𝒯𝐻𝐸 𝐿𝒪𝒩𝐸𝐿𝐼𝐸𝒮𝒯 || a selection roleplay (closed)

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     "shhh! shh! he's coming! everyone hide!"

     the prince was never one for parties. especially thrown for him. his parents told him he would have to get used to it, for when he becomes king nearly every party, ball, and festival would be held in his honor. he just wasn't sure. the idea never sat right with him. thankfully, his parents told him they would not be throwing a huge party for his seventeenth birthday. his footsteps echoed down the hall, the soft tap of his shoes as he entered the meeting room to grab some papers his father had apparently left for him. he opened the door and flicked on the light.

     "surprise!"
     "happy birthday!"
     "gotcha!" a chorus of cheers and surprises rang out, causing the prince to jump back, eyes wide. in the center of the large meeting table, a two-layered strawberry cake, thick chocolate frosting smeared over it sat. just to the left, a handful of presents, decorated with the shiniest wrapping and nearest bows. the room contained about fifteen people. his family and closest friends. his parents, the king and queen, entered the room behind him. the golden-haired boy turned around,

"i thought you guys said you weren't throwing a party?" he frowned.

the queen only smiled. she knew her son could be a little timid. "well, correct and incorrect. we did say we weren't throwing a party. more specifically, we said we weren't throwing a huge party. besides all that, we didn't throw this party." she pushed on his shoulder to turn him back around, where angelina approached him. her straight, dark hair brushed just to the base of her neck. bright eyes, freckles, and the most beautiful smile. in the prince's eyes, she was perfect. he smiled and took her hands. the party was suddenly so much more enjoyable. especially knowing that angelina had set it up. he was so in love with her. and she was him. most people said that it was puppy love. they would never make it. after all, it was february fourteenth. the prince had just barely turned seventeen. angelina would follow a few months after. how could they even know what love, true love, was?

     "you set this up?" he asked, a raise of his brow and the corner of his lip quirking up.

     "i did! i know you're not fond of parties, but let me at least throw this one for you?" she batted her eyelashes. the prince would do anything for her.

     "of course. this is perfect. is that a strawberry cake?" he took angelina's hand and pulled her over, who nodded enthusiastically.

     "my father and i made it." angelina's father. it was how the couple had met. the captain of the guard who had fallen in love with the queen's head maid. angelina and the prince were best friends when they were younger. it only blossomed into pure, glowing love. the prince pulled her in and kissed her temple.

     "i love it so much." he could not have asked for a better birthday celebration. he leaned down to her ear, just to whisper the few words that said a million things. the few words that no one believed existed for them. "i love you more, though."

     angelina giggled, before taking his hands again. "let's party!" music started, people talked. it was incredible. this was all he wanted. to be happy, to live a life where it could be as simple as this at time. until midnight they danced and laughed and ate. well, everyone else did. most people had already turned in for the night. namely his family. his sister, cousins, and friends then busted out the drinks. those who remained were too drunk to notice the prince and angelica slipping away, with hushed whispers and wide grins on their faces.

•••

"shh! we're going to get caught!" angelica whispered, another bubbling laugh pouring out of her lips.

"so? we're not doing anything bad!" the prince argued. the two sat in his room, a single lamp on, filling a small space on his bed with warm light.

"yeah but there's people sleeping! need i remind you that your parents are in the room right there?" she pointed to the wall across the room. "and mine are across the hall! you know how my mom gets when she's grumpy!"

"angie, like i said, we're not doing anything bad! everyone has had moments like this. you don't think your parents have ever snuck away from their actual duties to go to either of their rooms?" he raised his eyebrows, asking her to argue with him. angelica sighed in defeat.

"no."

"right. we'll be fine, trust me!" he leaned in, wiggling his brows playfully. "now, i believe it's your turn?"

she smiled and nodded. "draw two." a slap of a card hit the deck. "we're doing house rules? you can stack? right? draw two, draw two, draw two, draw two, uno! and three." she set her last card down, throwing her hands in the air and making a quiet explosion sound. "how have you not learned that i am the champion at this game? i beat you every time!"

the prince just watched, mouth popping open. he groaned and shook his head. "someday i'll knock you off your pedestal." he laughed and threw his cards down. "very humble, i see. one of the reasons why i love you," he teased. but he did. he loved her so much. she was his best friend, his girlfriend, his soulmate. he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. be his queen, have a family. do it all. he looked at the time. two in the morning. he sighed and stood, and angelina knew what that meant. "i'll walk you back to your room." he took her hand and led her out, down the flight of stairs to the halls of rooms below. he opened the first door on the left. angelina slowly stepped in.

"i'll see you tomorrow," she whispered before leaning forward to kiss him. "good night." the door softly clicked shut behind her. the prince stood there for a moment, before going back to his room and turning in for the night.