The Selection ~ Next Generation ~ Fanfiction

Amusing

 The Prince. The Prince had come into the room. Once again, I forget to curtsy. Of course! I'm already the worst at being lady-like. Now all I can do is hope I have an award-winning personality. Otherwise, within the hour, I'd be back in the carriage home.

At first, Prince Edmond doesn't seem to notice my mistake, but when he moves his head to the right he spots me. Quickly, I move into what could be a world record for the fastest curtsy. I stay down in it until his eyes drift away from me. Except that never really happens. Instead, Prince Edmond is walking right over to me, and his walk has a purpose that I can almost see.

Oh god. Now I've really upset him. I always thought that the prince of Illéa was a fair person, but the way he is strutting over to me tells me otherwise.

By the time he stood before me, I realized that I had tucked my knees into my chest. And for the first time ever, I was praying to continue living life. I couldn't die! I only just got to the palace and I wanted to explore. Certainly, I have ruined any chance of getting news of being one of the Selected. Great.

He begins to speak, "What is your name, dear?"

Oddly enough, he sounds friendly. The way he put "dear" at the end makes me happy. It's good to hear that I of all people is dear to Prince Edmond. When I think about how scared I was, I notice that I really am as cautious as Grams always said.

"My name is Ellyn, Your Majesty." I say lunging in a huge curtsy, hoping to make up for my mistake. I hope that works.

But instead, the Prince starts to chuckle. And then that turns into laughter. Soon, the entire room is laughing along with him. God, how could the prince be this awful to me. All my life, I've looked up to Prince Edmond. Now, during my only chance to impress the Prince, he laughs at me. Even worse, the entire room is joining him. I've never been so embarrassed!

"Have I done something wrong?" I ask in a small voice that no one possibly could hear over the noise. Prince Edmond must have noticed, because he holds up a hand and the cacophony of laughs stops.

"Say that again."

I clear my throat, "Have I done something wrong, Your Majesty?"

He seems to have puzzled that question for a while before simply answering no.

"Then why were you laughing at me?"

"Oh! Do you not understand why I find you amusing?"

Me? Amusing? So now am I amusing him? He tells me I'm amusing after all I said was my name. I don't usually find Ellyn as an amusing name.

I answer as blunt as I can be, "Well, no. I don't see why you find me, introducing myself to you, amusing." I take a look at his face and his look tells me that I missed something. I quickly add, "Your majesty."

He seems to study me for what feels like an eternity. Why does he keep doing that? Then he reminds me, "First of all, Miss Ellyn, it's not your name that's funny. Second of all, did you not realise that you forgot to curtsy?"

Was he critiquing me? Of course I realised that I forgot to curtsy! I'm not that dumb.

"Oh, yes," I start. I try not to act like I didn't notice, but I can't help it. Acting innocent is what will get me out of this mess. I continue, "Sorry, my bad." Finishing my apology, I curtsy once more. Then, as if he didn't get the apology he wanted, he walked back to the middle of the room. I stare around at the other girls and notice that most of them are either trying to hold back laughs, or look sorry for me. Well, if I were them, I'd feel sorry for me as well.