Maxon's POV

I am the luckiest man alive I think as I put on my blue tie. And as I button my cuff links, I see my hands tremble the slightest bit. I guess I'm also the most nervous man alive. I silently chuckle to myself. I check my pocket for the millionth time to make sure the velvet box is still there. Then I open it to make sure the ring is there. Are the diamonds in place? Is this actually the right size?

Anxious thoughts spark my mind like lightning, quick, fast, and easily replaced by a new one. America is my first kiss, my first love...my only love. If I mess this up, I can't have a redo. I realize that a knot is impossible to unwind the way it was formed. You have to loosen strings. I have no idea what I was trying to say with that. What if I don't remember what to say at all?

I take a deep breath, running my hand over my jaw. I look at myself in the mirror. "Maxon," I tell myself, "America loves you. You'll do fine, even though you have to do this in front of the entire country."

I don't want to mess up. No redos. I have three hours until the engagement ball, which is absolutely ridiculous that I'm already dressed up.

Wait.

I sensibly sprint to America's room. I knock, and I hear several giggles and a "We're busy!"

I smile. "It's just Maxon."

A slight pause and then, "We know."

"Please. It will take only a moment."

Silence. The door finally opens and I find Anne, Mary, and Lucy grinning like they're trying to conceal their laughs.

"Come on in, Prince Maxon," Lucy says, sliding past me.

I chuckle and walk inside. "America?"

"Maxon?" I hear from her closet. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you." I shake my head. "I'm sorry, that sounded clingy."

I hear a laugh. "Give me a second."

When she walks out, I realize that I really am the luckiest man alive. She's so beautiful.

"Thank you," she say shyly, tucking a hair behind her ear.

"Oh," I say, rubbing the back of my neck, "I didn't mean to say that out loud. I mean, I was going to say it eventually, but...You look beautiful, America."

She walks closer, her dress clinging to every movement. "You look quite dapper yourself, Maxon. So what are you doing here, two and a half hours before the engagement ball?"

I take a breath. "Well," I say, taking her hands when she reaches me, "today our lives will change. I'll ask you to marry me in front of the entire country, which is a terrifying ordeal. I realized that if I messed that moment up, I wouldn't be able to make up for it. I want it to be perfect."

America looks down, and a blush creeps up her cheeks. "No one's perfect."

"I want to be," I whisper. "For you. I want everything to be perfect for you. And you're right no one's perfect, nothing ever is, but if I had the power to make it, then I would."

I get down on one knee and take her hand. "All my life I've wondered if I'd grow up to become my father. I wondered if I'd get to be a politician. And now I'm in front of the princess of Illéa, on one knee, professing my love for her. America, my darling, you are light in the darkness. You've given me a better life just by your existence. Without you I'd be lost, I'd be a fool, and you know how much I detest looking like a fool. And perhaps thinking that I'll be able to give you a perfect life is foolish in and of itself. But I promise you I'll try my best to give you a life you've always wanted, and I'll never give up on you. You're my best friend, and the only girl I've ever fallen in love with. You are the death and life of me, America, and I couldn't love you more." I take another breath. "Will you marry me?"

Her hand covers her mouth in shock. "Absolutely." Tears cling on her long lashes, and I'm thankful this time I know what to do. I stand and wipe the tears on her cheeks. "Anne will kill you for ruining my makeup," she says, laughing. I pull her lips closer to mine and kiss her softly.

"You'll get to see the ring later," I whisper, my mouth ghosting over her cheek. I want to run my hands through her hair, but America's right - Anne will give me hell.

America bites her lip, like she's hesitant to tell me something.

"You can tell me anything you want," I say, brushing a thumb over her cheekbone.

She shakes her head and smiles, the worry in her mind forgotten for now. "I love you."

I kiss her nose. "And I, you. I'll see you later, my love."

I walk out.

America's POV

As much as I wanted to tell Maxon about my father being a rebel sympathizer, I couldn't ruin the sweet moment. If anything, I'm the fool.

The banquet in the ball room is a grand affair like anyone would imagine. The first Selection of a princess finally has a winner after all. I try to talk to both boys on either side, to not give it away to the audience, but I just want this to be over already. I mean, Maxon's already proposed, albeit without a ring. I hold his hand beneath the tablecloth, and he reassures me by squeezing it softly.

I turn to Aspen. "How's Lucy?" I ask in a hushed voice.

His eyes soften, and I can tell that he's irrevocably in love with her. "She's amazing," he says, matching my quiet voice.

I smile. "That's great. I give you guys my blessing."

He rolls his eyes but grins anyway. "Thanks, Mer. Oh, also I start adviser training tomorrow."

I frown in confusion and my face breaks into a smile. I turn to Maxon. "Did you ask Aspen to be one of your advisers?"

He nods, his eyes crinkled at the edges from grinning. "He's really smart, and one of my closest friends. He and I can be trained and taught together. It's going to be kind of like school."

I laugh. "School. What an experience that must be."

He shrugs and smiles. "I like learning."

I'm about to say something but Gavril approaches me. "Princess, we will be starting in one minute."

"Thank you, Gavri," I say, smiling.

He peers down behind the table and sees my fingers entwined with Maxon's. He tries to hide a grin but fails. "Good luck, gentlemen."

I see Lucy in the very back of the room, and her eyes are locked on Aspen. I nudge him beside me, but it turns out he doesn't need it because he's already looking back.

"And we're on in three, two," the cameraman points at Gavril. Maxon rubs the back of my hand with his thumb and lets go.

"Welcome, Illéa to the event of the decade!" Gavril announces.

I focus intently on his words, waiting for my cue to reply. "Princess America," he finally says, addressing me. "I cannot believe that you are getting engaged tonight. I swore it was only yesterday you were running around the kitchens in nothing but a diaper."

I blush, embarrassed, while the audience shares a fond laugh. "Thank you for mentioning that, Gavril."

"Now you're a beautiful woman ready to be queen and to take the man who will be ruling beside you." He gestures to us three, and I stand in front of the table with both on either side.

Maxon and Aspen get on one knee and open a small box. Aspen's contains nothing, and the cameras are pointed towards their back. There isn't a reason for Aspen to get a ring when he knows who I've chosen. Maxon's box contains an actual ring that has me containing a gasp. Two gems, amethyst and peridot, mount the top of a gold band.

"Will you marry me?" they both say.

And before I can walk to Maxon, gun shots fill the air, and both collapse. I'm too in shock to realize I've been hit myself.

Aren't I a cruel one? Glad I got this chapter out of the way. I know how I want it to end, but I just didn't know how to get there. Sorry if this was short and awkward.

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