The Selection [s.m & c.c]

smothering princes

"Would you do me a favour, and ask the Prince of Fantic if he would want to go out for a walk in the garden with me?" Camila said to a waiter. It was still breakfast, and Camila could easily tell that Shawn was watching her. But he was not the only Prince at the palace. There were eleven princes beside him, that all deserved a fair shot. Even though, Camila could not see herself with any of them. There was only one Prince on her mind. He was an important alliance to Antopia. A marriage would bring Sankston and Antopia together, in a way no other method could. It was important.

The Prince of Fantic stood up, and walked out the door, where he was waiting for Camila. The Princess glanced shortly over at Shawn, who was watching her as if she had made a dumb decision. Camila quickly looked away, and was escorted out of the dining hall by guards. The minute she exited the dining hall, she was met by a big smile on the Prince of Fantic's lips. Camila had failed to remember his first name. She almost felt guilty. The Prince bowed in front of her, and she did the same.

"Your Highness, I am very honoured that you invited me for a walk. I want to express my gratitude." The Prince said. Camila grabbed his arm, and led him to the garden with a smile. It was her favourite place to be. Though he was not the Prince she wanted to be with in that moment, Camila accepted it. It was a contest.

"Prince, would you mind telling me your first name?" Camila asked him, and looked up at him.

"Tobias. My name is Prince Tobias of Fantic." He said. Camila nod.

"May I ask for permission, to hold your hand?" He asked her. Camila blushed.

"You may." Camila said. And then, he gently touched her arm all the way from her shoulder, and ended up intertwining his hands in hers. Tobias was nice, he asked for permission, and obeyed the rules. But something about him didn't click with Camila.
Camila hardly felt a thing inside, when they were walking. But if Antopia couldn't have an alliance with Sankston, they would need it with Fantic. It was important. Everything in Camila's mind was the war, and what would be the best for Antopia.

"So. How do you like Antopia so far?" Camila asked him. He took a second to think. She raised a brow. What was there to think about?

"It is, different." Tobias said. Camila's jaw almost fell to the ground.

"Excuse me?"

"I-I mean, good different! Fantic is a little less big and shiny. That is all." He explained. Camila nod. She was not interested.

-
Camila closed the door to her room with a sigh. The Prince of Fantic really did not live up to any of her expectations. Maybe it was because the words from another Prince were still stuck in her mind. Shawn could see right through her. And it scared her deeply.
Camila looked at herself in the mirror, and wondered how she was supposed to actually survive the selection. It was her life it was about. Her future. But being a future Queen, meant that the future of Antopia was more important than her own future. It angered her. But she could do nothing. Then, there was a knock on her door. Camila walked towards it hesitantly. She opened it, and was surprised to be met by Shawn. He looked upset.

"Prince of Sankston. You are not supposed to approach me." Camila crossed her arms. He was knowingly breaking the rules.

"May I come in?" He asked her. Camila hesitated shortly, and then removed herself from the doorway, so he could come in. And he did.

"The rules do apply to you, Shawn. Being from Sankston does not mean you get special treatment." She said. He sighed.

"You are always so moody, whenever I come around. How come?" Shawn asked her. Camila rolled her eyes. She quickly cursed at herself. Once she became Queen, it would be insanely inappropriate for her to do that.

"Is there any valid reason as to why you are here?" Camila asked. She had not forgiven him for his hurtful words yet.

"Yes. When will you take me on a date?" He asked. Camila raised a brow.

"Excuse me?"

"I just mean- Antopia is important to Sankston.  Which means that you are important to me." Shawn said. Camila raised a brow. That was strange. That was very strange.

"You do not know me." Camila said, and cleared her throat, while crossing her arms. Who did he think he was? He was trying to persuade her into choosing him as her Prince Consort. And she could tell.

"So what you are actually saying, is that I am only important - because you know you can not become King in your own country, so you are trying to get involved with mine." Camila said, raising her voice. Shawn looked at her intimidated. For a young girl, she had a big temper.

"Ca- Princess Camila. The apology from this morning still stands. I still mean it."

Camila cleared her throat. He really would do everything to give himself a higher status. That was at least how it looked, to her. But it wasn't all about that to Shawn. He felt insanely attracted to her. It wasn't about alliances. At least not all the way. But he wasn't able to let her know that just yet. It was all something his father controlled. Shawn's feelings did not matter.

"I do not really know what to say, Prince Shawn. You were insanely disrespectful to me, and Antopia. Not to mention. A liability. I can not trust you." Camila confessed. She knew Sankston was the alliance. But she could not bite her tongue.

"So what does that mean? For me? For us?" Shawn asked her. There was no "us". They did not know each other at all.

"First of all, there is no "us". Second of all, your future in the Selection is yet to be determined. You are smothering me! I hardly know you! And you are breaking several rules by even being here! Who do you think you are? You need to take a step back, and actually think about what you are doing!" Camila said, and began yelling at him again. All training in the world, would not have prepared her for the self control she would need, to not slap him in the face.

"I do not know what to say." Shawn said, actually looking quite hit by her words. Camila sank a lump in her throat. She felt guilty.

"Just- realise that you do not get special treatment here. I can not allow it. I hope that you understand, that your act has been completely unacceptable. And you can not repeat that again. If you can make sure of it, we will be just fine. And we can start over." Camila said. She actually caught him smiling for a brief second. Her heart pounded. Why did her heart pound?

"Really?" He asked. Camila straightened her back.

"Really." Camila said. She was done yelling at him. For the time being. She reached out her hand.

"I have permission to grab your hand?" Shawn asked. Camila nod. So that he did. He touched her hand, and shook it lightly. Camila felt butterflies.

"So we are good?" He asked her.

"Yes, Prince Shawn. We are good." She replied. Shawn looked like he was hesitating.

"Can I ask for permission to do one more thing, Princess Camila?" Shawn asked.

"Yes?" She said, not quite sure what he meant. And then he walked closer to her. Camila felt shivers down her spine when he came close enough for him to touch her. He quickly touched her arm, before softly kissing her cheek. Camila tried to stop herself from blushing when he pulled away. She cleared her throat.

"I will see you at the night ball, Princess Camila." He said with a smile. What a smile. And with that, he left the room, closing the door behind him. He left Camila startled. What was she really feeling? And would that have consequences for her choices?

Camila was not quite sure.

-
a/n: mehhh