The Princess || AWARD WINNER ||

Chapter 17

"They are back!" Noah exclaimed.

The group of suitors and guards came through the doors. I ran to a familiar face. And threw my arms out to him. He embraced me. My head rested on his shoulder.

"Carter," I teared up a bit.

"Adeline I'm home," he said.

I felt many eyes on us so I slipped out of the hug.

"I-I should go welcome everyone else," I said.

He nodded.

His uniform that was once clean  and perfect now was dirty and ripped. I walked away to the everyone else.

"Aiden how are you?" I asked.

"How am I?" He asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Well I'm exhausted. I'm safe now. And I'm happy to see you," he said.

"I'm glad you're okay now," I said.

He smiled. His blue sapphire eyes looked at me tenderly.

"The rebels said they were granting us freedom. They were "setting us free" but we discussed that we wanted to be here. So when the guards came they let us go. They just let us go. I don't understand," he said.

"Aiden..." I started. But I wasn't sure what I was going to say.

His hand reached to my face to wipe a tear away.

I met with everyone else. And each interaction was similar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner Luca asked to talk to me.

"Princess thank you for everything but I can't stay here," he said.

"I understand. My husband would have to deal with the rebels all the time. And you can't do that," I said.

And like that we were down to 15 guys.

I made preparations for Luca to leave and he left within a few hours.

I went back to my room like a hermit crab. And I rolled into a ball. A knock came at the door. I didn't say a word. The door pushed open. I turned my head to see who it was. He sat down on my bed.

"How are you holding up?" Noah asked.

"I'm not," I whispered.

He laid down next to me. Our shoulders touched.

"Just like when we were kids," I whispered.

Noah and I used to lay down like this as kids.

"How do you feel?" He asked.

"Noah it's my fault all those people died," I said.

"No, they decided to be here," he replied firmly.

"But they were here for me," I protested. "So it's my fault. It's like the world has fallen on my shoulders."

"I know what you mean," he said. "And there's going to be a funeral tomorrow for the fallen."

"I don't know if I can do it anymore," I said.

"Adeline—," he said.

"Stop. I don't know if I can go through with this. This whole thing. The competition. The engagement. The marriage. All of this is so difficult," I raised my voice. "By the angel I'm going crazy with everything."

"Adeline we all know this is difficult. The marriage, the competition, becoming queen... but we can help you. One step at a time," he said gently.

"I'm tempted to send everyone home and cancel the selection. Or put it on hold so...no more dates until I feel ready," I replied.

"Adeline think this through," Noah said.

"I... I don't know what to do," I confessed.

A knock came at the door.