CHAPTER II

The reporter was consistently writing notes of whatever the royal family said in the process of starting the Selection, so Cassian and Kian were careful in their speech. Amri and Amber continued to say what came to their minds though.

Braxton Eleazar, The reporter, bent down to their level with his blue note pad and ballpoint pen, and asked them, "Are you girls excited to see your brothers married?"

The nodded their heads at the same time.

"I can't wait-" Amri started.

"Cassian's gonna marry someone beautiful-" Amber cut in.

"Kian's gonna marry someone absolutely gorgeous!" Amri announced.

"Do you like our flower crowns?" They asked adjusting each others dandelion and daisy crown.

Braxton smiled. "Beautiful crowns for beautiful princesses." The girls just noticed that the camera from Channel 2, The Illea Report, was on them. They smiled and waved naturally, Amri blowing a couple kisses, then took the hand of their caregiver, Zoey, and continued their walk through the gardens. Zoey was patiently attempting to show the girls how to make their own flower crowns, but it ended up with dozens on dandelion heads and stems on the grass.

Cassian and Kian were watching them from a distance.

Turning to his brother, Cassian said, "Do you realized that in maybe five years, we'll have daughters of our own?"

Kian didn't smiled. "Cassian, I would like to remind you that this Selection thing was your idea, and your decision. I am simply going with it because I have no other choice." He leaned back against the bench and ignored Cassian, and instead observed the blade of grass on his shoe. A wedding gift, Amber had giggled as she gave it to him.

Cassian nudged Kian with his elbow. "Better get in good mood about this thing. Here come Dad and some reporters."

Kian internally scowled as they came closer. He wanted to scowl at the reporters, but that was not how a prince would act.

"What are you looking for in a girl, Princes?" one lady asked, her high heels tapping on the stone sidewalk expectantly. As usual, Cassian was the first to speak up.

"Someone pretty, and that can handle the job of being a princess, and maybe a queen someday."

"And you, Prince Kian?"

Kian opened his mouth to say something similar to Cassian's, but I might as well be honest.

"A nice personality. Kind, forgiving, patient. A sense of humor is always nice." He grinned for the cameras and after a few questions with the reporters, who switched from the King to Cassian, to him, Kian was finally allowed to retreat to his own quarters and be alone. Applications for the Selection were beginning to file in rapidly, uncountable photos of girls with a fake smile and too much make up. He had picked a few ladies, about five out of the thirty five. One was a four, two fives, and two three's. He had to admit, they were beautiful, but what caught his eye was what they listed as their hobbies. Music, Art, Dance, things they said made them happy. Kian wanted someone happy, someone to make him feel happy. One said that if she wasn't selected, she was going to work as an elementary school teacher, because she liked kids. Amri and Amber would love her.

He said. What if he didn't fall in love with any of them? He'd have to spend his life with someone he didn't love. He flopped onto his bed and stared at the ceiling, cursing himself for agreeing with Cassian.

"Gabriella Schreave!" Her sister falls on the floor, choking on laughter, but Gabriella doesn't smile. Finally, Mrs. Biyen shushes her youngest daughter, sending Sandra to her room. Adelynn Biyen gazed at her daughter, tears welling in her eyes.

"Gabby, you know I would never make you do this-"

Gabriella stood up, hands pressed to the table. She knew that a young lady entering the Selection shouldn't yell, but she couldn't contain her anger.

"Mother! Can't you see I love my life here in Dakota? How can you ask me to leave Heidi and Sara and Graham? They've been my friends since forever!" Gabriella couldn't bare to think about leaving her friends forever, her home, and everything else she loved. Inside, a dark oily anger lit up in her chest against the princes. This was their fault. Everyone knew that Queen America wasn't too hot on the idea of the Selection, but their kids were. Gabrielle, feeling hot tears trickle down her cheeks, sat down on her chair and rested her head in her arms, beginning to sob.

Adelynn placed a hand on her daughters head, stroking her blonde hair. "Gabby, darling, I did this to give you a better chance at life. If your father doesn't return by the end of the month, We'll be sixes again, not threes. We'll have to go back to my home town. Gabby, if you don't do this, we'll starve."

"You could have at least asked me. I don't even know what i'm going into!" She sobbed. She felt cowardly for crying. Her family need her to do this. But she wanted her marriage to be her decision. She wanted to fall in love.

"Gabby, they haven't even announced the winners. If you don't get in, we can at least say you tried."

"And if I do?"

"Then put on your best smile for those handsome princes."