The Princess in Me

Chapter 7

Dinner was boring. I just ate and left. Shawn wasn't there and I had no interest in talking with the other snooty ladies. I just ate really quick and left. The night went by really slow. I fell asleep early and before I knew it, it was morning.

I woke up excited because I was going to see Shawn again soon. I am heading out right now.

I walked out of the palace again and into the trees. There he was waiting for me. "You haven't been waiting long have you?" I asked him.

"No just got here. Now come on. We have farther to walk today." We started walking in the opposite direction as yesterday.

"So how was dinner last night. I wasn't able to go. I was in meetings with my father and his advisors until 10 o'clock last night. "

"It was pretty boring. All I did was eat then I left."

"Your sounding antisocial." He said.

"Haha very funny!" I said. "And I am not antisocial! I just haven't met anyone that is nice and wouldn't talk behind my back."

"Oh. Really?"

"Yes. Those girls might look innocent or nice but when a guy becomes involved let alone a prince it's gonna turn into a huge cat fight! So I'm staying out of the whole thing. I'm hoping that if they don't notice me that they won't bother me."

"You still don't seem like a people person."

"I can play nice if I want to. But I just don't want the extra drama."

"Okay. I'll drop it. But you should at least try to talk with them. There is probably someone there that is friendly and wants to make friends."

"Okay. Fine. "

"We're almost here. We just have to walk down those stairs." He said pointing over near a ledge.

"Is it safe?" I asked.

"Do you really think that the royal family would be using it if it wasn't safe."

"Good point."

We walked down the stairs. It was about 50 feet down to the beach. The sand was warm and white and the water was crystal blue.

"I love it here. I never want to leave." I love beaches. It is my favorite place in the world to be.

"I know. I'm pretty lucky. Kaelan is such a beautiful place. I never want the beauty to change. I can't believe that I will be ruling this place in the future."

"You'll be a good King. I can see it. Now I know why you said all those things last summer. About how you have to follow in your father’s footstep but you want to be your own person. It makes more sense now."

"Yeah. And my Queen will be perfect too. I have to make sure that they will be good for my people and want to do something that is good for them."

My heart started to race when those words came out of his mouth. I can't get my hopes up because it’s possible that he won't choose me. Changing the subject... "Where do you want to sit at?"

"Anywhere. Let’s sit near the water. "

We went down near the shore and sat down on the sand. "Can you tell me more about the rules and stuff now?" I asked.

"Yes. Umm..."

"Umm? The rules?"

"I'm just thinking where to start... Well I have to go on 'dates' with all the girls."

"When is that starting?"

"Today actually. For lunch. Then I am going to have dinner with everyone in the ballroom again."

"Actually it won't be again because I caused you to leave the last time."

He laughed. "Yes that is so true! I did go back after I talked to you though. It was awkward and everyone was trying to talk to me. You are lucky that you weren’t there! You would definitely become more antisocial then!"

"Yeah I am glad I wasn’t there. If I stayed I would had been upset the entire time. I needed time to cool off. But I had gone back all eyes would had been on me… So what other rules?"

"Well I can't send anybody home until the first challenge is over. And the first challenge is something used to evaluate how well the advisors think you would be as a queen."

"What is the challenge?"

"I can't tell you any specifics about it. That's another rule I can't tell you anything challenge wise. If I do and it affects your results then you’re out."

"How many are there. Challenges?”

“Three. It changes sometimes though."

"What if the advisors don't accept the person you like. Do you have a say in who you choose?"

"Yes I have all the power. And I don't care what the advisors think. I get new advisers the second I become King."

"Well at least you are able to pick who you love. Some royalties from around the world don't get that."

"I know. I think I’m really lucky."

"So any more rules?" I said laying down on the sand resting my head on the back of my hands.

"No. Not any that I can think of at the moment. There are so many. I just know the major ones."

"I can think of one... When can you choose a queen?"

"I can after one month and all challenges are complete."

"Isn't that a short period of time?"

"Yes. But I can control when we will have the challenges."

"But how do you know it will be happily ever after?"

"I don't. It's always worked out for the ones before me. My parents have had a few up and downs but they are always together and have loved each other."

I didn't respond. It's just so much info to take in and my brain is kinda fried.

"Haley." Shawn turned onto his side and looked at me. "You okay?"

"Yeah it's just so much to take in. I'm only eighteen you know."

"So am I."

I rolled over to my side and faced him. "I'm scared..."

"Of what?"

"Of sharks!" I was going to tell him that I was scared of falling in love with him but I chickened out.