AN: Let's thank Grace for the paragraph she wrote and I cut to about 2 sentences because I didn't need that much angst in this chapter.


Chapter Thirty-Eight

Friday, November Twenty-Ninth

Louis Schreave spent the entirety of yesterday with the selected. Or well, the two unofficially left in the competition. He holds his crown in his hand. Louis wasn't allowed to wear one until today, until he announced the next Queen of Illéa. It's blue and gold, lines with diamonds. It spikes up eighteen times around his head. The diamonds are encased in the gold and the gold is stabilized by the sturdy band of blue velvet. This is why his suit is solid blue, for this crown.

He looks over at the tiara on his nightstand. He'll choose the winner with it. Unlike his, it doesn't peak all around. This has ten peaks all in the front. The crowns don't have the same kinds of gems, but both are the prettiest in the vault. His crown goes back to his grandfather, Jonothan's dad. The tiara however, is much older. It was America Schreave's, one of Louis' ancestors.

Louis sighs. He knows who should win, yesterday made that clear. He just doesn't want to break up Marie's and Madison's friendship. He knew this day would be coming, when he would have to choose between the last of the selected. Louis sighs again and runs his hands through his hair. He didn't mean to have best friends in the final two.

Louis stands, putting the crown in its case. He doesn't need it out just yet.

He goes to find Briar. She's not winning, both of them know this. He walks the halls, taking his time for once. He looks at the portraits, Louis has plans for removing a couple of them.

He stops in front of one of his parents by themself. The thought of himself in one of them makes him laugh. He knows he'll have to do it, sooner rather than later. It's a strange feeling. He's been in them as a child, but this time it'll be without his parents. It'll be him and the next Queen of Illéa. Him, and his future wife.

He walks away from the photos. Louis is trying to find Briar before the Report, not stare at the past. He heads to the library, where she is studying.

"Briar?" He calls out.

She replies, "Louis?"

He walks towards the sound of her voice, near the non-fiction section. Her hair is already curled, but she's in shorts and a tee shirt. Louis sits beside her, in the windowsill.

"Hey," she turns towards him, "How are you feeling? With choosing the final two."

"I've decided what I want, but I don't want to break their friendship."

"That's sweet." Briar replies, "but I don't think you'll have to worry about that."

"Why not?" Louis asks, "Aren't best friends fragile things?"

"You've never had a best friend before, haven't you?"

Louis shakes his head, "It's that obvious isn't it."

"Yeah," Madi laughs, "but real best friends don't break up over boys. Madison and Maria, they'll be friends for the rest of their lives. My father is more likely to lose the election than them breaking up."

"That's reassuring."

"Now let's head to lunch." Briar closes her book and takes it with her, "After that, we have to get ready for the Report of our lives."


Louis and his final selected step out of the limos. He goes first, wearing a designer suit. It's a matching set of blue pants, jacket, and tie. The shirt and the rose in his pocket are both the same color, white. His shoes are brown. But the cherry on top in the crown on his head. It's not the King's Crown, but it symbolizes that he will be the next to wear that crown. After last week's Report, he's asserting his power; showing that he will be on that throne, no matter what the rebels want.

Next out is Briar. She's a solid grey gown. The top half is all lace, showing off her skin. The bottom half continues with the intricate lace in layers alternating from lace to no lace. The dress billows out around her. She doesn't wear any jewelry, she doesn't want the cameras on her tonight. She's tired of them.

Maria's out third. She's in a long, midnight blue dress with lace flowers on the corset bodice. Her hair is curled and she wears simple jewelry, not drawing the camera away from her, but onto the beautifully intricate dress she wears. She wears blue flats, the same color as her dress.

Madison comes out of the limo last in a yellow pleated dress, the right half raised to show off her leg. Yellow roses made from lace line the edges of the dress. The sleeves are long, but made with flowy, see through yellow tulle. She wears dark green heels, like the leaves of her lace roses.

Cameras flash, catching every angle of the dresses. The glittering photos will be all over magazines in Illéa. Headlines calling out the winner and next Queen will subsidize the rebels for now, long enough for them to figure out their plan of attack.

He gets into the Report studio. A guard holds the tiara in it's box. None of the girls know that it's here, that this is how he's going to show the country who their next Queen is.

"Your Highness!" Ryan Fontaine glides towards him, "Today's the day, isn't it?"

Louis nods, "It is."

"We've updated our security and had the people responsible for cyber security jailed."

"Good, good." Louis replies, "We don't want anything like that to happen again."

"No, we don't." Ryan agrees, "Well, we are on in five. I like the crown."

"Thanks. It was my grandfathers."

An intern yells, "On in five" and Louis grabs the tiara before going out, standing on the front of the stage. Ryan Fontaine stands beside him, handing Louis the second mic.

Briar, Madi, and Marie all file in, standing to the left of Louis. Multiple cameras are on, but they all look at the middle one, the broadcasting camera.

Ryan starts off the Report, "Welcome back citizens of Illéa! Our Royal Highness, Prince Louis Nicholas Schreave, has an announcement to make. So, without further ado, let's let him make the announcement."

"People of Illéa. You've welcomed me into your heart since the day I was born. Months ago, you let into the hearts of thirty-five girls. Now, one of them has a hold on my heart and I have a hold on hers. I want to thank you all, as a nation, for allowing me the freedom to fall in love with one of your daughters." Louis starts to move behind his three selected, putting the tiara on his winner, "Lady Madison Louise Cooper of Lakedon, would you please do me the honor of becoming this dear country's Princess Consort, the future Queen, and my fiancée?"

Madi turns, the billowing dress flowing due to the sudden gush of wind. Confetti pops out in the colors of blue, yellow and green. Before the burst of paper falls, Madi's kissing him. Just as fast, she's turned back around, the mic now in her hand, "Yes, I will!"