I knew I wouldn't be able to run away. Father would hear my bedroom door creak open before I was even out of it, and there was no way to unlock the front door quietly. Besides that, Brayden was out for a 'bro night' with his friends. I was pretty sure he was with Reece, and he could come home at any time and bust me. And, even with all of the problems, cracks, and shaking involved in the foundation of the family, they were still my family. But for my happiness, I needed to get out of this kingdom.

I packed a bag with the bare essentials; toothpaste, a change of clothes, and a toothbrush. I didn't know how or when I would be leaving, so I decided that I had to pack a bag just in case. I did know, however, that I needed to leave in the next two weeks. Even after a man claims me, I live with my parents for a year afterwards. I wouldn't have to leave in the next year if I knew my parents wouldn't be watching me like a hawk so I didn't slip up and ruin my supposed 'marriage betrothal'.

It disgusted me.

Even then, I knew that I would have to be ready. Tomorrow, I would steal the book, and finish it. If I could actually perform magic like the book said, I had a smidge of a chance at leaving town and never coming back. There were other towns in Floricea, they just weren't part of the capital town. My family wouldn't miss me; my mother might but she wouldn't say anything, just slowly get over it. My brother and father would handle it pretty much the same: no emotions, just moving on. They both lived their lives as chapters. Someone leaving would only start the next chapter in their lives. But at least Brayden was kind. 

Finished packing and satisfied with what I completed, I slipped out of my work clothes and into a soft silk nightgown. I fell back onto my bed with a sigh, thinking about running away with only my wims and a small bag of things I might need. All I could hope for was that I didn't get caught using magic, and that I could get out of here in time.

But for now, I needed a good, deep sleep.

~o0o~

The next morning, I sluggishly walked through my routine. It was the end of the week, and that meant I would be claimed next week. I was sluggish because I was tired, I was angry because of the claiming. But then again, I'm not a morning person.

"Pumpkin, are you okay?" concern laced my mother's voice while she addressed me, but I wasn't buying it.

"Fine. I'm only being sold off to marriage next week. I'm peachy," I responded, flipping the blueberry pancakes on the pan.

"Young lady! I know you're going through a lot lately, but that is no way to talk to your own mother! I remember when I went through this and your father was the only man who would take me. I don't want that to happen with you, and in order for that to be a reality, your father is right. You need to act like the perfect woman so that a good man will chose you."

"Mother," I sighed, "you're not getting it because you don't like it! Listen to me, please! I don't want to be a wife! I'm a sixteen year old girl who has so much more life to live! I want to be free and explore before I settle down, if I even decide to settle down. I am not some girl who will just roll over and give up the rest of my life to fit into the groves of society. A young woman might have to be a housewife, but this woman wants to have a life. Not one as a housewife or a model wife, but as a writer, reader, maybe even explorer!" I threw my hands up in the air in exaggeration. I wasn't getting through to her, and this was my final hurrah. If this didn't work, I was going to resort to the book, and I wasn't coming back.

"I understand, pumpkin," mother said finally in the silence that followed my rant, "I was once like you; independently minded, not caring what other people thought..."

"So what happened?" I demanded. "What happened to the mother that thought the world of the world and wanted to follow her dreams?"

"My mother," she sighed, "but in order for you to have a good life with a honorable husband that can take care of you and make you happy I have to be like this. And eyes on the pancakes." 

"Wow, some mother," I muttered under my breath, proceeding to take the blueberry pancakes off of the pan and putting them onto the dish for breakfast.

I set the plate in the middle of the table and I plopped down in my chair at the left side of the end of the table.

"Breakfast!" my mother called, placing a plate of toast and a jug of freshly squeezed orange juice next to the pancakes and sitting next to me.

"Sorry about muttering," I told her, as I had to apologize for the juvenile act of disrespect.

"Sorry about putting you down," she responded, and I looked up at my mother in surprise, "I don't want this for you, pumpkin. I just want the best life for my best girl."

"I'm your only girl, mother," I responded, and I turned to look longingly at the meal my mother and I prepared for our family.

"We really should get that rule fixed. We get hungry too, and your father needs to know that!" my mother swiftly changed the subject, and for that I was grateful.

"I agree most strongly with that statement, mother," I responded, taking note of my father's presence in the room.

"Yes," she pressed her lips together and turned to address my father, "honey, I think that Aria and I should be able to eat with you and Brayden. We slave over these meals, only to eat them when they're cold. And Aria is a growing woman who needs to get to her classes on time if she is to get a good husband."

Oh, my mother was good.

"Fine, fine. Eat!" my father stated grumpily, gesturing towards the plates sitting on the center of the table.

I smiled and gave my mother a glance of gratefulness. I grabbed two blueberry pancakes and some toast, with jam and butter, and began eating the breakfast with my entire family, instead of just the crumbs my father and Brayden always left behind in their hurry to get to their jobs. Brayden a judicial scholar, father a justice. 

"Son," my father started, completely ignoring me like always, "I want to take you to a law proceeding today, so you can ace your test and become a judge. I want you to be better than a judge's clerk."

"Oh wow, dad, are you sure? I mean, I have school work and tough teachers because I take all of the honors classes, but that would be a huge honor!" Brayden was gushing and I almost felt like looking away.

"Good. We'll leave after breakfast," he replied, grabbing the syrup and drizzling his pancakes with it.

"Good breakfast, honey!" my father called back, right as he was exiting the door.

"Thank you for breakfast!" Brayden called behind his shoulder, walking out of the front door right behind father so that they could take the carriage together.

I sighed and walked to the kitchen to clean the dishes. They weren't dirty save for a couple spots of syrup not mopped up by pancakes, and I was soon finished with my morning chores. I grabbed my book bag and walked to the front of the house.

"Bye, mother!" I called, leaving the house to make the trek to the finishing school I was imprisoned by.

This morning, the town seemed off, as if it was waiting for something simply magical to happen. The gray was a little too gloomy, the square a little too empty. I picked up my pace as I saw the looming justice building's shadow cross over mine. I didn't know why, but the first thought to cross my mind was that I needed to get to Madam Pushfoot's Finishing School for Future Wives, and quickly at that.

When I crossed the threshold of the school, I visibly relaxed. Today wasn't the day of the choosing, and nothing had changed inside of the school. I walked leisurely down the corridor to the classroom, looking over my shoulder multiple times. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was utterly wrong about today. Maybe it was that I was early for school for the first time.

I shook the feeling and tried to project confidence. I didn't want my classmates eating me alive today with insults. Not after my father yelling at me last night.

"Ah, Miss. Everheart, what brings you in so early?" Mrs. Harding asked, looking at me with her huge owl eyes.

"Well, my father and brother allowed my mother and I eat with them, so I finished breakfast earlier with that causing me to walk here faster," I concluded, and Mrs. Harding looked like she was sorry she asked.

After a tense moment of silence, I ducked my head and went back to my seat, and I felt my bun come loose, dark tendrils began to frame my face. But there was no way I was fixing it.

Once more of the girls started streaming through the classroom door, Mrs. Harding turned to address the entire class. I was suddenly worried without really knowing why.

"Class," she began, "I have some positively wonderful news! Instead of waiting until next week for you to meet the boys, you will meet them today! Actually," there was a knock on the door, "that's them now!"

At Mrs. Harding's cue, a line of beautiful boys strutted into the room. Matching navy blue blazers, khaki pants, white undershirts, and a stripped tie right down the middle of their chests. I hated them instantly. 

"Hello," the head boy started. Even his accent was posh, "we are the men of Winterford Academy for the Development of Men. We are here to chose our brides, and in two years, the women who shall marry us. Any questions?"

Fiona raised her hand, and the boy nodded his head as a way of acknowledging her, "Can you choose me?" I swear I almost facepalmed.

"Honestly, Fiona! Show some respect for these delightful young men!" Mrs. Harding scolded, before she returned to fluttering her eyelashes at the men's mentor.

All the golden boy did was laugh, "Oh, darling! That gave me a good laugh, thank you very much! But I choose last. I like it better that way, the hidden jem in the lot of you. I find very interesting what others discard or don't chose. Let's think of it as a small scavenger hunt!"

Half of the girls happy sighed, and the other half stared unashamedly at the boy. His poor classmates, they had no chance from the get go. 

The boy introduced the long line of men waiting behind them. As they were introduced, they bowed and asked a girl for their hand. Every time they glanced at the man who introduced himself as "Trey" and then accepted. When a man named "Tyler" asked for Hadley's hand, she acted offended before she looked at him. After that, she was drooling over her betrothed with a happy look on his face. Trey introduced the last man in the room, and he chose Annabella, a girl to my right. Oh crap. That meant Trey would be marrying me.

If I was staying.

His head of golden hair walked towards me, blue eyes sparkling, "Hello, I'm Trey Appleton, and what might your name be?"

"Aria Everheart," I announced, proud that I didn't blush when he bent down to ask for my hand.

"Well then," amusement danced in his eyes, "Aria Everheart, will you do me the honor of promising me your hand?"

"Yes," I breathed, but not without hesitation, and he moved to sit next to me.

This was exactly what my father wanted. He wanted a man to come into my life and utterly change my mind about being an independent woman. He wanted a man to sweep me off of my feet and make me so happy so that it wouldn't even cross my mind until old age to leave Floricea. But I had other plans. I would be getting the book today and leaving tomorrow.

~o0o~

Word Count: 2158

So this is the revised chapter, nothing besides the conversation at breakfast and the cliffhanger changed (Although this AUTHOR'S NOTE DID!!!). Thank you all so much for reading, voting, and commenting. I love to see what you have to say, and right now I have something to say to all of you, my motivation. 10K WORDS!!!!! I'm halfway done! And if you couldn't tell, I'm doing a halfway victory dance! Woot woot! Thank you all for the 200+ reads in only a week. Seriously, it means the world to know people are reading this book and coming back for more. <3

Love y'all
~happyperson081