Hey lovelies! If you've read all five chapters so far, thank you so much for your support! I'm trying to post daily, but I got so excited I had to post this one on the same day. There will still be another chapter tomorrow! (I'm posting these faster than I can write them but NOT TO WORRY!) If you can leave a review or at least recommend this story to a friend, that would help me out a lot! Shoutout to the first person that leaves a review saying they've read all the chapters so far in the next chapter! Love ygs! :D
Austin -
Honestly, I wasn't even paying attention to the faces of the selected girls. I'd rather not think about how in less than a week, thirty-five girls I've never even known existed let alone met are coming to my home to fight for the crown that comes with marrying me.
Dad dropped off the applications of the selected girls a few hours ago, but I can't bring myself to open even one. I don't want to do anything that will make this more real.
I take a sip of coffee from the mug sitting in front of me, feeling a surge of gratitude toward my butler, James.
I know I hesitated and looked down at someone's picture during the drawing, but I didn't know where else to look.
So far, I've been speed-reading all the books on my shelf I hadn't had the time to read yet. Anything that can take my mind off past events.
Apollo's been more distant since the drawing, which was three days ago. In another four, the palace won't be so empty.
The paper I've been poring over for the better part of the last hour details a break-in of a rich politician's house and his murder.
It seems even after the Northern rebels helped us defeat the Southerners, some among their ranks survived and spread their lies to others.
They don't attack the palace directly anymore though. A few times, we've seen messages scrawled in the mud just outside the palace walls, but none inside.
Mom and Dad don't think they ever will come in. They're trying to scare us, they say. But I can't shake the feeling that this is only the beginning.
Kyle -
Seeing Dusk's name come up in the drawing makes my heart swell with happiness, but also sadness.
Of course I want to see my baby sister again, but what about Dawn? What about the baby girl that used to run to me whenever she had a problem, instead of Mom or Dad? What about my sister who fought so hard with her demons she almost lost her life? The last letter I sent them was almost a year ago.
A fellow officer told me that it's better to cut ties with your family if you want them to stay safe, especially from rebels because they're trying to indirectly attack the palace.
A few guards' families have already been murdered, to threaten them. I still send my family money, but I can't risk letters being intercepted. I think eventually, they just gave up trying to contact me.
The last time I sent them a letter was while I was stationed in the mountains in Whites, and they probably think I'm dead and are still receiving compensation as all families of drafted men do.
It physically hurts me to see how much Dusk has grown since I last saw her five years ago, when I was drafted. Winter was only one year old. The chances that she even remembers me are slim.
It's better that way though. I wouldn't want her to deal with my loss too. I wish they could all forget about me. It's the only way I can keep them safe.