*I do not own The Selection Trilogy or any of the content included. I only own made up character created by me, and the events in this fan fiction. Kiera Cass owns all.*
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed
Guest: I guess we will have to wait and see who America chooses!
maggiebswim: Thank you so much for reading! Go vote for Maxon on my poll then, so we can make sure he wins.
Basedonthosebooks: Go vote! Thanks for reading, and I appreciate all the support!
marissalara97: If you like Mason go vote for him in the poll! Thanks for much for reading, ad supporting this story!
linnearothi: Go vote for him then! Thanks for reading!
AlytheAmazinglyAwkward: Thank you so much! I don't really have a life right now, so that's why I update so much. Plus, today I'm sick so I couldn't go to school so I'm stuck with my dog, and my laptop! Thanks so much for reading!
s-sdensi: If it's possible for unregistered members, go vote for him in my poll to see who America ends up with! If it's not possible I'll tally guest score after voting done with! Thanks for reading(:
DivergentMockingjayElite: Thank you so much! Go vote on my poll and tell me who you want to win! Thank you again for reading and reviewing! You are the best!
Dauntless selected: Nope, but nice guess! I don't hate you! I just like to keep you on your toes, thanks for reading!
Guest mih: Nope, none of those, but thanks for trying! Thanks so much for reading my story!
Stialyna: I believe he already has lol! He's practically begging at everyone's feet for America lol. I guess we will see who comes out on top!
Zeta: Are guests able to vote on polls? If they are please vote on my poll, but if they are unable I will add in your vote at the end of the poll, run time. Thanks so much for reading!
Guest: Nope, but nice guess! Thanks for reading
ZetakloveN3: Aww that is so sweet! Thank you so much for reading this story, and loving it so much!
WisegirlAnnabethChase: Nope, but nice try! Thanks for reading!
Guest: Go vote for him if you are able! Thanks for reading!
Lara:Nope, but nice try!
dayaya198: Go vote for him on my poll if you are able! Thanks so much for reading!
Caraj4: Nope, but nice try (It's Sophia!) Thanks so much for reading!
GallagherGirls13BYE: Lol, you are to sweet! Thanks so much for reading this story and loving it so much. It really means the world to me to see everyone love this so much! I really didn't expect all this love over this story! #MacerForLife!
Byeology: I'm sorry for killing you! Please go vote on my poll to see who ends up with America! Thanks for reading!
Guest: I will take your long rant into consideration, but it's in the fans hands now. Go vote on my poll to ensure that Maxon wins the race for America's heart! Thanks so much for reading, and supporting me and this story!
Chapter Ten
The palace starts to fill up with people pretty quickly. Amelia is buzzing around the house like a bumble bee hyped up on sugar, but it really is kind of funny. The girl is almost eighteen, and she acts like a crazed teenage girl. It's rather adorable, and it just makes everyone smile when they are around her. Mason keeps telling me to wait for my surprise, but he knows that I hate surprises. They just make me jittery, and sometimes I feel the need to bite my nails. I do threw all the possibilities of what it could possibly be in my head, but I can never tell which it could.
"Lady America?" I look up from some papers to see a maid standing in the doorway of the lounge room.
"Yes?" I ask
"Prince Mason requests your appearance in his study. He says he has something for you." I smile breaks a crossed my face as I realize he has my surprise. I stand up and gather my wedding planner before nodding the young girl.
"Of course I'll make my way there right now." The young girl nods before scurrying off to finish her chores. I walk, in a fast manner, down the hall to Mason's private study. I knock on the door three times before I finally here a soft, British 'come in'. I shuffle into Mason's office and look around. This isn't the first time in here, actually I've been in here multiple times. Most of the time Mason is in here doing work, and I sit in here with him planning some things for the wedding. I know it seems early for wedding planning, considering we have only been engaged for a week and a half, but Queen Isabella says there is a lot to do in such a little amount of time. We already decided the wedding will be next summer.
"There you are, love. I was wondering what took you so long." Mason smiles at him as I sit on the couch opposite of his desk. Mason smiles at me, and there is a certain sparkle in his light brown eyes. I smile at him, obviously impatient.
"I came as quickly as I could, what is it you needed me for?" I ask, folding my hands in my lap. Mason chuckles at me.
"If you were busy, love, I can always keep this for later." Mason gestures behind him at the long brown box behind him. My eyes widen to the size of baseball. "Go ahead and open it, love" Mason says, chuckling with eyes sparkling with amusement. I race over to the box, falling to my knees beside it. I gently take the end of the box, and lift it up before moving the tissue paper out of the way.
What I see inside is astonishing. I run my hands over the emerald green silk filling up the box. It's one of the most beautiful ball gowns I have ever seen in my life. Here it is laying in front of me in all its glory. The whole gown skirt is made of silk, and it fluffs out into a full gown skirt. The top is made of lace, and is strapless. The whole thing is absolutely beautiful. I run my hands over it again, before gently taking out the note left in the box. I unfold It and almost burst into tears right then and there.
Lady America,
We miss you more than you could ever imagine, but we respect your decision to leave the competition. Prince Maxon has changed back to his usual self, in case you were wondering, and he mopes around the palace like a sad puppy, but you most likely don't want to hear about that. Congratulations on your engagement! We are so proud of you for keeping your head held high, and we know you are going to make and amazing Princess for the English Royalty. Please accept this ball gown as our thank you gift for being the best Lady any maids could ever ask for. We hope to see you again someday soon, and make sure to knock Prince Maxon's crown off with this gown to show him what a real Princess looks like. Good Luck, Lady America.
Your Gracious Maids,
Lucy, Anne, and Mary.
The note brings tears to my eyes as I read it for the fifth time. Those three young ladies worked their butts off the make me the best I could be, and I just left them without saying goodbye. For all I know they could be Celeste's maids, and God knows not the worst person in the world deserves that kind of treatment. I don't know how on earth I could have just left them like that without any type of thank you or goodbye. I am such and offal person. What on earth must I have been thinking?
"My, love do you not like it?" Mason's soft British voice calls from behind me. I turn around to face him, tears still burning in my eyes.
"Oh, no Mason. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever see in my life. Those three girls, they are truly something spectacular. If only you could have seen the other things they made for me, they are so gifted, and I just left them! How could I have been so selfish to not even tell them goodbye? After all they did for me, and after they had been through so much to make sure I was the best girl out there. They deserve so much better…." I can't say anymore because I am so ashamed of myself.
I feel strong arms wrap around my petite form, and Mason holds me close to him as I cry. I can't help but imagine Maxon's arms wrapped around me right now. He had to be almost here by now, or even worse he probably already is here. Tonight at dinner is the night I will have to face him for the first time since leaving unexpectedly. I sometimes like to think that I no longer love him after what he did to me, but I know better than that. There is no way I will ever be able to fall out of love for Maxon, and I know that after Aspen. I can't just waltz back to the Illea palace and ask for my spot back In the Selection. For one, I can't just leave Mason and call off the engagement after only a week and a half. Secondly, you can't come back to The Selection without Maxon calling you back, and King Clarkson would never let that happen I know that for a fact.
"I'm sure they understand, love." Mason whispers in my ear. "They sounded pretty happy when I spoke with them earlier." My head snapped up to meet Mason's. Once again there was that sparkle in his eyes again.
"You spoke with them? When? Why?" Mason chuckles at my many questions, something he says he has gotten used to.
"The Illean Royals have arrived earlier, and they brought the three with them at my expense. King Clarkson says they would really like to see you before dinner tonight. Why don't you go see them while I finish up these documents so we can have the rest of the time before dinner to spend together?" Mason asks with a small smile.
"The whole royalty? Even The Elite?" I say, a little breathless. I don't want to face them all by myself at least at dinner I would be surrounded by other people so Maxon and Kriss couldn't say anything to me.
"You'll be fine, Ames. I promise, besides you'll have to face them at sometimes. Father is thinking about alliancing with them. So we will be around them quite a lot. I promise I won't let him say anything that has to do with your past that you don't want to be said, alright? Just go talk to them for a little while." Mason stood up from his study chair and helps me to my feet. 'Come on I'll walk you down there. I'll make sure some maids take the dress and hang it in your wardrobe." I nod as we leave his study. We walk in silence as we make our way to the guest wing of the palace. As we stop in front of a door with the Illea seal on the front I know we have arrived at the Illea lounge. Everyone from my past is right behind these doors, and I know for a fact I am not ready to face all the faces. The faces who shattered my heart into a million pieces. Mason kisses my forehead and tears my gaze from the seal on the door.
"Calm down, my love. Everything will be alright. I will come get you when I am finished with my work alright? It shouldn't take me that long." With one more kiss on the forehead Mason is gone and I am left by myself in front of the door.
I bring my hand up to the door, but don't make any movement to knock on the door. I just can't seem to get my hand to move against the wood. My whole arm is shaking, and I don't know how to control it. I take a deep breath.
"No wonder Maxon gave up hope on you being his Princess, look at what a coward you are. Kriss would never be this afraid to knock on a door." Says a voice inside my head, and I realize that it's right. I am being a coward.
I don't want to be a coward.
I stand up a little straighter, and hold my head up high. I keep my shoulders back just like I've seen Queen Amberly, and Queen Isabella do. I hold myself just like the lady Sylvia taught me to be, and I knock on the door.
Knock, Knock, Knock
Three straight quarter notes pound threw the blood in my ears. I am not strong enough to handle this.
What was I thinking?
The door opens to reveal a face I knew I would never be able to handle seeing again. We just stare at each other, drinking each other in. I am so not ready for this. He is the first on to speak, but even then I chant to myself that this is a dream.
"Lady America." He says, bowing slightly
"Officer Leger." I reply, amazed at the strength in my voice.
I think I am going to pass out.
Surprise! Did I take you guys by surprise at that ending? I warned you that Aspen didn't go away for good, and before you ask, yes I didn't like Aspen in The Selection Series. Actually I hate him with a burning passion, but we need him to create more drama for America. I really hope America ends up with Maxon in The One! I really don't want her to be with anyone else, and I REALLY don't want Maxon to end up with someone like Kriss and Celeste!
Anyways, enough with that and I also want to thank everyone who tried to guess my name! I didn't really expect it to take this long considering my name is super common these days, its Sophia, and congrats to theselectionqueen for winning the long contest! So here is the next question!
What is my dogs name?
Clues: She's a girl, and it starts with the letter E!
Guess away, and remember only three guesses per person!
Thanks to everyone who read this chapter, I really appreciate it.
One more thing, everyone who is telling me who they want to win in reviews, they only count if you vote for them in the poll. I don't know if Guests are able to vote or not, please let me know if they are not because if they aren't I will tally in there votes at the end and they can send me it threw review, but only guests! I can't sort through all my #TeamMaxon and #TeamMason reviews! Thanks for understanding guys, and thanks for all the support! I will try and update later tonight and tomorrow as much as I can. I'm home because I am sick, ugh!
Thanks!
MandLMacerForLife