"Settle down, now." Queen Miriam swept strands of her signature platinum locks behind her shoulder as she addressed her children, adoration written all over her face. The four Castello siblings had been running around and swatting each other with foam sticks- atleast, 3 of them had. The eldest princess had been lurking in the corner with her younger brother, watching her other siblings in cultured disdain as she stroked an ebony cat sleeping on her lap.

"I am settled down." She complained over the noise of the banter, smoothing down the creases on her nightgown with feathery hands. The cat had run off to sleep somewhere else.

"I know, Estelle, dear, but-" Her Majesty was cut off by the sudden silence. It seemed that something about the aura of their mother had alerted the children that today's bedtime story was an important one they couldn't miss. They all sat at Miriam's feet, watching her with rapt attention in their wide eyes.

Donovan, the eldest, defined by gold eyes and a desire to gain the title of General in his father's army. Estelle, with her pure, ladylike personality and determination to be a 'good lady of court', characterised by her bright silver eyes. Celestine, the most tomboyish girl you would find for miles. Her neon green eyes saw only hope for herself, an aspiration to become the first female soldier in the kingdom's armada and cavalry. Victor, the odd one, always off in his own world. His starry eyes held secrets more than jewels in a trove. And finally, little chubby-cheeked Castinago, who had not much more than a ferocious obstinacy to be older than he actually was. His eyes were a vivid purple hue.

"But what?" Estelle's voice rang out, disturbing the queen's thoughts.

"Nothing." Miriam breathed, shaking her head gently. "Now, let's start." A warm smile lit her face as she began to speak, handing mugs of hot milk and cookies to the four children.

King Lothario Castello looked out at his kingdom, standing on the balcony. His superior hearing picked up the soft click of the bedroom door opening, and the unique breathing of his half-breed wife. He didn't turn around though, not even when she walked up behind him and placed a gentle hand on his arm. Rigid spine and set shoulders, he turned his head away from her so she couldn't see his face. He knew it would be showing signs of fatigue and extreme hunger, and he didn't want to worry her over nothing.

"The children are asleep." She murmured, rubbing his arm softly. "What's up with you?"

"Are they showing any signs of what they are?" Lothario ignored her question, unable to bring himself to lie to her no matter what the reason behind it was.

"Well, not really. But Estella's being grumpy, and if she's anything like you then that means she's hungry." Miriam replied with a wry smile. The King glanced at her incredulously.

"I am not grumpy!" He protested, turning to face her. "I just..." He waved a hand in a vague gesture. The Queen raised an eyebrow bemusedly, resting her palm on his cheek.

"Lothario, you need to hunt. Leave one of your viziers to look after the kingdom for a while, nothing's going to happen. Take Estella or Donovan with you, if you wish, or even Celestine and Castinago. Take all four of them, if you think you can handle them." The amused look still hadn't left her face. She cut off the King as he opened his mouth with yet another excuse not to leave. "I know about the darkness." Her gaze darkened.

"But they wouldn't dare attack when you're busy replenishing yourself. Because then they'll have you in your full power to deal with." Miriam replaced her glower with yet another smile, and stepped forward to kiss him slowly.

OKAY, let's leave those two with their privacy, and move forward about a century. King Lothario is still fighting the so called darkness, with an ever beautiful Queen Miriam by his side. The four Castellano siblings are teenagers now, and bound to stay that way for a long, long time.

However during the latest attack on the royals, Miriam had been targeted and thrown back by a huge, unnameable force. Something poisonous wheedled its way into her system, and she is now fighting her own battle in her bed. A battle of life and death.

Her resolve has sunk to the depths of the Mariana Trench, and she's lost all sight of hope. The one thing she does want to see though, before her eyes close forever, is the lives of her children fixed. She wants them to find love and get married before she leaves them.

And so the Royal family of the Kingdom of Castellano is holding a selection.

Castinago adjusted his bow tie uncomfortably, glowering at it in the mirror. "Damn these fancy clothes." He grumbled, turning away from his reflection as he pulled his sleeves down. Their father had fitted new, stiff formal clothes for them last week, just for the announcement of the selection.

"Estelle, put the cat down, you're going to ruin your dress. Where's Victor?" Donovan called, already at ease in his new skin. He remembered the story they had been told all those years ago by their mother, since he had been old enough to understand. Attempting to rally the other four children, he looked around for the two youngest royals.

"Hiding from the cameras!" Piped up Celestine, grinning as she skipped around in her . Her short hair stuck up messily, her expression that of someone who knew they were going to annoy someone. Almost immediately, Victor stalked in glaring at her.

The five Castellos lined up, each providing moral support for another, and took deep breaths, suddenly serious. They were going to find a partner in the next few months, for the sake of their mother. And not all of them thought the same way about it.

Estelle had a huge smile on her face for once, and stepped forward to open the door. "Let's go!" She announced, excited. Her chance to prove she was a true lady. One by one, her siblings left the room, heading for the palace's great hall, where they would either feel good about finding love, or feel bad about selling their souls away. Either way, they were each doing the same thing.