The Chosen

~Chapter 3~

"Our Prince Troy will turn twenty-one in the next two months. And before he ascends the throne, he needs a wife. A full-blooded, daughter of Eleta. Those women who are eligible will have to sign up in Capital Town. If you are interested in becoming the bride of our beloved Prince Troy Eleta, you just have to go there and sign up." Mom stated. I was about to comment but she went on.

"They said in the report that Prince Troy will be the one to pick from the printed forms you've signed. Lucky participants will be staying at the Palace in Henndar to prove themselves that they are worthy of becoming the wife of our Prince and of becoming the Princess of Eleta. And mind you that the families of the lucky participants will be given something like compensation for their service to the royal family."

I rolled my eyes as she went on and on. Just thinking about being watched by the whole kingdom makes me feel suffocated. 

Besides, I had been in the houses of some people in Vale and in Lyndorr. I was lying if I said I liked the way they live. The only thing I like about being in the caste system was that they could satisfy their primary needs. They had more money in their banks, so they could even buy whatever they wanted. Kents eat three times a day, and I was okay with that, but not for Mom. She wanted more in life. 

"He would surely love our Juliette." Mom said.  "You're gorgeous, honey. He would notice you." She said euphorically. 

"Mom, please. I'm far from average."

"Who told you that?! As if you're saying I'm far from average too! We just look alike, see!" Julienne said as she went to the window to see her reflection. I laughed when she tried to pose like a princess. She was indeed beautiful.

"Julie, honey... you're a lovely girl. You are beautiful." Mom said.

"It doesn't feel like it, Mom. There's no princess power in me. Like, I cannot run a kingdom." I said bluntly.

"Who told you to run the country? Prince Troy will do that and you just have to be by his side when he ascends the throne." Mom corrected me.

"Your Mom is telling you the truth," Dad said. I hadn't heard him commenting anything about all of this but now. 

Dad stared at his cup of coffee. He seemed to overthink about something. And there I understood what it was. He didn't want me to sign up because he knew it wasn't what I wanted to do. But he was also considering the benefits our family would get once I get picked. He was weighing the situations, and now he was having a hard time deciding what was more important.

"Julie, please. You're aware of our situation. Be sensible. Everyone has been signing up even without their parents' consent because The Choosing doesn't have anything to question about. This is your opportunity, honey! You can be the queen!" Mom exclaimed.

"Mom, we all know how hard it is to enter The Choosing. There are thousands of eligible women out there who are more interesting than me. And if I'm somehow lucky enough to be drawn, there will be nineteen more girls that I have to compete with." I clarified. "Some would even use the art of seduction just to win. Who knows, right? And I have only got a zero percent chance." 

Mom stood up. "You haven't seen it yet, unless if you sign up." She said, walking towards Amerie to carry her and left. 

Julienne ate in silence while Dad was sipping his cup of coffee. There were specks of dirt on his shirt and pants. He had cleaned up a lot today because his hair had a spider web that made me smile at him.

"Forgive me, Daddy," I whispered.

"You don't have anything to apologize, honey." He said. I hugged my Dad and he hugged me back. This was what I loved about Dad. He was gentle to me and to my other siblings. We hadn't heard him raising his voice when he was angry. I wanted my Dad to be happy. He didn't deserve to live like this. 

"Dad, I..."

He hushed me. "You don't have to say or prove anything, honey. I understand." He said, kissing my forehead. "Need to go to work. There will be a big event coming tonight. I won't be home until six in the morning. Don't wait for me." He said and then he stood up and went to leave.

And with that, I went to the kitchen to start cleaning. I took some biscuits from the jar sitting on top of the fridge and wrapped it with my handkerchief. Once done with the cleaning, I took the handkerchief with me and headed to my room. 

I sighed, laying on my bed to rest. As I remember the whole thing that happened today, to say that it was infuriating was an understatement. 

Did Mom know that she was pushing her daughter too much to do the things she wanted for herself? Did she think of Dad? Wasn't she happy with what we have here? 

I tried to think of The Choosing as convincing as it was, but there was no way I would fall in love with Prince Troy. I had seen him on TV but that was it. I didn't have even the slightest weird connection to make me fall in love with him. I only saw him as the Prince of Eleta. And I respected that. Nothing more, nothing less.  And that was what my mother did not understand.

I glanced at my window and there I saw the silhouette of the person I was waiting for. My eyes flickered with excitement. I stood up from my bed and brushed my hair with my fingers. I put on a pink lipstick to give my lips more color, then I took the leftovers out from my drawer and silently headed out from my window.

When I finally made it outside, I followed the shadow and gone through the forest.