[ E D I T E D ]

♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 1//: The Form♕✿~♕✿~

I was practicing my viola, preparing for a party that I had to play at tonight, when I felt the floor below me shake from someone running. Namely, my little sister who has too much energy.

She barges into my room with a piece of paper in her hand, and I groan internally. I already knew what that paper was: the form for the Choosing.

This year, Reds were granted permission to try out for the Choosing. I wish I wasn't eligible for it because I knew my family would want me to at least try out for it. But I didn't fancy the idea of spending time with Silvers.

"Madi! Madi! Look at this!" Sydney, my little sister, yelled. I winced as I grabbed the form from her hands.

"You don't need to yell, Sydney," I tell her as I glance at the form. The sheet of paper made me feel nauseous.

"Madi, please fill that form out. It sounds so magical!" Sydney pleads with me, her hands clasped together in front of her as she stares up at me with shining eyes. My eyes widen and I shake my head.

"No way I'll fill this out," I murmur.

"Yes, you will fill it out," a voice says by my door. I look up to see mom balancing a basket full of laundry.

"Why? I don't want to fill it out. I don't want to be in the Choosing!" My voice rises with my annoyance and desperation. My mom had been nagging me about entering this year's Choosing for the past week, and I was tired of hearing about the competition. I didn't want to spend time with the Silver competitors because I knew they would scare any Red away on purpose. And the prince was worse; He looks so stoic and boring on the Reports. If I was competing for the attention of someone, I would want the person to have a personality of some sort.

"Sweetie, we've talked about this. If you even stay for one month, it'll be enough payment for about 2 or 3 months! Add the money we get from performing, and we would have enough money to support the family for a good 5 months. Please, Madi, think about your family," mom says with an exasperated sigh while expertly folding my clothes and placing them in my dresser. I bite my bottom lip in thought. I would like to help my family financially, but throwing myself into this competition would surely destroy me.

I remember when I was younger, mom would tell me not to play with fire, since I played around with the stove a lot. Now, she was telling me to throw myself into this competition, to the Prince of Fire. Oh, the irony.

"Look. Just think about it today and if you decide to try out, which you should, fill out the form tomorrow and we'll go to the Services Office and turn it in," mom tells me. I nod my head in agreement, mostly to get mom and Sydney off my case. Thankfully, it works, and mom motions for Sydney to follow her as she leaves the room.

I sigh as I lay down in bed, staring at the form clutched in my hand. I knew it would be the right thing to do to jump at any opportunity to help make more money to help my family, but I couldn't find a reason that would make me want to willingly try out for the Choosing.

I flip through the stack of papers and read the letter attached to the dreaded form. Mom had read this aloud at the dining table today while I had slid lower and lower into my seat in embarrassment. I wish I had hid this stupid packet of papers before mom had found it.

To the House of Williams,

The recent census has confirmed that a single woman between the ages of sixteen and twenty currently resides in your home. We would like to make you aware of an upcoming opportunity to honor the great nation of Norta.

Our beloved prince, Ahren Calore, is coming of age this month. As he ventures into this new part of his life, he hopes to move forward with a partner, to marry a true Daughter of Norta. If your eligible daughter, sister, or charge is interested in possibly becoming the bride of Prince Ahren and the adored princess of Norta, please fill out the enclosed form and return it to your local Services Office.

Participants will be housed at the lovely Whitefire Palace in Archeon for the duration of their stay. The families of each participant will be generously compensated for their service to the royal family.

We hope to see your family name in the pool of candidates.

The Royal Advisor,

Gregory Arven

I purse my lips as I throw the form and letter onto my desk, watching as it floats towards the surface of it. I push myself off of my bed with a sigh. I would worry about what I was going to do later. I had to get ready to perform at the party.

Rummaging through my closet, I decide on a simple cream colored dress with lace on it. It was the best formal outfit I had on hand. I put on the dress and a pair of white flats, apply a thin layer of lip gloss on my lips, then place my viola back in its case.

I run down the stairs, saying a quick goodbye to my parents and rushing out of the house to escape any more talk of the Choosing. I sigh in relief when I am able to get out of the house without being stopped, and slow down to a relaxed walk as I make my way to the house where the party is happening.

~♚♡♚♡~

I knock on the door of the house that called for me. The door opens and I hear gentle conversations coming from inside. A familiar man stands in the doorway and smiles at me. I smile back.

"Hello, Mr. Lang. Nice to see you again," I greet him as I walk in. He nods at me in acknowledgement and walks away to get his daughter. I wait by the door, not sure what to do while waiting. I shuffle my feet a bit as I survey the house and the people in it. I've been here many times before, but I had nothing no idea what to do when there were so many strangers in the house. I note that most of the people at this celebration are Fours while a handful are Threes.

Finally, I see Mr. Lang coming back with his daughter, Macy Lang. Her black hair is slightly curled at the ends where they end just below her shoulders, and the black mascara applied on her eyelashes bring out the bright blue of her eyes. She smiles brightly at me and waves enthusiastically. I wave back, a smile forming on my face as I see a familiar face at this party.

Macy is a close friend and, well, the only person I would consider a true friend of mine. She's a Red, but successful for a Red. She's a Four, which is the highest caste a Red can be in. Threes, Twos, and Ones are occupied by Silvers. There are only a handful of Silvers who are Fours, which is considered very low for them.

Macy pulls me into a big bear hug. "Oh, Madi! I'm so glad you're here!" she tells me as she lets me go. I smile back at her, hugging her back.

"I had to be here for the graduating girl," I tell her with a smile. Macy is 19 and ready to graduate from school. She told me she was planning on expanding her jewelry hobby and becoming a jeweler, which was common among Fours.

"I can't wait for everyone to hear you play the viola! You're so talented! I don't have any doubt that you'll be getting phone calls every 5 minutes in the future," Macy tells me confidently as she pulls me away from the door and from her father. I blush.

"Thank you, Macy. But I don't think I'll be that popular," I say modestly. Macy waves her hand at me.

"Nonsense. You'll be an amazing musician. Unless you're planning on climbing up the caste system soon." Macy looks at me pointedly, and I know she's implying the Choosing. I sigh; I was hoping to escape any talk about the Choosing at Macy's graduation party.

"Actually, I don't think I'm going to anytime soon. I don't have a boyfriend of a higher caste and I have no interest in trying out for the Choosing," I tell Macy as disappointment flashes across her face.

"Madi, this is an amazing chance for you! You have to do it. If not for you, then for me," Macy says as she dramatically places a hand over her heart. I roll my eyes at her. Macy was eligible for this year's Choosing, but already had a sweetheart with the name of Blake. They've been together for about two years now and with Macy done with school, there was sure to be a proposal in the near future.

"As much as I would love to try out for the Choosing for your sake, I'm going to have to decline," I tell Macy as I walk into the large family room where I will perform. Macy sighs exasperatedly.

"Come on, Madi! You must be the only girl in Norta who doesn't want to willingly try out for the Choosing!" Macy exclaims. I turn to face her, surprised at how much she wants me to go into this competition.

"Why do you want me to try out so badly?" I whine at Macy jokingly as I put down my viola case and open it. I take out the instrument and play a tuning note.

Macy stands there as I play some other notes. She crosses her arms across her chest and purses her lips at me, pushing out her hip to one side so that she resembles a child throwing a tantrum. I giggle a bit at her sassy attitude and the hint of a smile breaks onto her face until we are both laughing loudly together.

"Madi, just think about it. Who knows, maybe you'll get chosen. And after you are officially in the competition, you'll obviously win the heart of the prince with your gorgeous hair and eyes-" I blush a bit at that "-and then I can say I personally know the future Queen of Norta," Macy says with a smile. I roll my eyes at her but can't help smiling slightly.

"Yeah right. I wouldn't even last a minute in the competition. If I even get put into the competition. I mean, what are the odds of me even getting it? There are going to be hundreds, thousands, of applicants. I don't see the point of sending the form in," I tell Macy as I go to stand up on the slightly raised platform where I will play.

Macy stays with me, persistent. "Exactly. You probably won't even get put in. So why are you so against it if there's such a small chance of you being chosen?" Macy asks me. I pause, my bow in midair above the strings of my viola. That's a good question. Why am I so against the idea of putting my name in when there are thousands of other girls in the pool as well?

Macy smiles at my hesitation, knowing she got me. I stick my tongue out at her in annoyance that she caught me on a hook. "Whatever. Even though the chance is small, there is still a chance. And I'm not slightly interested in hanging around stuck up Silvers for weeks. Can you stop pestering me now so I can play? You're more annoying than Sydney," I tell Macy, which only makes her grin more.

"Only if you promise me that you will try out for the Choosing," she answers in a sing song. I sigh in annoyance. "Seriously, I won't stop blabbering until you agree," Macy tells me with a deadpan look. I stare at her uncertainly, not believing her, until she takes a big breath and opens her mouth possibly to yell loudly and bring all the attention on us.

"ATTENTION EVERYONE! MADI WILL BE-" I clamp my hand over Macy's mouth quickly. I smile feebly at the curious looks people around us are throwing our way. I look back at Macy who looks like she's laughing uncontrollably. I groan as I take my hand away from her mouth.

"Fine, fine, I'll try out. Now just leave me alone and keep your mouth shut so I can do what I'm supposed to do!" I tell her. Macy fist bumps the air in triumph, ecstatic that she convinced me on this one. I smile and roll my eyes at her child like personality, walking towards the center of the platform. Raising my hand, I start to play the tune I memorized for this party, letting the sound float throughout the room. As I play, thoughts of the Choosing leave my mind along with other worries, leaving only the sound of people conversing and the music ringing in my ears.

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

So, I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter!