One
This book is currently undergoing a major rewriting and editing process due to various errors and changes in the story. To read the completed previous version, kindly check the book on my Wattpad account, dayxdreamer11. Please note that the older version will be much different from this version as there are numerous changes in the story.
Today, I’m finally turning 18. And I’m not sure whether I should be happy about it or not, considering what will happen to someone of this age in this kingdom.
Every once in three years, the Servants of Kingdom Adrinia, who are in the age of 18 until 36, must participate and be chosen in the Choosing at least once in their lifetime. Unless they are intelligent enough to pass the test to become Humanitarians, the fifth caste in Adrinia.
Everyone who is a Servant will be selected through the process of Choosing by the higher castes: the Noble or the Royal Family, the Official, the Percipient and the Notable, to work for them. In this event, the higher castes of Adrinia search for new servants and guards. Not only that, but The Choosing also acts as an event to select qualified men and women to become the kingdom’s soldiers and officers.
The people of the sixth caste, the Servants, must obey the kingdom’s law, and one of them is to participate in The Choosing. If a Servant gets caught for not participating in The Choosing, they will immediately be stripped of their caste. Then they will become someone who only has a few to no rights in the kingdom, the Lowest.
Many Servants are chosen to work at the Grand Palace of Adrinia in Inora, the capital of Adrinia. The payment you’ll get from working in the palace is high. But, it will cost them their freedom because they won’t be able to leave the place until their working contract is over, except if they are excused. The King is the one who gives a Servant the permission to leave the palace, and he won’t give out that permission easily like giving candy to a child. Only some lucky people can get the pass to leave the Grand Palace of Adrinia for even an hour.
As a Servant, the higher castes choose you to work for them. The Royal Family is the first one to handpick their servants and guards. In the same period, the King and the Officials also filter out other Servants to have potential and qualified people to be Adrinia’s soldiers and officers. In the next period, the Officials are given the time to pick out their servants and guards. The next event is followed by the Percipient choosing their workers in the third period and then the Notable in the fourth period.
The Servants who are not selected by the higher castes still will be able to work as long as a job outside of The Choosing is available. However, they are still required to participate in the next Choosing if they are still in the mandatory age range. If they have been chosen, they are free to do anything they want, including to take the test to become Humanitarians, the fifth caste in Adrinia. If you don’t want to be a Humanitarian, you can show your talent and creativity and become a Notable. However, to be a Notable, you must go through the acceptance and recognition of the Notables and get the Office approval to become someone of a higher caste.
“Anne, I’m leaving now. I’m already late!” Mom shouts from downstairs. A hint of hastiness can be heard in her voice. Mom usually leaves the house at six, but now, the clock shows 6.25.
Mom is currently working as a maid at the Bourdelle’s house, a Notable family. The family is one of the well-known musician families in Adrinia. Most people can hear Elena Bourdelle’s voice on the radio or television almost every day because she’s one of the most popular singers in the kingdom. Mom has worked at their house for three years, and this year is the last year of my mom’s obligatory working age. She’s 39 now, but she can still join the Choosing if she wants to. But considering the circumstances with me, I don’t think she will apply for the next’s Choosing. If she and I work in the same period, there won’t be anyone else to help dad look after my younger siblings.
“Okay, mom!” I shout back as I descend the stairs quickly, looking around me for my mom. Within a second, I find my mom kneeling on the ground, shoving her belongings into her worn-out bag hastily. A few strands of her sandy blonde hair cover half of her face as she keeps putting her stuff into her bag, huffing as she does so. Without hesitation, I come towards her to help. As I get closer to her, she’s already standing on her feet, staring back at me with a tired smile.
“Take care of your sister and brother, okay?” She cups my left cheek. Her previous smile is still on her face, and I nod at her as I return her smile.
“Okay, mom. I will.”
She hurries towards the front door but stops in her track, advancing towards me and pulling me into a tight, quick hug.
“Happy birthday, Anne.” Mom takes a small step back and squeezes my upper arms before going back to the front door.
“Thank you, mom.” I shout out. Mom halts in her track and turns to face me again. “You’re welcome, Annie.” She smiles. “About your dad, he’s out buying some groceries. So, don’t worry about him.”
“Alright. Bye, mom. Be careful on the road.” I wave my hand at her, and she nods at me. “I will.”
Mom finally leaves the house, closing the door behind her as she goes. As I stare at the closed door, thoughts of the possibilities about what could happen to my mom swim around my head. Although she has told me how the Bourdelles always treat her with kindness and respect, those worst possible scenarios keep haunting me and cause my surroundings to spin. Hopefully, the Bourdelles are kind enough to excuse mom from her mistake, and if they’re not, I’m not sure what my family and I can do to help mom.
I move silently towards my siblings’ bedroom upstairs. As I push the door open, my eyes immediately catch the sight of them sleeping peacefully. I smile at how soft snores go past their lips, mainly from Rico, my little brother and the youngest in our family, go past their lips.
I always wish that life would be easier for the two of them. The thoughts of Luna and Rico joining the Choosing and ending up in the worst household, family, or even sent off to war make my heart drops. I don’t want that to happen to them. I feel powerless just by having the thought looming over my head. I wish I could do something to make their life better than this. I hope they could be something else in the future rather than being Servants and live a much better life.
Without realizing it, a frown is already on my face, and I quickly gather my thoughts and let the frown goes away. I step away from the door and go back downstairs to prepare today’s breakfast. I make my way into the kitchen and immediately get what I need to cook breakfast.
After finishing cooking breakfast, I go to my siblings’ bedroom to wake them up. As I get closer to their room with each step, I can hear their muffled voice from their room. I push the door open, and their eyes immediately shift towards me. They stare at me with wide eyes for a few seconds before jumping off their beds and running towards me with broad smiles on their faces. They squeal in excitement and attack me with their tight embraces. I grin at them, hugging them back with joy growing inside my body.
“Happy birthday, Annie!” Both of them exclaim as they look up at me with the most adorable grin ever.
“Thank you.” I smile at Luna and Rico, feeling my heart brimmed with happiness. Luna abruptly moves away from me and step towards her old wooden wardrobe. She pulls something out from it, and I stare at her with curiosity. She hides it behind her and walks back towards me with an excited grin on her face.
“What is it you’re hiding?” I ask in curiosity. She puts the object between us, and I gasp in surprise. It’s a flower crown. A lovely flower crown. I stare at the flower crown with amazement, and I take it from Luna, admiring the beautiful flowers she has put on it. I inhale the sweet and calming scent of the flowers, sighing contently.
“I’m sorry I can’t give you anything else but this,” Luna says as she stares at the floor sheepishly. I take her hand into mine, and she stares back into my eyes.
“Don’t be sorry. This is beautiful.” I smile at her and put the flower crown on top of my head. “Thank you, Luna.” She smiles happily at me and hugs me again. I return the embrace gently before we let go of each other.
“This is for you.” I look down at Rico and smile at the little flower bouquet he holds out for me. I take it from him with a big smile on my face.
“Aww, Rico. Thank you.” I take a whiff of it and smile at Rico.
“You’re welcome, Anne!” Rico grins.
“Let’s go downstairs and eat our breakfast.”
“Let’s go!”
Rico runs out of the room, and Luna and I laugh at his excitement.
“Be careful! Don’t run on the stairs!′
We step into the kitchen and sit around the small dining table. As we enjoy every single bite of our breakfast in silence, Rico’s tiny voice breaks it as he lets out the words all of us dreaded to say.
“I miss Luca.” Rico stares at his plate sadly. A tinge of pain hits me straight on the heart, and I frown as I shift my gaze to Luna, who’s already staring at her plate with an equal amount of sadness. My heart plummets even more as I stare at my younger siblings’ faces, knowing that I can’t do anything much about it.
“I know, Rico. I miss him too.” I sigh quietly.
After what feels like an eternity, we finally finish our breakfast with sorrow in our chests. I grab the dirty plates and cutleries and then wash them in the sink.
“We’ll be in our room,” Luna says, giving me a half-hearted smile, and I nod at her.
“Okay.”
I continue to wash the dishes as Luna and Rico walk upstairs with their heads hanging low in sadness. I wish I could wipe the frowns off their faces, but unfortunately, I can’t. Luca has to do his job. I can’t bring him back from the war. Not yet. Not until his working contract is over.
After washing the last plate, I turn off the tap and dry my hand. I walk towards the stairs and look up from there.
“Luna, Rico, I’m going out right now. Dad will be back soon.” I shout to them, and Luna yells back an “okay.”
I step out of the house, letting my mind wander as I walk through the street and into the woods. I look up at the sky through the leaves, sighing as I feel the warm sunray on my face. I keep moving my feet in front of the other until I stop in front of the lake. Everything around me feels so peaceful. As if there’s no war going on in this world. Like the castes don’t exist.
Fifty years ago, a war began between Adrinia and Feomoris. It all started when Feomoris declared war on Adrinia to take over our most influential city, Cronira. The once most prestigious city of Adrinia is now in shambles as war keeps raging on between Adrinia and Feomoris. From what I’ve read from the books, Cronira used to be a beautiful place with tall trees and an almost modern city Adrinia has ever had. But now, the land is nothing but smoke and debris. Not only that the two kingdoms fight over Cronira, but both kingdoms also battle each other to take over one another’s region.
I walk towards a fallen tree trunk nearby and perch down on it. As I stare at the tranquil lake with light wind breezes in my way, my mind begins to drift away from the reality around me.
This month could be the last time I’ll be living here for the next three years. If I get chosen to work at the Grand Palace, this month would be the last month that I’ll be able to see my family face to face. If the war gets worse, this month would also be the last month I’ll be able to see my family.
I switch off the godawful thoughts and bring myself back to reality. I blink away the tears in my eyes and close them, trying to calm myself down as I soak in the beautiful chirps of birds around me and the soothing, soft breeze. I sniffle quietly, sighing to myself.
A cracking sound of branches being stepped on pulls me out from my serenity. I wipe away the tears staining my cheeks and look around frantically to find whatever or whoever it is. The thought of being caught crying in the woods makes my cheeks turn hot from embarrassment.
“Who’s there?!” I call out.
“Uh, it’s Connor.” The person replies. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine! Just go away, please.” I sigh, not wanting anyone to see me being this vulnerable. I suddenly become overwhelmed by my emotions and unable to control my body as tears begin to streak down my face all over again.
Oh God, please make him leave.
“Don’t lie. I know you’re not. I heard you crying over there.” He contradicts.
“Just leave me alone.”
I hopelessly wish him to go away, but after a few seconds, I can feel his presence right beside me. I keep staring at the dirt ground beneath me with utmost interest as a silent plea for him to leave my side.
“I’m not going to leave you alone. Not in this state.” Connor says as he keeps his ground beside me. I let out a sigh, wiping my tears away as I avoid his burning gaze on the top of my head.
“I don’t want to interfere, but is it about the Choosing?” Connor asks, and I nod in response. “Yeah.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll be joining the Choosing as well this year.” He says ever so softly with his comforting voice.
“Really?” I grab a twig near my feet and begin scratching the ground with it, frowning as I do so.
“Yeah. I wasn’t chosen on the previous Choosing, and this year, I have to rejoin the Choosing.” Connor chuckles quietly.
“May I?” I take a quick glance at Connor with slightly furrowed eyebrows and then stare at his hand, gesturing at the empty space beside me. I nod vigorously at him and scoot a few centimetres away to make room for him to sit.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah.”
Connor finally settles beside me, too close to my liking. As much as I want to complain, how can I do it when my heart beats at hundreds of kilometres per second. I will only make a fool of myself if I let out a word at this moment.
“What are you doing here alone? I mean, it’s still early in the morning.”
I scoff out a laugh as I keep my gaze on the ground, scratching its surface with the twig. “I can ask you the same question.”
“Well, I was just taking a stroll, clearing my mind off before helping my uncle with his work. How about you?” Connor asks, throwing a small stone towards the lake, and I shrug at him. “Just relaxing.”
“That doesn’t seem to go as planned.”
“Yeah.” A small smile appears on my face, and it disappears as fast as it appeared. “But I do feel better now.” I shrug again.
“That’s nice. I guess.” Connor mumbles. The silence stretches between us, and I stare at the scattered dirt around my feet. I hear Connor clear his throat, and I take in a deep breath.
“So, what’s your name?”
“It’s Anne.”
“Nice to meet you, Anne. Although I hope we’ve met on better occasions. Not because I find you crying.” Connor chuckles, and I join him. For the first time, I’ve finally gathered my courage to look at him. As I stare at him, I immediately look away after a few seconds of taking in his facial features. My heart clenches as Connor’s face reminds me of every memory I’ve had with Luca, my older brother. The light shade of brown of his irises. His short and wavy brown hair. Everything just reminds me of Luca when I stared at Connor. My heart aches as I further drown in the sea of memories I’ve had with my older brother. It’s been almost three years, and it’s also been years since the last time he sent us a letter, telling us he’s okay. And looking at Connor, it somehow triggers the worries and anxieties inside me. I quickly snap out of the memories and blink away the tears that welled in my eyes.
“Are you okay? Did I have something on my face?” Connor asks, and from the corner of my eyes, I see him rubbing his face, making me laugh silently despite the pain in my heart.
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just,” I take in a deep breath, feeling as if my throat is closing and making it harder for me to breathe and talk. “You remind me of my brother,” I say, my voice is almost like a whisper.
I feel tears begin to rush out of me, and I quickly stand on my feet, hiding my face behind my light coloured locks. I pat my bottom and trousers off any dirt, keeping the tears in my eyes from falling.
“Sorry, I have to go back home. I’ll see you around.” I flash him a quick smile and quickly move away from him before he lets out any words.
