The Seventh Prince

Chapter 13

Jack woke up early on the day of the princess's choosing. Or more accurately, he got out of bed as he had barely slept racked with nerves and excitement. He quietly began pacing around the room as their was nothing else to do until daylight when everyone in the castle awoke.

The choosing was a small event. It was held in the grand hall of the West Ostaria castle. Other than the royalty themselves only a few newspaper reporters were to be present. They would report back to the towns and then the festivities would began. The week leading up to the royal wedding and the unification would be filled with celebration. 

The princes were lined up in the middle of the hall. They shook hands with reporters and then the princesses arrived. They too stood side by side each wearing a long sparkly gown.

And so the ceremony began with King Henry and King Samson each giving a speech about the unity of the two countries through love and marriage. They talked about bringing stability to the island of Ostaria and an end to the wars. They talked for a brief moment about the sudden death of Princess Piper and explained the changes that were made to the wedding arrangements.

Then came the part everyone was waiting for. The princes had been instructed to keep an unmoved expression until they were chosen, if they were chosen. Then they would smile and greet their soon to be bride.

Faye gracefully stepped forward on cue and announced, "I choose Prince Edmund." This was expected and Edmund stepped out to meet Faye. The two moved off to the side of the hall to watch their brothers and sisters.

"I choose George," Nora announced. This was a shock to the reporters as they'd expected her to choose Oliver and they hastily looked to catch the kings and queens' approving reactions. But again, this was not surprise to anyone involved in the choosing.

Marie announced that she chose Oliver and confirming that the second eldest son would not be left without inheritance.

Daisy, in a quieter voice, said, "I choose William." The two met between the lines. As they walked away, Daisy nearly tripped on her dress. The court laughed kindly as William helped her regain her balance and the reporters began scribbling, believing this was the only drama they'd get.

But as Alice stepped out of the now short line, she hesitated. She couldn't look either Luke or Jack in the eye which led to her staring at Charlie between them, making the poor boy very confused. She smiled at his confusion and then shifted her vision left.

"I choose Luke."

The claps ensued as they had for all the others. To Luke, it felt like lifting bricks in his face to force himself to smile. He, as steadily as he could, moved his stone-like legs to bow before Alice, take her hand, and escort her to the other side of the room.

The other princesses smiled at Alice, giving her nods of approval. Her mother and father gave her looks that made her feel like she had made the right decision. Until she saw Jack.

Jack's face seemed to be in the same stoic state it had been for the past ten minutes. But Alice could see the tears he was fighting back. She could see that he was biting his lip. She could his fingernails digging into his arms folded behind his back. All this made her feel that she just really, seriously messed everything up.