The Selection [s.m & c.c]

the beginning of the end?

Camila woke up seven minutes before her clock was supposed to ring. She stared at the ceiling, enjoying the last few moments, before she would be surrounded by people for the rest of the day. Being a royal wasn't easy, and Camila hardly enjoyed it. She was 17, and the next in line to be Queen of the country. It was not something that Camila took lightly, and it was an enormous weight on her shoulders. Because it was not just any country. Antopia had been the biggest and most powerful country in the world for several centuries, and being that country's next queen, was a lot of pressure on Camila.

She soon after heard her alarm ring, and the minute it did, her door burst open, and four maids came rushing in. One held a makeup kit in her hands, a second with hair supplies, a third with her dress and a fourth with breakfast. It was a special day for Camila. She was turning 17. There was only a year until her 18th birthday. That meant she would now have 365 days, to train herself to become a queen. She would also have 365 days, to find herself a husband, and a prince consort. Being the eldest of three children, Camila was supposed to be Queen, and be the leader of the country. Whoever she were to marry, would not be a king, because no one had a higher status than her. It terrified Camila.

It was March 3rd, and it was not only the day Camila turned 17, but the day where she would meet twelve different boys. Twelve different options, for Camila. The brunette was hardly prepared, and she hated the thought of choosing between different people. Or well, she hated meeting different people.
"Ouch." Camila whispered, as she felt a bobby pen being pinned into her scalp. The top bits of her hair was placed up, while the long parts were being curled, as they fell perfectly down her back.

"Your Highness?" One of the maids asked. Camila raised a brow. She tried to remember her maid's name. Adrianna she thought. Camila could remember.

"Yes, Miss Adrianna?" Camila replied. The maid blushed a bit, by hearing that Camila knew her name.

"Today, the potential prince consorts will arrive, right?" Adrianna asked her. Camila decided to be kind. The princess always tried her hardest to be down to earth, and treat her maids like her friends. But Adrianna was new, and she wasn't Camila's friend. But she wanted to try.

"Yes, they will be arriving today." Camila said, with a soft smile. The smile was not real though. Camila didn't want to get married, she hardly felt prepared to find a boyfriend. She wasn't even officially 17 yet, and she was already supposed to be promised away to a boy, in a, in her opinion, ridicules selection. It didn't sit well with her, and she was still angry at her father for forcing her to do it.

"How old are you, Adrianna?" Camila asked her. She looked younger than the rest of her maids. They were all 20 years old or more, but Adrianna seemed much younger.

"I am 15, your Highness." Adrianna replied, as she continued to curl Camila's hair.

"Please, call me Camila." The princess told her. Adrianna bowed. There was a short knock on the door, and then Camila's father and mother appeared. Or well, the king and queen of Antopia, appeared. Camila's four maids, all bowed, and then quickly left the room.

"Happy birthday sweetheart." Camila's mother said, and kissed Camila's forehead.

"Thank you, Mother." She replied politely. Her father kept sure distance, because he knew how angry Camila still was. "George." Her mother hissed, and shoved her elbow into his side. Camila's father made a small jump. Her parents were still young, so to speak. Her parents had only been twenty years old, when Camila got born. Their love was still visible. It made Camila believe in something. Her father made his way to Camila, and smiled genuinely.

"Happy birthday, Mila." Her father said, and hugged her lightly. Suddenly two small boxes appeared in his hands.

"Dad? You really didn't have to." Camila said. Her father laughed.