Lost & Found

Prologue

I glided down the stair case, as I do at the start of every party. Everyone bowed, as they do every day. My butler took my hand at the end of the staircase, as he does every time. He smiled warmly, told me I looked beautiful, and let me continue to my parents. My parents stayed silent, as always. I cleared my voice, addressing the room, and told them to continue to dance. As soon as they did, my father looked over at me, "have you picked a suitor yet?"

I rolled my eyes, picking up a glass of wine, "no, I haven't."

My mother stayed silent, letting my father handle everything. Surprise, surprise.

"Lena, you're almost twenty three. Your mother and I aren't getting any younger."

I nodded, "yeah. Got that from yesterday's speech. Thanks, dad."

He sighed, "where did we go wrong, Selene?" He asked looking over at my mother.

Ouch. "I'm gonna go greet our guests, bye father, mother." I bowed my head and walked onto the dance floor.

A suitor. God, it just sounds weird. Remind me again why my country won't let a single woman reign?

Honestly, I haven't looked at all of the suitors, but in my defense the few I did look at, looked self entitled and sexist. Definitely not the type of people I wanted to rule my country.

I didn't really want any man to rule my country. I mean, I had grown up here. I knew the problems we faced, and how to fix them. If a man was put in charge, I'd have to play the silent wife.

"Princess?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at the man standing in front of me. He was tall and muscular, and had his black hair slicked back. He was incredibly handsome.

"Yes?"

He bowed, "Prince Leo, from the Derish Lands."

I curtsied, smiling at him. "Princess Lena, welcome."

"Your father invited me, told me you couldn't decide on a suitor."

He was a suitor. Of course he was.

"Prince Liam, was it?" Acting like you forgot their name is the easiest way to show you're not interested. "I'm just keeping things low-key for now."

"So you do have a suitor picked?"

"Yes," I lied. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'm feeling a bit ill. I should head upstairs," I bowed my head at him, before turning around and rushing upstairs, right past my parents.

I couldn't do this. This whole, "silent wife" thing. I mean, c'mon, what century are we in?

I changed out of my gown and put on a pair of jeans and a loose shirt. I zipped up my riding boots, and decided.

I was done with this whole princess thing.