Here's a new chapter. Hope you like it!
A week later, Annabeth wrote her essay. She made sure to use the blue pen Lord Jack had given her. As she wrote, she thought back to a week earlier when Lord Jack had told her to write the essay. Did he really know Prince Percy, or was he lying? And if he was lying, why did Lady Grace back him up? And why was she acting so strange? They must know each other, them both being nobles and all. But why did Lord Jack look so familiar? She hadn't seen him before, but maybe she'd seen someone related to him. She finished writing the essay and took a look at it. It read,
Dear Prince Percy,
My name is Annabeth Chase. I am twenty years old and I work in the Royal Library. I am the head librarian. One month ago, your father, the King, appointed me to this position. Please thank your father for me. Back to the matter at hand. I would like to at least be chosen for the fifty perspective suitors because the money would help my family a lot. If I were chosen to be your wife, I would do my best to fulfill the position. I can bake and cook and sew and if we had children, I could raise them just the way you want me to.
Since I have never met you nor seen you, I don't know how handsome you are, but I'm sure you are. I've heard talk from my fellow servants, especially my best friend Piper, who is the seamstress's apprentice, that you are very good-looking and also very kind. I appreciate the kindness more than the good-looking, if you don't mind me saying, and if you don't pick me, you should pick Piper McLean. She's very pretty and would make a good bride. I can't lie. It would be nice to be a princess and someday Queen. If you don't want to marry me, I completely understand.
I should mention more about myself. I love reading, as you've probably already guessed, me being a librarian. I am a pretty good writer, if I do say so myself. My goal is to write a book of children's stories. I would like to write a book like Tales for Young People, by Minnie Palla. I helped a friend of yours, a certain Lord Jack, find this book. If it doesn't work out between you and me, could you let Lord Jack know that I'd like to get to know him better? If it does work out between you and me, I will forget Lord Jack and be yours forever. I don't need to describe my face, because you will see it in the photograph I am sending you.
As I said before, I can cook. I sometimes help the Royal Cook, Molly Hurst. My favorite thing to make and eat is chicken pot pie. I hope you like that too. I've never been to a royal ball, but I hope if I am chosen to be one of the fifty, you will have grand balls where each of us can dance with and get to know you.
What else can I say? My favorite colors are green and gray. My favorite animals are owls, hawks, and falcons. A friend of my father once gave me falconry lessons and I grew very close to this peregrine. I wonder what your favorite animal is? Do you have any pets? I've never met any animals in the castle that belonged to royalty.
Anyway, if you pick me for the fifty, I will be forever grateful, even if you don't choose me for your wife. If you don't pick me for anything, that's fine.
Sincerely,
Annabeth Chase
Annabeth put the essay down. That looked fine. She hoped Prince Percy wouldn't be jealous of Lord Jack, though. She put the essay in an envelope and wrote, in blue ink, 'Prince Percy.' She left her chambers and found the nearest page, who happened to be her friend Luke. She paid him a copper piece and gave him the letter.
"Why do you want to marry the Prince?" He asked, smiling. "I thought you didn't care about becoming royalty."
"They're giving away two hundred gold pieces for every girl who gets chosen for the fifty. One hundred for the girl and one hundred for her family."
Luke whistled.
"That's a lot of money."
"Yep."
"Maybe, if you get chosen to be in the fifty, but the Prince doesn't choose you, you can marry someone else."
Annabeth smiled.
"Maybe I could."
It was true that she'd only met Lord Jack a week ago and only met him twice, living in the court would give her a chance to know him better. She wished she hadn't put in the part about Lord Jack. Maybe Prince Percy wouldn't pick her because of that. But it was too late now. Luke winked at her and went to deliver the essay. Annabeth went back to the library.
Thanks for reading!