My father's Princess

Chapter 13

Elijah stared at the ground looking defeated and embarrassed. "I can't believe she said no. The freeken princess said yes to you and I can't even get a humble girl from marshland!"
"Yes, but I knew the princess for more than an hour." I said with a chuckle. Eli sighed, "Ya I know it's just." Eli paused for a moment, "I think she's the one man, and I'm not giving until she's in my arms."
"Ok. Seriously dude. One hour. You don't even know her last name. Your just feeling rejected. Come on let's go back to the dorm."
Elijah still looked depressed but reluctantly followed, staring down the ground as we walked away.

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"Seriously?" Baylee asked in disbelief. "I know right! I know I'm attractive but only one hour and this guy asks me to be his! I almost fainted right there. I can't wait to call my uncle later and tell him about this loser." We laughed as we continued to talk about the day's events. When the laughing died down I heard footsteps coming to the door. "Quick! Selena, get in the closet!" Selena was confused and hesitant but obeyed my order. Baylee closed the closet door just as my mom walked in. "Hey sweetheart." That's weird. She didn't seem mad, or irritated, or even like she was here to yell at me once again. And that could only mean one thing. "What do you want?"
"I'm shocked that you think the only reason I'm being nice to you is because I want something. Yet very relieved because now we don't have to waste time pretending that I don't. Anyway you need to start dating." My jaw almost dropped to the floor. "And I know what your thinking," I seriously doubted that. "Oh but dear mother! How could anyone love such a hideous face and dumb personality like mine? Well sweetheart, first of all, we already picked someone out, prince Lucas, and second, of course you will have someone to tend to your beastly hair and ugly face. Someone who actually knows what they are doing unlike your current maid. I honestly don't understand why Damian insists on keeping her." Baylee, who mom either didn't notice or didn't care about her presence, looked down at the floor as she pretended to be busy folding laundry. I knew we were both hurt. "No."
"Excuse me?"
"No. No, I will not date some snobbish prince just because you tell me to. No, I don't think you know what I'm thinking. No, I don't need your beauty advice. And no, you can't find a better maid than Baylee." I saw a faint smile appear on Baylee's face. " I don't care what your thinking! Your going to do what I say because I am your mother and you need to do something for this country other than just galloping around the dumb stables. Sheavesland has wanted to take over the whole world since the attack of Unika. And after marshland, we need an alliance with them more than ever. And what better than to have their son marry you. Plus, you will finally leave this castle and no longer be a threat to my daughters. So you will listen to me whether you want to or not." A thousand thoughts ran through me mind, but I could only focus on one. Of course I wanted to fight back at all the things she had said to me. Of course I wanted to argue more. But all I could think about was marshland. "I didn't know marshland was attacked."
"Yes, just earlier today. The population size was cut in half and the King and queen still won't give power to sheavesland. They would rather die and take their people with them than give them power. Hardly any farming land is left so their main income from trade is nothing more than a few grains of salt. They are going to ruin that poor country. Everyone knows sheavesland has the best army."
She continued to talk but my mind was on Selene. She must want to sob, but she's the type of person who wouldn't blow our cover even when she just discovered her favorite uncle is probably dead. "Wow I had no idea," I said shaking my head after my mom finished. "I guess this is really serious. Ok tell me when and I'll go on as many dates as it takes to keep us safe." I know my mom is a jerk but I would still feel a tinge of guilt and sadness if she died. However if I let Baylee, Cooper, and my real siblings die, well I don't think I could live with that. My mom, finally satisfied, left the room, and Selene came out, letting the flood gates open. Baylee came over and we comforted her together. "Maybe he's not dead. Mom only said most farms where gone. There is still a few left."
"A few? Only a few! What are his chances? He didn't have me there to protect him, and I let him down! He owned one of the biggest farms in marshland of course he was attacked!" My most strong, optimistic friend was gone, and in her place was a weak and hurt girl, sobbing on my bed. "Maybe he got attacked, but maybe he survived. Maybe he wasn't home at the time. You should try to call him."
"Your right Baylee, I should." Selene wiped away her tears and whipped out her phone. Ring-ring-ring. Ring-ring-ring. By the tenth ring the answering machine kicked. Selene paced the room and called his cell phone and his home phone several time before finally giving up and once again laying down on the bed, devoured by sadness. After an hour of crying selene finally started to talk again. "Maybe I should call my mom. Just to make sure she knows."
We listened intently to the half of the conversation we could hear.
"Yes I'm safe. N-no, he didn't. Because I'm in Ronadalland visiting Annabelle." Her voice turned from sad to angry, though I couldn't tell if it was at herself or her mom. "I didn't plan on sheavesland attacking! It's not something you plan! I can't believe your blaming this all on me, just like you always do! Whatever. Yes. I'll be there."
Selene threw her phone across the room and the screen shattered. "Of course she blames me. Why wouldn't she? After all I can't do anything right." Selene let a few more tears slide down her cheek. "I'm going to go back to marshland tomorrow, but I'll be back I promise."
"Take as long as you need."
"Where will you stay now that your house is gone. I mean not to snoop but it sounds like your mom still isn't on your side."
"I don't know Baylee. I'll probably just wonder the streets and mom nor dad wouldn't care." Suddenly an idea came to my mind.
"Stay here! I mean go back for the funeral, but then come live with us."
"How? Your already hiding me now. I couldn't ask to hide in your room for the rest of my life."
"Well mom always thought you were awesome. Plus I know she'll do whatever it takes to make sure I don't blow these dates. You might have to work in the kitchen or something but I'm sure mom wouldn't completely mind."
"Oh Annabelle I don't even know what I'd do without you." Selene wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tightly. "But that brings us back to the subject of dating that snobbish war crazy prince. What about Cooper?" Selene was right what about Cooper. I'd been dating him for over six months and I couldn't bear what I was about to do, but I had no choice.