between us | klaroline (book 1)

Chapter 1: For The Future + Characters

Candice Accola - Princess Amanda Wentworth

Joseph Morgan- Prince Charlie Hillington

Matthew Daddario- Prince Damien O'hare

Meryl Streep- Queen Adelide Wentworth

Victor Garbar- King Samuel Wentworth

Margot Robbie- Lady Alissa Wentworth

Ashley Benson- Lady Melissa Pinning

-Amanda's POV-

The carriage rattles back and forth as I sit inside wearing my blue floral gown for the gala ball. Mother, the queen informed me of many bachelors that were going to be attending tonight. In hopes of me finding a boyfriend. You see, my mother is very straight about wanting me to find a good man but recently she's been very forward about it. I'm not sure why, as i'm only 25 years old. I'm still very young and have a lot of time before I need to settle down.

I looked around outside while the carriage pulled along the gravel road towards the castle from the extra house. I sat, with my legs together neatly and hands placed on my lap like I had learned as a child. Mother's 'royal teacher' as she called it, taught me. I smiled at the fond memories of the days when I was just a 14 year old girl, roaming around the castle. I now had several duties, including helping the king with business. My father with business.

The carriage came to a halt and I heard the carriage man jump from the top of the seats above, down on the ground. He stood up straight with a poker-like-face and opened up the carriage door, holding a hand out for me to grab and get out formally. I nodded my head to say thank you and stepped out of the carriage, I then gracefully walked through the open palace doors with my hands held together. Looking around, I saw maids and other workers cleaning, setting up and organizing for tonight's gala ball.

"Princess." My mother's personal assistant and Curator to the queen greeted me at the grand staircase in the palace. I held out a hand for her to shake and took it back with a smile when she finished shaking it with her cold hand. "Yes?" I asked her politely. It was busy in the palace today, making everything not so silent. It usually is silent, which I don't quite like.

"Her majesty, the queen has asked you to meet her in her office for some tea and to chat before the gala ball." She informed me. I nodded at her. "Ah yes, thank you." My mother's assistant guided me up the staircase slowly as I held my gown with one hand and another on the right railing. Once we reached the top, I followed her down the right hallway to my mother's office and she knocked softly at the wooden door. "Come in." I heard my mother's formal voice say. Anita, her personal assistant, opened the door and let me go on through. I nodded my head at her and went to go kiss my mother's cheek.

Anita closed the door behind her and mother and I sat in her office on the beautiful couches with one of the maids standing at the back of the room to help us if we needed. "Amanda. How are you my love?" My mother looked at me, setting down papers she was holding and removing her eyeglasses. "I am well mother, thank you. Yourself?" I answered, sitting with my legs together and hands precisely rested upon my knees.

"I am lovely. Alright, as you know..." She began, "Since you're getting older now, you will need to find a husband soon." I nodded, listening. "The issue is that, all of the bachelor's  we have chosen for you are unfortunately taken. So we have come up with a solution. Two prince's from England are coming here tonight at the royal gala ball. You'll need to meet them and chose within this year who you are to marry."

I gulped softly at the news, realizing I was going to have to meet two men today and one of them I was to marry. "Mother this is rather abrupt news...." I hesitated, looking at her with a bit of confusion at the pressure she was setting upon my shoulders.

"Yes Amanda but the fact is that, you're getting older now and it's frowned upon to not be married at your age. Embarrassing." My mother said strictly. "Don't worry too much about it. We've all had to get married at some point. These two men are lovely and dashing young prince's." She smiled and with her glowing teeth at me.

I nodded, understanding. "What are their names mother?" I questioned her as she set on her glasses again and placed her papers in her lap.

"Damien O'hare and Charlie Hillington."