The Selection

★─── ⋆⋅ ★CHAPTER-2★ ⋅⋆ ───★

Damin's P.O.V.
The day had been long—another series of meetings, speeches, and endless talks about the selection. My father's voice echoed in my head, going on and on about how important it was for me to choose a bride. It wasn't that I didn't understand the importance of it; I just didn't care for the circus that came with it. Every eligible princess from the surrounding kingdoms would be arriving soon, all of them hoping to win the crown. It felt more like a game than something real.

Sighing, I loosened the stiff collar of my royal jacket as I walked down the corridors. My thoughts drifted back to the girl I'd bumped into earlier. Isabel, the new head chef. She was... different. Not just in the sense that she wasn't one of the girls in the selection. She had this refreshing air about her. No forced politeness, no fake smiles, just... real. And she was pretty—*really* pretty.I couldn't help but smile, thinking back to the way her wide brown eyes had looked up at me, startled and embarrassed. Her dark hair had been slightly tousled, and there was this natural beauty to her that was so... unpolished. Not like the princesses who would soon be swarming the palace, perfectly styled, rehearsed, and polished to perfection.But it wasn't just her looks that had caught my attention. It was the way she'd reacted to me—unsure, flustered, but not overawed. She wasn't pretending to be anything other than who she was. That was rare in the world I lived in.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. *Focus, Damin,* I reminded myself. I couldn't get distracted by someone who wasn't even part of the selection. The whole point of this was to find a bride, not daydream about a chef.Still, the thought lingered.

Without giving it much thought, I grabbed my jacket and headed for the garage, where my bike sat. It was one of the few things that made me feel free. I loved the sensation of the wind against my face, the roar of the engine beneath me. On nights like this, I needed that escape.

As I rode through the quiet streets, the world around me blurred into a series of shadows and lights. The fresh air cooled my mind, helping me push away the burden of the selection. Just for a moment, it was me, the bike, and the open road.

I didn't have a destination in mind, but as I passed the castle's side entrance, something caught my eye. There, standing by the iron gate, was Isabel. She was still in her chef's uniform, her dark hair slightly disheveled from what I guessed was a long day of work.

I slowed down and pulled over, watching her from a distance. She looked deep in thought, her arms folded as she stared up at the night sky. There was something about her—the way she carried herself, the natural ease she had—that I found hard to ignore.

On an impulse, I turned off the engine and walked over to her."Out for a late-night stroll?" I asked, startling her a bit.

She turned to me, her wide brown eyes blinking in surprise. "Oh, Your Highness," she said, quickly standing upright. "I didn't see you there."

"You don't have to be so formal, Isabel," I said with a small smile. "It's just me tonight."

She relaxed a little, her expression softening. "I was just getting some air after my shift. The kitchens can be... intense."

"I get that," I replied. "Sometimes I need to get away too. In fact—" I gestured toward my bike. "That's what I'm doing now."