I'm going to sound really insane right now, but an Instagram post inspired this story. It's by schreavesroyal, and it has a "thumbnail" that has an image that says "If Maxon had an older sister". In my defense; I'm following a lot of fan accounts for The Selection because I just need to fill a void until the movie is released. I've read all the books and novellas, so we should be good on accuracy (If we aren't for some reason in a chapter down the road, feel free to come at me.)
This will follow the first 3 books pretty much as canon, though there will be modifications. I'll do The Heir and The Crown if I'm feeling ambitious, but no promises. Now for my fan cast:
Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Schreave (Although she has Emily DiDonato's eyes)
Matthew Daddario as Connor Stone
Michael Provost as Maxon Schreave
Chris Pine as Clarkson Schreave
Penèlope Cruz as Amberly Schreave
Abigail Cowen as America Singer
Wolfgang Novogratz as Aspen Leger
Lili Reinhert as Marlee Tames
Maia Mitchell as Kriss Ambers
Taylor Hill as Celeste Newsome
Elle Fanning as Natalie Luca
Fan Bingbing as Elise Whisks
August Twenty-Second: Palace of Illéa, 11:47 PM
I think that the amount of events that can happen in ten years is astonishing.
On one hand, something disastrous like a war or economic crash could change the course of history for the common person and royalty alike. But as my mother often says: "The most gorgeous things always come during the darkest of hours." She's not wrong; the brightest and most flourishing spring always follows the most bitter and frigid winter.
When spring finally does round the corner, my favorite thing comes along with it; love. Most people find it through some form of situation that brings them together, whether it be being in the same math class or volunteering at the same shelter. But my parents have a much different story.
Mom had been crushing on Dad since she was seven and had nothing but a farm and dreams of being his queen. When he came of age, she immediately entered her name into the ballot box of thousands of girls. Out of sheer luck, she was chosen to be one of the thirty-five and sent to the palace. Another miracle happened and she was chosen to be one of the ten Elites.
Nearly four years passed when she managed to conceive me. With less than a twenty-percent chance of carrying to full term, and a less than thirty-percent conceiving, I was dubbed "a miracle" by the doctors. When the news was leaked to the public, they were astonished and thrilled.. Like with previous generations of royal heirs, they were praying for Dad to get his heir on the first try. They were sadly mistaken. I made my grand debut as princess of Illéa and firstborn of Clarkson and Amberly Schreave on February twenty-fifth of the following year.
When I began to understand the concept of how my family was different from other kids' my age, I learned pretty quickly that due my gender and its relationship with the Illéan law, I had no rights to the crown. But contrary to what most believe, I don't mind it. I think of my situation almost like the production of a movie; I would choose the role of the director or maybe a screenwriter, standing behind the scenes and letting the actors carry out the plot that I have created. Dad even took some of my silly little suggestions into consideration and a few became laws.
Even though I was born with the world at my chubby little fingertips and could get anything I wanted with "Please Daddy", that didn't mean that I had everything. There was still something I wanted desperately that I knew wouldn't be easy to get; a sibling. Specifically, a brother. I wanted someone who would mindlessly follow my antics when the moment struck. Someone to get into trouble with me. Someone whom I could confide in when doubts arose. Someone who I could silly faces from across the dinner table.
But fulfilling that task was a lot trickier than both me and my parents expected. They wanted to give me a sibling (not to mention an heir), but Mom's health fluctuated rapidly and constantly. One day we would be having a tea party in the Women's Room, and then she would be sick and headachey for the next two. And whenever we seemed to get lucky with a pregnancy, she lost it. Shortly after the second miscarriage, I dropped the subject of wanting a sibling entirely, fearing that I would upset her by bringing up the topic.
A little while after I turned six, a light pierced through the darkness. Mom was pregnant, and unlike the previous ones, the doctor thought that this one would stick around. When we were told that, Dad and I instantly knew that we were in it for the long haul. Weeks turned into months and the sign of new life began to show itself in her stomach. I was ecstatic, hoping that the baby growing inside her was a brother.
I turned out to be correct. That August twenty-third, nearly six-and-a-half years after me, the heir was born: Maxon Calix. My baby brother. The second man I'd ever loved. The one who made me
set my standards so high when the time came to find me a husband. The one who convinced me to not go completely berserk and try every alcoholic beverage when I finally came of age. Most importantly, he was my closest confidante.
And now he was of age. He was ready to find his queen.
Even though I'm mostly opposed to it, I still dream sometimes of what it would be like to hold my own Selection. Thirty-five men would come to the palace and I would find my pre-chosen-by-the-Universe one-and-only amongst them. It wouldn't have gone horribly; I was the most eligible bachelorette in all of Illéa, and one of the most eligible in the world after all. Dad didn't want me to marry "a foreigner", so my options were limited to Illéan men only.
I had slim pickings for my future husband. They were nowhere near as slim as Maxon's pickings will be, but they weren't very inclusive either. In the beginning, my options were only Twos and Threes. I hated most male Twos- they were always so shallow and full-of-themselves, and it was rare to find one who wasn't. I wasn't compatible with a lot of Threes due to us having so much in common and running out of things to talk about. After Mom worked a little bit of magic, Dad expanded my pickings to allow some of the wealthier Fours to be in the race for my hand. After eight months and a lot of help from Maxon, I finally found my one-and-only: A patient, intelligent and loving Four named Connor Stone.
Maxon helped me find my one-and-only, and now it was finally time to pay him back for it. Judging by what I've seen in the past, he'll need all the help from me and Mom that he can get. As brainy as he is, I'll be the first to admit that he's a little clueless in the world of women. But that's okay.
I sighed as I began to write the last sentence, my pen running out of ink. The clock in our bedroom struck midnight. I smiled.
Happy birthday, little bro. May this year bring you happiness and a wife.
I forgot to mention 1 thing. The cover is a drawing made by an illustrator on Instagram. She did a whole dang art series for the Selection girls, and then the Selected men last year. IDK what the cover for this is for, but it looks a lot like how I imagine Jackie to look like.
Her Insta handle: olhosdtinta