The Prince Bet

         Hello, My name Is Mary Fermento the second princess of the Kingdom, Selvincia. Now, I just want to warn you that I am very flawed. And I think personally that it takes a very brave person to admit that. Which is ironic because I'm not the bravest. But I'm working on it, which brings us to me telling you my story. A story of jealousy, lies, and hiding...but also a story of a quick sprouting love that took me by surprise.

         

          I sighed heavily as I took off my light pink flats from my aching feet.

"Girl what is up? You've been spacing out and sighing the entire time I got here," Esmeralda dramatically put her hand over her heart, "am I finally boring you?".

          I smiled and rolled my eyes. I've been in the slumps all day, but I really didn't know how to go about my problems. "My sister." I answered keeping it short because I knew Esmeralda would immediately know what I was talking about. This wasn't a first time for her.

          Esmeralda hummed. "Well," she started, placing the cookie in her hand down on the small plate in front of her. "If her becoming the queen bothers you truly, then why don't you become a queen yourself."

          I raised my brow and sat straighter. "How would I do that?"

          "Well Mary dear, think of it. If you find a prince from another country, who just happens to inherit the thrown, you would technically have the same status as your sister. Plus not only would it benefit you, it would benefit Selvincia as well. Having connections to another countries royal family." Esmeralda finished as though that was the simplest thing in the world.

          I, myself, take the Queen title by marrying a prince? As if! What prince would wanna date me? They were all too busy eyeing my sister Candice anyway. Unless...

          "Your overthinking." Esmeralda said breaking me out of my thought. "Listen girl I was just teasing. It's getting harder to pull your leg if you take it seriously."

          "But that could work!" I said only really listening to the first half of what my best friend said.

          "Pardon?"

         "That might work. Most of the heirs to the thrown are in our age range. And it would benefit Selvincia as well. I could find a prince from a royal family, and if we happen to fall in love with each other, boom! Not only would I become the next queen of the country, I would be in a marriage with a guy I love." To me in that moment, it made perfect sense.

          Esmeralda busted out laughing thinking what I had said was all just to go along with her joke, till she saw the look on my face and knew I was indeed not joking. I was dead serious. Esmeraldas smile dropped, "Your being for real right now?"

         I nodded. "Come on Esme, we could at least give it a try."

          "Who is we?"

          "You and me silly" I  said pointing at Esme, then myself . "I don't have enough confidence to do this by myself, plus," I said with a big smile on my face as I took Esmeraldas hands in mine. "Not only are we best friends for life, we could be best friends for life that just so happen to be crown princesses. Crown Princess besties! Plus, the annual 'Royal Togetherness' Banquet is this coming Friday, which you are invited to, and that would be the perfect opportunity."

          "Mary-," Esmeralda began but I beat her to it.

          "Esme, please. Let's just give it a shot. Here," I  held out my hand towards Esmeralda. "Let's make a bet.........a Prince bet. If one of us aren't able to snag a prince or at least peek the interest of one within the span of the month, than one of us loses the bet....or both of us. We can quit anytime without shame. Also if one of us doesn't have feelings for the prince, but the prince does, we have to cut ties off with that prince. No leading on. No telling anyone. And stay out of the spotlight as much as possible. We can't have newspapers written every week about us skipping around with different royals."

          I watched as my best friend looked at me in total shock. I couldn't really blame her though, I wasn't like this. I am quite shy and reserved. Being one of the Princesses from Selvincia, me and my family were often in the royal family media but even then, I  didn't go out of my way to make myself stand out to much. I'm not made to be the center of attention and I knew that. I liked it that way a little bit. Compared to my twin or to Esmeralda, I was just a bland extra who stuck next to the people who could easily grab the entire rooms attention. So I truly couldn't blame my best friend for being shocked at my sudden courage to do this.

          After a bit of hesitation, Esmeralda finally accepted my hands. She must have calculated the options in her head. We both giggled sillily at what we were getting ourselves into.

          The door to my room opened and Candice popped her head inside. "Hey. What are you guys doing?" Candice asked. She stepped into the room and came to sit next to me.

          "Nothing, just talking about the banquet and how Esme is coming." I lied. I genuinely didn't like lying to anyone but I couldn't have anybody finding out about the bet, especially not my twin sister. It would all just go down hill for me. "Anyways, how was the meeting?" I asked her.

          Candice sighed and leaned back on the couch. "It was nerve racking having to listen to old men argue over things, but I got to learn more things and see who I can and can't trust."

          Esmeralda nodded in understanding. "Well Candice, what are you going to be wearing at the banquet? Are you excited to have to spend a few weeks going to several different events with other royals? Since it's Selvincia's year to host the events, I'm sure your going to have to speak and greet more people than usual."

          "Yes but that's only natural since I'm heir to the thrown."

          I smiled but I couldn't help but feel envious that I wasn't the one saying that. I was only born three minutes after my sister. When I was young, I often thought it wasn't fair that Candice was automatically assigned as the heir and I wasn't even given the chance to prove myself that I too could be a queen. But I'd never expressed my frustrations to my sister, it wouldn't be right. It wasn't Candice's fault that that was the way the royal line of succession worked.

          "I'm probably gonna wear something light blue." Candice said, taking Esmeraldas cookie and putting it into her mouth.

          "Candice, aren't you even a bit worried about the other royals?" I asked. I wasn't even crown Princess but I often worried about others. I've only met a few other royals from different countries but not a ton. Both Candice and Esmeralda looked at me.

          "For what reason would I have to worry?" Candice asked me.

          "Well from what I see in the media, some of the people who are attending this years events are quite....how do I put it......snake-ish. I just don't want bad rumors to be spread about you or the family when they aren't true."

       Candice softly smiled and hugged me. I noticed Candice smelled like the perfume she always wears, 'Royal Saffron Oud'.

          "Don't worry my dear sister. I will make sure that all will go well these upcoming weeks."