Xander POV

I can hear the giggling and chatter of girls all the way up on the third floor. Come on Xander, you can do this. Just put up with it, and it'll all be over.

Taking a deep breath, I push open the door, and take a step outside.

I walk down the hall, preparing myself for the frenzied girls I would soon meet.

The Great Room was filled with girls, just as I predicted. But, it was silent, there was no chatter or anything. I soon saw why. My father was sitting up, on this stage-like platform, just staring down at them. Anyone would feel intimidated.

I sat down on the chair beside him. My mother was also already there, but unlike my father, she was looking at the girls with warm, loving eyes. One of them would soon be her daughter-in-law afterall. One of them? Yes. Because I know for a fact that none of these girls will be able to make my stone cold heart move. I mean, they entered for…money, the crown. I bet none of these girls actually want the man.

Nathan enters the room and all eyes land on him. He seems shocked for a moment, but calms down and joins us.

My father looks around, making sure everybody has arrived. I can hear the scurrying of maids at the back. There are multiple camera sets in the back, ready to film the first 'episode' of The Selection.

"Welcome all to The Selection, where one of you, I mean two of you will be the future wives of my sons. I wish you all good luck." He passes the microphone to my mother.

"My advice is simple - just be yourself." She smiles sweetly.

Adam comes up on stage as well, and mom passes the microphone to him.

"Well, Illea, its time to see all of the girls transformations!"

The projector behind us comes to life and soon a video runs.

There are 'before' and 'after' pictures of all of the selected girls. Some have literally changes themselves. Hair is different, style is different. Their changing what made us to choose them in the first place.

Wasn't mother's advice to just be yourself?

I sigh. Father's stares at me like a hawk, and I know in his mind, he's telling me to behave like a proper prince. Be interested, not bored.

I straighten my back and raise my head, sitting in the perfect posture.

The camera sets are put away, and the cameramen leave the premises.

Grace comes on stage.

"Now, ladies. Please enjoy the banquet we have prepared for you all as a welcome party. First, you will all be given a number, when your number is called, please come to the room over there." She points towards a small room all the way at the back of the room. We usually use it as a resting room for breaks between the shooting of 'The Report'.

My mother and father get ready to leave the room.

"Mother, you're not staying?" I see Nathan ask, tugging at her dress.

She shakes her head. "It's all up to you now sweetie." Mother ruffles his hair and gives him a comforting smile.

Two strong-looking men escort them out of the room, as Nathan and I just watch.

I look around and see that the girls are slowly leaving their seats, ready to enjoy the banquet.

"Let's go." Nathan says to me, staring at the meeting room.

"Yeah."

Lilia McGuinan POV

I watched as the King and Queen left the room.

Just as Grace said, we were given numbers. They were printed on this cute small card.

I look around, desperate to find someone I can befriend. They were all already in these groups or pairs, some went around alone, but it looked like they didn't want any company.

I pat on this pretty girl's back, hoping I would get her attention and she would just let me join her conversation. She turns back and just glares at me. I let go of her shoulder and just ran off.

This time I tap on the back of a brown-haired girl. She turns and doesn't show me any signs of disgust.

"Hi, I'm Lilia." I whisper shyly.

"Oh, umm." She looks at her other friend and then back at me again. "I'm Christina." With that short introduction, she turns her back to me and continues to chatting with her friend.

"Number 12?" I hear gruff voice call out. Nobody responds.

Why isn't number 12 going?

"Number 12?" The voice calls out again, this time louder and clearer. There are murmurs all around the room. Who is it? Can they just go about their turn already?

The other girls start checking their little cards, just confirming their own number.

Well, I already know I'm number 21. Just in case, I take a peek at my card. The big, bold number stare straight back at me. 12.

I quickly run towards the room, hoping I won't attract any attention. But its me, so soon everybody is staring at me, giggling and laughing.

"I'm sorry." I apologise to the big man standing infant of the door. "I messed the numbers up and I got confused.. Then I saw that the other girls were checking their cards so I got out my card and also che-"

The man interrupts me and just tells me to go in the room already, saying that we're on a tight schedule.

I just laugh nervously and walk in.

"Hello, my dear." I see this gorgeous man sitting on a fluffy armchair.

"Ummm… Hiiiiii…" I say stuttering.

"Won't you have a seat?" He gestures towards the armchair that's facing his.

I sit down.

"So what's your name?"

"I am Lilia McGuinan, and ummm, that's pronounced Mecguinen, and its spelt M-C-G-U-I-N-A-N, and it's my last name."

He laughs. What's so funny? I suddenly feel really self-conscious. I pull a strand of loose hair and place it behind my ear.

"So, ummm, who are you?" I ask.

"Well, someone wan't listening to Grace." He gives me a sly smile. "I'm Prince Nathan, here at your service."

WHAT? I literally fall off my chair. He laughs again and helps me back up.

"Oh, ummm." I know my face is as red as a tomato by now.

"Any hobbies?" He asks after I'm back on my seat.

"Well, I like a lot of things! I like to sleep, I like to eat…" I look up at him and see that he's laughing quietly to himself. I clear my throat. "Anyways, I'm really into photography."

He notes something down on his book.

"Interesting. So talk to me. Give me an overall image of Lilia McGuinan."

"So, Lilia McGuinan is a girl that came from Fennley, a really nice place. I love it. She likes to play basketball and her mom is also kind of annoying. But don't tell her mother she said that though. Sometimes, she goes out to take photographs but she doesn't have much time for that because she's forced to work. Work is really boring. Her father always says that Lilia comes from Lily which means purity and beauty. He always says that Lilia is really pretty but she knows she's not. Oh yeah! She really likes ice cream." I stop there, really searching my brain for other information.

He looks overwhelmed.

"Well, Lilia, thank you for your time. You may go now." He gives me a warm smile and I can feel my heart just melting from that dreaminess.

I bow and scurry out of the room. Wait, why did I bow! It's a curtsy! Damn it.

I was in there for such a short time. Did I fail? That's just like me, ruining every opportunity I get.

Nathan POV

Number 15 is called. A girl with wavy blonde hair comes in and sits herself down on the armchair.

"Your name is?" I ask, ready to jot down notes.

"Brayden Havens." She answers, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"So Brayden, how are you feeling right now?" I watch as she thinks hard.

"Well, this has been pretty fun so far! The food out there is just…" She stares into my eyes seriously. "The best thing I have ever ate, which is saying a lot cause I have ate other types of luxurious food before." I write 'food' next to her name.

"So, do yo-"

"Are you and Xander exactly the same?" She asks, leaning in.

"How did you know that I'm Nathan? I didn't tell you my name." I say, genuinely surprised. There have been times when even mother couldn't tell us apart. Well, that was several years ago, when we were inseparable.

"Ah, I don't know." She shrugs her shoulders casually. "I guess. Hmmm… I don't know!" She laughs, and I laugh along.

I'm surprised by her carefree attitude. If I was her, I would be shaking in nervousness.

"What do you like to do in your free time?"

"I like to play volleyball, and sometimes I surf."

Oh, that's why she looks so fit.

"Volleyball, I play as well."

"Then maybe we should play sometime." She says, then notices my expression. Such a straightforward girl! Is she asking me out on a date?

"I mean, I'll accept your challenge. I'm just so used to being challenged you know." She laughs for a moment but then her face becomes expressionless.

"Well, it was nice meeting you." I stand up to show her out of the room.

Brayden awkwardly shakes me hand, but doesn't really look at me.

"Number 27?" I read my list and inform Grace of the next girl I have to meet.