Artificial Love

First Impression

I wake up refreshed ready to take on another day when thoughts of what appa told me popped up. The princes are arriving today since it's your birthday in eight months. Once a princess or prince turns 18, the twelve districts would send a prince or princess to the royal castle for a selection. This was a tradition that was passed down from decades ago, because this way both female and male heirs were able to take the crown. In my opinion this still isn't fair but I mean, at least it doesn't skip the female heirs anymore.

"Moonbyul, we have your dress ready for today. Is now the time for you to change into it?" my maid asks me as she lays out a sleeveless navy blue dress with a very detailed lace as the top layer. I nod before she helps me change into it, I slip my feet into a pair of black heels.

"Thank you." I whisper.

"Are you nervous?" She asks me while doing my makeup and hair.

"A bit, I mean wouldn't you be nervous if you were me Hana-ssi?"

"Ahh, but you get handsome princes courting you." Hana smiles sadly as she finishes up my hair, "You'll be picking them up today miss."

"Thank you, Hana. Don't worry you'll be able to find your prince charming soon." I smile and leave my room. I walk down the hall reminiscing the past I had with a friend, I hope he's coming. He is the prince of one of the richer districts in our kingdom hence the reason why we grew up together, but on his 12th birthday he was taken back to his family castle to get rigorous education so he can be king one day. I walk into the dining room and the strong aroma of pancakes hit me hard making me realise that I'm very hungry.

"Byul, come in and sit down. I have a few things that I need to discuss with you." Appa says while taking a sip of his coffee. "It's your birthday in eight months and I invited the twelve young princes to come live in the palace for you to get to know them better before your selection." I nod as I chew on the delicious pancakes that ahjumma made.

"I know appa, Hana already told me." He smiles a bit and chuckles.

"That girl, I told her not to tell you. Then I guess you already know that you'll be going to the airport to pick them up?"

"Ne, appa." I say as I finish up my breakfast, "When will they arrive today?"

"They will be here at around 3pm. I think you should leave at 1pm just in case some of them arrive early."

"Appa, I know. A princess should never be late." He gets up from his seat ready to leave as he's done his talk with me, "I love you appa, see you later." He kisses me on the cheek before he leaves to do his duties as a king. I decide to take a short stroll through the gardens since the newly planted flowers are just blooming and the soft scent of flowers blooming lingers throughout the garden, even in places that are just plain grass. Sitting down on a bench eomma used to always sit with me, I start to blurt stuff out to no one in particular.

"Ugh, why do I have to choose a guy for the selection? Why couldn't appa just choose one for me? This is such a struggle, how am I supposed to fall in love in eight months? I guess the only good thing I'll get from all this is seeing Suho again. I really hope appa invited Suho to join the selection even though he's two years older than me."

"Miss? Are you alright?" Asks one of the maids looking around trying to find out who I was talking to.

"I'm fine, thank you." She nods sheepishly before going back to work. I walk down the other side of the garden back into the castle for lunch.

"Unnie!!" I hear someone yelling across the hall and I turn my head to the direction of the person.

"Hana, is there something you need?" I asked her confused as to why she had to yell down the hall.