2. Ain't No Way to Avoid It

On my 8th birthday, I received five peculiar presents, and each was sent by one of the Princes. I think that was a reminder that I wouldn't be able to bypass knowing them this year, after all, in two months it'll make 5 years since my agreement with my parents. And ain't no way to avoid it from happening this time.

Afraid of them having sent me savage animals to hurt me or something like that, I opened the presents in front of everyone. But to my surprise, it was five different books. Each of them had a message from each of the Princes.

They must have heard of how I love books from aunt Merilyn. Mom seemed delighted by the presents, while I was a little bit repulsed. I couldn't help feeling like this when those presents came from my possible murderers. However, I pretended to love them in front of everybody else.

"The boys chose their favorite books and sent them to you. They all read it before and wrote their notes on it, so you will know their thoughts on the stories," aunt explained with a lovely smile.

If it were someone else, it would have been romantic. "Oh, that's cool. I'll read, write my own notes and give them back to them, so they will know my thoughts about it!" Better than keeping those books with me.

That seemed to make both her and my parents happy, and the other nobles present too. "That would be lovely, Lily. But you can also just tell them personally, after all, you will be meeting them in two months!" I felt sick hearing my aunt's words.

"Yeah," I feigned excitement. "However, I think it'll be cool to do it the way I said. That way, they will be able to also enjoy my notes, as I'll enjoy theirs. Not to mention that a week is enough for me to read all five books because I'm an avid reader, aunt!"

She giggled. "What a prodigy you are, Lily. Aunt is very proud of you!"

I let the side-to-side smile take over my lips. "The Queen is saying she's proud of me, I think I'll never be able to get over this!" Everybody else giggled at hearing me say that, finding me adorable.

One thing is for sure, the nobles adore me. If it depends on me, I won't give them reasons to gossip mean things about me, as they did to the Amelie of the game. And I waited until everybody left to go to my chambers and actually take a good look at the books.

Prince Kaleb sent me a book with adventure and action, with a 12-year-old vampire girl as the protagonist, called Bonny & the Mysteries of the Endless Woods. And I love books of those two genres, especially when they are related to the other races because in the game I wasn't able to know that much about it. His note said, [Hello, Princess Amelie Mhorgain Winter. Happy 8th birthday. I would have gone in person to meet you, but my mother and aunt told me to wait two months for some reason. Well, this is my present for you. It's my favorite book, and it has all of my thoughts on it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Prince Kaleb!] And his writing is really stunning and well designed.

While Prince Nathan sent me a book of romance between a dwarf girl and the leader of the wolf shifters tribe, called Liam's Heart. I was surprised to see he liked to read romance, but the synopsis was indeed adorable, I have to confess. The note said, [Hi, can I call you Amelie? Well, I think you won't mind it. Hello, Amelie, it's your cousin here. Aunt told us it's your birthday, so, happy birthday. I'm giving you this book, it's my favorite, and full of my notes. I love romance, and my aunt told me girls also love it, so, I hope you will love it as well. Prince Nathan Mhorgain.] And he seems exactly as he was in the game.

Now, Prince Valentin sent me a book of fantasy and adventure, where an 11-year-old eagle shifter with the power to control others' dreams, turned out to be the chosen one, the savior who will save all the races from demons, and the title was simply Morpheus. In the note, he wrote, [Happy birthday, Princess Amelie. Aunt Merilyn told me that you enjoy reading, so, like my siblings, I chose to give you the book I cherish the most. It's the first volume of a series of five. If you enjoy the story, I have the rest of the series and I wouldn't mind lending it to you. See you in two months. Prince Valentin.] Well, he was far more pleasant than Nathan, for sure.

Prince Erik's choice was, to my surprise, a drama about a young vampire boy songwriter, who dreamed of the day the entire Luthais could be united through his songs and piano skills. I couldn't help but notice that out of the five, his letter was the one with the most beautiful handwriting, [I wish you a happy birthday, Princess Amelie. The present I decided to give you (worthy to say that I was the first one to choose this, not my siblings) was my favorite book because mom said it would have a deeper meaning. The story has a deep plot, but as they said you are clever, I think you will enjoy it. Prepare yourself to cry while reading it. From the smartest Prince of the Kingdom, Erik!] He got me smiling, I won't lie, he seems to be way cooler than in the game.

Lastly, Prince Benjamin's gift was a book of action, where a tiger shifter saw his human best friend get assassinated by beasts on the border of the Endless Woods, and the beast run away from its territory to hunt him and kill him as well. And it isn't something an 8-year-old child should read, although it got my interest. [So, you are finally 8 years. Mother told me you didn't want to meet us until this year because we don't have royal blood, like you. Anyways, enjoy your birthday. I present you with my favorite book, although I doubt a Princess would enjoy or understand the plot. Prince Benjamin Mhorgain!] As in the game, he's the most arrogant of them all, and the one I liked the least.

Prince Erik, Kaleb, Valentin, Nathan, and Benjamin. That's the order of who I liked the most to who I liked the least. Erik and Kaleb being almost tied, I kind of expected to like them more than the others when we eventually met. Valentin is way cooler than the other two. While Nathan and Benjamin are annoying, condescending, and arrogant in my opinion.

That is, they are all arrogant and annoying, but the last two are way more than the other three. And that's also the order in which I'll read the books. Mom and dad opened the door of my chambers and saw me laying on my bed, with the books in front of me.

"So, how was it, darling?" Dad asked excitedly.

"If I had to choose a husband out of these three, it would be either Erik, Kaleb, or Valentin. I don't even want to consider the other two. Nathan is clueless about his place and annoying. Benjamin is arrogant and condescending," sigh. "But they all have good taste in books!"

Mom still seemed hopeful. "Does that mean you will make an effort to, at least, have a good relationship with Princes Erik, Kaleb, and Valentin?" It's not like I have any option.

Biting my bottom lip, I took some time before giving her an answer. "Yes. But that doesn't change my fear of any of the killing me. They could be faking their intentions," dad chuckled at that.

"Dear, you are probably the only 8-year-old who's so careful and suspicious of others like that," probably because I'm not necessarily an 8-year-old. "You promised you would avoid thinking that if we put you in martial arts class," that only means I won't voice my worries.

"Sorry," I bit my lip. "I'll try to stay calm. Anyways, thank you for another amazing birthday."

They came to me and hugged me together. "Anything for you, darling!"