The Worthy

Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Get Set...

James
THE CAMERAMAN GAVE A THUMB up signaling it's a wrap and the live cameras went off. Our studio audience-- some of my parents' friends and acquaintances and such --quietly stood up and retreated to the lobby or to wherever they may go. I, alas, immediately slouched from my awfully aching straightened back.

The king and queen exited the backstage, my brothers and I following tensely behind, and so were a couple of officers, one woman and a man. Oddly, I haven't seen this couple in the recent times, but they might be together for a longer period than guarding the palace.

Our family train has put into an abrupt stop; I almost collided with my father in front of me (and that would be such a 'disgrace,' mother would say.) What was two bodyguards became a larger group of seven, surrounding the five of us. Ahead were the massive ivy doors, to which two men pushed the heavy handles out to the Grand Foyer. I couldn't call it 'a lot', but there were a handful of antsy reporters and newspersons waiting for an interesting topic to fill up their tabloids.

Slowly, we started to move past the crowd with the help of our security officials. Various questions were hanging in the air:

"What are your other plans for the upcoming competition?"

"Are you excited, your Majesties?"

"How would you prepare your challenging course?"

"My Princes! Do you have any ideal Worthy sweetheart?"

"Yeah! What would she be like?"

"Regardless of her parcel!"

I was very well aware they were asking us, or better yet, me. I had inhaled to speak, to describe all her features, looks and personality, beautiful or flawed. How you couldn't resist smiling when she smiles or laughs, how she doesn't usually notice every detail in the world, but hey, she's not careless. She simply doesn't want to see the flaws of this wrecked society.

My breath heaved as a hand pushed my back, along with a low mutter of "not now." It was Harry, whose eyes I caught distant in the media crowd.

We continued walking, pushing through the mass.

Security held back the reporters who were trying to follow us to the grand staircase. When we reached the Royal halls, the two officers left us on our own. We parted to our perspective businesses--Father and Red to the office, mom and Harry off to their rooms, and there's young James, left standing alone in the darkly lit hallway.

Is this what it's like? After a historic event, we'll just pretend it didn't even happen? I'd understand about father and mother, but what about my brothers?

I took a deep breath to relax my mind from oozing blood from dizziness right there. I decided to watch TV like I always do after a stressful day.

The eerie hallway stayed scarily silent but I couldn't seem to care. Twist and turns until I sighted a familiar remote control. I took it into my sweaty palms. No one was around, as usual, making it better in my case. I turned the television on.

"For tonight's hottest news, the princes' had their very first appearance in media history. Years building up higher and higher until our majesties finally decided to quiet down all our rumors. For more details we have Quincy Lottie over on Bellevoir. Quin?"

My ears perked up on the word 'Bellevoir'.

"Yes, indeed the princes brought a monstrous amount of excitement and commotion to all the young ladies here in Bellevoir. And imagine in all of New Orient! I've interviewed a few locals here on their reaction to this historic event! These are their reactions."

Dozens of girls were interviewed and none of them is the one I was hoping to see and hear from. Leaving me in an even crappier mood. After that, I sadly turned off the TV.

In this rare case, I was still stressed out. I then decided to go horseback riding, whether they let me or not. If this can't relax my mind, I don't know what could.

****

Waking up at 0400 AM isn't my thing.

Butlers milled the room, preparing my bath, my food, my suit. After my hair was set, I picked up the envelope at the desk.

Agenda for the day: stay and help Father on the registration forms. Fun, right?

I was finally alone. I sat on the bed, deciding how I could escape this...job. It's not really a job that you can just pick, in this one you don't even have a choice.

Ten minutes passed I had the urge to get up and walk into my dad's office. Wait, maybe I can do it again. Get a cloak and run. Hop on a carriage and off to Bellevoir.

'No,' my father would say, 'your place is here, in the heart of Mayberry. Ruling Azalea. You cannot escape this.'

Eerily, the last four words echoed in my mind.

Despite of this, I pushed myself, and entered my father's office. Harry and Rafael were already there. None of them wore stern faces regarding my late appearance. No one spoke, so I sat on one of the desks, and buckled up on this task I have been taught multiple times before.

----

Kill. Me. Now.

Seconds turning into minutes, minutes turning to hours of hearing the gentle but increasingly annoying scratches of exclusive pens for the last five hours. It was currently quarter past twelve. The remaining fifteen minutes until lunch is ticking too slow for my liking.

I wanted to scream into the voiceless silence. It took everything in me not to. I am a major disappointment in the sight of my father, there is no point in disappointing him any further. The only perfection he sees is Red. The eldest. The bravest. The strongest. The wisest. The best of us three. Raphael Dmitri Sherlock.

A few seconds of jealously until, and finally, something surprising and out of the blue occurred for once.

Like a trigger.

"My majesties, King Vincent and Prince Benjamin, the Queen has given strict and urgent information to inform you on the slight changes on The Worthy." The new servant, said right after knocking furiously.

Yup, he's new all right.

"Well, spill it out!" My father said impatiently. A hint of annoyance in the command. I could see the servant gulp in fear, but nonetheless he straighten his posture and recited.

"Her Majesty has appointed the Address to be broadcast nationwide that registrations will be held today. And tomorrow by noon sharp will be the announcement of the thirty chosen contestants."

Oh gosh.

Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow? The question I was more eager to know its answer is: Why had to hurry so much? We were only working on the preparations, the entourage, the main course, the weekly challenges and so forth. How about those? Oh gosh.

Whoever does not get the sudden message today will miss the chance of the lifetime.

Tick-tock, tick-tock. The clock mocks me as if seconds are left till I will have a ring on my finger. Tick-tock! Betrothed to a complete stranger. Forever till the end of my time.

As horror struck my entire body, my father was the utter and complete opposite.

"Good," four letters. One syllable. One word. This word can change your mood and let your body be consumed with anxiety, stress and fright.

"Tell all my sons to dismiss all their activities and agendas for today till tomorrow dusk. Let the Worthy begin." father said.

My fate and future has begun at the exact same time too.

-----------
Author's Note:
Please Vote. Comment. Share!
- xoxo