Two years ago…

Cedric paced outside of the door to Helene's room, she owed him an explanation, that much was obvious. But was he really ready to hear it? He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Helene?" Cedric called.

The door opened a moment later and the black-haired beauty stood in the doorway. She opened the door wider to allow Cedric entry into the room.

"How could you do this to me?" Cedric questioned. "You turned me down on national television, you humiliated me!"

Helene brought a hand to her temple and let out a sigh, "I know, I know, just, please, let me explain." She said as she grabbed his hand. She led him further into the room and sat down on the bed. Cedric sat beside her but pulled his hand away.

"Explain," he demanded.

"I never wanted to be in the Selection, it's nothing against you," Helen began. "My parents made me apply, I was only eighteen, they said they'd throw me out if I didn't. So, I figured I could save money to get my own place, I never thought I'd make it this far, never thought I'd develop feelings for you, or that you would develop feelings for me."

"If you loved me then why did you turn me down?" Cedric asked.

"Because, as much as I love you, I can't be your Queen." Helene replied, then took a breath. "You're wonderful, truly, and I love you so much, but this isn't the life that I want, not for me or my future kids. It's stifling and constrictive, I'd never be free, always cooped up in the palace. Forced to put on public events all of the time, I'd be a commodity, not a person. And I just, I can't do it…"

Cedric sighed, it made sense and he didn't want to bring Helene into a life that she wasn't ready for, "I understand, I just wish you had told me before I proposed."

"And I wish you had told me you were going to." Helene said as she took his hand again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you." She gave his hand a little squeeze. "I love you, I do, I just…I can't do this."
Cedric nodded his understanding, "I'm sorry if I pressured you."

"It's okay," Helene said with a small smile. "I just wish I had told you sooner…I should probably go." Helene said as she stood. "Thank you, for everything, I really appreciate it."

"Of course," Cedric said. He watched as Helene grabbed her suitcase and left her room in the palace for the last time. Tears welled in his eyes as he watched her leave, he would never see her again, he couldn't, it would hurt too much. What now? Cedric thought. He heaved out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair, he didn't want to leave her room, one that would soon become just another guest room in the palace. Cedric glanced up when he heard footsteps approaching and saw his younger brother standing in the doorway.

"You good?" Everett asked.

Cedric shook his head, "I think I just wanna be alone right now."

Everett nodded, "I'm sorry she did that to you, man. Just…let me know if you need anything." He said, then left the room.

Cedric sighed as he laid down on the bed and brought his hands to his face. How was he going to move on from the love of his life?

Present day..

Cedric sighed as he walked into the studio, his cue cards held firmly in his hand. He didn't need them, like always he had memorized his speech. But he wasn't entirely sure he was ready to do this. He remembered the backlash the royal family, specifically he had received at Helene's rejection, what would the media say now?

"Don't be nervous," Regan said. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder as Everett approached.

"I mean, it's nothing you haven't done before." Everett teased, a sly grin on his face.

Cedric shot his brother an annoyed look, "You're not helping," he said, his tone testy. He walked away from his brother and his father and walked onto the stage. He took his seat in his chair, the one to his father's right. Jaqueline entered the room, wearing a slim yellow gown that looked like it had rays of sunshine on it. She trailed behind their mother, with her pre-report nerves probably getting the better of her, unsure whether or not she'd be asked to speak. She made her way over to Cedric and lifted the skirts of her dress as she made her way upstage.

"Nervous?" Cedric asked.

Jaqueline nodded, "A little. I hate addressing the public."

"I know, but you're surprisingly good at it," Cedric said, hoping to ease her nerves.

"Thanks," Jaqueline said as she smoothed out her dress. She took her seat next to Cedric as Everett, Antoinette, and Regan made their way to the stage and took their respective seats.

"Are you ready?" Antoinette asked, her eyes locked on her oldest son.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Cedric said. "Let's just get this over with."

"You'll do great, sweetheart," Antoinette said.

"That's not what I'm worried about, I'm worried about what the press will say. They tore me apart after my last Selection, what if they do the same again?" Cedric asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Ignore the press, this Selection will be a success, you'll see," Regan said firmly, though he knew his son's concerns were legitimate. If Cedric was rejected twice there was no way that he'd be able to live it down. Suddenly, the director called the attention of the royal family and soon the cameras were rolling. The host of the Report, Leslie Kingsly, took to the stage and welcomed the nation after the playing of the national anthem. He was a tall, thin man with curly brown hair. Cedric tried his best to pay attention to the Report but found himself toning out as he reread his cue cards over and over again.

"And finally, an exciting announcement from your Crown Prince, Prince Cedric!" Leslie announced.

Cedric cleared his throat as he was handed the microphone, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As we all know, my first Selection didn't end as anticipated," He began looking directly into the camera. "However, that has not deterred me. I am determined to find the love of my life and your future Queen. This means that I will be hosting another Selection. To the young ladies of Illéa between the ages of eighteen to twenty-five you have been invited to apply to my second Selection. I am looking forward to getting to know the thirty-five Selected, especially the one who will be my future wife and queen. Applications are due in two weeks to your local post office. I wish everyone the best of luck in applying, thank you."

"This is very exciting indeed!" Leslie exclaimed. "Are you looking forward to your new Selection?"

"I am," Cedric replied. "I think it's about time I moved on and settled down, and I am looking for the perfect woman to help me do both. I have learned a lot during my last Selection and I think I know where I may have gone wrong last time."

"Well, this is certainly good news for the young ladies in the audience. Princess Jaqueline, what do you make of all this?" Leslie asked, trying to get the young woman involved in the Report. The public rarely heard from the fourteen-year-old, who preferred to remain silent during these reports.

"I'm very happy for my brother and I hope that he finds someone who makes him happy," Jaqueline answered timidly.

"I think we're all hoping for the same thing, Your Highness." Leslie said with a bow of his head and a kind smile. "Your Majesty," he said, addressing King Regan, "What are your thoughts on this new Selection?"

Regan thought for a moment before answering, "I think that's it's a good opportunity, both for the Selected involved and my son. However, I would like to say a word of caution, my son is not just looking for a wife, but for a Queen as well, and I encourage all potential applicants to think strongly about whether or not they think they are suited for the role."

"I agree," Antoinette chimed in. "Being Queen is not for everyone, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to your country, I want each of you young ladies applying to make sure this is something you truly want before you put your name in. This is more than a competition for love, it is a call to serve your country and I don't think the Selected last time quite understood that."

"Very well said, Your Majesty," Leslie said. "Do you have any advice for the Selected?"

"My advice would be to make sure you're entering the Selection for the right reasons and to make sure that you can seriously see a future for yourself with my son. He's been through enough heartbreak; he doesn't need to repeat the process."

"Thank you for that wonderful advice, Your Majesty." Leslie said then turned his attention to the cameras. "That will be all for tonight, have a wonderful evening everyone and we will see you next week!"

With that, the cameras cut, and the royal family collectively took a breath, everything had gone well, even though Jaqueline had to speak.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Regan asked.

"Easy for you to say," Jaqueline said as she crossed her arms. "He didn't have to ask me that."

"Jaqueline, you know the country wants to see more of you, you hardly engage with the public," Antoinette said as she stood. "I know you don't like it, but it's an important part of being royalty."

Jaqueline sighed, "I know, I know."

"Mom's right, you can't keep hiding forever, Jackie," Everett said.

"I don't want to share my life with the public," Jaqueline said with a sigh.

"I know you don't," Antoinette said as she reached out and stroked her daughter's hair. "Unfortunately, that just makes them all the more curious about you. I know it's hard for you, but you need to come out of your shell a bit more."

Jaqueline sighed, "That's not fair," she mumbled. She had never asked to be born a princess, she rarely got any privacy, she could barely go out without the public breathing down her neck. Hence why she had her family spent most of the time in the palace. She wondered what it would be like to be born a regular citizen, would she dream of being royalty the way she dreamed of being normal?

"How did I do?" Cedric asked.

"You did great," Regan answered. He stood and took his wife's hand. "I'm sure plenty of young women will be joining, and hopefully this time they'll give more consideration into what they're signing up for."

"And you're sure you didn't scare them off?" Everett questioned as he leaned back in his chair.

"Anyone we scared of isn't Queen material," Antoinette said firmly. "I know my life changed when I won the Selection, they need to know what they're getting themselves into. Whoever wins will take on significant responsibilities, their life won't be the same again, they need to know that."

"I don't see why anyone would want this," Jaqueline said.

"Someone will, trust me," Antoinette said. "Just because it's not for you that doesn't mean that it's terrible. It just means that you want something different from your life. But unfortunately, you'll never live a normal life, even if you step down from being royalty when you're old enough, you're a household name."

Jacqueline sighed, "I know."

"Maybe your perspective will change when you're older," Antoinette said. "Now, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving."

"Me too." Everett agreed as he stood.

"You're always hungry," Jaqueline teased. She stood up and went to her mother's side, where she often hid behind when the cameras were around. It was endearing when she was younger, but the older she got the more of a nuisance it became. She was fourteen, she should feel more comfortable in the limelight by now.

"I think I'm going to take dinner in my room." Cedic said as he stood. "No offense to you guys, I just have a lot to think about."

"Of course, take all the time you need." Regan said with a kind smile.

Cedric nodded as he walked down the stairs of the stage. He left the studio and went straight to his room. He closed the door behind him and went straight to his desk. His room was kept tidy, thanks to the help of the palace staff. He had priceless paintings hung on the walls, as well as his stereo on his dresser and his guitar and violin. Cedric pulled out a piece of paper and began a letter to Helene. It had been two years since they had contact and he wasn't sure that she even lived at the same address, but still, he wanted to write to her and the time seemed fitting.

Dear Helene,

I hope this letter finds you well. I must admit I still miss you to this day, but I forgive you for what you did to me. It was unfair of me to spring my proposal on you, I should have considered that you might not be ready for everything that comes with being Queen. It is a huge undertaking, and it certainly is not something that is right for everyone. I hope you forgive me for putting you on the spot like that. I was wondering if maybe you would be interested in being involved in this Selection. We had something special, and I'd love to reconnect with you. You don't have to enter, I would never ask that of you, but maybe you could come in as a mentor to the Selected. It might do them some good to have you around as someone who has been through the process. Just, think it over and let me know. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Prince Cedric.

Cedric sighed as he put his pen down and slid the letter in an envelope. Which he handed to the butler who brought him his tray of food.

"Please mail this at once," Cedric instructed.

"Of course, Your Highness." The butler said with a bow.

Cedric watched the butler leave, what was he thinking sending that letter? Helene had probably moved on and forgotten all about him, why would she come back and help out with his new Selection? I may be a prince, but I certainly am an idiot, he thought. But he did want to see her again, who knows, maybe they could be friends? He certainly hoped that they could. Either way, he was eagerly awaiting her response.