Amberly

The morning after the ball there were already photo's circling of the girl Adam disappeared with last night. I was searching through various websites and magazines to get a better look at her. Ever since the castes were removed there had been a freer transfer of information and technology. Where before the people were kept in the dark about most things and often fed false truths now if they owned a computer, which for most was a luxury they just couldn't afford, they were able to get news and information about almost anything.

I learnt in one of my history lessons growing up that before Gregory Illea took over information was instant. Everyone owned their own personal cell phone but my ancestors stopped that, keeping the nation in fear with the lack of knowledge and communication not only between themselves but also with the rest of the world. The only information they would receive was that provided to them from the royal families. Words of propaganda, filled with lies and falsehoods. Whilst we still control much of what the nation sees there are many more freedoms than before.

Technology for cell phones is still a memory from the past but now people are educated new ideas and inventions are being achieved everyday. I bet if people from the previous era looked at us now they would believe we were starting from scratch and they would be correct. Everything before Gregory Illea was destroyed. He removed everything he believed made people complacent and those which would eventually reveal his true nature. Now we were starting again but it was slow and tedious. It was a process that needed to be installed gradually so as not to overwhelm the people with information and technology they could never hope to control.

Sometimes, the people got tired of the slow progression and that was why they were growing restless now. They couldn't see the end anymore and many of the programs my parents had implemented were stalling due to lack of support and funds. The debt the old nation before us had with New Asia still hang over our heads, something they will not forget.

I believe it was their pride that ultimately needed to be reestablished but unfortunately money is the price and we don't have the means to pay it. I knew from the snippets I heard between my mother and father that they grew restless every passing year and our tenuous truce would only last for so long. Illea seemed to be balancing on a cliff's edge and one small push would send us reeling back to where we were before my parents started their reign. The only thing holding us up were the people and everyday another one seemed to be turning their back and walking away.

However, it was clear that this new format of the selection was getting more of the country involved and girls believed they had more of a chance to win their prince. It was slowly reinstating some faith in the people of our presence among them.

Adam needed to choose wisely because one wrong move and the nation would fall to ruin. Although, this girl seemed to be a mystery. It said her name was Flora Avery but there was nothing on her anywhere even in our records of the people of our country. She must have been tutored growing up so she has no school records but she hasn't done anything other than being born that notes her in any palace records. I'm not meant to read the records but I wanted to make sure this girl was worthy of my brother. If my father ever found out I had been snooping in the official records he would be livid. Luckily, I was craftier than my sister Marinda when it came to covering my tracks.

I was currently looking through the latest gossip magazine which was discussing the girls dresses and there was no doubt that this Flora had the most beautiful and captivating of all. Most of the others had tried to wear revealing dresses to capture Adam's attention but I knew my brother and he would have been oblivious to these attempts. The image in the magazine was of when she was walking through the crowd of girls to be introduced to Adam and her face gave away that she wasn't too pleased about this, which was odd.

However, it was a lovely picture of her dress. The candles in the room made the diamonds in her dress glow as if there were thousands of fireflies caught in the net of her lace gown. It was truly enchanting, but her green eyes were hiding something. Behind the bright green eyes of the mystery girl I could see a darkness, I just didn't know what it was. Could it be something from her past?

I was squinting at the image when Marinda came barging into my room breathless and her eyes shinning with the usual brightness she got after pulling off something evil.

'What have you done now?' I asked in a low voice eying my sister warily, afraid she could be hiding cheese bombs in the ruffles of her day dress. It was her ammo of choice for years. Some of my clothes still held the faint scent of cheddar.

'Oh, hey Amberly,' She answered casually. 'Didn't know you would be in here.'

'It is my room.' I answered, watching her movements closely.

'So it is.'

'Get out, whatever you've done I don't want any part of it when dad comes for you.'

'What makes you think I've done anything. Maybe I just want to spend some time with my older sister before she goes to live on the other side of the world.' She answered with false innocence. It never was a look she was able to master. Michael always was the innocent one but for some reason he would always find himself taking the fall for one of her failed schemes.

'I'm busy.' I replied flatly returning my attention to the magazine hoping the red-headed terror would leave my room.

'Oh is that about last nights ball? Have you heard about the green eyed mystery girl who has apparently stolen our brother's heart?' She sung, skipping over to me and sitting on the end of my bed, dislodging the other magazines I had been pouring over that morning. I ignored her but I knew she wasn't going to leave.

'Did you know Harmonia said he didn't take his eyes off her all night. In fact he may have gotten a little jealous when she was spending time with other men at the ball.'

'Adam doesn't get jealous.' I scoffed at the absurdity of my two younger sisters. How could he be jealous when he had just met her?

'That's not what Nia said and she was there.' She said as if everything our twelve year old sister said was the truth, which it usually was but this time I think she may have let her romantic side take over. There is no way Adam could fall so quickly. Just yesterday he was telling me he could barely remember their names. He was too naive and inexperienced to fall so quickly.

'You're both being ridiculous.' I announced tossing the magazine aside and striding over to my door. 'Now if you don't mind I have things to attend to.'

'Fine, but Nia's right I think Adam likes this girl, a lot. It was so obvious when they showed the footage.' She answered confidently, strutting, as she usually did, from my room. She was so frustrating.

I slammed my door when she was out and huffed at my younger sister. She always knew how to ruffle my feathers. However, I didn't believe her for a minute but I didn't have time to think about that now. I needed to find out more about this girl who had capture the interest of the nation. If I was obsessing about her then I would stop thinking about my trip in a few days time which always had me on edge. If I was thinking about my brother's future match then I could take my mind off mine.

Anthony

Three days, just three more days and she would be here. Finally, after all this waiting I would get to see her again. Never in my life had I been more excited for anything. I bet she hasn't change at all since we were younger. I smiled just remembering her serious little face hiding behind her mother's rose bushes. That may have been the moment she lodge herself in my heart. I think from that moment I knew she was going to become my wife one day. She seemed less convinced but I could fix that.

'Ant, Ant!' Elliot, my younger brother called running up to me. I had been walking around the garden's trying to curb my excitement but I couldn't seem to be able to take my mind off her. Those accusing blue eyes were always the ones I would fall asleep to at night.

'What is it Elliot?' I asked, welcoming the distraction of my eight year old brother. I think after Jared my parents resolved to never have anymore children but then when Jared was nine and I was fifteen my mother decided she wanted to try for a girl. She desperately wanted a princess to share the castle with but instead they had Elliot. After Elliot my mother was done she wasn't going to try again for that elusive girl afraid she would get another boy who would wreak havoc in the castle.

'Mum's really angry and she wants to see you right now.' He answered breathlessly. 'You should hide Ant.' He continued gravely and I smiled down at him. I had been handling our mother for years, never once had she given me a punishment that had stuck.

'Where is she Elliot?'

'Dad's office,' he answered as if there might have been an evil villain waiting for me behind that door.

'Let's get going then. Better not keep her waiting.' I said confidently bending down so he could jump onto my back.

'What did you do this time?' He asked, his face close to my ear.

'An old favourite,' I answered thinking about all of dad's clothes soaking in the front water fountain, which would be sudsing nicely now. Logically, you'd think my father would be the angry one but we had been having this war since I was born. Odd occasions would arise when we would team up but more often than not we used the castle and sometimes the country as our battlefield. Just this morning I found thousands of lines of sting tied across my room so it was almost impossible to move. When you did and you knocked one of them it was rigged so that a water balloon would fall. Needless to say I had two showers this morning. Which is why I retaliated by giving my father's clothes a spin in the castle fountain.

'Mum was turning red when she told me to come and get you.'

'It'll be find buddy, you know mum will yell for a while and then she'll relent. She just can't seem to stay mad at any of us.' Elliot nodded his head beside my own but I knew he was unconvinced.

I rounded the corner of the corridor which led to my father's and my offices. Strategically placed facing each other, sometimes making it hard to get any work done. Last week we had a rather intense game of 'badminton' between out two offices which led to three holes in the wall and a broken chair. Mother hadn't been happy then either.

I stopped outside my father's door with Elliot still on my back and I could hear my mother's voice already. She did sound madder than usual.

'You want to come in with me buddy?' I asked already knowing the answer.

'Yep, you're going to need me.' He said confidently tightening his arms around my neck.

'How's that Elliot?'

'I'm cute.' He answered simply and I laughed lightly at my younger brother.

'Let's do this then.' I announced opening the door to reveal my mother yelling at my smug father. She was pacing ferociously in front of his desk as he sat casually in his chair watching his wife with the same look he always had whenever she was in the room.

I loved my parents more than most children would admit. Most of all I loved how my father could look at my mother everyday and you could tell he thought he was the luckiest man in the world for a woman like mum to ever agree to marrying him. He would tell her as much whenever he had the chance, especially when she was raging like this. I aspired to have his master techniques at getting himself out of trouble. It only took a few kind words and a kiss and he was usually off the hook. It sometimes took more than that with me but eventually she always gave in.

'You wanted to see me?' I asked cockily from the door shifting Elliot on my back. Mum quickly spun to face me and I almost stumbled backwards with the look which had stolen my mother's face.

'Elliot, why don't you go and play with Jared?' Elliot quickly scrambled off my back, my mother's angry tone enough motivation for him.

'Yes mother,' he mumbled almost running from the room and I watched him wishing I could follow. I had never seen my mother this angry and I had done some pretty crazy things.

'Shut the door Anthony.' She instructed glaring at me as I slowly closed the door of my father's office. My father still looked calm but I couldn't manage it. I stood in front of the door waiting for her to speak but all she did was stare at me with anger and disappointment in her eyes. I never feared her shouting. It was always the silence that scared me the most.

'Olivi-'

'No Frederick, Princess Amberly arrives in three days. He needs to learn to be a responsible man.' She shot at my father and I slumped down slightly, grateful her attention was off me for the moment. Mother may have had white streaking her blonde hair and wrinkles around her hazel eyes but she was no less fierce than when I was younger ruining state dinners by my father's side.

'She will not tolerate this childish behaviour. You've seen her, she's just like Clarkson. She will leave if either of you pull any of your usual tricks, especially on her.'

'Olivier, you're being overdramatic. She's still a girl, she might welcome the change of pace.' My father tried to reason but my mother wasn't hearing it.

'She is a woman Rick, who has been promised a husband not a child. She will not marry him if he behaves this way. No sane woman would.'

'You married me,' my father answered smugly.

'I'm not sane.' My mother sighed turning to me again and I stiffened under her gaze.

'Anthony, do you wish to marry Amberly?' What kind of question was that? She knew my feelings towards her. I told her when I was twelve and numerous times after that.

'Of course,' I answered emphatically.

'Then why are you doing this? You've watched her on her country's report you met her when she was ten she hasn't changed Anthony. She is that same serious girl who yelled at you from behind the rose bushes.'

'Mum, she is the only girl for me. I'm sure of it. Nothing will keep her from me, nothing.'

'I know, but you haven't seen her since you were both children. Now she has grown up into a strong young woman.'

'I have grown too mother,' I replied petulantly.

'No Anthony, you haven't. You are still the same boy who pulled those pranks all those years ago.' She answered sadly.

'Are you saying I would make a terrible husband and ruler?' I asked in disbelief.

'No, you will be a wonderful ruler just like your father but maybe Amberly isn't the right choice for you. You will make a wonderful husband but perhaps to another girl.'

'No, Amberly is the one for me. She always has been. I can be what she needs me to be.' I answered defiantly. How could my mother be saying this?

'You don't need to go through with this arrangement Anthony. You will rule one day and you need a wife who understands you and will support you. I fear that Amberly will not be able to do that for you.'

'No, you're wrong mum. This will work.' I answered adamantly. This had to work, I had been dreaming about this day since I returned after our last trip to Illea. I even picked out the ring when I was sixteen and I kept it hidden under my pillow reminding myself every night of the day Amberly would eventually wear it.

'Anthony, if you believe this is the girl for you then make it work. If you love her half as much as I love your mother she'll come round. Don't give up Anthony.' My father winked as he walked around his desk and wrapped his arm gently around my mother who still had worry in her eyes. I knew she wanted me to be happy but I would be, with Amberly. I was certain of it. I hadn't spent all these years waiting just to give up now. Three days, just three more days and she would be here.

'You're wrong mother,' I said softly reaching for my father's door. 'This is going to work, I'm not giving up before she even arrives.' I quickly opened the door and walked outside letting it fall closed behind me.

My heart was beating rapidly in my chest as I walked aimlessly down the corridor. I knew what Amberly was like, I had no doubt she was still that same girl who huffed from the room in outrage after I tied spaghetti in her hair. It was what I loved about her. She was so stubborn. I couldn't believe my mother's words. She was wrong. Amberly would fall in love with me. She had to otherwise I'm not sure I would survive the fall. I've been falling for her for so long there's no way I would live through the impact if she rejected me. She had to love me, she just had to.

Aisling

I stood shaking in the dining room as the family was having breakfast. I only had moments before Malvolia realised my deceit.

When one of the maids brought in the magazines today I almost had a heart attack. My face and Flora's name were plastered all over the front. Even the newspapers which usually reported on politics and current affairs had articles on the ball from last night. I wanted to beg the maid to hide them but I knew I couldn't get out of this unless I somehow found a way for the entire country to forget about what had happened last night. I didn't regret last night but I wasn't ready to pay the price for experiencing a sliver of happiness. I may have gotten home before Malvolia and Mr Avery last night and been safely tucked up in my bed in the cellar but it wouldn't stop her from reading the papers and realising what I had done.

Mr Avery was reading the newspaper whilst eating his breakfast and Flora sat quietly eating her own, throwing me nervous glances as I tried to hide my terror. Malvolia hadn't read them yet but it was only a matter of time before she did.

I absently reached for my mother's bracelet forgetting I had lost it the night before at the ball. Just another reminder of what my choices had cost me. When Malvolia reached for one of the magazines my heart stopped. There I was in Fora's green dress running from the prince, desperate to make it home, to hide myself. However, my efforts were useless because there I was staring back at myself from the front cover of the magazine. The world may know my face but they didn't know my story. They knew a falsehood. A fairytale about a girl who had captured the heart of a prince but my life was no fairytale and the look in Malvolia's eyes when she recognised me on the front cover only confirmed my fate.

Her eyes were murderous and all I wanted to do was flee the room but for now in front of Flora and Mr Avery I was safe. For now the only pain she was inflicting was the threat in her eyes but I knew what happened after Mr Avery left for work and Flora left for the doctors later that morning. When we were alone the true punishment would begin. There was no one who could save me, no one who would protect me. Unlike all the fairytales, I wouldn't be saved by the knight in gleaming white armour. I was trapped and alone. A night with a prince was my only crime.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading, reviewing, favouriting and following. You guys are amazing. So, what did you think of Anthony? I hope you liked him. For those who remember King Frederick from 'The One and Only True love,' don't worry there will be more of him, especially after Amberly does arrive. Anyway, thank you again for all your support I can't really thank you enough, but I will try :) Until next time you wonderful people, please leave me your thoughts about the story so far I love hearing what you have to say.