The Princess Selection

Chapter 4: The First Night

Lucas's POV: 

I stand with my father at the top of the staircase looking down at the fifteen girls. Fifteen doesn't seem like that big of a number until there are fifteen potential wives standing in your foyer.

"Nervous?" My father asks. 

I shake my head. "Anxious."

"The first night of my choosing, at the ball, I danced with your mother last, but I knew right then she was going to be the one I would end up choosing. When you find your girl, you'll know." My father says, placing a hand on my shoulder. 

It's not like King Marcus to show affection to anyone but his wife. So his hand on my shoulder caught me a little off guard. 

"Lets go get ready for this thing," my father says. 

We walk down the hall and up another flight of stairs to the bedrooms. He stops at my door and looks around nervously. My father is not a man who gets nervous about things. 

"Lucas, I just wanted to tell you that I am proud of you for stepping up and accepting what is being expected of you as heir to the throne. I did not expect to see you leave your foolish ways behind so quickly for this competition but you did and I am pleasantly surprised."

I don't know what to say exactly. He smiles before turning to cross the hall to his room. 

I enter my bedroom slowly, waiting for the next speech from my father. I close the door and face the tuxedo my mother picked and laid out on the bed for me. 

I dress and wait for the knock on the door to cue my entrance to the party awaiting downstairs. Soon enough my mother briskly taps on my door and I exit into the hall. 

I follow my parents down to the lit ballroom holding our patient guests. 

There is a loud noise to quiet the room and then the loud voice announces my parents. 

"King Marcus Reeves and Queen Evelyn Penelope Reeves," the voice booms over the room. 

The double doors are swung open and my parents descend the grand staircase into the ballroom. The doors close and I step up. 

"Prince Lucas Simon Marcus Reeves," the voice announces. 

The doors open for me and I step out onto the balcony that overlooks the room. I slowly walk down the stairs to the massive crowd. I cross the room through the pathway of people to the stage where our huge thrones sit. 

I ignore the empty seat next to my mother and take my place next to my father. The music starts again and the guests resume their dancing. 

A few minutes after our arrival the giant doors open and Jane steps out. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, your highnesses, may I present the fifteen girls of the Choosing," Jane announces. 

My parents and I stand as the first girl that Jane announces walks towards us. She curtsies to my mother and father then turns to me and does the same, I bow to her and she moves off to the side.

This process repeats until finally we reach the last girl.

"Charlotte Grace Robins," Jane calls.

A medium height, slim, girl steps out of the shadows and onto the balcony. Her blonde hair is piled on top of her head and her golden gown makes her grey eyes sparkle as she gets closer to us.

She curtsies for my mother and father and turns to me.

"Your highness," she says, sweeping low to the ground. 

I smile and bow. She moves off to the end of the line and I watch her as she moves. She looks unsure as she takes her place at the end of the row of girls, but she also has a confidence about her that sets her apart from the other girls. 

The music starts again and I step off the stage and stand in front of the line of girls. 

"Good evening ladies, you all look lovely. Please feel free to dance. I will be sure to dance with each of you before the night is over. I will begin with you," I smile at the first girl in line. 

"Candace," she smiles sweetly. 

I offer my arm and we make our way to the middle of the dance floor. After a few songs I excuse myself and move on to the next girl. 

I make my way down the list until there are only a couple girls left. I excuse myself from my current partner and go up to my parents for a break. 

"Hello, dear. How is it going?" My mother asks. 

"Not bad. They're interesting," I say, sinking down into my chair. 

Suddenly the music stops and the attention getting noise sounds. The doors open and the announcer's voice booms over the crowd. 

"Princess Makenna Evelyn Rose Reeves."

The wild eyed, dark haired beauty glides down the stairs. A smile on her face and excitement in her veins. She quickly walked across the floor to our seats and climbed onto the stage. She takes her seat next to my mother and smiles. 

The entire ballroom stares at my sister as she fans herself with her gloved hand. 

"Have none of you ever seen a girl fashionably late?" Makenna asks. "Go ahead. As you were."

"Makenna, darling, I didn't know you were in town," my mother says. 

Makenna smiles. "Sorry. I got a last minute flight from Paris. I couldn't miss Luke's big night."

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you made it. How was Paris?" Mother asks. 

"Gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. The leaves were just starting to change and the nights were so clear. And mom, the shopping was fabulous. Tomorrow I'll show you everything I got," Makenna squeals. 

"Tomorrow evening we will spend together, but since you're here you will be spending the day helping me with the choosing girls," my mother says. 

Makenna nods and looks over at me. "What? No hug for your sister?"

I smile and go over to welcome my sister home. I feel my dad tense up as I pass him on my way to Kenna. They always have problems when she comes home. 

Father thinks that Kenna doesn't focus on what she is supposed to do. He says she doesn't take her responsibilities seriously.    

"Lucas, you have three more girls to dance with. Please go finish, you can talk to Makenna later," mother sighs. 

I nod and step off the stage to seek out the next girl on my list. 

I finally reached the last girl. The grey eyes and confident stance helped me spot Charlotte from across the room. I approach her and offer my hand. 

"May I have this dance?" I ask. 

"You are the prince. I don't think I have a choice," she replies. 

Her hand flies to her mouth as soon as she thinks about what she just said and who she said it to. 

"I am so sorry," she squeaks. 

I smile. "I'll take it as a yes."

She smiles a little and places her small hand in mine. I lead her to the middle of the floor and I place a hand on her tiny waist. She is so small that my arms could go around her at least twice.

We begin to sway to the music and her curious eyes roam around the room. 

"Where are you from?" I ask, bringing her attention back. 

"Down south," she says. 

"So you are a two, three?" I ask. 

"Five."

Then her application comes back into my head. Her picture of her singing. That's the reason I had chosen her. 

"Do you play an instrument?" I ask. 

"I sing, my sister plays the instruments," she says. 

I nod. "Maybe you could sing for me sometime."

"Maybe I'll end up singing at your wedding," she says. "Depending on which one of these girls you pick."

"What if it's your wedding too? Would you still sing?" I ask. That question catches her off guard. 

"You'd marry a five? From the south?" She asks. 

I shrug. "Why not? My father married my mother. She was a four from North Dakota."

Charlotte laughs. 

"What's so funny?" I ask. 

"The thought of me as the princess. Could you imagine," she laughs. 

I smile. I really could imagine her as the princess. From what I can tell she doesn't hold back. 

The song stops and another one starts. So far tonight I've made a one song per dance rule but I'm willing to make the exception for this. Charlotte starts to turn out of my arms to leave but I keep a firm hand on her waist to lock her in place. 

"Just a few more minutes."

She nods and looks up at me. 

"What's it like? Down south I mean," I ask. 

"In the city it's bright and busy, but closer to where I love it's run down and poor. No one usually notices the poorer side of the town," she says. 

"I'm sorry," I say, unsure if I should say more. 

She stares right into my eyes. "You actually mean that?" 

I nod. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you have all of this, you have a wall literally around your house, how would you know what's beyond that, or even care what's beyond that?"

"I'm not living under a rock, I keep up with what's going on in the country," I say. 

"Why would you want to keep up? Why worry about an entire neighbourhood going hungry when you can have whatever food you desire delivered right to your bedroom door?" She asks. 

"When has an entire neighbourhood gone hungry? Where has one gone hungry?" I ask. 

As far as I know there's an abundance of food throughout the country. 

"Mine. Last month, for two weeks. The store wasn't getting their deliveries and the next closest store was in the city, but we didn't have any way to get there, it's fifty miles away," she says. "We wrote letters and called in and nothing happened for two weeks."

I stare at her. How could my father have let this happen. An entire neighbourhood of families, without food and no way to get it. 

"How many other times has this happened?" I ask, realizing why she's so thin.

"That doesn't happen too often. But a lot of the time we give our food to the sevens and eights families who have little kids since they need the food much more than we do," Charlotte says quietly. 

"I am so sorry. I had no idea," I say. 

She smiles a little and shakes her head. "It happens."

"But it shouldn't," I say. 

The music stops and we all turn to clap for the band. Most of the guests have left by now and all that remains are my parents, my sister, and the fifteen prospects. 

"Ladies, it's time for bed," Jane calls. 

The girls stop one by one to thank us and to say goodnight. Charlotte goes last and before she can turn to go towards the stairs I catch her hand. 

"I didn't get the chance to tell you that you look beautiful tonight," I smile. 

"I bet you say that to all the girls," she smiles, her tone playful. 

"Goodnight, Lady Charlotte." I smile, letting go of her hand. 

"Goodnight, Prince Lucas." she smiles, before turning to the stairs. 

I watch the blonde haired, grey eyed, fierce, caring, and beautiful girl dressed in gold, walk up the stairs and disappear behind the giant doors.