The Choosing

Chapter 1

The rose gardens smelled as fresh as they have all year long. Here in Rosemarsh the weather barely changes, it’s always the right climate to grow beautiful rose gardens. The castle is like a big circle, and in the middle is a huge garden. I spend a lot of my time in the gardens, enjoying them while I can. I look over to my right and I can’t help the small smile that forms on my lips when my eyes lock with Alec’s. Alec has been a guard at the castle since he was 16. He turns 18 in a few months. The moment we met I knew we were going to be really close, I just never imagined how in love we would be. But, me being the princess, my hand is already promised to someone else, the only problem is; he hasn’t been chosen yet.

“Ophelia you can’t keep staring at me, someone will notice,” Alec chuckles. I quickly advert my eyes and feel my cheeks heating up.

“I know, but I can’t help it. You’re just so cute.” I say in a hushed tone. After a few moments of silence Alec finally says something.

“You’re turning 16 in just a few days,” he doesn’t say it in a celebratory tone, but in a solemn one.

“I know, I don’t want to talk about it, let’s just enjoy this walk.” I watch my feet as I walk.

“You never want to talk about it, we need to though.” When I don’t say anything, he continues, “please Lia, you’ll be leaving soon, and I will be left here.”

“We will talk about it, just not right now, I want to enjoy this moment.” No one said anything after that, we just walked side by side, with a few feet between us.

When the walk ends we go our separate ways, Alec heads towards the barracks and I head to my chambers to clean up for dinner. My maids are brushing my hair and touching up my make up, so I let my mind wonder. I imagine myself as one of the maids so I could be with a guard and it would be easy, like it’s supposed to be. But as my maids gesture for me to stand up so they could dress me, I focus back on reality and how I can never actually be with Alec the way I want to, no matter what. It’s my duty to marry who my parents choose and that’s that.

I slouch during my walk to the dining hall, but once I get to the doors I quickly straighten my back and pull my shoulders back. My head held high, I walk through the doors, the room falls silent and I know they were talking about the choosing. I get to my seat and sit down, smiling at the guests we are hosting this week. I look at my mother who just gives me an innocent smile. I would never speak out about my loathing over the choosing because it is what I was born for. As the princess of Rosemarsh, I have to do what’s right for our Kingdoms. We have six kingdoms that are at peace; Etheria, Silverbank, Osthurst, Eastley, Ashburrow, and Rosemarsh. There are a few Kingdoms that When a princess turns 16 the choosing starts. Each kingdom that is interested in marrying their son to the princess sends a gift, usually pretty lavish, then the princesses family holds a party for each interested kingdom so the princess and prince can become acquainted. Then after each party is done, the princess and her parents must choose the prince the princess will marry. Then within a week the princess is basically shipped off to that kingdom to live for the rest of her life. Although most princesses don’t get married to princes. They will get married to men of high standing. If you are the heir to the throne you are expected to marry a princess, but if you are second or third in line, you can also marry women of high standing.

That is what I was born to do. Get married to some man and leave my precious kingdom behind. I won’t be guaranteed a prince, but I honestly don’t care. Either way I won’t love the man I’m married to, it’s that simple. I finish my meal as soon as possible and as soon as it is acceptable I make my way back to my chamber. I dismiss my maids and start my own bath. I want to be alone tonight, I don’t want to think about the choosing too much but I can’t seem to think about anything else. I open the balcony doors in my bathroom and light some candles. Before I can start taking out my hair there is a knock on my door. I don’t rush to answer it because I forgot that my maids weren’t here. But I make my way to the door and open it, revealing my parents. I smile and welcome them in even though every ounce of me wants to tell them to go away because I know what they are here to talk about.