(I don't own anything and none of my characters will be in character sorry)
"Father you can't be serious it's archaic" Logan exclaimed looking incredulously at his parents.
"Now son it is tradition it is how I met your mother" King Percy said eyes glazing over slightly stuck in happy memories of his now deceased queen.
"That is not common father and you know it I wish to meet a person of substance and from what I've seen none of the nobles have any" Logan said trying not to yell at his parent. The tradition the father and son were arguing about was known as the lottery. Basically, nobles and commoners put their names in and if they were picked they had the chance to win the princes hand in marriage. The only problem was that the lottery was rigged so only nobles or rich people could win and Logan knew this.
"You will not yell at me I am your father and your King" King Percy said furiously then he added "This was not a request Logan you will attend and be civil is that understood."
"I will only do this if it is fair not rigged in the nobles favor" Logan said putting his foot down. The king knew that it mostly nobles that put their name in anyway since most of the commoners knew it was rigged by now so he agreed. Logan was suspicious of how easily his father gave in but decided to let it go since he got what he wanted in the end.
Once Logan was out of earshot the King muttered "I hope the others are taking it better than Lo is."
They were not….
"WHAT!" Janus screeched causing everyone in the room to cover their ears. Janus winced and said in a more controlled but still clearly angry voice "What you have to be joking you want to force me into a castle full of snobby rich people and I have to marry one of them Pops you have officially lost it."
"Now come on Janus it could be fun and I never said you had to marry any of them if you find another you wish to marry we won't force you to marry one of the contestants" King Consort Cyrus said. At that moment the King walked through the dramatically rubbing his ears.
"So, I heard you told him" King TJ said grinning at his husband.
"Why go through with it at all you met each other outside of the lottery why can't I" Janus said practically whining at this point.
"It is tradition and the other princes are going through it at the same time so even if you don't find love you get to hang out with your friends" King Consort Cyrus said trying to find a compromise.
Janus was silent for a few moments thing it through and finally said "Fine but don't rig it this time alright all gets a chance." Since that was what they were planning on doing anyway the Kings quickly accepted and Janus sighed then left probably to go call his friends.
The Kings looked at each other and started to laugh and when they finally controlled themselves King TJ gasped out "I feel back for the others if Janus is supposedly the most laid back in the group." That lead to another round of laughter which made the servant question their Kings sanity.
The Queens drew straws to who had to tell their sons about the arrangement. Queen Wanda had rigged it in her favor but Queen Natasha knew this and switched them at the last minute so Wanda got it. "Must we tell them can't we just send them to the castle and lock them in" Queen Wanda pleaded and her wife practically dragged her to the lounge when their sons were. Natasha only smirked and opened the door shoving her queen inside before closing and locking it. Both the princes looked up in surprise when their mom entered the room.
"Is there something wrong mom why didn't you just send a servant?" Roman asked putting down his journal he was writing in.
Queen Wanda looked at both he sons and decided to just get it over with "In a month you will be participating in the lottery with the other princes who have also come of age." Roman's eyes lit up at Wanda's proclamation while Remus looked almost ready to murder.
"WHAT!" They both exclaimed but with very different tones Roman's gleeful and Remus's angry.
"That is fantastic oh I am so excited it will be so romantic" Roman said picking his journal back up and rapidly writing something down.
"Why are we being punished that is so stupid you didn't have to do the lottery why should I" Remus said annoyed and crossing his arms.
"Because the other royals think it would be a good idea and the only reason I didn't go through the lottery was at the time women were married off and didn't even get a choice so watch your words" Wanda said not coldly but definitely serious.
Remus looked reasonably cowed but still said "I still don't want to do it I don't want to be forced to pick from a bunch of rich snobs can't I just go out into the city for a while and try to find a lover that way." At that point Queen Natasha had unlocked the door and entered closing the door behind her.
"Remus it's not that we don't want you to go into the city but just not yet and King Consort Cyrus insisted that none of you are to be forced to marry a contestant so you have nothing to lose" Queen Wanda said calmly.
"Also, you have no choice see you at dinner" Queen Natasha quickly said before dragging Wanda away ignoring all their protests.
Remus looked at Roman who was still writing and said "Are you really okay with this I mean you do know that you can't force love."
Roman finally looked up and replied "I know that Re-Re "Don't call me that" I'm not dumb but it will be nice and you heard what mom said they won't force us so what do we have to lose we are going to be surrounded by willing men and women as well as our friends."
Remus thought about it for a second then started to smirk then turned to Roman and said "I need to work off some steam feel like eating dirt." Roman of course couldn't ignore a challenge and they both spent the rest of the day training to the glee of various servants and visiting nobles.
On the day the contestant was due to arrive the princes were settling into their private chambers having already done the whole hugging and saying hi thing they were just chilling in Logans room because he was the only one still unpacking. "Come on Lo your shirts will be fine if they get a bit wrinkled I want to explore the palace before it's infected with snobs" Remus whined from Logans bed.
"I refuse to look like a slob and I expect you to do the same Remus just because they are rich doesn't mean they are snobs because if that is your definition of snobs you yourself are one" Logan said not looking up from his work. Remus pouted but stopped annoying Logan about his wardrobe the group just talked about random meaningless things until there was a knock at the door. "You may come in" Logan called the door opened and a servant entered.
The servant bowed and said "The royals have requested for you to get dressed and come to them before greeting the guests."
"Tell them we shall be right over you are dismissed" Logan said respectfully having been taught to be kind to the servants for they know everything. The servant left without a word and so did the other princes to go get dressed in the suits their parents told them to wear for the first day. They all waited in front of Romans door knowing he would take the longest once Roman was done fixing his hair the walked to the lounging room that would soon be filled with contestants. When they were allowed into the room they bowed not to their parents but to the visiting royals.
"Good you have all arrived now there are a few things we need to explain to you before the contestants get here" King Steve said calmly gesturing for them to sit across from the Royals. Once they were sitting the King launched into a practiced speech "There are a few rules one you cannot have sexual relations to the contestants unless you wish to marry them kissing is as far as you go" The King ignored the protests from Remus and continued "two you are to be kind and respect to all of them and only dismiss them when you are sure you don't want them because once their dismissed you can't get them back. "third you must go on one date with each before you can dismiss anyone and finally you must ask if they are a virgin and if they aren't then they are disqualified."
"What that is bullshit" Janus exclaimed ignoring his parents as he continued "I understand the other rules but I refuse to excuse anyone for being a virgin when none of us are one that is a fucking double standard."
Before anyone could responded King Steve said "You are right you have to ask as is tradition but it doesn't say anywhere else that you must but if we get rid of the I must add that you have to test them" seeing the look on the princes face he quickly added "Not for disease no I meant for go morals and other values you hold because once you chose a person you cannot go back."
The prince agreed and were led to a smaller room off the lounging room to wait for the contestants once they arrived they were called in one by one all the same rich and airheaded. They had almost lost hope when Patton walked in Roman was immediately enamored by this kind shy beautiful boy he decided to pay extra attention to him from now on. After a few more air-heads Virgil walked through the door and the other princes felt a connection he was dangerous loyal and cunning Logan saw the look on Remus and Janus's and realized he would have some competition in them and he was ready.
