Chapter 33 – Nevaeh de Montignac

Nevaeh had given all the girls their Monday morning off, because one day to recuperate after such a weekend was clearly not enough, even for her. Then again, she had been organizing the Selection for more than two months, so she was the one who deserved a vacation above everyone else.

She and the Queen. Auntie Lena had reluctantly agreed to take a few days off with her husband in their vacation home in the Bahamas, in Dominica. The home had not seen any member of the royal family in at least ten years, except for Nathan who always organized his birthday party in October, there, with some 'friends' a few times. Not this year, though.

As soon as the mandatory and secretive Monday morning meeting was over, the queen and Tobias left like thieves in the night to the car waiting to take them to the Airport. The least people who knew when and where they left the better.

Nevaeh had slept in that morning, but only until 10:00. Beauty sleep was one thing, but she also needed to get some workout done and what better than a good run when everyone was sleeping? Besides, September mornings were not as hot and humid as July or August mornings, so it was okay to start late. She had put on some music in her earphones and had run six miles. Sure, she had broken a sweat, but that was what she wanted.

When she ran back to the terrace, she sat down on one of the lounging chairs to cool off a little and scroll through her phone. She wanted to see what was new, but apart from some exclusive pictures from the party Jesse and Sydney had posted on Instagram, there was nothing really new.

Her phone buzzed in her hands – a message from Silas.

Silas: Hello, Nevaeh. Just for your information, I will be leaving for a few days, and I will be back on Thursday morning. Take care of the girls when I'm gone. ;) [11:57]

Nevaeh: wait. where are you going? are you going to Dominica with your parents? [11:57]

Silas: No. But I am using the jet as well. And Parker is coming with me, don't worry. [11:58]

Nevaeh: okay, but WHERE are you going? [11:58]

Silas: I will tell you when I come back. Well, in any case, you will know soon. [11:59]

Nevaeh: ugh. fine. take care. [11:59]

Nevaeh was more than curious to know where he was going. Was he also taking a few days of holiday away from everyone? While the queen, her husband, and the crown prince were gone, the person with the most authority in the Palace was… Nathan. Shoot. Not a good idea. She better be ready for any eventuality, then.

She went back to her room to take a shower and change before grabbing a light lunch with some of the girls. The rest of the afternoon went without a problem, and most everyone just lounged around the swimming pool in small groups of friends or drawn to the two remaining princes. No one questioned the three absentees since they were not always around, anyway. She would answer questions when they arose.

Nevaeh was reading a magazine on wellness and sports, dressed only in her one-piece bathing suit when Hanna, her lady's maid, came over.

"Your Grace," she whispered in French, crouching next to her. "There is somebody at the gate, waiting to be admitted."

"Qui?" she asked. Who? They weren't expecting anyone and the queen was gone. She doubted Nathan would know what to do.

"Il dit qu'il s'appelle Cortez." They spoke in French together in case someone was listening.

Nevaeh frowned: the name didn't mean anything to her. "Did he say what he wanted? Did he have an audience with the Queen?"

"No," Hanna said. "He only said he wanted to talk to Ximena."

"What? But that's absurd," Nevaeh said. "Why?"

"I don't know, he didn't say."

Nevaeh closed her magazine and stood, putting on a t-shirt dress over her bathing suit and going inside, followed by Hanna. "Tell security to let the man inside, but to keep an escort with him; make sure he's clean, and I'll see him in the green parlor."

"Yes, miss," Hanna replied. Both women headed in different directions.

Ten minutes later, Neveah was fully decent and dressed in a light pink puff sleeve dress with a sweetheart neckline and a pencil skirt. Her heels clicked down on the floor as she walked towards the green parlor. She knew it was the place where the queen received formal guests. She was not the queen, but she was the best the palace could offer at the moment. A guard was standing near the door.

"Would you like me to come in with you, Your Grace?" he asked, keeping his voice down.

"Yes, please," Nevaeh replied. The guard nodded and opened the door for her, following her inside. He stayed near the door while Nevaeh walked inside. The man waiting for her was standing near the window – thank goodness it was overlooking the palace gates and not the private garden where the girls were lounging – and he had dark hair, almost black, but it was pepper and salt at his temples.

When he heard her heels on the wooden floor, he turned around and by the face he made, he was not expecting the Selection coordinator.

"Your Highness," he said, bowing.

Nevaeh didn't correct him. Clearly, he didn't know about protocol and royal etiquette. "Mr. Cortez?"

"Yes," he replied. He had dark brown hooded eyes, a light beard, and seemed to be in his late forties or early fifties. But the suit he was wearing was expensive, so that meant he had money. "I was wondering if I could talk with Ximena Oliveira."

Nevaeh wasn't impressed. A fan? "Who's asking?" she said. Because apart from his last name, she knew nothing about him.

"Yes, I'm Raoul Cortez and I am the CEO of the Cortez Tech company in Hansport." He paused. "I believe Jesse Flynn has been buying many of our products to cover the Selection. But that's not why I'm here. As I said, I would like to see my daughter."

Nevaeh tried to keep a poker face at that, but it was hard. "Your daughter? There is no Selected with the Cortez name, sir."

"I know. She took her mother's name, Nelinha Oliveira. Ximena is my daughter and I'd like to see her."

Funny, because Ximena had told Nevaeh a few weeks ago that she didn't have a father. Never had one. Of course, she didn't say that out loud. "I'll see what I can do," she replied. "Please wait here, Mr. Cortez."

"Of course," he said, bowing his head.

He didn't have a choice anyway, and Nevaeh left the room. "Please guard the room, the man is not to go anywhere," she told the guard.

"Of course, ma'am," he replied, standing at attention just outside the door.

Nevaeh clicked away on her heels and headed outside to where the girls were. She looked for Ximena in the groups of girls and found her with her usual friends – Brandy, Leigh, and Laelia – and joined them. "Ximena? May I have a word with you?" she said.

"Sure!" She sat up on her towel. "What's going on?" she asked, and the other girls looked at each other, wondering what this was about.

"You might want to get dressed for this," she said. "Come on."

Ximena looked at the others and shrugged. She stood and followed Nevaeh back inside after putting on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. "Do I have to change, or…?"

Nevaeh waited for them to be inside and in the queen's private women's room before answering. "You'll be the judge of that," she said. "Look, there's a man here, looking for you."

Ximena blanched. "For me? What's his name?"

"He claims to be your father and says his name is Raoul Cortez. But you told me you never knew your father so–"

"I didn't say I never knew him," Ximena said, having slightly recomposed herself. "I said I didn't have one." She took a deep breath and sighed. "I can't believe he's here," she said. "I thought he'd back off when I didn't reply."

"Excuse me?" Nevaeh said. "He reached out to you?"

"Yes. After 24 years, would you believe that?" she huffed. "He never wanted anything to do with me, and now suddenly I'm a Selected and a front-runner for Silas so he wants to come into my life." She was pacing now, talking with her hands as well. "My mom warned me," she continued. "She warned me he might show up since he was always looking for more power. Selling tech devices to the royal family and being CEO of his own company wasn't enough, apparently."

Nevaeh sat down and invited Ximena to do so, but she shook her head. "Do you want to meet him or not?" she asked.

"No– I mean, I don't know." She paused, gathering her hair in a ponytail. "I've never met him before. I know what he looks like but I've never talked to him– should I go? Do you think I should talk to him?"

Nevaeh felt bad for her and Ximena looked more distressed by the second. "I honestly don't know. I can have him escorted away if you want."

Ximena sighed. "Do you know where Silas is? I need to talk to him about this…"

"No, I don't know where he is, and he's not coming back for a couple of days, I'm sorry."

"What? Where is he?" she asked. Now she seemed even more distressed than before.

"I wish I could tell you, I have no idea."

Ximena took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. Then her eyes fell on something and she stood and walked right up to it. Nevaeh followed her with her gaze and tried not to smile when the young woman went directly to the wine on the dresser. She didn't even ask if she could have some and simply poured herself a glass of the red wine that was there. Her hands seemed to shake a little, and she downed the glass in one gulp.

"Feeling better?" Nevaeh asked. It was a genuine question: she could feel the woman's discomfort from where she sat.

"Yeah, I think," she said. "You want one?"

"No, thank you."

"I need to call my mom," she said. "I left my phone outside; can I borrow yours?"

"Uhm, yes, of course," Nevaeh said. She reached in her pocket and handed her the phone, unlocked. Ximena dialed a number she evidently knew by heart and stepped near the window. Nevaeh didn't listen in on the conversation but instead went to pour herself a glass of rosé.

A few minutes later, Ximena's flip-flops flapped on the floor and she handed the phone back. "I'll go change and then I'll go meet him," she said. "Do you mind coming with me, though? I'd rather have Silas with me but since he's not here, would you mind?"

"Of course not."

Ximena quickly went to change and came back in a matching outfit – pants, shirt, and blazer – with clicking heels. She had tied her hair in a bun on the top of her head and was wearing a long gold necklace and bright red lipstick. She looked fierce, Nevaeh had to give her that.

"Ready?" she asked her and Ximena nodded. She escorted her to the green parlor where the guard was still standing just outside the door. He opened the door for them and walked in, too, staying near the door.

"Ximena!" Mr. Cortez said. "I'm so happy to see you."

"I don't know you," she said, standing her grown when the man took a step in her direction. "What are you doing here?"

Cortez smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Can we talk in private?" he asked, eying Nevaeh and the guard.

"No," Ximena said. "They're staying or you're leaving." She paused. "I'm asking you again: what are you doing here and what do you want?"

Wow, Nevaeh was impressed. This girl could hold her ground, she was fierce and knew what she wanted. At least that's what she wanted him to believe. Huh. She'd do nicely as a queen if Silas chose her.

Cortez invited Ximena to sit on one of the armchairs while he sat on another, but she stayed standing, which put him lower than her. "You never replied to my letters," he said.

"Why would I?"

"I'm your father," he argued.

"So?" she said, putting her hands on her hips. "You never wanted anything to do with me for the past 24 years and suddenly you show up at my door– the Palace, no less, and you want to suddenly be best friends? No, way. And don't think one second that I will ever name you as being my father. I never had a father and I never will. And this is not going to change." She paused to catch her breath, her fists balling at her sides.

"Xi, please," the man said. "I made a mistake and –"

"Too bad. Now please leave and never try to contact me again."

"I want to walk my little girl down the aisle and–"

Ximena started laughing. It was a nervous laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. "You don't have a daughter. Not after you abandoned my mom and started a family of your own." She paused. "You already have another girl you can walk down the aisle. Now leave." She stepped aside, leaving the path to the door clear.

"Xime–"

"Go."

When Cortez hesitated, Ximena looked at the tall guard near the door who was only waiting for her signal to step in. He took a step towards the middle-aged man.

"Okay, okay, I'm leaving," he said. He headed towards the door but stopped in front of Ximena, standing eye-to-eye with her thanks to her heels. "You haven't heard the end of this, young lady."

Ximena didn't move and the guard grabbed the man by the upper arm and dragged him out of the room. When he was gone and they couldn't hear the footsteps outside, Ximena deflated and crumbled on the nearest chair. "That was… terrifying," she said in a small voice.

"Maybe, but you managed him like a queen," Nevaeh said. "I would have been scared of you had I been in his place. I'm glad to be on your good side." She patted Ximena's hand and sat on the couch next to her. They looked at each other and chuckled softly.

"Thanks for being there, she said.

Nevaeh nodded and when Ximena's legs weren't shaking anymore, they left together and went back outside. The other girls asked her what it was about and she told them briefly about what happened. If only she could have filmed that whole thing, Silas would have been so proud of her, and Jesse would have turned that into an amazing story. Oh, well.

-o-0-o-

The week went by pretty quickly after that. She continued with her lessons with the girls, going more into details about foreign politics and diplomacy, playing role games to get the girls really into it. The ladies liked the role games, but not really the subjects and it sometimes went into crazy ideas. They all had lots of good laughs out of it, though, and it loosened everyone after these first two months and the big party.

Just after lunch on Thursday, Silas appeared out of nowhere in the entrance hall.

"Silas! You're back!" Nevaeh said, walking over to her cousin. "Now can you tell me where you were and what you were doing?"

Silas smirked. "No. But you will know soon enough."

"I swear if you're not going to choose your wife soon, someone is going to whack you behind the head," she threatened, putting her fists on her hips. "And if it's not me, then I'll be glad to see it happen. I hope Jesse catches it on camera."

Silas just smirked, saluted her, and walked away. What was going on with him? Nevaeh had never seen him with such a spring in his step and a smile on his face. What on earth? She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. Where was she going again? Right. The Queen was arriving later this evening and she needed everything to be perfect.

The next morning, like every single Friday for the past two months, she got ready to escort the girls to the Report where Jesse was already waiting for them. When she got there, she noticed the decoration on the stage was different than usual. There were more flowers, and the couch and armchairs were still there but pushed to the side, leaving the center of the stage free and open, though Sydney had put a beautiful rug in the center.

What was going on?

She followed her aunt and uncle into the empty audience seats reserved for them in the first row, while guests and curious people who had paid an arm were finding their own seats. The girls also took their places in their usual seats, but instead of wooden chairs, like it always was, Sydney had changed them into plush seats with red velvet cushions on them.

Nevaeh sat, waiting. Fifteen minutes later, Jesse boomed out his usual introductory sentence.

"Goodeveningladiesandgentlemenboysandgirls! Another week has passed and we are here again with the royal family, but most importantly, we are here with the Princes and their seventeen remaining Selected girls! Can you believe it? Only half of them left!" He laughed. "Let's dig a bit into what happened this past week, shall we?" he turned towards Valerian first. "Your Highness, have you been on any dates this week?"

"No," he said, chuckling. "I think we all felt we needed to take a few days off after the previous week and the party."

"Oh."

"Besides, college started two weeks ago, so I'm spending every afternoon with my little 'Study group'."

"Right!" Jesse said. "And who is that again?"

"Roni, Eve, Pallas, and me." He chuckled. "We're all studying very different subjects, but it's nice to motivate each other in working, you know?"

"Yes, I totally understand that." Or not. Jesse had never been to college but who needed to know about that? He had started as a YouTuber and climbed up from there. "Prince Nathan?"

"Same," he said. "No dates. But I didn't study anything. I just spent some time outside, talking with the girls, eating ice cream, and so on. It was nice not to do anything this week, you know? I think we all needed a little vacation."

Jesse chuckled. "Totally understandable. These past couple of months were really tiring for you, having to date all these beautiful girls and all. Very tiring!"

"I know, right?" Nathan said.

"Dude, he's making fun of you," Val said, smacking his knee playfully. To which Nathan laughed.

"I knew that."

Nevaeh wondered if he had really seen Jesse's teasing or not. But was he going to ask Silas where he was this week or not? She needed to know.

"What about you, Your Highness?" Jesse said to Silas. "I noticed we didn't really see you, this week. Were you here or not at all? It's hard to say, sometimes…"

A tiny smile bloomed on his lips, making his eyes crinkle at the corner. Nevaeh was sure there was a camera zooming on his face right now. "You're right, I wasn't here, most of the week."

"Where were you?" Jesse asked. "You also needed a small vacation after all these dates?"

"Something like that."

"Are you going to be so secretive all the time?" Jesse asked. He was clearly losing patience with the prince, but Silas still kept him in the dark.

"No, I am going to be very clear in a few minutes, don't worry."

Jesse looked at the audience and the cameras and shrugged. Like everyone else, he had no idea what Silas was talking about. Did anyone know?

"I wish I could have done this in private," Silas said, "but I think you would have killed me, and we can't have any princepicide, now can we?"

Jesse was sitting at the edge of his seat. "Wait a minute," he said, understanding something. "Are you going to propose, right now?"

Silas couldn't contain the smile that spread on his face. "Maybe."

"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!" Jesse said, fanning himself with his hand. "Are you serious right now?"

Silas nodded and stood from his seat under the baffled looks of his brothers. The whole live audience was holding their breath – Nevaeh included – waiting to see who he was going to choose. Bets would be won or lost, that day, and Nevaeh was glad she hadn't betted any actual money.

Silas stood in the middle of the fancy rug and slipped his hand in his pocket, fiddling with something. "This week, I went on the East Coast to ask for her parent's blessing," he said to Jesse, and Nevaeh was really surprised that he was so talkative that morning. How many coffees had he drunk before coming? Or how much wine? She hoped it was coffee.

The girls were also sitting at the edge of their seats, staring at Silas. They all knew it was between Leigh and Ximena at that point, but everyone was still in the dark. Everyone but Silas.

Or was he? Because he seemed like he was stalling, right now.

"Come on, Silas," Nevaeh muttered under her breath and crossed her fingers.

"Her mother gave me her blessing," he continued. Then he looked at the group of girls and his gaze fell on one of them. "I really wish I could have done this either by the lake or at the Gazebo where we shared our first kiss. But we are going to have to settle for the Report stage."

A red rose arch was brought in by two stage-hands dressed in black, just behind Silas, still standing on the rug. He took a deep breath. This was it.

"Ximena, will you please join me?" he asked.

The young woman stood and was encouraged by the others, letting her pass, without stepping on their toes. She was dressed in a strapless dress with a golden top and navy-blue skirt that fell to the floor. Her hair was down and curled loosely. She radiated in her own way and Nevaeh was sure one of the cameras was following her closely. She hoped she wasn't going to trip on the rug's edge because the duchess really didn't want Xi to be humiliated as she had been. Ximena joined Silas and stood in front of him, under the flower arch. He must have told someone to have all this decoration. If not Jesse, then Sydney.

"Xi," Silas started, using her nickname. He took one of her hands in his. "I remember the first day I saw you. It was only for five minutes of speed-meeting, but you had already captured my attention." He paused, swallowing. Nevaeh wondered if he had learned that text by heart and written it in advance, or if he was making it up as he went. "I fell in love with your smile, your confidence, your laugh, and your beauty. Ximena, as I said, your mother gave me her blessing this week, and I have one question for you." He couldn't look away, that was clear enough. "I know marrying me is not the best option because with it comes the crown and many responsibilities." Silas put one knee on the floor and looked up to the woman in front of him. "Amo-te de todo o coração, Ximena. Você será meu parceiro? Minha Princesa e minha Rainha um dia? Você vai ser minha esposa? "

What language was that? Nevaeh didn't understand one word of it, but Ximena brightened at the words. "Sim! Sim um milhão de vezes!" she replied. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, as well as the girls.

Silas grinned, stood, took out a small box from his pocket, and took out a ring from it. A cameraman came in close to film as Silas slipped the ring on her finger. Without caring about everyone who was watching him at the moment, he leaned in and kissed her, making the crowd go wild with whoops and phones flashing from everywhere. There would be no way to stop the pictures from getting out before that evening.

Jesse was fake-hyperventilating on his seat, watching the couple get engaged in front of everyone. The sixteen remaining girls joined the couple and hugged Ximena, congratulating her on her big win. Jesse had completely lost control of the Report, but for once in his life, he didn't care. This was probably one of the best days of the Selection, even better than the two previous parties. Nathan and Valerian joined the group and they hugged Silas, congratulating him as well. Nevaeh wanted to go too, but she waited for when she could do that in private: no use going there and risking falling on her face again.

"Oh, my God!" Jesse said again as the group calmed down and the girls went back to their seats. The audience also calmed down a little, and Silas went to sit on the couch with Ximena, while Valerian scooted to the side to give them some space. She was snuggled against her fiancé – wow, it was weird to say that – and Silas had his arm around her. He couldn't quite stop staring at the woman next to him

"You actually went to Hansport this week," Jesse said. "What took you three days, though?"

"I arrived on Monday evening and went directly to the hotel. It was too late to drop in on Ximena's mother. Then the next day I did some paperwork to pass the time and went to see Mrs. Oliveira after her workday. She invited me for dinner and we had a great time, actually."

"My goodness. She must have been so excited to talk to you," Ximena said. She couldn't take off the grin from her face but Nevaeh couldn't blame her.

"Yes, and she reminded me a lot of you." He smiled at her and Ximena giggled. "The next day, I went to New York with Parker and I went looking for the perfect ring."

"Wait, that's not a royal family heirloom?" Jesse asked. "May I see the ring?" Ximena held out her hand for Jesse. "Wow, it's gorgeous!"

"It's not an heirloom because I wanted something unique. We will already have wedding rings as heirlooms, I'm afraid."

"I see," Jesse said, still examining the ring. "And then you came back on Thursday morning, right?"

"Exactly."

Jesse gave Ximena her hand back. "Well, I'm super excited and happy for both of you, and thank you for doing this here and not privately." He paused and smirked. "I don't think I would have committed regicide for that, but I would have been really upset to have missed it." He looked at Ximena. "And you wouldn't have been as surprised and genuine if he had already proposed in private."

"True," she said. "Though being asked twice by the same man wouldn't have bothered me." She laughed and the three brothers joined in.

Jesse took a deep breath. "Well, I think it's time for some black roses," he said. "Silas will be giving out three today, because all the remaining girls, namely Veronica, Leigh, and Jenissa, will be scratched off the lists…" he gave three roses to Silas. "As for the others, do you mind not giving out any roses this week? I only had three with me, and I think we already had something big today."

"Yeah, totally," Nathan said. "Here, give me the roses, I'll give them to your girls," he added to Silas who was too happy to let him do it: that meant he could stay on the couch with Ximena in his arms.

After that, Jesse talked some more with Val and Nathan, then he concluded the Report with his usual ending. As soon as it was over, Nevaeh made a beeline for the stage to congratulate the newly engaged couple and to see the ring, of course. It was a triple yellow-gold band with a giant tear-shaped emerald surrounded by tiny diamonds. She was jealous, to be honest. The ring was gorgeous, and Ximena had landed the most-wanted bachelor in all of Illéa. Who was also Nevaeh's cousin, but details. Who was she ever going to marry, in the end?


Whoop, there it is, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I had lots of fun writing it!

Also, yeah, Xilas wins, obviously ;) but don't worry, the story is not over yet (for Leigh, the other Selected, or Nate and Val)! Don't forget to check IG for the updated lists, and the ring :eyes: hehehe

please let me know what you thought! even if it's just you screeching and fangirling/fanboying in the review! xD

see you next week! byeee~


Translation from Portuguese: (Sorry if it's not 100% correct, i used Google Translate) – and yes, Silas learned that sentence in Portuguese just to impress her.

Amo-te de todo o coração, Ximena. Você será meu parceiro? Minha princesa e minha rainha um dia? Você será minha esposa? = I love you with all my heart, Ximena. Will you be my partner? My princess and my queen one day? Will you be my wife?

sim! sim um milhão de vezes! = yes! yes a millions times!