The Royal Games

Chapter 1

Just The Beginning

"Rosa! Wake up... The president is making an announcement on the TV!"

I open one eye and groan loudly. I glance at my clock and see it's 9.45am. It's Saturday! Today's meant to be a lie in... Ugh, I never was a morning person. Never will be either. My mother is hovering above my bed, a bright smile plastered over her face. I sigh in resignation knowing there's no arguing with her when she's like this. It's guaranteed I'll loose.

"Fine!" I huff. "I'll go shower-"

"No time! He's on at 10am. Just come down as you are."

I nod and reluctantly sit up. Swinging my legs out of the bed into the cold air, I stand up only to immediately regret it as the cold air hits my bare legs. Boy do I miss the warmth under my covers already. On the way out of my room, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and pull a face. My hair is all over the place and I look an absolute mess. I pull my tangled hair into a messy ponytail as best as I can and head downstairs behind mother.

I enter the living room to see my sister already there. My sister is my best friend-my only friend here really. We're complete opposites actually. Emma is loud and outgoing while I'm quieter and more shy - unless you get to know me that is. She's only a couple and a bit years older than me at 21, turning 22 in four months (June). My 19th birthday was just three months ago in November.

"Rosie! Heyyy!" She greets when she sees me enter. I plop myself down onto the sofa next to her in front of the TV, letting out a big yawn. She laughs and shakes her head at me. Mother turns on the TV before coming to sit on the armchair. She flicks the channels until we see President Carter. Mum turns the volume up and we catch the end of his introduction.

"Citizens of America. I have an announcement. I have been in negotiations with the King and Queen of England. They have graciously offered us financial riches in exchange for the hand in marriage of one of our young women for their son Prince Stefan Arthur Alexander Williams, heir to the throne. All girls 19-21 will be called to register and 60 lucky ones will be chosen. Should you be a lucky one, you will leave America and fly to England where you will stay, either until you're eliminated and sent home, or until you become Princess, the Prince's wife. Every household with an eligible girl will be sent a letter with all the details to arrive tomorrow. Failure to participate will be a criminal offence. Thank you."

The cameras leave our president and a presenters' face appears, no doubt to comment on this breaking news. Her voice drowns out though and all I can hear is a loud buzzing in my head. Everything around me seems distant and surreal. Wild thoughts are racing and whizzing around my head.

Who is this Prince Stefan Arthur Alexander Williams? I've never met him! I don't even live in the same country as him?! And if his name is anything to go by, I don't particularly want to know such a stuck up sounding guy, let alone marry him. I don't want to leave my family. I don't want to leave America-I've never travelled outside of America, nor have I ever left home before. And I know sure as hell one thing: I don't want to compete for the Prince's heart.

If I have to compete for it, it means it was never mine.

"Rosa?"

"Rosie? Rosie!"

Voices bring me back to the present and I realise that mother and Em are calling me. I rerun back to earth, back into our room, and everything comes back into focus.

"Rosa! Isn't this amazing!" My mother is beaming at me, looking genuinely thrilled. I wince and glance at Em. She's also smiling enthusiastically at me, but I can tell she's picked up on my discomfort and displeasure.