia asked eagerly, looking up at her with large light blue eyes.
"Of course," Elodie said. She knew that she wasn't lying to her sister but it was somewhat sad. Her family lived in a small town in Tammins that was considered very blue-collar and was a complete factory town. It was a nice place but there were many negative stereotypes about the area. Many two's and three's who looked down at them. And it was completely ridiculous, the people in her town were completely kind and much more down-to-earth than other people in Tammins.
Elodie was even willing to bet that the people in her town had much more humanity than the rest of Tammins and maybe even the entirely of Illéa.
"Hey trash!" Elodie froze in her tracks, her grip on Lia tightening. Slowly, she turned around and saw the most beautiful girl in town storming towards her with her brainless cronies trailing behind her. "How did someone like you get chosen for Prince Payton's Selection? Don't they know that you're no better than garbage?"
Elodie took a deep breath, she would never rise to the bait of people like Greta; she may be beautiful on the outside, but she was trash on the inside. "I wouldn't know," Elodie said, sounding as calm and dignified as ever. She never let her caste or her work bring her down; it didn't make her any less important than others. "I guess I was just lucky."
"Your luck will run out, Prince Payton will see that you're trash on the very first day," Greta said, a sneer twisting her pretty features.
"Maybe. We'll just have to see." Elodie said with a shrug. She then turned around and walked away calmly, Lia at her side.
"How can you let them talk to you like that?" Lia asked tears in her eyes and trickling down her cheeks.
Elodie knelt down next to her Sister and wiped her tears away. "Because I know what they said wasn't true. Listen closely Lia, as long as we're true to ourselves and are kind and honest to those less fortunate than the words of people like Greta can't hurt us."
"Promise?" Lia asked, sniffing, a heartbreakingly hopeful look in her eyes.
"Promise," Elodie said, knowing that she had to do everything in her power to show the nation of Illéa that the working people were the hidden gems of the nation.
Celia POV
Celia felt the wind go through her light auburn hair as she raced through the hills on her horse, enjoying the feeling of the wind and freedom she felt. Something she knew that would be taken away from her in a matter of days. She had been chosen as one of Prince Payton's Selected. Something she had never expected to happen.
She had only submitted a form for the Selection because her younger cousin, Aylee had practically begged her to, saying that there was a very large chance that Celia could become a Princess. It was a notion that Celia found to be completely absurd. Prince Payton would never choose her to be his Princess. She didn't fit what a Princess should be. She loved to be in the sun and play sports, she was a farm girl through and through and she loved her life.
Honestly, Celia didn't think that she would last more than two days in the palace. How could she? She was a country girl, not some pretty lady who loved to dress up and coo over a pretty face.
"Hey, Celia!" Celia reined back her horse when she saw her older brothers ride up to her, matching grins on all three of their faces, it was the oldest, Wesley who spoke. "Are you excited to meet Prince Charming?" He joked.
"I guess." Celia shrugged. She may have sent in her Selection form on a whim and even though she didn't think herself as a lady, she'd try her best. Maybe she'd make a few good friends at the palace and maybe there was the slightest chance she'd make a friend in the Prince.
"I can't really say." She added, looking at all her brothers, "I'll miss the farm though, and I'll miss riding Bailey." She patted her horse affectionately. "You better take care of her."
Her second oldest brother, Brandon laughed, "We will. You better take care of the Prince," He winked as he said this, causing her to shudder and the others to laugh, "If you know what I mean."
"I'm pretty sure I'll get tossed in a cell if I take care of him too much." Celia said, her face becoming red, "Did you need something?" She asked, hoping to change the conversation.
"Aylee wants to see you," Her youngest brother, Logan said, "She said she wants to see the Princess."
Celia rolled her emerald green eyes, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her eyes. "Not a Princess." She said as she rode Bailey back to the farm. She immediately spotted her little cousin.
"Hey there Sweetpea," Celia said, scooping Aylee up into her arms once she jumped off Bailey's back. "How's my favorite cousin?"
"Perfect now that I'm related to a Princess," Aylee said happily.
Celia sighed, "We'll see about the Princess thing Aylee, but I promise I will try my best."
"Yay!" Aylee said, hugging her around the neck tightly and causing Celia to choke at her strength.
Celia coughed awkwardly before setting Aylee down again, "Before I go, why don't you come with me to sort some of my things out?"
Aylee nodded enthusiastically and they were soon off, Aylee swinging her arms happily and Celia deep in thought. She didn't think she had a chance of winning Prince Payton's favor, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try to have fun before they kicked her out of the palace. It was time for a true country girl to finally shine.
Alina Montgomery Character Sheet:
Name: Alina Grace Montgomery
Caste: 3
Age: 19
Province: Ottaro
Personality: A naturally cheery and upbeat person, she is an incredibly compassionate and patient towards others. She is very dedicated to her job and has an excellent work ethic. She is a steadfast and loyal friend who always looks out for others and holds herself to a high standard (as in she won't stoop down to someone else's level, and somehow always manages to maintain her composure, dignity, and poise in every situation, even in the worst of times).
Hobbies: Playing the violin, drawing, reading, baking
Job: NICU Nurse (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse)
Hair Color: Medium Chestnut Brown (Long and wavy)
Eye Color: Hazel
Skin Color: Rose Beige
Height: 5'7
Other Info:
-She wears glasses but switches over to contacts for the selection.
-Both of her parents are doctors-her father is a cardiothoracic surgeon, while her mother is an OB/GYN
-She comes from a family of workaholics (as in they are all crazy dedicated to medicine), and Alina is no exception-even in the selection, you could find her practicing her stitching on bananas or oranges, and see her reading medical texts and the latest scientific journals
-Her grandmother entered her into the selection (Her grandmother is the only one in the family that does not work in the medical field-Alina comes from a long line of doctors, and her grandfather is a world-renowned neurosurgeon. Her grandmother didn't want her granddaughter to "waste her best years" in an emergency room and wants her to find a "perfectly nice and respectable husband" (when Alina brings up her sister, her grandmother simply answers "Alina honey, Seraphina was practically engaged to Daniel Linley since she was a child and it was always only a matter of time. You on the other hand...")
-She has two older siblings-an older brother named James (3, 23, Orthopedic Surgeon) and an older sister named Seraphina (3, 21, Dermatologist. Recently engaged to her childhood sweetheart and best friend (who also coincidentally is a doctor), Daniel Linley (3, Radiation Oncologist)
-Her favorite food in the entire world is chocolate fudge brownies
-Alina cannot dance for her life-like she is completely horrid at it and would most definitely step on someone's foot, and she is totally honest about it ("Unless you want me to step on your toes in five-inch heels, I would not recommend it")
Elodie Campbell Character Sheet:
Name: Elodie Jane Campbell
Caste: 4
Age: 17
Province: Tammins
Personality: Elodie is incredibly soft-spoken and graceful, despite her working-class roots. She is usually very dignified and composed, and she is determined to show the world that people from her part of the world are more than just "blue-collar trailer trash". She is very friendly and approachable and speaks with something called a "Tammins Accent" (very distinct, kind of sounds like what a Louisianan accent sounds like today)
Hobbies: Singing, Playing the Guitar, Reading about history (she's a complete history nut and loves reading about historical events and cultures around the world)
Job: Factory Worker
Hair Color: Light Golden Blonde (Just Below Her Shoulders, Straight)
Eye Color: Light Blue
Skin Color: Porcelain
Height: 5'5
Other Info:
-She lives in a small factory town in Tammins (considered a very blue-collar area), but the people are kind, down-to-earth, and honest. However, there are many negative stereotypes about people in the area (they are kind of seen as "trailer trash"), so Elodie wants to show the world that they are so much more than that.
-She is extremely well-organized (like she color codes everything and never loses anything)
-Her parents were high school sweethearts
-She entered the selection because she wanted to fall in love and see the world beyond her small factory town in Tammins
-Her favorite foods are banana pudding and apple tarts
-She has one younger sister named Lia (12)
Celia Knowles Character Sheet:
Name: Celia Elaine "Laine" Knowles
Caste: 4
Age: 17
Province: Likely
Personality: Celia is extremely energetic and quirky. She's never been one to hold her tongue, and is very easygoing and lives her life to the fullest. She is very hardworking and loves her family's farm with all her heart, and is extremely knowledgeable about agriculture. She is very outgoing and could strike up a conversation with anyone, and has an excellent sense of humor. She is very welcoming towards others, and can easily help someone feel at ease. She is easily able to diffuse any situation with one of her jokes and find the good in even the worse of situations. She has a very "I'll make do" attitude and loves a good challenge. She is a bit of a tomboy, and she's very athletic and nature-oriented.
Hobbies: Horseback riding (she competed in the equestrian circuit), Climbing Trees, Fishing, Football, Hunting
History: Celia's family owns one of the largest farms in the province of Likely. She has three older brothers-Wesley (25), Brandon (22), and Logan (19). She grew up in a rural area, and as such, she spent most of her time outdoors, playing by the creek and climbing trees. She has had a pretty happy childhood, and she's pretty happy with her life, but entered the selection when her little cousin, Aylee (7), begged her to ("Laine, you've got to! You could be a princess!") and Celia decided to appease Aylee and sent in a form, not actually expecting to get in.
Job: Farmer (Her family owns one of the largest farms in the province)
Hair Color: Light Auburn
Eye Color: Emerald Green
Skin Color: Pale
Height: 5'9
Other Info:
-She has a lot of freckles on her face, and her light auburn hair is extremely curly, giving her an incredibly striking and distinct look
-She has a strawberry allergy
Please review and comment and please remember the SYOC is still open and that you can find the sheet on Ch. 6!
The next chapter will be up soon!