A Grand Celebration

Chapter 2

Lucian's POV

"... Luc, don't be so pessimist. It'll be fun; you'll see," Cordelia tried to assure me. It was the last dinner I would have with just my family and they were ruining it by talking about my Grand Celebration. I chewed the fillet slowly to give myself time to think out my next words.

"Cordelia, you were lucky that you already loved Lionel when he entered the Celebration. All the people I know outside of the Royal Family were at Cambridge, and people from London aren't allowed to join in Aedorynnian affairs," I said as I rolled my eyes. It was a little irritating. I'd lived in the palace my whole life except for a brief two years where I attended Cambridge, but I had to come back when my father died.

"Give it a chance, Luc. You might be surprised," my brother, Alastair chimed in. Al took the crown after our father passed, but he was having medical issues of his own. He was using my Grand Celebration to take some of the attention off of him for a little while. His wife, Queen Joanna reached over and held his hand in hers as they smiled at each other. I thought I was going to hurl.

"Yeah, we'll see," I said, unconvinced.

After dinner, I changed into one of my personally tailored suits and went to the news studio in the North Wing of the palace. I had to talk with Eleri Levene about my Grand Celebration. Eleri had been with our family for a few generations now. He covered anything that had to do with the Royal Family. I remember seeing him interview my father when I was a boy. He had a slimming face and his hair was completely white, but he still had some pep in his step. I sat in the interview chair patiently as the makeup team swooped in and went to work. After Eleri got in place, the camera's switched on and we got down to business.

"... Prince Lucian, how are you feeling about your upcoming Grand Celebration?" he asked. I smiled, like I'd been trained to do, and looked right at him.

"To be honest, I'm a little nervous... but excited. This is a big deal and can determine the rest of my life, but I hear it's going to be a blast," I said, lightheartedly. Leery smiled back at me as he nodded thoughtfully.

"I see how your emotions can be conflicting. Do you know any of the ladies attending?" he followed up. I shook my head slightly.

"No, but that's what makes this so interesting and nerve-wrecking. I'll be starting from scratch and I only have a year to chose a bride out of 12 ladies," I explained. Eleri looked a little confused.

"12? I thought there were 13 ladies?" Eleri said. I put the easy smile back on my face.

"We had a mix up with one of the ladies. It turns out, she's not of age yet," I explained. Eleri nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, she's missing out. Any words for the ladies who will be here tomorrow?" Eleri asked, redirecting the conversation expertly. I nodded once before I widened my smile and faced the camera.

"To all the ladies, coming to join in the Celebration tomorrow, I just want to say: I can't wait to meet all of you, and good luck," I said. Eleri signed off before the camera shut off and I sighed.

"How are you really, Lucian?" Eleri asked. I shrugged.

"I'll let you know when it all begins," I replied. I quickly went to my room to get some rest before all the craziness begun. I sighed as I plopped down on my bed. My butler, Mark started bustling around the room. There was a knock on my door not even a second after I sat down. The tablet next to the door announced that it was my bodyguard and best fried, Cyril Bailey. Cyril and I had been friends since we were kids. His mother was a servant for us when she was alive and now he was the only friend I had in this Palace. Mark opened the door for him and he smirked at me.

"And the bachelor lives," he joked. We wrestled on the ground for a moment until I gave up laughing.

"It's not funny, Cy. All these proper and elegant ladies who are just here to be apart of Royalty. It's a stupid idea," I said as I moved to sit on my black leather couch.

"Oh come on, they'll be easy. They'll do pretty much anything, and everything is already planned for you. All you have to do is show up and flirt a little. Are you telling me you can't do that, Luc?" Cyril asked as he plopped down next to me.

"Help me out here, Cy," I begged. He chuckled and leaned back against the couch.

"I'll do what I can, but there's only so much I can do. You know we have training every other day," he said. I shrugged.

"Yeah I know... can you just watch them as much as you can. Let me know anything interesting," I asked. Cyril rolled his eyes.

"I'm not a babysitter, Luc... but if I see anything I'll let you know," Cyril agreed. I smiled, feeling better already. I knew Cyril would have my back. That was one thing I could always rely on. Cyril and I were like brothers, only better because we chose to stick up for each other. I loved my family, but I was closer to Cyril than all of them. Cyril even went to Cambridge with me.

"Good to be back," I said sarcastically.

"You'll probably have more fun than you think," Cyril said. Everyone seemed to be saying that lately and I didn't get it. There was nothing fun about having a house full of pretentious ladies who are all fighting for a higher title.

"We'll see," I sighed. Hopefully they wouldn't all be boring and proper.