A/N: Wow, that last chapter hit hard. Goodbyes are never easy, and it's only going to get harder since only six ladies can get to the Elites and only one can win the crown. More stuff going down this chapter; will the madness never end? Unfortunately you never get a dull moment in the royal palace! I'm not sure about how I ended this chapter; I think it comes off as Kaden yo-yoing and being somewhat hypocritical, but that'll happen when you react with your emotions and aren't thinking straight. But anyway, I love you all so very much and appreciate all that you've done to make the story the best it can be. I know I have my shortcomings, but it means the world that you've stuck with me this far!

Chapter 25

Somehow, someway, Kaden woke up in his own bed early the next morning. He was very confused as to how he ended up back in his room when he was expecting to wake up in the leather chair in the library. But he wasn't going to complain; he got to sleep comfortably on his downy mattress, and wouldn't have to suffer through sore joints and a stiff back from sleeping upright all night.

The sun was just starting to rise when he got out of bed. The palace was actually chilly for once, and Kaden woke his butler to have him start a fire in the sitting room. The man did as he was told, and brought out a pot of coffee and a tray with cream, sugar, and a few biscuits. Kaden would join the ladies for a formal breakfast, but that was still hours away, and he found himself in a strange situation with some spare time to kill. He'd been thinking a lot about what happened last night with Lady Maddy, and though he regretted his distasteful decision to so rudely fall asleep next to her, he had actually enjoyed her story. It had been so long since he'd had time to read for pleasure...

That made up his mind. Kaden called his butler back over and had the man retrieve a copy of Pride and Prejudice from the library. While he was waiting, Kaden fixed his coffee and watched the sunrise, two more things that he had not had the time to enjoy as of late. The butler came back a few moments later and deposited the book on the table next to Kaden, bowing as he took his leave.

Kaden spent the next two hours catching up on what he missed, and found himself more invested in the story than he thought possible. It was only his manservant knocking patiently on the door that drew him out of nineteenth century England and back into modern day Illéa. Breakfast came up quicker than Kaden thought it would, and he was whisked back away into the world of being a monarch. He was bathed and dressed in his usual suit and tie, and before he knew it, he was being shoved out the door and towards the dining room, ready to face another eventful day in the Selection.

He'd opted to take the book with him, not ready to part with it just yet. The ladies never really seemed to talk during breakfast anyway, and if they did it was almost exclusively to themselves. They wouldn't mind if Kaden brought a book along. Lady Maddy did it all the time after all.

"You're looking rather chipper today Your Majesty," Heather commented as she approached the dining room at the same time he did. She looked elegant as always in a powder blue dress and matching cardigan. That color always made her eyes more electric, the blue standing stark against her darker skin. Perhaps that was why she wore it so much.

"Just reading a good book," Kaden replied, holding up the leather bound novel in his hand.

"Yes, I heard that you've rediscovered your love for the library."

The comment was off-handed, but Kaden felt a flush creeping onto his cheeks. Of course Heather knew about the library. He really should learn not to be surprised by these things. But there was something else about last night nagging in the back of his mind.

"Um, do you happen to know how I got back to my rooms last night?"

"Lady Maddy called the guards in after you fell asleep," Heather explained, looking around the hall to make sure that they were out of earshot of anyone who happened to pass by. "She caught on pretty quickly actually, said she didn't even make it to the end of the chapter before you were out. They woke you up and escorted you back to your room, though you were pretty spacey."

"Must've been," Kaden agreed, having no memories of the night after settling down in the chair next to Lady Maddy. "Was I seen?"

"No. The reporters had cleared out by then," Heather assured him. "The only reason I know is because I make it a point to know. That, and my father is the man who you put in charge of this whole shebang."

"Good," Kaden said, everything taken care of and wrapped up in a nice little bow. For once.

"You didn't do anything scandalous, but best not to push things too far. Especially after last night's show," Heather said, voicing what Kaden had been trying not to think about the entire morning.

"I wish things didn't have to go as they did...I regret listening to the Council. At least the ladies took it somewhat well."

Heather snorted like that was funny, and Kaden gave her a sideways look, confused.

"You obviously have not been updated on last night's events."

"What happened?" Kaden asked, now deeply concerned.

"Lady Imogen practically sobbed the whole night through, and was still in tears when she left this morning. Lady Lalaine got up extra early to say goodbye and walked Lady Imogen to her car while she cursed your name the whole way," Heather relayed, her false happy tone covering up her true distaste poorly. "Lady Rosalie left before dawn, but that was only because that was the soonest we were allowed to kick her out. The staff has spent the last three hours cleaning her room."

"Why?"

"She trashed it," Heather replied, the fake smile on her lips showing that she was not pleased. "While you were having story time with Lady Maddy, apparently Lady Rosalie was having a breakdown. Screaming, breaking things, tearing up dresses and curtains, the whole deal. She even took a chunk out of the wall. Reminded me of myself in a Council meeting."

"Oh my God. I'm such an idiot...why can't I do anything right anymore?" Kaden groaned, berating himself for thinking that he could part with the two so easily. He was getting into smaller numbers now. Anyone he cut could be the wrong choice, and since they'd been there so long, feelings were bound to be hurt on both sides. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy the ladies. He loved Rosalie's sweet nature and constant open ear; he appreciated Imogen's endless energy and thought her penchant for saying the wrong things was endearing. They were both valuable additions to his life that he would never forget, it was just that he didn't feel a spark with them that he did with some of the other ladies.

"Well, what's done is done. No use lamenting over it now," Heather replied firmly. She was right, of course. He had no idea how the ladies would react at the time. No good would come of him harping on things he had no control over. "We won't get formal polls until tomorrow morning, but I hear the initial reviews are more to your favor. You were harsh, but I think the people see you as more mature and serious now. You're no longer the adorable child on the throne."

"They think I'm adorable?" Kaden asked with a winning smile, trying to be upbeat though the situation was gloomy.

"Shut up," Heather rolled her eyes and swatted at his arm.

Their conversation was over, and Kaden inclined his head and let Heather pass in front of him to enter the dining hall. All eyes were on Kaden as he sauntered over to the head of the table. He was never this late to a meal, usually the first one there to greet the ladies, but today he was the last one in. All of the ladies were there - save Lady Finnley who was still refusing to leave her room - and even Osten had made an appearance. Usually he was absent from meals, and since the palace had yet to explode, Kaden just assumed that Osten was off being a teenager was too distracted to come join him. Besides, it must've been awkward to be the twentieth wheel for every meal, and Kaden didn't blame Osten for not wanting to subject himself to that.

Kaden slipped silently into the seat next to Osten and fixed himself a plate of fresh fruit and eggs. Osten was busy looking down into his lap, so Kaden didn't want to distract him from whatever he was doing. Instead, he placed his book to his right, and flipped open to where he left off last.

"Nerd," Osten mumbled between bites of toast, and Kaden elbowed him in the ribs in response.

Kaden was determined to turn this day around. He would not let what happened with Lady Imogen or Lady Rosalie hinder him from making the best out of the time he had with the ladies he had left. Looking up from his pages, he saw that no one was talking, per usual, and decided to change that.

"Lady Maddy," Kaden said, drawing her attention from across the table. She was startled at first, her spoon clattering in her oatmeal, but then looked up at him with wide, eager eyes. The other ladies looked up at her and then to where Kaden sat, waiting for what was going to happen next.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I've been catching up on Pride and Prejudice, and I have to say I'm enjoying it very much."

"I'm glad, Your Majesty," Lady Maddy smiled widely, and one would've thought Kaden had handed her the moon and stars.

"I just have one question," Kaden said, making his voice sound far more dramatic than it needed to be. "How on Earth did someone like Mr. Bennett end up with someone as insane as Mrs Bennett?"

Lady Maddy practically snorted out her drink in both surprise and laughter. Kaden's face broke out into a smile as she tried and failed to hide her building amusement. The other ladies just looked lost, staring openly at them both. When Lady Maddy finally composed herself, she was still covering her nose and lips to prevent another outburst.

"I know!" she exclaimed louder than he thought possible for someone as quiet as her. "They're so wrong for one another! She drives me crazy. Those poor girls, I don't know how they stand it."

"The girls?" Kaden replied with just as much enthusiasm. "Poor Mr. Bennett! The woman is a menace! If I were him, I'd run away. No wonder he spends so much time in his study; it's the only place he can get some peace!"

Maddy giggled and nodded. "Just wait, she gets worse."

"No," Kaden gasped, aghast, but mostly for show.

"Oh, yes. But don't worry, I'm sure your 'poor heart' will take what happens much better than hers does," Lady Maddy said, her banter getting better as she gained more confidence that she wasn't embarrassing herself.

"I hope Elizabeth and Darcy sort themselves out. I am a fan of happy endings," Kaden said honestly, watching Lady Maddy's face even out and become much shier as she noticed the change in tone.

"There are only happy endings, Your Majesty," Lady Maddy replied, back to being quiet.

"I'm glad," Kaden smiled widely. "Those are the best kind."

Lady Maddy nodded and looked back down into her oatmeal, stirring the spoon idly around the bowl, and everyone returned to business as normal. Kaden could tell that there was still a smile on her face, so he leaned back and picked his book up. He still had half the novel to go, and he had every intention of reading more if it got Lady Maddy to open up like that again. He liked having that much enthusiasm around him; it made him happy that something as simple as discussing someone's passion made their day.

"Look at you, flirting with your little girlfriends," Osten teased, a smirk on his face.

"Don't you have your own 'little girlfriend' to be talking about?" Kaden sassed back, alluding to all the time Osten had been spending with Aria Darlington.

"She's not my girlfriend," Osten muttered, his face turning ten shades of red.

"Mhmm," Kaden replied, taking a bite of his breakfast. Like he actually believed that. "Hiding in closets, your date to the last two formal events. And you called me a nerd, but she's got you reading too."

Kaden took a glance at Osten's lap and saw what looked to be a collection of glossy papers. This was clearly what had been distracting him earlier in the breakfast, and Kaden was going to write it off as nonsense before the words 'tyranny' and 'monarchy' got caught in his periphery.

"What is that?" Kaden asked, gesturing to the papers. Osten pulled them up and held them in the light, revealing a fully-formed booklet like the kind given out as maps in amusement parks or that came as instruction packets in boxes of furniture. Except this one was colored a bright red with bold black lettering splashed across it saying, "FREE ILLÉA."

"It's nothing, just a pamphlet. Aria gave it to me," Osten shrugged.

"Give it to me," Kaden demanded, panic settling in as continued to read the front page. "Where did she get this?"

"She said she found it on the street. Apparently they're everywhere."

Kaden turned white as a sheet. He could've lost his breakfast he was so sick. The good mood he'd established earlier disappeared instantaneously, like his conversation with Lady Maddy never happened. Because his little brother was reading anarchist propaganda at the breakfast table like it was one of his comic books and acting like it was no big deal. And it wasn't just Osten; apparently these things were everywhere. His entire kingdom could be reading these pamphlets at their leisure, picking them up as easily as he'd picked Pride and Prejudice off the shelf. The thought alone was horrifying.

"Why? It's nothing serious. What's wrong with it?" Osten asked, genuinely confused, and that alone was a problem bigger than Kaden thought he could solve.

"Everything is wrong with this," Kaden said, his voice grave and wavering ever so slightly.

Still, Osten looked at Kaden like he was off his rocker, like he didn't know why his brother was getting so worked up over a piece of paper. But this was so much more than a piece of paper. This was a dangerous idealism that was spreading through Illéa like a wildfire, and he had to put it out before it burned the country to the ground.

"Excuse me," Kaden said to the ladies, abruptly pushing out his chair and rushing out of the dining room. There were stares and calls made after him, but he didn't stop to explain himself. He only had one destination in mind, his vision going redder and redder, his blood practically boiling by the time he burst through a set of office doors and marched up to Sir Bloomsdale's desk.

"Have you seen this?" Kaden demanded, slapping the pamphlet down on the polished wood. "They're all over the streets of Illéa and nothing is being done to stop them!"

Sir Bloomsdale took the pamphlet into his hands, frowned, and waved off his guards who had followed Kaden inside in his haste. He made sure the doors shut behind them before replying.

"Your Majesty, had we known about the situation…"

"But you didn't know! That's the point!" Kaden shouted, not caring that the walls weren't sound proof and the whole of Illéa could probably hear him. "Anarchist propaganda has made its way into my own home! This has to stop. Now."

Sir Bloomsdale did not reply, and Kaden took up pacing across the office space, silently seething and cursing his own oversight, as well as the incompetence of the Council.

"Have you heard from General Leger lately?"

"No. We have not," Sir Bloomsdale said, his frown deepening. "He's been disturbingly silent."

Kaden could have lost it. This was yet another slip from the Council. They had assured him that this would be taken care of. General Leger was supposed to be putting a stop to the problem, and instead the problem was only growing. Clearly, they weren't doing enough.

"I want more troops sent to Yukon," Kaden decided, his mind made up. "I want them in the streets. I want them at every border in every province, and I don't care what it takes. I want this threat to be taken care of."

"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid of what the public might think?" Sir Bloomsdale protested, clearly not expecting such a rash reaction. "You're trying to improve your image. Military action on that scale…"

"If the people have nothing to hide, then they have nothing to worry about," Kaden replied forcefully. If keeping his people safe meant tanking his public image then that was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Maybe he wouldn't go down in history for being the most well-loved king, but he would not let Illéa fall to pieces on his watch, no matter how hard it tried to.

Sir Bloomsdale moved to open his mouth, concern riddled on his brow, but Kaden stopped him in his tracks.

"Don't you try to tell me that I'm being irrational," Kaden warned, pointing a finger in Sir Bloomsdale's face. "I know I'm not allowed to govern at the moment, but you are. I want you to promise me that you will do everything in your power to convince the Council to put more troops in action. Promise your king that you will put more force behind General Leger."

The tension in the air was thick. It was clear that Sir Bloomsdale did not agree with Kaden's course of action, but he had no choice to comply. A direct order from the king was something that could not be ignored.

"I promise my king that I will do everything I can to put a stop to the threat," Sir Bloomsdale replied solemnly, his head bowed down in submission. The older man knew that there would be no good outcome in fighting Kaden on this, and Kaden was glad for that. Everyone had been telling him to be stronger, to be more mature and be the king he was supposed to be. He would not roll over to terrorists. He needed to take his stand and make it known that he was not one to be bullied.

"Good," Kaden said, closing the conversation. There was nothing left to be said, nothing more to be discussed. He had gotten his way.

The anarchists had messed with the wrong person, and they would pay for it. Severely.