Marrying The Prince

One

Today was the day I had been waiting for my entire life and it was finally here. Finally it's the summer I turn 18 which means it is my turn to be chosen. This tradition went back generations in my family and now it was my turn, today was the day I came out to society before the King and Queen themselves as well as everyone in society so that I can be courted. I had been prepping and preparing for this since I was born as well as every other girl in my age range due to both prince's being born around the same time. Normally the ton wouldn't be so frantic, but the Queen has ordered both her sons wed by end of summer which meant it was one of us. We had all been bred and trained to be their wife it just depended on whom they chose, and I was going to make sure one of them chose me. Every year there's a diamond of the season chosen by the queen herself, and this year I would be the chosen one.
Growing up with my father as a Duke it gave me certain advantages and one of those being that my family was extremely close with the Kings family. King Fredrick and Queen Katalina would invite my family and I to their winter home when I was a kid so I grew up playing along side Prince Francis whom was next in line for the throne and his brother, Prince Nathan. I didn't necessarily have an eye for either growing up but for courtship, I had my eyes set on which ever one came to me first. I was going to be the diamond this season. I had been telling myself this for over a decade and if manifestation and affirmations work, then I have nothing to worry about. Although we vacationed together, once I turned 10 my mother stopped letting me out after my father died. She wanted her kids to be hidden from society until able to wed out of fear of the ones that killed my father would come for us as well. Being wed meant we had protection therefor none of us saw the summer house or vacations in the winter after father. Prince Nathan had wrote to me a few times, but it stopped the summer I turned 13 which I never thought much of but I was quite fond of the words he would write me. Nathan and I were the closest as kids with us being the same age whilst our brothers were 2 years older.
My brother had already found his wife last season while Francis wasn't looking and Nathan was still too young. Since birth Francis had a stubborn mindset of never getting married which always put his place in line for king at risk but he never seemed to care for the title. Francis from what I remember was taller with dark hair and green eyes that had the longest lashes attached with dimples that complimented his face even more. He was all about nature and animals even at the age of 12, riding horses 24/7 and helping the workers in the garden. He was the nicer brother that treated his staff like family rather than peasants and had compassion and sympathy for the ones around him rather than having an entitled mindset. Nathan however was the opposite, treating everyone around him as if they were beneath him and being what I would consider a blatant brat but for some reason was always nice to me which is appreciated given his normal mannerisms. Nathan was the odd one of the family carrying his grandmothers traits of strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes and a few freckles to compliment his face which had the whole society in a chokehold wondering if he was actually the kings son or a bastard but the blood results came back in his favor. That could have to do with why he walks around with such entitlement cause when he was a little boy he was bullied into believing he wasn't. If it wasn't for Nathan's pure meltdown one evening when we we're around 9, the blood test would of never happened but luckily for him it did, not so much luck for his mental state though considering hearing he was actually an heir of the king he started to fit the arsehole stereotype at the age of 9.

While my maidens dressed me tightening my corset the anxiety of seeing Nathan and Francis for the first time in 8 years set in but with how tight the corset was getting I could barely breathe as is which helped as a distraction from my own thoughts. I had 5 maidens on me at once to make sure I looked more than perfect before the royal family and society.
"She needs more blush where's the blush? And where is her shoes!? She needs her shoes!" My mother says franticly while running around the foyer like a chicken with no head.
"Shoes are on my feet mother and Ember is getting the blush." I said while putting my earrings in and checking to make sure my hair looks perfect.
"What would I do without my dearest Anastasia" my mom says coming to give me a kiss on the forehead.
"You are ready for this , you can do this, you will do this my future princess. Your father would be so proud." she says while cupping my face and giving me one last kiss on the nose before darting out of the room onto her next mission. I stand there staring at myself as my dress is getting it's final touches repeating over and over, 'I am ready for this, I can do this, I am the future princess. Papa is so proud".
"Are you ready Miss. Ana?" Ember asks as she puts a tad more blush on my cheeks. Ember was my main maiden that had basically been a bigger sister to me growing up.
"As ready as I'll ever be" I say taking one last deep breath and pushing the tears I could cry for papa to the side.
We look at each other with grins on our faces knowing today is the day I finally step out of hiding.
"You're going to be a amazing princess." She says.
"I'm no princess yet." I say turning to check my hair one more time.
Ember turns me back around so I stop stressing over my appearance and says " you look amazing Ana, one will chose you and you will be the diamond. Wasn't Prince Nathan fond of you at one point?" She asks but is interrupted by my my mom.
"Ana!!" My mom screams letting me know it's time.
"Eeeeekkkkk!" Ember and I both scream jumping out of excitement. It is time to come out to society.
I walk down the stairs as my mom, brothers and sisters are watching.
"Wow" they all say as I come down the stairs.
"Remember to not settle Ana" my sister Sable says as she fixes my sleeves.
"No man can have your hand without brothers approval either" my brother Samuel says while walking towards me to give me a hug.
"I'm so proud of you Ana, you're going to make a fine diamond and a fine princess. Papa is looking down proud" He says with a grin holding the tears.
"I'm no princess. Yet." I say with a big smile. "Now wipe those tears brother, it is time to find me a husband" I say as we all head out of the house to our carriage.
I don't know if everyone is panicking as much as I am but if they are they're hiding it just as well. As we arrive to the Hampton Court Palace I start to lose the ability to breathe which happened often as a child but hadn't happened much since I went into hiding. It's what they call social anxiety where you fold under pressure at social events and this was the biggest event of my life. My hand starts to shake and my breathing gets short and suddenly my hearing goes out and all I can hear is my heart racing.
"Ana?" Samuel says but I don't hear him. He snaps his fingers to see if I snap out but all I can do is look down and rub my hands back and forth on my dress.
"I think Ana is having a panic attack!" He says starting to freak out as we are 4th in line to get out of our carriage.
"She hasn't had an episode since she was 10, it's impossible" my mom says in confusion. "Ana?" She says trying to get my attention.
Sable grabs my face cupping it so I look up, "Ana" she says in a stern voice. "Ana listen to me" she says as I look into my eyes. She can see the panic in my face seeing I'm about to cry.
"I'm-" I say trying to get the words out. "I'm trying to .. stop it" I say in between me trying to catch my breath.
She grabs my hand and puts it to her chest to where I can feel her heart and says "feel my heart and listen to my voice, you are about to go before the Queen of England and the entire society" she says with her stern voice, "you cannot fold now, we are 2 carriages away now and if you fold now you are done. No title, no marriage, no children, nothing. You need to snap out of it" she says snapping her finger right by my ear so it in a sense, shocks me. "Now, I need you to breathe in and hold it for a few seconds then release, ready?" She says as we breathe in together. "Say it with me, I can do this, I am the next princess" she says and we both repeat together 3 times until I can get through it without breathing heavy. The carriage door opens and my sister releases my hand. We step out and mother and I head inside to the room for debutants while my brother and sister head to the main room where the event is. I had been taught and bred to do this I can do this I remind my self as I might of stopped breathing heavy but my hand continued to shake. My hands cannot shake I have to be tall and proud and smooth with everything I do. I have to be confident and witty while remaining balanced and humble.
The royal family arrived, and the event starts so I stand in line waiting while my mom is next to me repeating all the information I've been taught over the years into my ear as the moment has truly come. This morning I had no nerves at all as I was certain I would be the next princess of England, but now that I stand here before society having to walk out into that room, I am unsure of my capabilities to get such a title. My time is near and my mom continues to repeat over and over the materia she thinks I'm retaining but I'm too focused on the fact my hand continues to shake, and my breath starts to shorten as the line does as well. Before I know it, there's only three girls in front of me and the closer I get it to the doors, when they open I can see how many people really are in the room and there's more people than I could've ever imagined. Walking into the debutante room I got enough odd looks as it is, considering no one has seen me in 6 years. I can't imagine the looks I'll get walking in to the ballroom with my name being announced, and everyone finally knowing that it's me, the last unwed heir of the Mikaelson line. I took after my father when it came to features getting blessed with beautiful olive skin and hazel eyes. Due to my father being African American I got curls that my mom learned how to take care of when she had my sister. My curls weren't as tight as everyone else's though, just tight beach waves almost that went down to right above my bust. Today I had my hair with half of it pinned back and two strands in the front to shape my face without making it too big as well as a crown on my head accented with the feathers. My makeup was to perfection and my eyes had just a slight bit of mascara to make my blue eyes pop and a gloss on my lips so they would shine when I smile. I remind myself of these things to remind myself I look as perfect as I can and that nothing else can go wrong.
Oh my lord, it's my turn. There's no more line ahead of me, only behind and it hits me as I stare at the closed doors that lead to my future, my fate, and my future husband. "You can do this" my mom whispers.
"Lady Anastasia Aurora Mikaelson, presented by the right honorable Lady Mikaelson, The Dowager of Duke Gerald Mikaelson" the announcer says.
It was almost immediately that I felt as if I lost the ability to breathe but a sudden feeling of confidence came over me as I saw the doors open so I took a deep breath, and smiled. I walk into the room with the queen at the far end of the room and all else of society surrounding the walk way. As I walk down I can feel the eyes on me but neither of those were Prince Francis or Nathan. As I approach the Queen that's when I see them standing to the side looking down when suddenly their attention shifts to their mother as she stands.
"Miss Anastasia" she says with a smile.
"Your majesty" I say going to neal before her before she stops me.
"Nonsense Ana" said the Queen as she lifts my face by my chin with her finger. "You my love, are my diamond" she says as she winks at me. "I have seen enough" she demands as she turns to leave and everyone gasps breaking their silence into whispers. My mind is flooded questioning how that's even possible with more girls needing to still come out and all I can think about is the whispers when my hand starts to shake while trying to maintain a smile. Suddenly I'm brought out of my head by a male voice.
"Ana- I mean... My apologies. Miss Anastasia, may I escort you outside to the party?" Prince Nathan asks as his brother turns walking out of the room.
I look to my mom who can hardly contain her excitement and look back at the Prince and say "I would be delighted".
He takes my hand as we walk through the room and everyone is jaw dropped and whispering in shock as I secured the diamond title and a prince's attention in less than 60 seconds.
"8 years did you fond" he says staring forward with a smirk.
"As it did you Sir Nathan" I say smirking as well. He hadn't changed a bit only getting taller and having muscles that i could see through his clothes which made me wonder how it looked without clothes. As we talk past the unseen debutants the anxiety flares due to the angry glares and comments as we walk. My hand starts shaking except the issue lies with my hand being within Prince Nathan's. The thought of him feeling my hand shake sends me into a spiral trying to hide it while it gets worse. My head floods with thoughts and my heart starts to race while my breath shortens. As we reach the doors at the end of of the hall I'm losing the ability to contain my composure and suddenly I feel Prince Nathan's eyes on me. He cannot see me like this I cannot let him see me like this. As we get outside the panic attack starts and in a state of distress I let go of Prince Nathan darting off to the left where no one could see me and start running away from the prince himself. What was I thinking? I couldn't think that was the problem. I round the corner and face the wall as I close my eyes trying to catch myself before I fall apart completely. The eyes and the whispers I can't do it, I can't do this. My hands shark uncontrollably to the point i felt as if there was no return. The tears fill my eyes and my lip quivers as fast as my hand. I take my shaky hands and put them to my chest applying pressure trying to breathe through it when suddenly I hear footsteps. It was the Prince. Damn it was the Prince.