Well, here we are, the end of all known things. Ugh. It was so hard to write this chapter! I wanted to right the ending, but my brain was like "no, we can't! this is too sad. I don't want to part with the characters yet!" But my fingers kept writing, postponing as much as they could the moment when Dora would choose the One. I can assure you, it was intense... very intense. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time! Ugh...

Anyway, thank you so much for your reviews, I think everyone's feelings are going up and down on this story; mine, too...

(PS: for those who don't know what "Mon coeur" means, it means "my heart". In french, it's a cute name, like honey, or darling or smoething like that^^)

So without any further ado, a give you...


Chapter 48

Finally, Friday came along, and I couldn't wait to announce to the whole world who I had chosen. Yes, because I was able to choose. I had a choice, and I made it.
It was a weird feeling, though: I was eager to ask him to marry me, I was eager for the day to pass, but I was nervous. Afraid I might stutter. Or trip on the hem of my dress. And fall in front of everyone.

"Stop pacing up and down, Dora," Aislinn said in her thick, Irish accent, filing her nails, slouched on my couch. "You're making me dizzy."

"Oh, you shut up, Ais'. You're not the one who has to propose to a man in front of the whole world."

"No, and I'm glad I'm not doing it," she said smugly. Oh how I loved that girl, but she could be so sassy and annoying sometimes.

"Does Casper knows you slouch on couches?" I challenged her. She quickly sat up straight, lady-like.

"Don't tell him."

I smiled mischievously. "Make me." I headed for the door, but Aislinn jumped on me and we both fell on the ground, her on top of me.

"If you ever utter a word about this to Casper, you're a dead Queen, Dora," she hissed, half serious.

I chuckled. "You don't even know how to fire an arrow, Ais. You know I always was better then you."

"Oh, I practiced. Because to celebrate our wedding, Casper and I both have to shoot a fire arrow on a target."

"I know. Good for you if you practiced. But I can't breathe anymore," I said pushing her off of me.

"Sorry." She scrambled herself up and helped me up. "It's a good thing it's only just you and me, right now," she smiled. "I missed you."

I sighed, a bit nostalgic. "Me, too. I'm really glad you're here, though. Thanks for coming on such a short notice."

"Aw, come on," she said, punching me playfully on the arm. "I wouldn't miss this, you know that. Besides. I'll be the first one to come congratulate you. I promise." She chuckled. "Who are you choosing?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "I told you. I'm telling no one."

"Not even me?"

"Nope. No one."

"Why?"

"I just want to be able to change my mind last-minute."

Her eyes widened in shock. "How can you even do that? Don't you love the one you're gonna choose?"

"Of course I do. You can't understand if you haven't gone through a Selection with thirty-five suitors. You only ever had one. I had three, at the end, that I loved equally."

"Equally? Not one slightly more than the others?"

"Now, yes. But in the beginning of the week, I still didn't know who it was."

She rolled her eyes at me. "You're the weirdest person I know."

"Look who's talking," I said, walking to my closet. "What should I wear, tonight?"

She joined me in front of the closet. "I don't know. But you probably should wear something new. Something no one saw before." She looked at me like I was an idiot. "But you should have thought of that sooner."

I sighed. "Yeah."

Just then, Judy came in with a ginormous, white garment bag, and a wide grin on her face. "It's ready, Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

Judy rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Your dress for tonight, of course. The seamstresses have been working on it for the past three weeks. We wanted to be sure it was ready for the Choosing Ceremony."

"Let's see it, let's see it," Aislinn said, jumping up and down, clapping her hands like a four year old.

Judy obliged and opened the white bag, revealing the most incredible dress I had ever seen or worn. I froze and just stared at it for a long moment, taking in every detail of the sumptuous navy blue and white gown.

Aislinn grinned at my reaction. "You're going to be so gorgeous in it, Dora. Try it on."

"No."

"Why ever not?"

"I don't want to ruin it before tonight."

"My Lady," Judy said. "You must try it on, so I can check for last-minute adjustments."

"Okay." But I didn't move. I just stared at he dress. If they could pull off a dress like this just for the Choosing Ceremony, I wondered how far they could go for a wedding dress.

"Snap out of it," Aislinn said, snapping her fingers in front of my face. "Drop the dress and put this one on. Come on!"

"I'm glad I don't have you around everyday to boss me around, you know?" I said as I unzipped my day dress. It fell to the floor and both Judy and Aislinn helped me in the blue ombre one. As expected, it fit perfectly well. I didn't dare move, so Judy brought the mirror to me.

"I know exactly what hair-do and crown I'm going to have you wear, My Lady," Judy said, as exited as Aislinn. I was exited, too, but terrified at the same time. I knew I was making the right choice by choosing him, but what if the words got stuck in my throat? What if I sneezed? What if I fainted?

"Try walking in it," Aislinn ordered. I obeyed and walked a few steps. Surprisingly, it was much easier than I expected. But I quickly asked them to help me out of it, until later that evening.

And the worst part of it all? It wasn't just a Report like any other one. It was a full evening: a banquet, followed by a ball, with all the advisors, ambassadors, and special VIP guests from Caste Two. And if I hand't put my foot down, the advisors wanted all the Selected to come back. But I said no. I didn't think I could bear to see them all again. And they wouldn't all be there, anyways. Three were dead.

I shook my head to clear it from any sad thoughts, because that night was a happy night. I put back my day dress on and carried on with my daily schedule. Only that day, I was free. The whole Palace was in a total frenzy, preparing the banquet in the Dining Room, and getting the Ball Room ready for the evening.

Aislinn left me alone for some time, needing to see what her fiancé was doing — he was actually giving last-minute advice to the boys — and so I took advantage of it and cuddled on my couch with his picture. I gazed at him and daydreamed for some time.

"Oh. My. God." Aislinn said over my shoulder, as my heart stopped. "Show me that." She snatched it from my hand and gasped as she looked at him. I hadn't heard her come in.

"You're gonna choose him?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows. "Not bad." She gazed at the picture and I face-palmed. No one was supposed to know these pictures existed.

"Ais', I won't tell Casper you slouch on couches, if you promise never to utter a word about these pictures."

"Because there are more of them?" she asked, slyly.

Ugh. What an idiot I was.

"Show them all, and I'll never say a word. I'll even forget I saw them."

I groaned and buried my face in a pillow on the couch. "Fine." I dragged myself to my secret drawer and showed her the pictures.

She gasped and her eyes widened even bigger. "Can I keep these?"

"No. You have a fiancé, for goodness' sake."

She pouted. "You're right." But she still stared at the pictures. "How did you ask for these?"

I giggled. "I didn't ask. They just gave them to me."

"What?! You're not serious."

"Yep."

"Man. I'm so jealous. You have the best boyfriends in the world."

I smiled smugly. "Yeah. And one of them is going to be my husband," I said proudly.

"All things considered, I don't know what's best: a Selection, or an arranged marriage?"

I shrugged. "If you love Casper and he loves you, I don't see why for not an arranged marriage. At least you don't have to date thirty-five men in front of the whole world, with everyone analyzing everything you do and say."

She chuckled. "When you put it that way, it does make sense."

We spent the rest of the afternoon like teenage girls, with face masks and giggling about boys. Judy came in an hour before the beginning of the Ceremony to do my hair and make-up and help me in the dress. When it was finally time to join the party, I froze in the doorway.

"My Lady, are you all right?"

"I think I'm going to puke." I ran to the bathroom — in my huge dress — and Judy ran after me, and held my dress as far away as she could.

"It's going to be all right," she said, soothingly caressing my back. She helped me clean and gave me a mint flavored candy. I chuckled and took it. She always thought of everything.

I turned to look at her. "You're not going to stay my maid for long, Judy. If you want, you can become my personal assistant."

She beamed. "I'd like that, My Lady."

"Good. Your first task will be to find a new maid as good as you."

She nodded and helped me up. "You're going to be a great Queen, tonight."

"Thanks." This time, when I walked through the door, I didn't freeze, and headed to the Dining Room. The party was already going Live on television, and I could bet thousands of people were watching the whole Ceremony from their homes. The General made me wait just outside the doors as he told the Head Butler that I was there. The butler tapped three time his stick on the floor.

"Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Isodora Schreave," he announced. I knew everyone in the room was coming to their feet to welcome me. The doors opened and I walked in regally. The three boys' jaws dropped when they saw me, and I sent a smile their way. They didn't know who I was going to choose. Well, maybe he guessed it was him, though. I don't know. I walked to my table, and sat, inviting everyone else to do the same.

Felix August came to his feet and jogged — despite his sixty years — to the middle of the Room. "Good evening, dear Illéa. Whou! I'm so exited, tonight! Queen Isodora is going to choose her life companion, her husband. No one knows who it will be and it is a great surprise. While the guests are eating, the three Elites will say a few words in turn, maybe helping tip the scales in their favor."

I quickly looked at the boys, and I immediately saw that they didn't know about this. They maybe had five minutes until the first had to speak. But Felix didn't know that nothing could make me change my mind. I had already chosen, and I was staying firm in my choice.

The maids and footmen came in with the first dish of the twelve dish meal, and as soon as everyone was served, Felix came back in the center.

"Sir James, can you join me, please?"

I clearly saw that he was nervous and that he wasn't prepared for this. Oh, please, James. Don't bring up Lizy into this.

"Good evening, Felix."

"Ah, Sir James. I am so nervous. Do you think she is going to choose you?"

He shrugged, a slight smile on his lips. "I sure do hope so. I know I would be happy here, and I will do everything in my power to make her happy, too."

"Aw, that is so sweet. And do you think you can live without her if she doesn't choose you?"

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see. It's going to be hard, that's for sure. And I can't even imagine what's it going to be like for Lizy. She made the Palace her home, you know?"

Felix nodded. "Well, let's just hope you're going to be the One, right?"

"Yeah," James chuckled. Felix thanked him and sent him back to his seat. He avoided my gaze. My heart broke in a million pieces, and for a moment, I wasn't sure anymore.

Felix! Why were you doing this to me?

"Hold on, in there," Aislinn whispered next to me. "You made your choice, and no one is going to make you change your mind, okay?"

I nodded and focused on my dish. They served four more different dishes before Felix called Bast to the center of the Room.

"Ah, Sir Sébastien. What do you have to say to try to secure your place in the Queen's heart?"

Bast chuckled. "Two words, Felix. Only two words."

"What are they?"

"Fireplace and Sweatpants." He looked at me sideways with his crooked smile, and my heart melted all the way. I tried to suppress a laugh, but a giggle escaped me.

Fireplace and Sweatpants? Seriously? Is this really all you're going to say? He was really a french baguette. I rolled my eyes and fought the blush away from my ears and cheeks.

Bast chuckled and went back to his seat, a grin on his face. James and Ethan just stared at him, like he had lost his mind or something. This was national television. And his family was there, as ambassadors. How could he just say that? But to me, it made perfect sense, and I loved him even more for it. He was not afraid to do private jokes in front to the whole world, because he know I would be the only one to understand.

Just before dessert came in — three dishes of dessert, to be exact — Felix called Ethan. I was really curious at what he was going to say.

"Tell us, Sir Ethan. Do you think you are going to be King?"

"Prince Consort, you mean."

"Yeah."

"Well, until Bast came in to talk, I was pretty sure that I could be the One. But now? I seriously have my doubts. I hope I'm wrong."

Felix chuckled. "I do hope so, too, Sir Ethan. You seem to be willing to take your place as Prince Consort by Queen Isodora's side. Am I right?"

Ethan laughed nervously. "Yes. It's part of the package, you know? But she is going to be the most loved Queen in Illéa if she marries me, that's for sure."

"Oh, is she?"

"Definitely, yes, Felix. I promised her that."

Felix half sighed, half chuckled. "Well, it's almost time for her to give her decision." Ethan made a scared face, before chuckling and going back to his seat.

"All right, everyone! Dessert is about the be savored, right here. But stay tuned, because just after that, the Queen will be opening the Ball with one of the Elite. She will take one of the three names in a box and open the Ball with him." He went back to his seat.

My favorite dessert came in, but for some reason, I couldn't find the slightest empty place in my stomach for it. I guess that's what happens when you eat a twelve dish meal. I nibbled on the pink Macaroon and pretended to eat it. The second came in — a chocolate fondant — followed by a vanilla cheesecake, but I couldn't eat any of them. I felt that if I ate one more crumb of anything, I would throw up. And I was not doing that on National Television. No way. I was becoming more nervous as the minutes passed, and my hands were getting sweaty, too. I hated it. I tried to dry them on my dress, but it was no use.

Finally, Felix nodded to me, and I invited everyone to step in the Ball Room, where I would draw a name — this was a game to them, until the end.

"Ethan," I read the name out loud. He smiled smugly and joined me in the center of the room. We waited for the musicians to start, and when they did, he led the dance, as everyone looked for partners to join us in the dance.

"Ethan, I'm pretty impressed by your talents in Ballroom dance."

"I know, right? We spent the last week learning how to dance. I was dizzy at the end of each morning. But I realize how an idiot I would look like if I hadn't learned."

I chuckled, and we just gazed at each other. I was going to miss his sweet, hazel eyes. When the music stopped, I had to draw the second name.

"James." He joined me in the center, too.

"I bet you didn't have to learn anything, and that you knew the steps already."

He chuckled. "That's pretty much it."

His beige-green eyes were full of something that I couldn't place my finger on. Was it sadness? Regret? Hope? Happiness? I had no clue. He had learned to hide his emotions pretty well these past few days. I couldn't tell what he was thinking about anymore.

"You're wearing that perfume again," he said softly. "I'm going to miss it." His smile had vanished. I just nodded lightly and locked my eyes with his. This was going to be harder than I thought. What if my brain suddenly made me change my mind? No. My heart had to rule, tonight.

The music faded again, and Bast joined me in the center.

"Hello, mon coeur," he said with his crooked smile.

"Hello yourself, my french baguette." I giggled. "Fireplace and sweatpants, huh?"

He grinned widely. "I told you it was our thing, and you said, 'yes, please. Anytime.'"

"Did I really say that?"

"Yep. And anytime is anytime, right?"

I rolled my eyes at him, and the music faded, way too soon for my taste. I wanted to dance until morning with my sweet, french baguette. We both reluctantly let go of each other, and I walked to the small stage, where my Throne had been joined by another one. The Prince Consort's Throne. A lump got stuck in my throat, and I swallowed with difficulty. I still managed, and turned around to face the waiting crowd, all eager to hear my choice.

I took a deep breath. And a second one. Why was this so hard when I knew who I wanted?

"My heart has finally chosen the One. I don't know why it took me this long to be sure, but I know that I am sure." I paused, looking at him. I was going to ridicule myself in front of the whole world, but I didn't care. "Bast, are you a tower? Because Eiffel for you."

Bast just looked at me with puppy eyes, and I truly thought he was going to cry. I don't think he was expecting a cheesy pickup line. I smirked at him and the world around us vanished. I walked down from the stage and headed directly to him. He joined me and took my face in his hands, as I looped my arms around his.

"Marry me?" I asked under my breath.

"Yes, mon coeur, a thousand times yes."

The crowd around us erupted in cheers and applauded frantically. I knew all the cameras were aiming at us, but I didn't care. I was going to be Isodora Amber Callie de Layafette-Schreave, and it was all that mattered. I loved him so much, and I still didn't know why I didn't see it earlier. He was the love of my life, and I didn't want anything more than to grow old with him, cuddling in his sweater in front of a fireplace with him every single night from now on.

He kissed me passionately and generously, and I couldn't wait for our wedding and honeymoon.

"Well, there you have it, Illéa! Your next Prince Consort: Sir Sébastien de Lafayette! Good night everyone!" Felix shouted above the crowd at the cameras. The musicians played the Anthem, and then the cameras were off.

Bast and I just stared at each other, his forehead resting on mine, and both grinning like idiots. I totally forgot we were in the middle of a crowd.

"I can't believe you used the corniest pickup line," he said, chuckling softly.

"I don't know, either. I just thought you would like it," I said with a sly grin.

"I loved it. You couldn't have said anything better."

"And don't forget you have to take me to Versailles, on our honeymoon," I whispered.

He chuckled. "I can't believe you remembered that."

"Gosh, Bast. Why do you think I'm marrying you?" I said slyly.

"Yeah, and I'm marrying you only for the amazing Lattes at the Palace, and your good looks. But that's all."

I smirked. "I know." We both laughed and kissed again.

"Um, guys, you need to move."

I chuckled. "Yes, Aislinn. Thanks," I said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at her and we both laughed. I took Bast's hand and we walked to the two thrones on the stage. While turning around to sit, I saw James, Ethan, and even Kaden, looking at me sadly.

Kaden walked up. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly. "Congratulations on ending the Selection with Sir Sébastien." He paused. "Tomorrow morning I will be on my way. But if you need any other help concerning the Rebels, I left a my number on your desk." He bowed one last time and walked away, not giving me the time to answer anything.

"Ka-Mitch, wait," I said. But Bast put his hand on mine.

"Let him be, mon coeur. He'll be better off without you." And me without him, I though.

James and Ethan also both came up to us. "Congratulations," Ethan said, trying to hide as best he could how sad he was. "I wish you a happy life together."

"Thank you Ethan."

"It was an honor to be part of your Selection." He smiled sadly, bowed and walked away.

"James, I-"

"Dora. You made the right choice. Remember when I told you not to choose me out of pity? I'm glad you didn't. I lived through losing a wife, I can live through losing you. I don't know about Lizy, though, but we'll manage."

"James, if there's anything you need, you just ask, okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"Seriously. Take her clothes, bed, everything you received here. You need it more than we do."

He looked at me and smiled. "Thank you." He turned to Bast. "Take care of her, man, okay?"

"I will," Bast said, squeezing my hand in his. "Don't worry about that."

James nodded, bowed and walked away, too. Now it was just Bast and I.

All the guests came in turn to congratulate us, and so did his family. I was happy to win three sisters, and parents. Kind of. Since I didn't have any, you know?

But I knew this was the first day of the rest of my life, and I was happy about it.

°~The End~°


Well, that's it, folks. I can't believe it's over. This was the most epic adventure I have gone through while writing a Fanfic, and that's all because you were there to support me. You gave amazing characters, and you helped me bring them to life! You guys are amazing! ;) And you broke my review record on this story! haha! thank you so much! ;)

But... a story never ends. We merely write 'the end', but in truth, the characters continue to live on, either in our dreams, in our imagination, or in another story...

So, come back in tomorrow for one last *small* chapter ;)