Kingdoms

5:30 am the alarm goes off. "Great time to get up" I roll out of bed and start working on my usual routine that I do every morning. Shower, hair done, school uniform, makeup. With my white eggshell walls, the dark coffee brown carpet. I have a bed with a solid oak bed frame, my dresser that matches along with my vanity. My walls are all white with nothing on them. Mother feels it's best to not have any distractions on my walls since my big focus is school. I set down on my vanity looking at myself. As I go through and do my makeup I look through what I have and wish I could be more creative with my look. The High school I'm forced to go to has such a strict policy that any obnoxiously makeup look in their eyes is an instant go take it off. No cat eyes, no obnoxious eyeshadow, no crazy color lips. And they keep makeup remove ready to go just to tell girls it needs to go. We try to figure out how they know we have makeup on and the only guess is that they wait til we leave gym class and see what our face is to know if it's considered to obnoxious. We have some girls that do it and get away with it while others get caught. I just found it easier to just go along with their rules. No point and having to take it off and not have any makeup to redo my look. Because that is one thing that they don't give us time to fix our look. I take a quick look in the mirror to make sure my makeup is on point, hair looks good and my uniform looks good with my crisp white collar shirt that is long sleeved, the black and dark blue plaid skirt, dark tinted tights and my black plain flats I Walked out of my room, I start to head down stairs to the kitchen. I grab my breakfast and wait for Nicholas my driver to be ready. Nicholas was hired to take care of one of the royal families. His shaggy brown hair along with his indigo dark jeans and his black top. And his customary black running shoes. I've seen him wear the same thing probably since he started working for my family 4 years ago. He was apart of another county with a different lord but is forced to keep everything that happens while working for my family a secret. It's now 6:45 in the morning and I'm waiting to head off to school that doesn't start till 8 am. I wish I could go to school closer to home but due to my families stance with the kingdom my father being a lord and all I'm forced to go to a school where nobody knows who my father is and wouldn't recognize me. ***** So basically the way it works is the land is ruled by one family. They happen to have a son who is slightly older than me. And they have lords who help rule the smaller lands to keep the peace and deal with minor incidents. The lords are considered royalty line but are allowed to marry for love and below their class unlike the royal family. The royal family only does arrange marriages. Typically it involves the smartest and brightest who marry the future king/ queen. So yeah grades are seriously important and my scores are constantly examine to see if I'm eligible to marry the future king if there is one in my age group according to my mother. Next month the prince will be marrying someone from one of the lord families. Next week the family that will be involved in the arrangement will find out and the announcement will come the day of the wedding. It's nerve racking not knowing if I will be in an arrange marriage or am allowed to continue to day dream about my crush who happens to be one of my best friends. As I finally pull up to school with Nicholas. My driver/body guard. He doesn't look scary of terrifying until you discover what he is capable of. In order to become an employee for one of the royal families your sent to academy that trains you to do whatever is required. A lot of people view it a form of the military except driving in an all black Audi. I say good bye to Nicholas, one more week and I'll know my fate on whether I'll be married off for the future of the kingdom or get to pursue my heart. "Alison!" shouts Kelly. Turning around with my bookbag "Hey" "Have you seen the latest tabloid?" "No, sorry I was to busy studying for English" "Oh will someone from court leaked that the King and Queen have been looking over possible suitors for their Prince, how creepy is that?" What do you mean creepy?" "They pay attention to the grades and their testing score, like what else do they look at" Fuck I think to myself maybe she is going to see if my family is one of the lords, stay calm, she hasn't accused yet. "I don't know. Maybe it’s because they want brains running this kingdom" "I still think it's creepy" bell rings. "Okay whatever I'll see you at lunch" Kelly says as she walks into her classroom. I just got to keep calm and not freak out. Why would they announce that. Hopefully they don't let out any other secrets about royalty that we have justified. We've done it this way for a thousand years and nobody outside the lords, court, or the royal family have ever know about it. We have rules in order to become king and queen and hopefully those rules stay. “Did you spill?” Nikki walks over in her cheerleading uniform. She’s basically the IT girl at our school, all the guys want her and so very few get to actually date her. Her family is rich which she flaunts but never talks about her father being a Lord. It’s like sacred to he. Which is odd because nothing else really is. “No I didn’t, but I’m sure Kelly will have all the info on what happened by lunch and who said it all” I look at Nikki calmly I have nothing to hide I’ve been doing everything I can to just simply blend in. “Okay. Well if anyone asked I’m setting up a tutoring time with you to help me out on my history test.” “Of course” Of course her go to is history it doesn’t help I have an A+ and have been placed in advance history. All of my classes are advanced I’ve been told at this rate I’d be valedictorian as long as my score doesn’t drop. “So why history?” I ask Nikki confused “Oh I have a D in the catch up history class” Nikki informs me like she doesn’t even care. “What? Aren’t you worried about being disqualified?” I whisper completely in shock by this news. “Calm down. I’m an IT girl at the school. Everybody wants to date me. Besides I’m sure the king gets to see what we look like. They don’t want ugly running the kingdom” Nikki says with her I know I’m hot attitude m “Oh I never thought about it that way. Mother always told me it was based on what you knew.” I said a little shocked by the revelation “How would your mother know?” Nikki looks at me like she wants to know why my mom had an idea of what to look for. “I don’t know. She never really stated how she knew, just that is was more important than anything else. She is around the king and queens age.” I said not sure how to handle it. Nikki gasped “you think your mom competed last time and had an idea of what to look for?” “I don’t know?” I look at her not sure what to say “Okay anyways I think the rest of us girls want to all get together and make a pack. I’ll talk to everyone I just wanted to see if you were in?” “Im in” “Okay once I talk to everyone we will than plan everything out so I’ll text you more info later” Nikki says looking at her phone “Sounds good” I knew this wasn’t a trap for one we all hid our identity here at school. We’ve all met at etiquette school that we were all forced to attend to since we were 5. It’s something that is required. Every summer for about a month we are all sent to etiquette school to ensure we have proper manners. So we’ve all known each other and how important it is to stay quiet about everything. We were never told what they look at just that the person will be picked. I guess nobody ever truly knows how the queen is chooses other than the finalist are picked and then go to the doctor. Some say personally, extra circulars, grades; we’re never given a straightforward answer. The one thing we are told is that virginity is mandatory you must be a virgin. Which doesn’t make any sense because the whole school knows that Nikki isn’t a virgin anymore. But I guess she’s just hoping he’ll want her so bad it wouldn’t matter. And will no in a week what to do. I get a text from my mom right before lunch. "Honey your in the running. Tomorrow we have to go see Dr Bruce and get your physical along with blood work done" My what done? why do they need a physical? The virginity rule has always been if it comes up in bed it's treason and your family loses everything if it's discovered so nobody ever does anything until they know they're out. But a doctor why do I need to go see a doctor. Maybe mother was right all along about this maybe grades are vital in everything. But how would she know unless she lost due to her grades being lower than someone else’s What are they looking for? It's not like I do anything. My whole life has been preparing for this. I see Jason sitting at the table with Kelly who I can tell is still going on about the tabloid. Jason has a dark ash brown haircut, and with the school uniform. Jason who happens to be my crush and one of my best guy friends. Been in love with him for two years but I always wonder if he sees me the same. "Hey"-Jason "Hey" "Seriously I wish she had a mute button" he whispers to me Oh thank god he hates hearing about it "Why don't you two seem to care?"- Kelly "Because it doesn't matter to me what the royal family choose to do" Jason spats off "It's not like I can go run and try to marry whoever their marrying off so why does it matter" "It's just weird, like what else are they going to looks at if someone is a virgin" Kelly spats off all upset that Jason doesn't care. "If they did they must have a reason for it" Jason says. "Whatever, any who there is a dance coming up are you two actually going to come this time" staring at Jason and I "I don't know I'd have to take a look and see if I have anything going on when is it happening" I say all nervous not wanting to go "not happening!" Jason stated as if he had no interest in going. **Bell** It seems like the end of the day dragged on longer than normal. After school Nicholas was to take me straight to Dr. Bruce for a physical which was very nerve racking to say the lease. I hurry up outside the doors the minute then bell rings to meet Nicholas at the spot to head to the medical appointment as my phone goes off again. A text message from mom. I'll meet you there at the Drs office-mom Okay what is going on. I get a full physical, Pap smear, and blood work done. As I'm waiting in a room to find out what is going on Dr. Bruce informs us that I was one of the top 3 candidates to marry the prince Oh s**t my heart just dropped. "After test scores are submitted along with grades, the top candidates will then take a physical and have blood work done. Luckily for you your a clean bill of health, and still a virgin." "I though the virginity was discovered when you consummate the marriage?" "Yes, but the doctors also do Pap smear as well and it looks really bad if you go loose it right before your placed in an arranged marriage" Sick to my stomach not knowing the crown may be mine soon and forced to marry someone I don't know. "Mom, how did you find out I need a physical?" "Dr. Bruce called me to let me know. Why?" " I don't know just curious" "I received a phone call from the Kings right hand man over it. He gave me the info of the top 3. I was to do all the necessary test and submitted it all to him." I'm sick to my stomach not knowing the truth no idea what is going on going through the day like a zombie as I watch everyone act normal about a dance coming up. How am I supposed to act normal knowing that I might be forced in an arranged marriage simply by following the rules. It looks like it's my mother's wish coming true after all. I decide the best thing to do is text Nikki Did you get called to see the doctor yet? No response why is this woman not answer me yet I figured I’d wait and see if she text me later on I decide to focus on homework and studying for a test I already know all the answers to it wouldn’t help. 3 hours later my phone goes off Why is Nikki calling me “Hello” I answer the phone “We have a problem?” Nikki states in a panic “Okay?” I asked her al confused by it all “Your the only one that got checked out by the doctor” My heart drops “What?!?!” That’s impossibly he said he was given the final 3 and made calls to have everyone checked out. Maybe he just hasn’t done the test yet on anyone else and wants to do what he did with me?” “What he do?” 10 other girls asked “You got everyone together to find out” I shouldn’t be surprised she did that I mean I would if I found out that someone else was picked so I’m not mad. Now I’m nervous. “Yeah sorry about that but it’s weird none of us got a call or anything” Nikki says not really caring about how it all happened. “Well it happened between lunch and before I got out so no time to prepare for it. Mom texted me telling me my driver was taking me to the doctor and he checked everything” “Virginity?” Sandy state’s all nervous Sandy has been obsessed with drama for as long as any of us have known her. She huge into film and probably will pursue her passion one day. To top it off she dresses like a drama kid. She has a boyfriend Will she’s been super serious with and so it’ll be shocking if she hasn’t lost it yet from him. I don’t understand why she chose to date knowing all the rules we had. I figured she wanted something to pass the time something a lot of us debated on. “Yup” I said. “Dr Bruce said it’s a huge thing they look at, he wouldn’t tell me anything other than the king sends him a list and he’s to do the physical and everything. He said it an automatic disqualification and treason if you decide to lose it after you get your physical done. I can hear everyone gasping on the other end not knowing what to say. So a lot of what my mother has been telling me has been important this whole time. How did she know what they look for? I guess it’s time I ask her how she knew what I needed to do in order to win the crown. “Hey guys I know this is a bit much but I need to find out how my mother knew so much on what they look for. I know I need answers on it” I decided it was time to ask mom what she knew and why. “Yeah I think that is a good idea. Just please let us know ASAP” Nikki tell me It’s comforting knowing that nobody is mad at me. What we know is based on our parents and etiquette school so something must have happened in the past for my mom to know so much I start walking downstairs to find mom, I see my other two brothers. I always knew that one would end up controlling the land figured it would be the oldest. I see mom casually reading. “Hey, mom” I go to sit next to her “Yes dear?” She continues reading “How did you know what they were looking for? Nobody else has been checked out by Dr. Bruce” I asked nervous “Because of how I lost” she shuts her book Oh god what does my mom know that none of us knew about. “What do you mean?” Stay calm,stay calm it can’t be that bad. “They look at the ones that can handle court” “What?!” Handle court what on earth does that mean “Grades are huge, you need to be smart but what type of classes are you taking, regular or advance. What you do outside of classes your extra circulars are based on what is important for court. Cheerleader is not important but Goverment is. Doing yearbook doesn’t do anything but being in a debate team is what you need.” “Who did you lose to?” I asked now not knowing “The Queen” my mom says cold “I love your father he was my true love but what you do in school matter. I got good grades I did lots of extra circulars but their was one group I was in that she was in that was the tie breaker.” I must looked shocked from hearing this by the look on my moms face when she informs me of all this. “Just like you I took all the advance classes, had straight A’s same as Sophia” Queen Sophia oh my I didn’t know they knew each other now this all makes sense “She was my best friend we had the same classes and same GPA both very smart. We both did debate team, government, and the academic squad. But I was also a cheerleader for the basketball team. I though having spirte would help me but it turned out it’s what made her win over me.” This is why my mom planned out my life and my extra circulars so I wouldn’t have a choice and be choose. “Who else knows that this is how it works?” I ask nervously not knowing if it’s common knowledge “Just myself. Sophia informed me of the deal breaker when I found out I was having a girl. She’s happy she’s married but she’s lonely I have to be careful when we are seen around each other ever since I had you.” So they set it up knowing what would cause me to know what to do “So this was a set up?” I asked now I don’t know if I should withdraw “No she just informed me of what they look for. Some families believe it’s based on looks, or how they handle the public, Sophia informed me what it was based on. Whether or not you could do the academics was based on you. Well that’s conforti I guess “Does Sophia have say in any of it” “No, it’s to the point they don’t even have the names. They go off of what you’re capable of and Sophia isn’t allowed to be involved at all. It’s between the king and the kings second. “ “Oh so no picture or name just accomplishments” well that’s good for me because I don’t think anyone could guess who’s next in line. “Yes. Once you go for a physics they get a picture and it’s just the king’s right hand man that choose. Which one is ranked the most attractive.” “Do you know who it is?” Now I’m worried “No he’s from an area that none of us are familiar with they are trained to do this so his job has to do with loyalty. He’s put into different schools Incase they recognize the offspring he went to school with. “Okay so how do they base the physical off of?” No I want to know the point of all that “It’s mainly for a clean bill of health, to make sure you’re able to reproduce, and to know if you’re a virgin” that is all put down once they do the other work. Thy don’t find the need to test everyone anymore because some don’t qualify and no point on wasting time especially if they know they don’t have the academics to handle it.” Wow it’s really shocking how much my mom truly knows “Why isn’t it all knowledge almost the lords?” “It used to be, we all knew what was at stake but it slowly changed. I’m not sure what happened but at one point it just wasn’t talked about anymore. Virginity has always been a huge deal breaker so I think it’s a matter of that no longer talked about” “A lot of girls didn’t think that was actually a thing. They constantly talked about it in etiquette school but half of them actually paid attention to it.” Mom looks intrigued as I Informed her of that little piece of information. “So is it not important to anyone anymore?” Moms surprise by this “Well Sophia is barely passing, but is Captain of both football and basketball cheerleading team and is miss popular. She though her being the IT girl at school would basically make her win and like every guy wants to f**k her.” My moms looks at me shock “It’s true” “Wow I just can’t believe it like they want brains and knowledge not the media at their door step all the time. Most of the men have no clue what is expected like your, father is clueless into why I had you do everything you did.” “What does the family get that has their daughter choose to be queen?” No I’m curious was it all for just a crown “I have no idea. I’d have to ask Sophia what her family got out of it” Does mom know or is she just hiding it from me. “Sweetheart you have bed” “Okay mom good night, I love you” “Love you too” I rush up to my room, put away all my homework, get ready for bed and climb in. I’ve never been so nervous in my life, none of the other girls have done everything I’ve been doing so I just simply don’t know what will happen. Is what my Mom says is true is that what they look at and is that the deciding factors or is there more to it than that I guess I’ll find out soon enough. The next day at school Sandy stops me before Kelly sees me. “We need to talk?” Oh god what is going on we all talked last night. We walk into the locker room it turns out all the other girls are there and they have it set up that nobody else can get in. “Okay?” Are they going to attack me, we’ve all known each other for years what do I saw what do I do. “So known of us have been called by Dr. Bruce and none of our parents are talking about anything so we are curious if your mom knew anything.” “Yeah she did I guess her being a cheerleader was the tie breaker between her and Sophia” Everyone looks around in shock like nobody could believe that what my mom was doing was the cause of her trying to get me the thrown. “How do they choose?” Charlotte ask Charlotte has always been very calm and quiet in etiquette school. Way more of a loner than anything has been average student nothing crazy huge into art and that’s about it I exhale here goes nothing “My mom said they turn in all the test scores and extra circulars with no idea who is who. No name and no photo just so they can pick people out; Straight academics and what the court thinks is useful. They want to rule not control the tabloids. No someone all over the media but how to prevent wars. Than at the physics the check everything and virginity, they submit all that. Plus the Kong’s righ hand man will rank you on what is prettier. And than the king choose what he thinks. He’s not given a photo until after he chooses. “Omg so he has no idea what the person looks like” Nikki looks utterly shock “Yup pretty much. They see it as the smartest will win.” Everyone around looks surprised by this information like it’s a turning point for all of us. “Mother did tell me they used to inform everyone about it in etiquette school and was surprised to find out we had no idea about anything. The extra circulars they never talked about which ones you needed or the type of classes just your gpa that’s needed. “I guess it makes sense why they made it all a secret” sandy states “I'm actually kind of glad because I think my boyfriend is the one and I wouldn’t be devastated if I was forced to break up with him.” Sandy states to me as she put her hand on my arm as a way to comfort me. The bell rings and we all decide to part ways. We all truly wish we were more informed about what was at stake and not left in the dark but I guess that was all part of it. “What do your parents get?” Nikki asked as she casually walks by “That’s just thing she doesn’t even know” I tell her. It still shocks me that I have no idea what happens with my family if I do become the next queen. “Everything is so damn secretive. I just hope the prince isn’t a creep” she can tell the nervousness in my voice by it. “I’m sure he’s not he is the prince. Probably was raised not to be or has learned to hide it so well nobody including you would know” Nikki tells me “Hopefully your right” I tell Nikki “Of course I am I know guys” she says full of attitude We walk our separate ways. I’m glad in knowing that I’m not hated and no matter what I have the other girls to have my back. I’m just hoping they can all be there in case I do win, as support or to know some dirt on this mystery prince. A week goes by Friday comes when I get another message from mom Guess what came in the mail? - mom I decided to text her back real fast, this better be good. Their is a card for you that’s stated you need to come to court with information pending Oh god I need to call mom and see what happened. As I run into the bathroom a million things are going through my mind. I check below to make sure I’m the only one and sure enough I’m by myself. I dial mom “Hello” mom states all calm “Hey what is the card I received” I’m nervous and she can totally tell “You were selected honey” Oh god! This really is happening “Okay when do we go?” I feel as if I’m going to throw up but I have to keep it together nobody can know yet. “Later on today they are suppose to send you some information on how to look at court and Saturday you are suppose to be at court. Oh my god. I couldn't believe it, I can't react cause I'm at school and nobody can know about it but I'm in utter shock. It's not even lunch time yet and I'm sick to my stomach over what has been decided. My fate is sealed and I have no say in the matter. I’ve never been so sick in my life I’m at the point I want to go home but if I do all the other girls will know what happened. Was there nobody else they looked at? Nobody else saw Dr. Bruce why is it only me that he saw. What is going on that nobody else knows about or is everyone keeping a secret from me knowing I’ll win. I decide my best option Is to simple act like nothing is going on. Maybe nobody will notice me acting different. I decided to head to the lunch tables with just a smoothie. Maybe this will calm my stomach down from the million knots I have. I see Jason, god it sucks knowing I can never tell him or act on it due to all this going on. Now I’m stuck marrying some random Prince I know nothing about instead of following my heart. Maybe Sandy was right maybe following the heart is a better way. Her and her boyfriend seem happy but wouldn’t she loose like everything when they tie the knot. “Alison you okay?” Kelly says worried “You look like you saw a ghost, you sick?” “No im okay, just nervous about something going on at home” I tell her hopefully she doesn’t ask anymore questions. I look at Jason seeing that he has nothing to eat “Where your lunch” I ask him “I’m not hungry” he tells me Bell rings Finally we start walking to class and Kelly is still babbling about whatever she is taking about. Jason and I are walking so close to touching other that are hands are about to touch. I decide to put my hands in the sweater I have a little bit over a week to make it. I can do this I tell myself. I have to do this.