Connor situated himself on the big fluffy white sofa in his far too spacious chambers. It was only hours before his nineteenth birthday, four to be exact. The book in front of him, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, was considered to be a romance classic for all. Connor favored reading all the different kinds of stories that unfolded themselves but he was invested in romance novels. The prince contained himself within his rooms to read the books, away from the criticism of his family. Until his mother called for him that was. Two polite knocks were made on his bedroom door in which he had learned to recognize as his butler's.

"Come in," he hollered at the door. When Matt turned the doorknob and walked in, the words that came out of his mouth were not the most pleasant at that hour, especially when it was only four hours until your birthday.

"Her Majesty wishes to speak to you at her study immediately Prince Connor," the man said, his posture straight and face calm.

"How many times do I need to tell you? It's Connor," he spoke, rolling his eyes. Connor left his warm furniture and walked down the hall to his mother's office. The royal blue plush carpets were soft and thick enough to prevent Queen Eadlyn from being notified of her son's presence at her threshold.

"Hello, Matt said you wanted to speak with me."

The queen jumped slightly at her son's sudden voice filling the almost dead-silent halls and looked up to face him. Connor chuckled at the sight of his mother scared and sat in the comfy chairs directly in front her desk as she smiled at him.

"Yes, I did want to speak with you. Everyone in Illea is very well aware of your grandparents health state. I know you will be disagreeing with me at first in this course of action but hear me out Connor." The prince furrowed his brow and straightened his posture at the direction in which the conversation was goi–

"You're having a Selection."

"What? Are you cra–"

"I said hear me out Connor," he rolled his eyes at her and knew that out of all the things he desired to happen in his lifetime, having his own so-called Selection was at the very bottom of that list. Queen Eadlyn stood from her chair and began walking around her spacious study, crossing her arms. If anything was true, Connor knew that his mother was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and that beauty would never leave her. After straightening non-existent wrinkles at the hip of her cotton and chiffon purple gown, she said, "You're turning nineteen tomorrow and I think that we should announce your Selection there."

"But what does my Selection have to do with my grandparents?"

"The country needs a distraction and I'm afraid that my mother and father's health state are some of the worst news to hit them so far. We need the people's spirits up and your Selection is perfect for it."

"Why can't we find something else to make them jolly again? Why only a Selection?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest, the gray knit sweatshirt making him itchy. She stopped circling her room and strode closer to Connor.

"You are to take your throne soon, and by soon, I mean within the next five years. You'll need a wife by then too. The Selection is a great way to choose the princess of Illea and your wife. I know you've heard hundreds of times the stories of your grandparents and mine."

"What if I don't want a wife?" She smiled at him and continued walking.

"You may say you don't want a wife by trust me, you want–need someone by your side as king. I remember when I was your age and my mother and father told me that I would be hosting a Selection with thirty-five bachelors. I was just like you, never wanted a husband, nothing of that sort. But it worked out fine for me and your father and those before you. Think about it Connor, a Selection that not only benefits you but also Illea." she said softly, pausing to sit back down again.

"Still, I don't want a Selection and never will, mom."

"We need it, your dad and I have been thinking this through and we are going to have to put it in action by tomorrow. You have the rest of the night and morning to confirm the declaration of you Selection...Goodnight Connor." His mother got up from her seat and gave him a pat on his shoulder that would have been comforting on all other days than that night. She left him in her study and made way in the direction of her chambers.

Connor was fine with taking on the title of 'King of Illea' but not the one of 'husband'. That made him attached to whoever it was that he was married to. Like a cage, confined to whatever his wife wanted restricted. But he couldn't just rule alone. And he would have to admit that all those economic and financial meetings did mention the inactivity if citizens after King Maxon and Queen America were deemed in an unhealthy as well as unstable state. It was his priority right? He was going to be king and he was already the prince. So did that not make him required to have a Selection? Questions and questions ran through his mind and soon he found himself at the game room, only to be occupied by his sister Mira.

"Hey silly-head," Mirabella called at him. She was looking through the mini-fridge he had ordered to be placed there and the room dark other than the screen and blue string lights. It was a girly game he noticed, not at all unexpected for a girl like Mira. Despite her sixteen year old self, Mira looked and acted younger. Not that anyone would call her out for it. Mira waved her hand to gesture Connor to sit on the sofa with her. He sat down with a huff and she turned around to face him directly.

"What happened? I heard mom wanted to see you earlier."

"She wants me to have a Selection," he mumbled, flopping on his stomach.

"You're kidding me right? A Selection?"

"I know right, I was thinking the same," he said into the pillow.

"No, no, I mean that's a great, amazing idea!" Mira was jumping up and down, smiling from ear to ear. Connor turned around to see his sister and gave her a slightly exasperated expression.

Connor muttered under his breath, "Just great, another person who agrees with her."

"No honestly though Connor, I FINALLY get a sister. You get a long-term girlfriend. We're all good."

"A 'long-term' girlfriend is called a wife Bella."

"Whatever, same thing. But when are you telling everyone?"

"I don't want to have my own Selection, but mom and dad are saying that the announcement is being made tomorrow at my birthday ball."

"You can't run from getting married any longer, Connor. Mom was even younger than you when she met Dad."

"But they're them and I'm me. Big difference."

"Not at all. You can do it, I know you can. Come on, you already know every girl in the country minus me swoons at the sight of you."

"I'll think about it." The two siblings hung out for the rest of the night together, playing games and eating until it was midnight. Connor treaded back to his room, the weight on his shoulders slightly lighter. Maybe he would have his own Selection. When he finally got himself under the covers, exhaustion took over his body.

It was much earlier in the morning when Connor awoke, receiving less sleep than normal from the troubling thoughts and decisions to make. It was decided in his mind just as Matt completed his infamous two polite knocks on Connor's bedroom door and strode in, pleasantly in a happier mood.

"Happy birthday Connor," the butler sang.

He mumbled "Thanks" in reply but his response was muffled by a yawn.

"Chop chop Prince, it's your big day." Matt hung up the custom-tailored suit they had fitted him for just last week. So on the day went, Connor preparing himself for the massive ball and receiving "Happy Birthday's" all throughout the morning. Before he knew it, it was six-o'clock and he was at the doors to the ballroom. The page at the door announced the Prince's presence just as he descended the stairs, perfectly calm and postured. The guests cheered and clapped as he made his way to the center of the ballroom, positioning himself next to his family on the thrones.

The ball had only started mere minutes before and he was immediately waiting for the timing to be right so that he could make a beeline straight for the hor d'oeuvres.

"Happy Birthday again, son" his father said, "I hope you're excited." Connor whipped his head around to see his father's expression.

"Excited for what?" he asked, slightly puzzled.

The prince consort chuckled in response, "Your Selection," and when Connor's reaction was dull, he added, "are you not having one?"

"I'm not sure Father, I'm pretty sure everyone wants me to have one but just not me."

"Connor, your mom was the same as well. But look what happened, she got the best man in the country." Eikko as always, putting others before him, tried to lighten up his son's mood. Connor smiled and gave his Father a shrug and got up from his throne. If he were to be completely honest, he had already been leaning his opinion to one side since earlier that day. The rest of the ball passed soon enough with greeting advisors and governors and all those other political figures that Connor had subsequently forgotten after brief handshakes. But most importantly, it was time.

He moved towards stage off to the right of the room and made his way up the stairs. The nervousness finally began to settle in his body, afraid of the months that would come. He could only hope for the best, yet what he would be getting was so much more than that. Connor cleared his throat and every head turned to face him, silent immediately. He was ready.

"I would like to thank everyone who made it to my nineteenth birthday bash and well wishes. Tonight however, ladies and gentlemen, I have an even greater surprise. I am so excited to say...I am having a Selection," he finished, smiling broadly and for once, it was genuine.

Applause erupted from the crowd, cheering Connor on. For his country, he reminded himself. For his family. But he could not forget the part in which he was secretly trying to avoid, for himself, for his soon to-be wife. Deep down Connor knew that he was truly waiting for the moment all thirty-five ladies were chosen and announced on national television. One of them would be his queen and it was nerve-racking to imagine that that special someone was arriving at the palace in just a few weeks.

And so the process began, preparing for Prince Connor Magnus Aldrin Koskinen Schreave's Selection.