Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything is property of Kiera Cass.
Chapter 1
As I walk down the hall to breakfast everything seems to have a new energy about it. While there is a certain amount if emptiness now that 16 more girls have been quickly eliminated, there is also an odd light of potential and possibility. Never before have I looked at the hallway, the staircase, or the prestige crystal chandeliers and thought that it could all be mine. Maxon had made it very clear last night that I was the only remaining candidate from the selection that he had kept solely for purposes of attraction. He seemed to say that he was not in love with any of the other girls by any means. But was he in love with me? The idea that in a very short amount of time I could be the crowned princess of Illea was enough to make me lose my appetite.
I had never envisioned this life for myself, while untold amounts of other teenage girls around the country would kill for the opportunity to be in my shoes I was still unsure. I felt very deeply for Maxon and a part of me could see myself falling in love with him. However, I still couldn't give him the peace of mind that he was looking for. Now that Aspen was in the castle, watching me and drawing me in with his gaze it seemed like my decision could not get any more complicated. Aspen was not pleased when he found out that I have feelings for Maxon but after leaving me sad and alone the night before I left for the selection, I couldn't say that I was all too pleased with him either. I was still so madly in love with him, however, and he knew that. It would be so much easier to leave the rest of the world behind and run away into the sunset just Aspen and I. My life could never be that simple, though, Aspen was at the castle as a draft soldier. Even if I chose to go home and leave Maxon behind, Aspen and I couldn't just run home together, back to our tree house under the cover of nightfall. We were different people now.
If my issues with Aspen weren't enough to make my head spin there was also the fact that Maxon only got thirty-five girls to pick from in the first place and now he's admitted that I am the one he wants. Asking to go home and denying Maxon my hand would condemn him to marry someone that he did not actually have strong feelings for. Could I actually do that to someone? Just cast someone aside knowing that I'm taking away their hopes of true love? The fact that I had to even worry about something like that infuriates me. How did I get here? How did I go from having it all figured out to being completely uncertain of what the next moment might hold?
I shook these thoughts out of my head as I met the castle guards outside of the smaller dining room across from the great hall. I suppose that now with only six girls left in the competition the meals would be getting a lot more intimate and personal with the royal family. The doors opened and all of my uncertainty seemed to vanish, for staring at me on the other side was half of my very complex dilemma. "Good morning Miss America." Maxon's sly smile, that I was beginning to know so well, began to spread over his face. He took my arm to lead me to my seat among the other girls at the dining room table. "Good morning, Maxon." I said it low and soft so that the other girls would not catch on to just how close and comfortable our relationship was starting to become.
Marlee, Kris, and two of the other remaining contestants were already in their seats when I arrived in the dining room. Celeste was the only one that had yet to arrive. This was not surprising. There was a very good chance that she was purposefully waiting to come downstairs until after she was certain everyone else was already in attendance. That way she was guaranteed a big dramatic entrance, wearing something stunning no doubt, to catch the attention of not only the royal family but all of her competition as well.
As if on cue, Celeste entered the dining room in true princess fashion, she sashayed into her seat spreading out the skirt of her long ball gown-like dress that looked more like an outfit that one would wear to a fancy gala rather than just breakfast. She nodded cordially to the Queen, the King, and Prince Maxon in turn. They all nodded back in a similar cordial fashion. I really hoped that Celeste wasn't the family favorite. While I could see why they would think of her as the perfect princess type they had no idea how truly evil she really was. If I didn't get selected and I did go home I would want the title to go to Marlee or Kris. They are also my next two highest choices for Maxon's wife. Not only do I truly believe that Celeste would run the country into the ground, I am also certain that she would make Maxon miserable. That is what concerns me most. I want Maxon to be happy, with or without me.
Now that all of the potential princesses were in attendance the kitchen staff wasted no time expediting food out of the kitchen at an astounding rate. Bagels, donuts, muffins, scones, and just about every other pastry imaginable came out first, followed by enough fruit to feed America's entire family for a week. Next came eggs followed by bacon, sausage, ham, and toast. Milk, coffee, juice, cocoa, and water were also present. As I started loading my plate with a little bit of everything as I normally did the small talk from the King and Queen began. The queen's sister had warned me that after the majority of the cuts were made the King and Queen would be very eager to get to know each of us personally. They made the rounds, asking each girl in turn about home, their likes and dislikes, how they liked staying here in the castle, and about any other topic that you could think of to discuss with a room full of almost complete strangers.
I sat at the end of the table so the King and Queen would most likely be addressing me last but I noticed that while all of the other girls talked and laughed with the Royal family Maxon's eyes were almost exclusively glued on me. I was trying to quietly eat my breakfast, remember the manners that we'd been taught upon arrival at the castle, and mind my own business. There was nothing that I wanted less first thing in the morning than to pretend to gossip and giggle with Celeste who couldn't seem to stop talking for more than five seconds. It was surprising when the queen got the opportunity to get a word in edgewise.
Was this really the type of girl that the kingdom wanted as their princess? A selfish, self absorbed know it all? She cut other girls off mid-sentence, completely monopolized the conversation, and laughed at her own jokes throughout the entire meal. Some of the girls were trying to keep up with her. Kris especially was trying to work her way into the conversation pretty heavily for a while before giving up almost entirely to finish her bagel. I can't say that I put up much of a fight. I was more than content to drink my cocoa and send teasing stares back and forth with Maxon. However, as the maids came to collect our dishes and the conversations were coming to a close the queen stopped Celeste and addressed me directly.
"Lady America" The Queen's voice was calm and soft but I immediately straightened up in response. "It's a shame that you were all the way down there at the other end of the table this morning. Perhaps we'll have tea and catch up a little later? Just us two?" I was quiet for a moment, processing what she'd just said. Several of the other girls had not really gotten a chance to talk to the Queen this morning either, but she wasn't inviting any of them to a private tea. What had Maxon told her about me? Had he disclosed our entire clandestine love affair and our secret talks throughout the selection process? Another critical thing to consider: What did the other girls think that Maxon had said about me?
As the silence stretched for one moment too long I could feel the other girls envious and jealous eyes settling on me from all directions. Suddenly I found me voice, and not a moment too soon. "Yes your highness, I would love to, thank you ever so much for offering." My eyes met Maxon's in that moment and a small smirk settled over his lips.