Yes, I know it has been a long time since I updated, and right after I said the next chapter should be up pretty quick, but the new school year started and I had so much homework that I had no time for anything but volleyball. I'm so sorry lovelies! I hope this is okay, I wrote the two halves of it about three weeks apart.

I ran as fast as I could to my father's study and skidded to a stop right before the door. I knocked and heard a muffled 'come in' and swung open the door, determined to say my side of the story before he blew his lid.

"I am so sorry father! Miss Flower and another lady were in a fight and I just had to-"

He put his hand up to abruptly stop the flow of words, "I have already been made aware of the situation," He informed me – rather smugly I thought.

"What?" I asked aloud. How had anyone gotten here faster than me? Apparently more people were present besides myself and three guards, "I did not think anyone would have had time."

"One of my maids witnessed the whole thing and as soon as she saw the situation was handled she came immediately to me."

"Oh," I said dumbly. Well that makes sense.

"Now, the matter that I wished to speak with you about was that you should start planning to hold events for the Selected. Group activities that they can all participate in so you can 'get a feel' for them without having to take every lady on her own personal date."

Pushing aside my amusement at my father saying strange things like 'get a feel for' in his overly serious tone I had to admit that his was a very good idea.

"Excellent plan father. Do you have any events in mind already?"

"No. I leave that up to you, but for the sake of this family please inform me of your plans so I may make changes as I see fit."

He seemed genuinely horrified with whatever he thought I would come up with, disturbing me enough into immediate compliance, "Yes father."

"And keep in mind that the country will be seeing the entirety of this event on television so naturally I expect only the loveliest, most charming get together. Understood?"

"Understood."

~T~H~E~S~E~L~E~C~T~I~O~N~A~G~A~I~N~

The next morning I immediately sent a maid with a note to Kate Jasmin, which I had found was the surfer girl's name. Miles wasn't available-just one of the downsides of having your best friend in the Royal Guard, his off days were few and far between-so I had sent a butler to him to ask for her form. I didn't have the heart to ask for all of them because it somehow took his mind off of his ex and wallowing in his own misery to keep them all organized and worry himself about my previously nonexistent love life.

If that makes any sense.

The note simply read:

Hello Miss Kate,

I would be delighted if you could join me near the main Southern doors at four in the afternoon tomorrow. Please wear sandals and something light. I am eager for our date!

Sincerely,

Prince Alexander

I hoped that didn't seem rude because of how short is was but there was nothing else to say. I wanted our date to be a surprise so I couldn't tell her much else, plus it was much too early in a relationship to be spouting poetry and such. And you know what? If she has the nerve to be upset about that, then maybe she shouldn't be here! Woah, calm down there. I was getting a bit ahead of myself.

Meanwhile I should probably start thinking of events to hold with the ladies. If I don't start thinking about them now, I'll probably forget and have nothing to tell my father when he asks.

It needs to be something that each and every one of them could participate in but that wouldn't pit them against each other. That might be entertaining to me but not to my father or the ladies. In addition, it needs to be something really good because it's going to be part of the entertainment portion of this for the country. And something my father will approve of.

Come on Alexander, creativity! Maybe they could all sing or play instruments? Unless a few of them can't… Is that a required field of the future Queen? It seems like something a Queen should be able to do, but maybe that's taught after the fact. I don't know any ladylike games (card games seem more of a Smoking Parlour activity and sports seem like they would cause serious issues). Well how about holidays? Hallow's Eve! That's in a week and a half, which is enough time for everyone to prepare I'm sure. A big costume party will be so much fun. But what to wear? Hmm, maybe I should-

Come on Alexander, that's not important right now!

Actually, what's important right now is going to bed. The evening had been so action packed that it would take me forever to actually fall asleep. Well maybe I should just lay on my bed in the dark until I drop off. Excellent plan.

…

Alright then.

…

…

Maybe not.

~T~H~E~S~E~L~E~C~T~I~O~N~A~G~A~I~N~

I did end up falling asleep, but when my alarum went off this morning, it felt like my eyelids were sewn shut. With great effort, I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes so I could see again.

I went through the motions of getting dressed and everything, then decided would be a good day to surprise the ladies by eating breakfast with them. The royalty sometimes ate with them, but they were usually given notice so they could preen themselves or whatever. It would be pretty interesting to just show up so I could see how they all really are. Hopefully none are like Flower, which would be disastrous.

Thinking along those lines, I should probably eliminate some more ladies. Only a dozen or so have been sent home and I certainly don't need all the ladies I still have. I'm sure a few will weed themselves out if and when we go on dates, but I think that the Hallow's Eve party will be a good way too. Not their costumes…necessarily… but more so their attitudes if they don't get first dance and such or if somebody 'stole' their costume idea. Some people are so not in control of themselves they will explode even with an audience. Not the kind of queen I want.

I finally got to the dining room, just in time for a slightly dramatic entrance. I didn't go so far as throwing open the double doors, but I entered as regally as possible, having two servants open the doors for me. The ladies all looked up in unison, and it would have been hilarious if that didn't make me much more anxious than I anticipated.

"Good morning ladies," I greeted. A few of them began to rise, but I waved them down, "No need to curtsey, please enjoy your breakfast."

I automatically scanned the room as I sat down and as I had expected, most of the ladies were in very casual – at least for the castle – nightgown type apparel. But there were a few surprises as well. One or two of the ladies were dressed up (complete with hair and makeup) like they were going to a ball and three or four were wearing what I assumed to be normal sleepwear in their respective regions.

The room was deadly silent save for the scraping of utensils on plates but of course I couldn't have that. The whole reason I came was to see how they act, how they operated on a daily basis. The double doors opened with a bang louder than almost anything I think I'd ever heard. My head jerked up in surprise but none of the ladies' did. A few of them even gave each other looks like 'here we go again'.

"Good morning!" I heard a joyous voice bellow. Miss Shiloh had made her grand entrance, seemingly before realizing I was there. "Oh! Your Highness!" She reached for where I assumed her skirts and dresses usually fell before it seemed to hit her that she was wearing a large sweater and capris. She settled for a bow, and I had to admit she recovered very well, no visible blush and just sweeping into the slightly dramatic bow.

"Why, good morning Miss Shiloh," I replied pleasantly. She nodded to herself and sat down in the seat closest to the head of the table where I sat.

"So why have you graced us with your presence this fine morning, my liege?" She asked, filling her plate, and for some reason pointedly looking at the table.

"Well I-," I began before I comprehended the suddenly formal tone and looking away. She was teasing me!

"It's not very polite to tease the Prince!" I said indignantly, sounding to myself like a small child. Apparently so did Miss Shiloh and a few of the closer ladies because they all giggled.

"My apologies, Your Highness," She said, not sounding especially apologetic, but I got the feeling she wasn't being unkind.

I made a mental note to ask her on the next date, she seems like an interesting character.

~T~H~E~S~E~L~E~C~T~I~O~N~A~G~A~I~N~

The rest of breakfast passed rather uneventfully and before I knew it I was back in my room. My date with Miss Kate wasn't until four in the afternoon, and it wasn't even ten in the morning. I changed out of my Prince outfit and into a nice shirt and pants. I flopped into an armchair and aimlessly flipped through the first chapter of a book I'd been meaning to read, but couldn't put any effort into it. I felt kind of distant for some reason, and I decided to clear my head.

The air in the hallway was cool, the palace staff hadn't switched from a heating to a cooling system yet, and my shiver was enough to convince me to go outside.

Besides my horseback ride with Miss Rebecca I hadn't been to the gardens in years, but it was just as breathtaking as I remembered. I wandered the small cobbled path in awe, the tastefully cut bushes and beautiful flowers entrancing me.

I was yanked out of my dramatic thoughts by yelling.

"What do you mean it's too short?!" I began to jog towards the noise, concerned that something bad was going on.

"I mean, it's too f-cking short! You deaf?!" I rounded a large bush and was immediately relieved to see it was just two gardeners.

"Giraffe necks don't have to be long!" The shorter one yelled at the other. He looked like he may have been from Paloma or some other southern region.

"Yes they do! Haven't you ever seen a giraffe?!" The other yelled right back. He had paler skin but it was red from the yelling.

"No as a matter of fact, I haven't! I went off of your f-cking drawing!" I decided to intervene before the two ripped each other apart.

"Hey, what are you two fighting about?"

"This idiot thinks a giraffe's neck is only this long!" The taller one – Marcos I read on the name tag – said exasperatedly, throwing his hand up at a bush sculpture of a giraffe with a very short neck.

"Well, it's not my fault!" The Paloman – Gerry – defended, "I've never seen one and he," here he jerked his thumb at Marcos, "Gave me this sh-t drawing to work off of!"

He took a folded, grimy piece of paper from a pocket and showed me the drawing. I couldn't even tell what it was so I wasn't too surprised Gerry messed up the neck.

While I was staring confused at the drawing, they started fighting loudly right over me, and that's when I realized, I didn't look like the Prince right now. For all they know I'm an accountant or a receptionist or even just someone who holds papers for someone more important, if they took account of my age.

"Well, I had better get going," I tried to slip away, but they stopped me, a hand on either shoulder.

"But what about the giraffe?" They both asked at the same time.

"Umm, it doesn't look like a giraffe," Marcos dropped his hand from my shoulder and stood triumphantly, "But neither does the drawing."

Gerry laughed and Marcos looked betrayed. They began arguing again and I decided that was the perfect time to slip away and continue walking the extensive gardens.

There's a huge surprise in store for the Hallow's Eve party and I can't wait to write it for you all! Review with questions/comments/suggestions/corrections!

I actually have an idea for you! I already know who's going to be the Elite (no I won't tell), and I was thinking that when I've eliminated everyone else, I would start a new story (the same one as this just separate on FF) and you would actually get to vote on who gets kicked off! Yes? No? Tell me your thoughts!

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Canima: Thank you so much! I love to hear that because I really try to make Alex relatable. I hope you keep enjoying the story!