the royal selection

39 unexpected visitors

Not proof read... enjoy

Coles POV
My heart dropped as I heard those words come out of her mouth. She knows I love tatum. I was speechless, I had no words! How would I even respond.

"Cole it's okay, I'm not mad" her soft voice spoke as she noticed my worried expression. "I would have found out sooner or later. It was just a matter of time before tatum spilled" she smiled. Relaxing me a little bit.

"I'm sorry if you're upset lili, you have every right to be" I said before there was a knock on the door. Lili gave me a look. Kinda annoyed kinda confused. "Come in" she said getting up off my lap

A red head guard walked in. The red head guard. "oh you're both here. Your majesty, lady lili" he bowed I was confused to see a look of almost jealousy on his face. Did he like lili? The thought of him liking her made me a little angry. I don't know why. He knows he doesn't have a chance with her right? I hope so.

"Prince Cole!" Lili yelled. I hated when she called me that. I gave her a confused look to why she called me that, but then came back to reality when I realized there was the guard in the room. "What?" I asked concerned. "Did you hear anything he just said?" She whispered.

I shook my head no. She let out a giggle. "Prince Cole, they're rebels here to see you and lady lili. We have checked they aren't armed, they just want to talk. Also they are the northern rebels. Is that okay with you?" The red head guard repeated. (If you're wondering, the northern rebels attack very often, but don't come to kill, they come for inside information, and the southern rebels want the royals dead so they can take over ilea). It took me a minute to process what he just said "are you okay with this" I whispered to lili. She shrugged and nodded.

I looked back to the red head guard, he still had that look of jealousy on his face. I tried not to get mad. "Yes, when would you like us to speak with them?" I asked

"Right now actually" he said. Me and lili both got up still confused if this is real, just going along and hoping we don't die.

As we made our way to one of the palaces secret rooms we saw two people sitting in chairs on one end of a small table.

Lilis POV
As we entered the room, I saw her. It was her! The rebel I saw when I was in the tree. She was the one that curtsied to me. I stood there for a second in thought. "Lili." I heard and zoned back in. "you okay?" Cole asked. I just nodded.

We got to the table and sat across from them. She was sitting next to this man, her friend probably.
"You're both probably wondering why we're here. Well, lili i believe we've met before" the girl started as I nodded before cole interrupted. "Wait what!" He said confused.

"When I was in the tree for the rebel attack, they were all leaving and she saw me, she curtsied and kept walking" I explained. He looked really shocked. "And you didn't think to tell me!" He said surprised. "I didn't think you'd believe me." I argued back. "You could have at least just told me!"

The man cleared his throat causing us to look at him in sync, and stop arguing. The woman was laughing. We both looked at her confused. She noticed, "I'm sorry, you guys are like brother and sister" she giggled. The thought of Cole as my brother disgusted me. We didn't say anything. Cole ignored her comment, " Well you've met lili, why are you guys really here though?" he asked as we both sat down, Cole resting his hand on my knee giving me butterflies. "Well, yes. We want to make a deal" the female said causing me and Cole to glance at eachother in confusion.

"May I get your names?" I interrupted. She smiled. "I am Finley and this is Rick" they introduced themselves, me and Cole both nodded. "What's the deal" cole asked bluntly.

"Well we want you to marry her" she said straight up, causing me to choke on my air. "Why. Why not tatum?!" I asked. Cole gave me a look like he was hurt. "Why would you say that. Why don't you believe for one second that it could be you I want" he whispered.

I didn't know what to say. "I don't want to get my hopes up" is all I said. "Tatum doesn't have the potential, she isn't as out going. Lili you're just different from the rest, and tatum fits in" Rick said sincerely. "Wow thanks" I said sarcastically putting my hand on my heart.

Cole let out a chuckle. "What is the other end of the deal?" I asked. "If you two get married. We would like you too release some laws, like with the castes, just to help the lower castes get fed" she suggested. I couldn't help but agree, the lower castes lives were awful. I nodded. Cole looked at me like I was crazy.

"What!" I said confused. "You agree? You think we should just get rid of castes!" He said. "Never said that, but yeah we should provide a social service with food for them, Cole you have no idea what it's like to live like that, When I was young I was lucky if I had all three meals, and by meals I mean bread and possibly milk" I said. His look softened in worry.

"Oh, well yeah I guess. If we get married." He said. My heart still hurt that he said if. He was thinking about marrying tatum too.

"Perfect. Lili all of us rebels are rooting for you!" She said, making me look down and blush. "That's all we wanted to say. Any questions" Rick asked. Me and Cole looked at each other before shaking our heads no.

They nodded. "Very well. Please keep our discussions private. Have a nice night" Finley said. They both then stood up and bowed before turning around and starting to walk away. Me and Cole stood up, still trying to process the whole situation.

I still wonder why me? Why not like rachel or even tatum?

We left the room not really saying anything. "Prince Cole, lady lili, lunch has already concluded. Would you like to still eat lunch? Or wait for dinner" a guard asked as we exited the room. "I will wait for dinner" I said with a smile, then looked at Cole to see what his answer would be.

"Me as well" he said. "Thank you" I said as the guard turned around, he just nodded. "are you okay?" I asked Cole. He wasn't really saying anything. I didn't know if he was speechless l, or just in thought, or even worse mad at me for god knows what.

He sighed and looked at me. "I'm okay, just processing. How about you?" He asked as we walked down the halls. "I don't know. I don't really know what to say" I said as he nodded. "Are you going to go back to your room?" I asked as we up the second stair case.

"right. I almost forgot. I will see you at dinner lili" he said before walking to the third stairway. I sighed as I kept walking. "I love you too" I mumbled to myself.