Follow Your Heart

"What?" She exclaimed.

Nilenia chuckled. "You said you want to know them personally. Father and the elders acted quickly."

She rolled her eyes and sighed. She wouldn't be able to escape anymore. Everything was already set. She had to be with each of the candidates and then in a few months choose one of them as her husband whether she liked it or not.

They heard a few knocks before Queen Martina entered Nilenia's room.

"My love, I've been looking for you. Come. Let's prepare." Her mother said softly.

She frowned. "Prepare for what?"

Nilenia wanted to laugh. "You are so cute with your ignorance, my dear sister. To meet your future husband, of course!"

"Nilenia, you're enjoying this." She said while glaring at her sister.

"Indeed, I am. I also want to meet them. Maybe the three unchosen ones could be my husbands." Nilenia teased.

"Nilenia! Manners!" Queen Martina scolded.

Natalia chuckled. "You already found your mate, but as the Moon Goddess said, there are some who ignored the mating pull. And you are one of them."

Nilenia found her mate two years ago, but she didn't like him. Unlike her who wanted the Moon Goddess to give her a mate, Nilenia wanted to choose her own.

"There's no fun if you have no right to choose. I envy you, sister. I wish I was born in 2023." Nilenia sighed.

Others envied the new breeds, that's what they call them. New breeds had no mate. They had free will to choose who they wanted to be with. They could also have more than one partner if they wanted to.

She was dragged into her bedroom to prepare. She would be meeting with four men from different clans and had to be with each of them.

Her mother, Queen Martina, was one of the few who would help her with the selection. Her sisters were also included.

"I'm sorry if I can't do anything about your father's decision." Her mother said while brushing her long black hair.

"It's fine. I understand." She simply answered.

She heard her mother sigh. "No, no, no. It's also my fault why you were sent to the southern castle. I couldn't do anything when the rumor about you started."

She didn't answer. She knew about the rumor that she was a curse, a bad luck to the royal family. She was born without a mark and the elders considered it as a misfortune.

"Mother, please don't apologize. That was all in the past. I understand now that you and your father were most hurt when I was away. Besides, I was sent to a secluded place in the kingdom, not to a faraway land. I was thankful for that." She smiled.

Her mother smiled back and kissed the top of her head.

"Your father and I personally selected the four candidates. It was not chosen by the elders. I told your father it was the least I can do for you."

She nodded. "Thank you, mother."

Her mother took a deep breath and smiled again.

"Well, I think you're ready."

She stood up and looked at herself in the full-sized mirror. She was wearing a white halter-top dress with a plunging neckline, emphasizing her breast. Her long black straight hair had no ornaments, but it was soft like a prairie grass that danced in a summer wind. It gives contrast to her blue eyes and pinkish small face.

"You're breathtaking, my love. Those men will kneel with your beauty." Her mother complimented her.

The youngest daughter of King Lucius and Queen Martina had not been seen by everyone. Unlike her two older sisters, Princess Natalia rarely attended parties. She was seen by the Etholians but not by the other clans.

She gulped when her heart started pounding. She turned to look at her mother.

"Do you love father?" She asked.

Queen Martina was surprised by her sudden question. But she knew her daughter was scared so she smiled at her and then squeezed her hands.

"I love your father. Yes, he was a gift from the Moon Goddess, but I have never doubted my heart. You might think it was because of the mating pull, but I never thought of that. Because if I was born like you, I will still choose your father over any man in this world." Her mother answered.

"Thank you, mother. I promise I will carefully choose and follow what is right." She answered.

Her mother shook her head. "Follow your heart, Natalia. Remember, love never fails. If you and your chosen mate truly love each other, you can conquer everything together."

She nodded. For some reason, her fear vanished after talking to her mother, and now she's ready to meet her future husband.

Queen Martina and Nilenia accompanied her to the throne hall. It was her first meeting with the candidates, and although she already knew one of them, her best friend, she still had mixed feelings about it.

There were other guests from other clans and the elders were also present in the throne hall. They wanted to observe her interaction with the four men.

"Queen Martina, Princess Nilenia, and Princess Natalia have arrived!" One of the men announced.

She took a deep breath when they entered the hall. The silence was deafening with their arrival as they walked with grace toward Etholia's throne.

She knew all eyes were on her, but she couldn't see their mesmerized faces. They bowed to their king and as Queen Martina sat on her royal chair, she and Nilenia stood on their parents' side.

As next in line to the throne, she would have to stand beside her father.

"You have stolen everyone's attention, my love." Her father proudly said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." She smiled.

The guests continued their chatter as they just stood to observe. She wasn't really waiting for the men to approach them, it was better if they wouldn't. That was what she was thinking.

"Princess Natalia!"

She widely smiled when she saw Aiden walking toward her.