Ji-Yu's thoughts were entirely focused on her paperwork before she heard her sister's excited scream – literally, a scream – from downstairs.

Crushing her curiosity, Ji-Yu clicked her pen multiple times and refocused on the documents in front of her. As a jujitsu instructor for children, she had to fill out safety forms annually to prove, firstly, her ability to teach, and secondly, that her criminal record was clean. It wasn't a task she enjoyed, though her family seemed to think otherwise, but a task necessary for her to keep her job. They were due to her sensei tomorrow, so she simply didn't have the time to find out what was causing her sister's joy.

It was probably a shoe sale, or a new range of nail varnishes.

Rapid footsteps blundered up the stairs – Ji-Yu recognised the patter as her sister's, and she sighed, knowing that the safety check forms would have to wait.

The door to her bedroom flung open.

"Oh my god, onni! You have to come downstairs, right now! It's an emergency!"

Ji-Yu swivelled in her chair to face her sister. Mi-Gyeong was clad in a glittery cocktail dress and giant, glitzy high heels that were taller than a chihuahua. Most people had difficulty telling the two of them apart, but now her hair was auburn, cascading down her chest in curls – opposite to Ji-Yu's inky black, straight hair.

Then again, her hair colour seemed to change every week.

"What is it now, yeodongsaeng?" Ji-Yu said. "I'm busy."

Mimi pouted. "You're not busy enough for this. You have to come down, now! I'm not going to explain!"

Before Ji-Yu could protest, Mimi grabbed her by the arm and dragged her down the stairs. The sequins of her dress glittered so blindingly that Ji-Yu struggled to face her, almost like she was her own sun.

Mimi finally let go once they passed the threshold. The living room was small and cosy, with minimal furnishings and simple decorations. The TV was the biggest fixture in the room, taking up nearly the entirely of the right wall. The sofa had been blanketed with a handmade, white quilt, embroidered with red octagonal Korean designs. Ji-Yu's parents, Hwan and Young-Sook Kim, were nestled on top, so the quilt was wrinkled, and together they shared a bucket of toffee popcorn between them.

Hwan grinned. It wrinkled his already wrinkled face, matching his grey hair. "How're forms going?" he asked, switching the conversation to Korean, the native tongue of the house.

Ji-Yu glared at her sister. "They aren't going. What's so important?"

Young-Sook's far calmer demeanour was something closer to what Ji-Yu had taken after. Her hair, though, was closer to white than black, and beginning to thin. She closed her palms around a handful of popcorn. "I never really know, with your sister."

Mimi apparently ignored the jab, and reached for the TV remote. The TV itself was paused, stuck on a frozen frame of the current Queen of Illéa, Diantha Schreave. She gestured grandly towards the crowd, her mouth hung open, and her blonde hair tickled her shoulders.

"Did you rewind it, Dad?"

Hwan pouted – it looked just like Mimi's, moments before. "Of course I did."

Ji-Yu sighed, knowing she couldn't escape even if she wanted to, and grabbed some popcorn. The sweetness was a relief in the sour situation. "I'm not interested in political nonsense."

Mimi jabbed the remote at the TV, and it began to play again. Diantha's words tooted from the TV's audio output – uppity and drawled. Ji-Yu didn't pay it much attention.

"It's not political nonsense. Well," Mimi placed a finger on her lips, painted ruby red, "I suppose you'll whine and say it is – but it isn't, and you're going to watch."

She pointed at the sofa menacingly, guarding the exit in case Ji-Yu decided to make a run for it. Ji-Yu groaned, reluctantly admitting defeat, and planted herself between her parents whilst Mimi bounced up and down behind the sofa.

In perfect timing, Diantha handed over role of host to the glamourous new presenter of the Capital Report, Romilda van der Voort. She glided on screen with her pearly white grin and her effortlessly styled afro.

"Good evening, Illéa, and what an exciting surprise we have for the rest of tonight!"

"Her dress is fab," Mimi commented. "She's going to be such a good host."

Ji-Yu ignored her, and folded her hands on her lap, glancing at her father and mother – Hwan had taken the bucket and was shovelling popcorn into his mouth, enraptured by the screen, whereas Young-Sook stared absently at Romilda, possibly just enjoying the sound of her voice.

Ji-Yu's mother never quite learnt English very well, and she struggled to understand basic conversation. Even today, after she'd lived here for more than a decade. Luckily, Hwan, Mimi and Ji-Yu were able to translate for her most of the time.

Romilda cleared her throat. "We're ending this week's Capital Report with a special announcement – straight from His Royal Highness, Prince Merrick Schreave."

She gestured off-screen, and the camera angle changed. A pale, blond man, just a few years younger than Ji-Yu, stood by the podium, dressed in his sharpest suit. His hair had been combed with a side parting, and his green eyes shivered with nerves.

Ji-Yu felt a pang of sadness for him. Whatever he was about to say, he was nervous.

Mimi squealed behind her. "Oh! Keep watching, Ji! Keep watching!"

Prince Merrick gulped. "G-Good evening, Illéa." The words seemed to imbue him with some pride, and he stood straighter. "I would firstly like to thank you for your kind words over this last week. I have enjoyed my nineteenth birthday immensely, and I hope that my ever-growing age ushers in a year of improvement for our great nation. Now that I am, ahem, 'quite old', as Mother put it" – the camera panned to Diantha Schreave, whose cheeks pinched with a polite laugh at the comment, before focusing back on Merrick – "and my elder sisters, Princess Decadence and Princess Philippa, have been promised to other men, it is high time I stepped into my role as heir to the Illéan throne.

"Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to show how serious I am about becoming the next King of Illéa, by…" he seemed to stumble, but recovered quickly. "By holding my Selection."

Ji-Yu's shoulders slumped. Oh, right, of course. She should have expected it, and yet, she still wasn't surprised. All of the heirs had Selections at one point in their lives.

Mimi's squeals could shatter glass. She paused the TV again and twirled to face Ji-Yu.

"Don't you know what this means?"

"That he's old?" Hwan suggested, earning him a huff from Mimi.

"What… what is a Selection?" said Young-Sook, her lips pursed, clearly troubled by this one English word she didn't recognise within the context.

Mimi rolled her eyes. "Oh, Mom! It's only the biggest television event of the century!" She threw up her arms, echoing a film trailer voice. "Thirty-five girls. One prince. The chance of a lifetime."

Young-Sook frowned. "That… doesn't explain anything."

Mimi sighed dramatically. "Thirty-five girls go to live in the palace to try and win Prince Merrick's hand. If they're successful, they get to marry him and become a princess!" She made a noise like a dying hyena. "And their family become Ones! Can you imagine? Ones!"

Ji-Yu shrivelled. Somehow, she had a feeling where this was going.

But instead, Mimi jumped out of the way, and played the TV again.

Merrick continued to speak amongst the excited rustle of the royal court. "Thirty-five lucky girls from each province will join me in the palace with the chance to win my hand and become Princess, and eventually Queen, of Illéa. All women between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one are eligible to apply, and each shall be sent a letter in the mail in the upcoming week. From there, you will have a month to send in your applications."

He paused again, fixing a smile upon his face. "I'm very happy to undertake such a role and tradition in my family, and I do look forwards to— to meeting my future wife." His falter deterred him slightly, and he scrambled to recover. "To all the women considering entering, good luck, and I hope to meet you very soon!"

Mimi paused the TV again and swivelled to face Ji-Yu, lasering her eyes into her.

"You know what I'm about to say, right?"

Enter.

Ji-Yu clasped her hands together, forming a smile on her face much like how Merrick had done for his speech. "I'm flattered that you think I'm princess material, Mimi—"

"No, Ji – don't discourage yourself already! You can totally enter!" She draped herself against the doorway, feigning a sigh. "I'm too much of an old hag that I can't try for the cute prince's hand—"

"You're twenty-two."

"—but that doesn't mean I won't cheer on my adorable baby sister when she wins his heart."

Ji-Yu furrowed her eyebrows. "I'm twenty-one. I'm not a baby."

Hwan laughed and petted Ji-Yu's head. "You'll always be my baby, Ji-Ji."

Even Young-Sook laughed at that.

Ji-Yu pinned her sister with a glare as she stood up. "Look, even if I wanted to enter, the chances are ridiculously small. Even smaller for us, because Midston is one of the biggest provinces—"

Mimi stuck out her tongue. "Well, guess what, maths nerd? The chances are small for Midston, but they're even smaller if you don't enter. Think positively! Think boldly! Think of all the benefits you could have if you won – heck, even if you were a Selected!"

Ji-Yu deadpanned. "You're just thinking about all the clothes you could buy if I won."

Hwan laughed again. "She's got you there, Mimi."

Ji-Yu sighed, turning to her mother. "What do you think?"

Young-Sook managed a smile. "The prince is very handsome adorable."

"That's not the response I was looking for—"

"Isn't he though, Mother?!" Mimi danced around the room in her giant high heels. "Think about it, Ji. How dreamy would it be if he held you at night, whispering sweet nothings into your ear?"

"Mi-Gyeong —" but Ji-Yu's scolding went unheard, especially since her parents snorted.

Mimi twirled around the room, stopping in front of the TV. She squished her cheeks together.

"Oh, Ji-Yu Kim, you're so gorgeous," she said in English, poorly imitating Merrick's deep voice. "I want to marry you and make you my princess. My queen. And your beautiful, effervescent sister can come live in the palace and have a billion seamstresses make her glorious dresses every day."

Hwan choked on his popcorn before roaring with laughter, shortly joined by a fit of giggles in Mimi. Young-Sook smiled even though she obviously didn't have a clue what was said.

Mimi inhaled her laughter then imitated Ji-Yu, going high-pitched. "Oh, Prince Merrick, I'm so in love with you. I love you like I love jujitsu and safety forms." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Kiss me under the moonlight, Merrick. Sweep me into dreamland. Have my adorable babies."

She squished her cheeks again and waved her tongue in the air, making slurpy kissing noises. Young-Sook giggled, whereas Hwan howled with laughter, slapping his thighs and nearly tipping over the bucket of popcorn.

The only one completely unamused was Ji-Yu. Mimi's made up story had made her embarrassed and angry all at once, and she was sure that red had blossomed on her cheeks. "I don't sound like that!"

Mimi turned to Young-Sook. "Does Ji sound like that?"

Young-Sook blushed. "You all sound the same to me when you speak English."

"See?" Mimi grinned her evil smile. "Mother agrees with me."

"That doesn't count." Ji-Yu crossed her arms. "We don't even know if the prince is into New Asian women."

Mimi waved her off. "Well, if he's not, he's missing out. We're fabulous." She flicked her hair. "Imagine the possibilities if you were just Selected, though. You'd be famous!"

"I don't want to be famous."

Mimi pursed her lips. "Pffft, fine. You win, and I'll be your body double. I can handle the cameras and the press. You can do all the boring queen stuff."

It was all a joke to Mimi. Ji-Yu stomped her foot.

"I am not entering. That's final."

Mimi's bouncy attitude died at once. "Oh, come on, Ji—"

"No. There's no point. I wouldn't be picked."

"How do you know?" Mimi shot back, puffing her cheeks. "You won't know until you try."

"I don't want to win the prince's hand. I don't have an interest." She blushed. "No matter… no matter if he's handsome adorable or not."

Mimi shoved her hand in Ji-Yu's face. "You're blushing!" She panned to their parents. "She's blushing! She's gaga for him!"

"I'm not gaga for him!"

Hwan's eyebrow raised. "Got you there, Ji-Ji."

Young-Sook inclined her head. "There's no harm in entering, you know."

"Yes," Mimi agreed, straightening, taking on a serious tone. "All you have to do is fill in a form – which we all know you love doing – and have your picture taken. Just grin like you're about to earn your tenth dan in jujitsu and then you can go home again. Simple. Done. End of story." Something evil glinted in her eyes. "Until you're Selected, of course."

Ji-Yu saw no point, still. It was realistic, if anything. The chances of being chosen were so miniscule, she'd have more chance being hit by a meteor. But Mimi would never let up, never let this opportunity go to waste, and the dread pooling in Ji-Yu's stomach told her she would have to endure this sort of talk daily until she gave in.

Since the chance was so small, however… she'd fill in the form, have her picture taken, and then would never have to talk about it again. She could watch the Selection, and all the drama that came along with it, pan out in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her loving parents.

Ji-Yu realised she could do that. She'd never be picked, anyway.

Sitting back down and placing her arms on her lap, she regarded her sister. If Mimi was so desperate for Ji-Yu to put her name forwards, perhaps there was an opportunity to take advantage of here, too...

"If I enter," Ji-Yu said, thinking quickly, "you have to do all my chores… for a week."

Hwan gasped, swerving his gaze to face Mimi with anticipation. Mimi worked her jaw, her eyes narrowing at the request, and her fists clenching. The pause that bloated in the room told Ji-Yu how heavily her sister was analysing the benefits and the costs of such a deal.

"Every single one?"

"Washing, drying, cleaning, cooking, taking Mom and Dad places. All of it."

The list seemed like a physical blow to Mimi, but with unnerving calmness, she listed her head to one side. "You won't complain. Not once."

"Not once," Ji-Yu said.

"And you won't withdraw, even if your name is called on the Report?"

She scoffed. "Yes, yes. Even if they call my name." Never going to happen.

"And if you win, you get me my own personal helicopter?"

The stupidest of requests, but Ji-Yu wanted to laugh at this point. So worth the chore-free week. "Sure. I'll even have it painted pink for you."

Mimi puffed out a dramatic sigh and flicked her hair. It didn't take her long to arrive at a decision, apparently. "Ugh, fine, but you have to buy me gloves if I chip a nail scrubbing the dishes."

Ji-Yu grinned. Maybe diplomacy was easier than she thought, if she could strike such a bargain so heavily in her favour than Mimi's.

"Sure, sure." That wickedness grew. "Actually, speaking of chores, I have some forms for you to complete…"

A/N: bah, didnt intend to post this today, but I've had a bad day, it's 1am here, and no one can tell me what to do! *skydives*

So here's Ji-Yu's first look at Merrick's Selection! And... she was so close to not doing it, hahah. Hope you enjoyed it! Hwan, Young-Sook and the fabulous Mimi will appear in TSaTS... when fourteen girls become ten... ;)

Thanks for all your reviews to last chapter! I've kinda' decided to stop replying to them all (unless they have questions); I spend so much time on articulating responses when I could instead be using it to actually write or plan. Alas, I still love reviews, favourites and follows as much as I love puppies (i luuuv puppies).

I've also decided to delay the next TSaTS because I've written one glorious sentence for 35, but I'm still not satisfied with 34. Also, uni is literally killing me from the inside out. Ain't pretty. Really sorry, everyone! Thank you for your support and patience.

And thanks for reading! Next time on Select Few: a certain guard and a certain valet go to a certain work party ;). Prepare for tons of fluff, feels, and funny nicknames!

~ GWA