"Good Lord Amelia! It's almost 8.30am and you haven't even gotten out of your bed yet. Today is 'The Day'. You haven't forgotten right?"

I unwillingly get out of my bed and reply, "Seriously mom? You have been talking to me about today all my life. I'm pretty sure I can write an entire manual on 'How to survive your selection day' now. Besides, what do you expect me to do? Be all happy and chirpy because today is finally the day that I get to meet the person who I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with? No thanks."

Yes. Today was 'that' day. The day when every girl and boy who has recently turned 18 attend the selection process. Throughout your life, the King's officials keep a tab on you. Right from your favorite colour to your least favorite Harry Potter movie, they know it all. After gathering all this information, they pair you with someone from the province. Someone who will be your 'perfect match' in the eyes of the officials. They do this so that people of similar interests can come together and work together in helping the economy of the country.

Sounds like a bunch of crap? Yeah it does to me too.

"Could you not be so negative? Your dad and I met the same way and look how that turned out for us. We got each others support and a daughter whom we love more than anything."

"And some unpayed loan with no promise of the future." I muttered quietly.
"You said something? " When I replied no, she continued talking.

"Anyways, as you said Amelia, you have been told about this your entire life, so I think 18 years is enough to prepare yourself. Now I don't want any further discussion. I want you to freshen up and get ready. Wear something appropriate please darling. I don't want to see you in your sneakers and those jeans you wear all the time. After all you are going to meet your future husband soon."

***

After a lot of arguing and not-so-decent words mom finally got me to wear what she wanted. A formal red one piece. It was sleeve less, had a high neck line and just reached my knees. She made me wear heels! That was probably what got me the most upset. I can barely walk without tripping when I'm bare feet. Who in their right mind would give me heels?

Dad just sat there enjoying everything. When the three of us finally left to go to the selection hall, he pulled me aside and said, "You look gorgeous in this honey but I prefer those sneakers over these heels too."
I smiled at him and we walked together to the place where my life was about to change in just a few hours.

***

"Goddammit these shoes!" I screamed loudly. I was currently standing in the garden outside the hall. Looking at all the 18 year olds with their parents all excited and ready to ruin their future made me nauseous so I decided to come outside to get some fresh air.

I removed my heels and threw them on the grass. My leg had already started to hurt and if I wore them any longer I would definitely get my leg fractured. If that happened, mom would be very worried. Not because I hurt myself, duh! But because she would wonder what her future son in law would think about both her and me.

I sat down on the grass too, tired with all the chaos around me. I didn't want to marry a complete stranger and spend the rest of my life with him. I didn't want to live in fear and worry that every word I utter has the capacity to completely ruin both my and my family's life. I didn't want to pursue a career the king thought was suitable for me.

This system is completely ridiculous and I wonder why no one has raised their voice yet. Does no one else feel choked to live like this?

"The hall wasn't good enough for you that you had to come and sit here? I'm pretty sure our decor isn't that bad." Standing in front of me was the person who got me out of my reverie, Prince Damon himself. I had never seen him in person, only on the television, newspapers and magazines but it was hard for someone to not recognize him. His green eyes had the capacity to pierce the soul out of someone and his stance was enough to let you know he was proud of himself. Too proud.

I got up and stood right in front of him. "Your majesty." I bowed. I never got the curtsying business so I thought bowing was the best.
"What are you doing here?" He said. "Shouldn't you be inside all bubbly and happy that you're going to meet your Prince Charming and all that nonsense."

"My Prince Charming? Oh, I think you are talking about the person I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with. The person who can be a serial killer or mentally challenged. Yes of course Your Majesty. I'm indeed very excited to meet him." I said sarcastically.

"So you don't like all this?"

"How do you expect me to? I'm chained, metaphorically of course, and my freedom is taken away from me. I'm forced to wear this crap and told to talk in a particular way. I feel suffocated every second and all this is because of the crappy rules made by your ancestors which you so sincerely follow. I mean, this is the 21st century for God's sake. Where the entire world is talking about equality, I can't help but feel suppressed and suffocated. How can you tolerate all this shit? "

After all my ranting he just smirked. "You seem interesting, fiesty, I like it." He walked towards me and I kept backing away, not liking where this was going. After my back collided with a tree, he came even closer to me and put his two hands beside my head. He leaned in so his lips were near my ears and whispered, "If you don't like it so much, I'm sure I can bend some rules for you sweetheart. You don't need to go through that selection process. I can take you with me and we can-"

I got sick of his bullshit and the weird feeling I was getting when he was so close to me. Moreover, I was sick of the shit he was talking and I needed to put some distance between us so I did the first thing that came to my mind. I kicked him right where it would hurt him too much. I backed away and he crouched from the pain, completely shocked that I would do something like this.

Before he opened his mouth, I said, "Look here, you brat! I'm not going to fall for your seduction. I'm not one of those girls who will fall to your feet at your one word. I know how to defend myself pretty well and you are lucky a kick is all you got. You might be the Prince, Damon, and I know I might have to pay for my actions and words. Banishment from this country? Great! I need a reason to get out of here anyway. Death sentence? Does not matter because I already feel suffocated, so sue me!"

I gave him one last look of disgust and walked away. This is not what I expected to happen at all.