Eady and Kile … An AU fan fiction

by Dolphindiva131

I wanted to change up and write the heir how I feel it should have been written. I soften Eady character and made kile and artist

Eadlyn pov

I always knew I would have a section one day… I just thought of it always as this far off thing and just another thing on my list things I don't get to choose simply because Ahren is a slow poke and showed up 7 minutes after me. It's late but I can't sleep because we are picking the names tomorrow on the report. A few weeks after my 19 birthday my parents sat me down and talked to me about moving forward with the selection, I had been told I could chose to start it when I was ready but there is growing unrest between the people and the monarchy which is mostly due to how disillusioned people were with me. They feel Im spoiled , aloof, and even a little bratty and self centered . My parents felt it would be good to move forward with the selection to help my image and dad said I needed to connect to our people.

I went to ahrens room because I wanted to talk to him , I could walk to his room by instinct so I was lost in thought when suddenly I found myself crashing to the floor on my butt. I had walked directly into Kile Woodwork.

"How are you ever going to run an entire country if you can't even watch where your going Eady." He said with a wicked grin

"It's princess Eadlyn, Kile and as such I can have you canned for being in my way."

"Eady you have been threatening to Can me since you could talk." He said as he offered his hand to help me up. I got up on my own and he walked off headed toward his room at the other end of the hall. I walked into ahren room and slammed his door shut. And dropped on to his bed.

"I'm guessing by the fact you nearly just unhinged my door, you know that kile is home for the summer." Ahren said not bothering to look up from his desk

"Why did he have to come back?." I grumbled …kile was a student at the university here in Angeles but had been away for a semester doing something I didn't care enough to ask what .

"Why do you hate him so much he's very smart and a gifted artist ." Ahren said . They were best friends though I will never understand why. kile was my friend when as a kid, then he was bookish and kind but as a teen He became rakish with insufferable cockiness , and had a flippant disregard for all the rules.

"He has insufferable manors… he knocked me down in the hallway just now. " I said flippantly.

" I'm pretty sure you probably were not paying attention where you were going and probably ran into him. Ahren said just as flippantly.

"I did not come here to talk to you about Kile Woodwork… I wanted to talk to you about the selection. "

" What about ?" He said finally turned from his desk to look at me.

" How and I'm going to do this. I don't want to date this way . I just want to do one thing normal and not be a princess. " I lamented.

"I don't know how or why but the selection works… there's no way you can look at mom and dad and not see that . Just open up to it . If you stay closed off and guarded you won't make it. I think it will be good for you. You have always been Princess Eadlyn so much that you forget to be just Eadlyn . He said honestly.

"But I am princess Eadlyn." I said to him looking at him seriously

"You wear being a princess like a suit of armor… our people don't see you, they only see Royal protocol, the selection will remind them that you can be human too."

He said giving me a hug.

"Why are you always right?" I asked him.

"It's not that I'm right, it's that you don't trust yourself so therefore You need me to tell you out loud what you already know but are too afraid to admit." He said truthfully

We talked for a long time when I was leaving. I noticed what he had been working on before I walked in.

"Why are you writing to Camile , don't you talk to her every day?" I looked at him puzzled.

"Because there are things I didn't tell her on the phone and that's what the letters are for, she thinks they are charming and romantic. ". He said with that gooey look he always gets when he talks about her, I didn't hate her but I definitely didn't like her.

"Ahren you're a love drunk fool." I told him laughing.

"I'll remember that when you finally find a man." He said and I walked out to bed.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Everything on the report was going fine until I pulled the last name out of the bucket.

I read the name… then read it again… I looked at Gavril beside me with his unshakable showmanship and corrected myself despite how disillusioned I was at the movement.

"The final name in the selection from Angeles is Kile Woodwork." I glared at him in the back of the studio in his usual seat with his family. Upon hearing his name he had finally deigned to look up from the book he was reading, clearly unaffected by anything going on in the country unless it involved him. As I caught his eyes he fled out the back. As soon as the cameras cut off I flew at my dad.

"This is a joke… Kile can't be in the selection. " I said angrier than I'd ever talked to my dad before.

"It's unexpected but he meets all the rules of the selection." He said gently, giving me a loving hug, but I could tell he was scanning the room for kile.

"But I can't stand him. how can he possibly be in my selected . " I said trying to keep my composure, and failed when I continued.

" what if they are all like him, what if I hate them all…" I broke down and he hugged me tightly.

"Let's talk, but not here love. " He escorted me and the rest of the family out of the studio. After our talk we agreed that I could have an escape plan if things went majorly wrong. I could come and talk to my dad about ending the selection if I felt there was no outcome I would be happy with, but like he teaches me every day I would have to make formal proposals and not just be full of emotions breaking down. He also agreed that I could talk to him about anything without judgment. Which I knew but it felt good to know he was there for me just the same.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

A week has gone by and the selected arrive today. Each selected will be given a makeover upon their arrival and tonight we will have a meet and greet where each candidate gets a few minutes to sit with me one on one.

Most of the meetings are a blur but there are a few standouts like Gunner, who I swear I have met before but can't place but considering he's from almost across the country I don't see how. Hale was amazing in a very flashy suit and kissed my hand which was cheesy but it made me laugh. Mostly they were all just a parade of endless faces bestowing stale compliments. Till Kile came in as the last candidate.

"Gotta save the best for last." He said as he dramatically strutted into the room.

" more like you needed the longest makeover in history , because they didn't even have time to cut your hair." I laughed as he spun the chair around so he could sit backwards in it.

"We both know this is a mistake …I'm a goner as soon as the first elimination happens and since I like my hair it wasn't worth letting them cut it, " he said but there was a touch of something other than his normal cockiness.

"Actually I have a plan if you're willing to help me." I said in a hushed tone.

"What are you seriously considering letting me stay past the first elimination … Do you need a medic?" He chuckled and flashed his genuine crooked smile.

"If you want to know my plan, meet me at your room at 11pm. " I said in his ear.

"You're a hot mess woman." He shook his head yes and walked out .

I was in my room waiting till 11 thinking about everything from today admitly overwhelmed when Josie knocked on my door. I liked Josie almost less than I liked kile so it was hugely unexpected to see her at my door even if she was Kile's little sister.

" What do you want Josie, and it better not be to ask me to borrow a tiaras for tomorrow's tea party you broke my favorite one when you tried it one without my permission." I said coldly.

"No, I wanted to ask about Kile." She said meekly looking at her toes.

"What about Kile." I asked this time trying not to sound mean since she looked upset.

"Will you give him a chance ?" She asked. And something kile said today flashed in my head, he admitted it was a mistake that he was in the selection which shouldn't be possible if he filled out his entry form.

"You filled out his form didn't you?" I tried desperately not to sound as mad as I was .

"Yes, no one talks to me when he's away, I don't really have any friends other than him. I thought this way he would get to stay home a little longer, Eadlyn please I'm so lonely in these walls without him here. She has tears in her eyes and I felt terrible… I'd feel the same way without ahren, kaden and olsten… so I let her in on part of my plan, she was too big of a blabber mouth to tell her Everything but I didn't want her being upset I might eliminate him.

"I don't really want to do this selection , I hope that having a friend in the selection will help. I said. I noticed it was almost 11. So I headed down the hallway almost to his door I noticed him talking to a guard who looked new because I didn't recognize him, I realized as a member of the selected he wasn't allowed into the family areas.

"Officer, are there any issues here?" I said politely

"Yes your highness, this selected member says he has a room on this floor and wants to visit it." He said giddily that he was getting to exercise some authority.

"Officer this is Kile Woodwork, he is a member of the selected but he's also The woodworks Son. " I said and the officer quickly became stoic.

"My apologies Kile, I'm new and I'd never seen you in a suit before." He turned on his heels and almost bolted.

Kile was still laughing When he opened the door my jaw hit the floor.

"Kile, you know we have a place full of maids right…" I said aghast at how messy it was with clothes and paper and books strewn everywhere.

"I haven't let the maids clean my room since I was 10." He said as I cut him off.

"Clearly." I laughed as he scooted some stuff off his bed so he could sit and I had to pluck ten pounds of sketchbooks off his desk chair.

"So what's this plan of yours?" He asked without a preamble.

"How much do you know about my parents' selection? I asked.

"Not much outside the obvious, like my existence ." He said.

"Do you know that they started out as friends?" I asked.

"You're kidding me , you mean there was a point in time when Maxon didn't think America hung the moon?"

"If you tell her I told you this I'll have you hanged for real this time… she actually yelled at him the first time they met and told him she was only there for the food." I giggled. Mom had never meant to tell us that story but gravril let enough of it slip one day during the report when we were teens that we asked her about it and she told us some glossy stories about her selection but I'm sure there's more.

"It's true, Aunt May, confirmed it because I didn't believe it either, but that's why I wanted to make a deal with you. My mom helped my dad by telling him which girls to date …and how to impress them. " I said.

He laid back on his arms with that cocky crooked grin of his plastering his face.

"Why in the world would you want my opinion on your love life?" He asked.

" My original idea was to have Ahren or Kaden pre-screen some of the guys for me but I figured with their titles no one would open up to them . So when I pulled your name I figured you would be perfect because we have grown up together and most of the guys will think you have insider information anyways. "I said I looked at him as he brushed the hair out of his eyes. I had forgotten they were such a unique color. Like glacier ice.

"From the chatter this morning during the makeover all the guys are pretty intimidated by idea of Ahren… which I find hilarious because the only person they should be worried about is general ledger…Kaden's…. smart but the idea of him planning a romantic date for you is hilarious,… no… olsten would be even better! Oh please Eady… let olsten pick a date for you !" he roared with laughter.

"See my point exactly. Your a much better option, as much as that pains me say." I said

"What's in it for me?" He asked

"I don't know … what do you want?" I answered.

"I want you to banish me from the palace." He said seriously.

"Whoa…. Please explain that to me. " I said, trying to confirm if he was serious.

He tossed a sketchbook at me.

"Open it you will see." He said. I flipped through the pages of sketches, his work was beautiful, I remembered he liked to draw almost as much as he liked to read as kids but it's been years since I seen his work ….he could draw almost anything from colorful abstracts to photo real landscape and portraits. I looked up at him not really connecting how this meant he wanted banishment.

"I want to do something with my artwork, like be a gallery owner, something. I can't if I never get to leave these damn prison walls." He said regretfully.

" kile your an adult why don't you just leave on your own?" I asked with genuine concern.

"Because my mother wants me to stay, she doesn't understand why I can't just devote my life to the palace like she and my dad have and feels there's no better place for me to be an artist than here in the palace ….I want to be successful but not because my parents are best friends with the king and queen. If I stay and make something of my art here I'll never know if it was really my talent or my dumb luck to be born in the palace " He sounded pained but not bitter.

"Kile, no one could look at your work and not see how much you deserve to be successful with it." I told him.

"You really think I'm good enough to not just be some kid from the palace ?" He asked looking through his hair.

"Yes kile I do." I said truthfully.

"Then we have a deal."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The first event for my selection was a garden party. We had invited the media and had several reporters posted around to ask different questions of the men about the palace and their lives before being selected. I was coasting around the garden and talking to many of them. I found Eric in a corner of the garden away from all the others. He was biting his nails.

"That is horrible etiquette." I said I ment for it to sound playful but it came out cold.

"I'm sorry your highness, I just get nervous in big crowds." He said. He had a rich accent and beautiful blue eyes, under a shock of Raven hair.

" Everyone has their tells, my dad taught me to look for them in meetings." I said softly. "You're from swendway if I remember correctly right?" I asked,

"Yes, I moved to Sota when I was 10. " he said, surprised. I nodded and moved on. I talked to Gunner, he looked so familiar to me for some reason. When I approached him he greeted me with a broad smile and a kiss on my hand. We talked for a few minutes and I moved around the room more. Finally after talking to everyone I was free to go back to my room. I was laying down on my bed enjoying a few minutes of silence when kile knocked on the door.

I opened the door and before I could invite him in he walked in and sat backward in my vanity chair.

"What are you doing here kile?" I asked with frustration.

"I'm your inside man, remember… you really haven't changed anything about this room since the last time I was here." He said with a laugh.

"Kile I'm pretty sure the last time you were in here it was full of stuffed animals." Threw my pillow at him which he deflected onto the floor with a bright smile .

"So here is my plan. I think Hale could be a favorite because he's pretty flashy with how he likes to dress, he's also very likable and well mannered. You should do something like a candlelight dinner in the garden and stage a kiss with him for the press, nothing like 2nd base or anything but have him kiss your cheek or something or kiss him the press will eat that up. Ian would be a good second date. He's Arrogant and Rich so take him riding or something posh. I really like Eric. He's from swendway, he likes to read. Maybe you can show him the library. The next one I think you should date is Gunner, he's wicked smart I think you to could find a lot to talk about , and I think Jack ranger is about as dumb as a brick but he looks like a magazine cover he'd be a good one to date next. Fox also seems really cool, he's a lifeguard, maybe you can go to the beach or something . "

" You sound like my dad at a planning meeting." I fell back on my bed forgetting I had thrown my pillow at Kile so I plopped back rather ungracefully." Kile laughed.

"Poor princess Eady… my life is so tough I have to date 34 guys in my palace." He said jokingly.

"35" I correct.

"That's only if you include me." He threw my pillow back at me just as Ahren walked in looking confused to see us together.

"I thought I heard your voice in here ." Ahren said, indicating to kile.

"I was just leaving princess bratty here to complain about her horrible love life." He walked out leaving ahren looking at me sternly.

"What was that about Eady?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Nothing, I wanted to know what he thought about some of the guys."I said, hoping to get out of this conversation.

"I talked to all of them at the party, why didn't you ask me?" He asked, almost looking hurt.

"Because it's weird enough asking kile dating advice, I don't need to ask my brother, and besides they all know you're a prince they are not going to talk to you the way they would talk to him. " I said I felt embarrassed.

"Did one jump out as love at first site?" He asked softening his voice and laid down in his usual spot on my bed. I talked about a few of them before asking him about Gunner.

"Ahren, did you meet Gunner at the party? " I asked.

"Yes, I did. Why?" He said.

"Does he seem familiar to you? I asked.

"I thought so too, but I think he just has one of those faces." He said and we talked for a while longer but not about the selection.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The next morning at breakfast I sent 12 of the boys home. I did it to be like my dad, he did a large elimination quickly so when I walked into his office I expected him to be proud of me but he looked disappointed in me which is rare.

"Love, can we talk about your elimination today?" He said taking off his reading glasses. He tried not to wear them outside the office but sometimes he did.

"You're disappointed I can hear it in your voice." I said not looking at him.

"No, love, I'm not disappointed, I'm concerned . This is your selection, you need to make your own choices. I made a large cut early in my selection because I thought I had something to prove… you don't have to prove anything to me. I want you to find happiness and take your time. I also don't think you noticed the faces around the room this morning. Many of the men were angry and fearful. I doubt any of the men you eliminated today understand why they were publicly dismissed. You need to do this your way, don't copy me or your mother, make your own choices." He said as he came around the desk and wrapped me in a hug.

I spent the next three days avoiding all of the selected and focused only on work.

Unfortunately I couldn't avoid it anymore and decided to go on a date with Ian since Kile said he was posh and I liked riding to clear my head. Maybe I wouldn't actually have to talk to him.

We walked down to the stables. He was dressed in a fine riding suit and a photographer was going to meet us for some pictures during our ride. Ian and I had settled into polite conversation when I turned to see Kile carrying a large saddle over his shoulder. He was in a pair of dirty jeans full of holes and his sweat soaked shirt clung to his muscles I didn't know he had. He didn't notice us so I called out to him as we got closer.

"Kile, what are you doing here?" I said as he turned. And almost effortlessly lifted the heavy saddle up on to My dad's favorite stallion.

"I'm helping my dad, two of the stable hands have left recently for other jobs and he needed the help." He said proudly. He reached up and grabbed an apple and let it roll down his arm before flicking it up with his elbow for me to catch as he noticed his dad ushering my horse Buttercup from the stables knowing apples are her favorite. Kile helped me saddle her and when the photographer arrived Ian and I took some beautiful photos with the horses which I'm sure will look great for the press. Ian and I rode in friendly silence for a little while when Ian finally spoke and asked me a stunning question.

"Do you think you will find love during this selection?" He asked.

"It worked for my parents." I said before I thought better of it.

" I have an offer for you." He said compassionately.

"I can be your fail safe . I've watched you on the report. You are fiercely independent , but the law says you must have a husband. My offer is I can be your husband but as a marriage of convenience . I can be your husband in the media but allow you to live independently. You don't have to respond now but if at the end you pick me I will know why. " he said

" Thank you, but why would you agree to that?" I asked

He whispered his answers in my ear and I understood. It wasn't a foolproof plan but it was comforting non the less.

…………………………..

The photos of my ride with Ian turned out to be a disaster. The press vilified me for being cold and distant which I've heard before but the selection was planned to help with that not make matters worse. I came up with an idea to go on one date every other day or so. I would pick a name from a jar on my desk and tell kile who it was and he would give me suggestions. It was working well enough and we had two weeks of reports with positive dates that were improving my image. I found it was exhausting making the same small talk over and over again. I kept hoping for a spark with one of them but it was beginning to feel hopeless. I was just coming from a particularly bad date with a man named Thomas. I was exasperated when I walked past the garden and saw many of the men setting up what looked like a baseball game in the garden. I was watching them pick teams when General Leger walked beside me

"Go join them Eady." He said with a big smile.

" I can't have a meeting, " I said regretfully.

"It's my meeting Eady…" he said as he opened the garden door and lightly pushed me out the door before locking me out. I walked over to the group and stood to the side watching for a few minutes when it was Kile's turn he noticed me watching… he tossed me the bat which luckily I caught.

"Take my spot Eady." He said with a wink.

"I can't, I'm late for a meeting." I said, handing him back the bat.

"No she's not, show these boys how it's done love." My dad said running over to us with general Leger . " men you got room on the team for for few old guys?"

Kile laughed. "Sure maxon. We need one more if Eady plays … it was then we saw my mom taking off her heels and tossing them to the side. "I'll play." She said with a huge smile.

I took off my heels and tossed them on top of hers. Dad and General Ledger took off Their jackets and added them on top of our shoes.

"You're up Eady." Kile said and Kaden pitched me the ball . I missed the first one but Kaden pitched the second so I could easily hit it and it flew to where gunner could have easily caught it but he let me run instead. Everyone was cheering me on as I made it to first base. A few plays later I was on third base when Baden hit a huge hit over Everyone's head and sent me running for home when I hit home plate. Kile swooped me in a hug to congratulate me . We played for about another hour and failed to keep score till it was time for dinner. As we all walked back to the palace, Kaden gave me a big hug.

"Eady, thank you for playing with us… you're always so busy being a princess I miss you being my sister sometimes." He said squeezing me with an extra tight hug , Kaden rarely gave hugs willingly, he very much did not like being touched so it made me feel extra special before he ran off to talk to General Ledger. Kile put his arm over my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

"Kadens right you know…you only show everyone princess Eadlyn and that's why the press hates you… but today you were just Eady and not princess Eadlyn and the world didn't crash and burn." I gave him a tight hug.

That night I was laying in my bed knowing I was going to be sore tomorrow after running around for so long today when Kile came in my open door without so much as a knock and plopped in my vanity chair .

"I have a suggestion for you…. about the selection. I know it's not a proper date but today was fun and everyone loosened up why don't you plan a group date with some of the men who didn't play baseball with us." He said

"That's a great idea, kile." Thank you.

…………………………..

I sent invites for 4 of the men for a romantic dinner date. Dad suggested it would be fun if we cooked it ourselves.

"Dad, you know I can't cook." I whined.

"It will be fun, the first and only time I ever cooked for your mom it was an absolute disaster but she loved me for trying." He said with a jovial laugh.

"When did you ever cook for mom? " I asked

"On our honeymoon. She was sleeping and I figured since I was in charge of an entire country I could at least make breakfast. I set off the smoke detector. I burned the toast so badly and cooked bacon on a stove that wasn't turned on for 20 minutes before your mom took over and made us amazing omelets."He chuckled.

"So you failed miserably and mom still loved it. How does that work? " I asked

"Because it was genuine, your mom knew I was a bad cook before she married me,real love isn't about being perfect all the time, it's about being happy together. To be truly happy you're going to have moments when things don't work out. But when you love each other it's not about the burnt toast it's about I loved her enough to try even though I was bad at it" He said. And I worked while I thought about what he said for a while.

"Can you let the cook staff know we're going to cook tonight?" I asked.

"Sure thing love. Go get ready. " he said as I headed out the door.

When I met the men I had picked at the men's parlor I told them my plan for the evening and we walked to the kitchen. We had a table laid out for us with recipe books but I noticed Kile and Ahren in the corner laughing over a plate of French fries … Most of our family meals were healthy , but all of us kids knew if we wanted good Greasy junk food we could come down to the kitchen and get what we wanted. Eric volunteered to make desert but said he didn't need a recipe. Hale and I decided to make the main dish which we decided on chicken cordon bleu which sounded way fancier than it really was. Fox and Burke decided to make the side dish of asparagus. Kile and Ahren finished their fries and Kile asked if Eric wanted help since he was left without a partner so Kile stayed to help him. Working with Hale was fun. He didn't know how to cook either but said he was great at following directions. we talked while we laid out ingredients but then he stopped me before we could get started. "Princess, your dress is chafaan. It will stain if you get anything on it.'' He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around me like an apron." He said, sounding flirty. Kile noticed his tone and flashed me a crooked smile.

"How did you know it was chaffan?" I asked.

"My parents own a dry cleaning and tailoring shop. I've worked in the shop since I was tall enough to see over the counter. " he said proudly.

"I like designing my own dresses, I don't make them, my maids do ,but I enjoy it." I said and wished I hadn't blushing. Thankfully I was saved by the oven buzzer. Alerting us it was time to put in the chicken.

"My mom taught me to make clothes too… I'm hopping to eventually add a custom creations aspect to our business one day. " he added watching the oven. I walked over and talked to Burke and Fox for a little bit about what they did growing up. Burke was an athlete playing a few different sports . Fox came from a large family with 5 brothers and sisters but all his siblings were a lot younger. When they started cooking I went talk to Eric and kile both had their sleeves rolled up and were covered in flour rolling out dough. I was talking to Erik about something when kile started tossing pinches of flour at me … I turned and put a handful in his hair which then shook like a wet dog coating me with dusting but was easy to brush off. Kile's antics got us all laughing except Burke . Soon One of the chefs offered to plate our food for us so we could sit down at the chef's table already set with nice linens and glasses of wine. Eric pulled out my chair for me and everyone gathered into Their seats at the round table as the food arrived. I raised my wine glass to the table "thank you all for a wonderful dinner, let's eat!" I said we all clinched glasses. I took a bite of the asparagus first. It was positively awful. I tried to hide my face but kile caught my expression and almost spit out his wine with laughter. Causing the whole table to laugh together. I looked over and Burke looked angry and Fox looked embarrassed. "My dad told me the first time he cooked for my mom he was so bad she had to cook for him. He can run the entire country but can't make toast." I said hoping to get them laughing . "Eady do you remember when we were little and America had you, Me , and Ahren decorate a cake for my mom's birthday…and we decorated Kaden when she wasn't looking since he was still just a baby!" Kile interjected. I saw Fox relax but Burke was still fuming. Something about kile seemed to be getting to Burke but I didn't understand it.

" Kile, what was it like growing up in the palace ?"Eric asked softly.

"I don't know anything different, it's just home, but definitely not always perfect." He said diplomatically.

"Eric, how is It different to live in Ilea now? I questioned.

"Admittedly it's not hugely different but I live in an area nicknamed little swendway it's a community where almost everyone is from swendway. It's been very different being here." He said opening up more than I thought he would.

"How so ?" Hale added

"Everyone talks so fast . It's hard for me to keep up in group chatter. back home Hardly anyone speaks English regularly other than customers . Like you, Hale, they own their own business and I've been their translator since I was a kid." We all swapped stories about growing up till the chefs brought out our dessert.

"Wow this looks and smells amazing " I said surprised.

"Kile and I made korvapuusti…it's a traditional dessert in swendway…it's the number one request at my parents bakery and my favorite." Erik beemed

"This is bullshit … His parents own a bakery this whole date is rigged" Burke fumed, flipping his plate over landing on me and Fox who got up and yelled at him. " You're the one who didn't pay attention to the food because you wanted to stare at her ass the whole time. It's your fault our food was bad. '' fox shouted,

"so what Fox, it's not like this shit isn't rigged …he glared at kile " My brother bet me the second he heard your name called that this was a sham…I bet you and Princess "Eady" are just putting up with sham till she starts showing with your bastard child" Burke said angrily.

flipping the entire table knocking down both me and kile with it . I saw Kile eyes full with anger but then Erik grabbed my hand and pulled me away back through the kitchen as a few of the kitchen staff filed in to see what the ruckus was about. Erik held my hand helping me run till General Leger came flying around the corner "Eady what's going on?"

Erik spoke first …" fight in the kitchen I wanted to get her way from it." He sounded nervous.

"Are you hurt, Eady?

"No, just worried about Kile and the others." I said and he took off towards the kitchen and we headed to my room. When we got to my room I crashed on my bed

"Princess are you ok?" He asked me squatting down so he could be eye level with my downtuned head.

"NO I'm not , I don't know why Burke started that fight." I said honestly

" Competition can bring out the worst in people… not that that's an excuse for fighting. I think aggression is a sign of weakness. I'm always more impressed when people can end something with words. My father always used to say 'Eikko, words are weapons. They are all you need.'" He said looking at me with beautiful blue eyes that while empathetic lacked pitty.

"Who is Eikko?" I asked.

He blushed, "that my real name, Erik, is just the closest in English ." He said. He was still squatting down and pushed off the bed to stand to leave but I patted the bed beside me for him to sit beside me.

" I like Eikko better." I said "my family as I'm sure you've noticed mostly call me Eady which I like more than my full name. But my dad insists on advisors and everyone else addresses me as princesses Eadlyn ." I said looking into his blue eyes .

"I like Eadlyn. It fits you." He said and unconsciously reached for my hand which I let him hold.

" it means royalty … my dad thinks he's so smart naming his heir to the throne …royalty " I rolled my eyes laughing and eikko joined in.

"Princess,princess shining pearl, '' Ahern said from the doorway. Roaring with laughter. Eikko stood up from the bed and bowed to him , which he dismissed with his hand, sitting down beside me .

"Why did you tell him that, Ahren ?" I laughed.

"Because it's funny. Besides I figured you could use a good laugh.I saw Kile and the others headed to the hospital wing

"IS he and the others ok …Eikko got me out of there before it got worse." Ahren looked at him and nodded his head.

"Kile's got the worst of it with a cut lip and some bruises from getting punched by Burke , Fox aggravated an old shoulder Injury getting Burke off him… Hale is fine, just a little rattled. Burke's lucky Kile was on the ground before he could take a swing or kile would have had that fight because kile's strong as a damn ox from always helping his dad." As he talked I noticed Eikko slipped out.

"It's hard to picture kile in a fight, I know he's flippant about the rules but he's kind. " I said.

" Kile's gotten in a few scuffles protecting Josie … he's very protective of her…. Like me, Kaden and even olsten are of you … You have something sticky all over your hair, " he said, giving me a hug.

"Why does everything I try fail ?" I lamented finally feeling safe to express how that fight made me feel .

" It doesn't, you just want perfection and anything messy scares you. Life is messy." He said

" No it's not , it's not messy for mom and dad, it's not messy for you and Camille." I broke down and started crying.

" I only have one chance to get this right, I have one heart and I want to save it from getting broken … this isn't a game to me it's my life." I cried into Ahens shoulder.

"You my darling will be surprised how many times your heart can break before it settles into the one." Mom said moving to join us on the bed.

"You know I told your dad on our first date I was only here for the food but the truth is I came into the selection heartbroken as the boy I thought I would marry broke my heart before I was selected. "

She said kissing my hair.

Both Ahren and I looked at her wide eyed.

"You loved someone other than dad?" Ahren said.

"I did, but I was a 5 and he was a 6… we loved each other but being 5 was a hard enough life, being 6 was worse. He is proud and he desperately wanted to be the one to provide for me. It hurt him very much that he couldn't … he begged me to join the selection for a chance at a better life and then broke up with me before the announcement. I told your dad I was still in love with him and just wanted to enjoy the food till I could get over my heartbreak … I had no intention of ever falling in love with your father. Things changed though…once I got to know him beyond what I thought he was like from watching the report. … In fact… When I told your father about that boy's family it sparked a lot of the changes we made to the castes." She said ruffling ahren hair.

"So you're telling me there is some guy in Carolina right now that broke your heart." I said I looked at Ahren and I could see his wheels were turning…

"Eady … It's not some guy in Carolina … its general Leger …"Ahren exclaimed while mom laughed. General leger was there laughing too . I hadn't noticed him in the doorway till then. Confused, I asked ahren.

"Ahren, how did you guess that…?" I said

"I knew general Leger was a 6 before he was drafted, and when mom told her story she said he is a proud man, not that he was a proud man so I knew she had to still know him. you two have always said you grew up together I just never knew you dated…." Ahren said.

I'm surprised you kids didn't know that story before now." General Leger said from my doorway.

"Fate has a funny way of making it all work out for the best in the end. " General ledger said and mom nodded in agreement. It's easy to see why we didn't know they are so different now . It's hard to picture him loving anyone as much as he loves Lucy, just the same as it is to think about mom with anyone but dad. But at the same time they have such a strong bond with each other it's not hard to see that they love each other even still, even if it's not romantic anymore.

"Eady I came to check on you to see if you're alright after what happened." He said concerned .

" Eikko got me out of harm's way before anything worse than getting frosting on my hair could happen. " I said as I pulled at the sticky spot in my hair showing him. He smiled softly.

"I'm going to have a sit down with all the men in the morning and discuss how they should behave. " he said authoritatively. I thought about what Kile told me about how the men should be afraid of him … he was jovial and even a little mischievous with us … but standing in my doorway he looked like the general we know he is when he's on duty. And asked.

"Actually, if you don't mind I'd like to instead. I think they will listen to me, but they will probably be scared of you." I said.

"You think I'm scary Eady?" He smiled.

"I don't but a bunch of boys trying to date me might not want a speech from the number one general in the Ilean army. I'm sure they are already intimidated enough by my dad being king no need to remind them the top general is also just as much a dad to me too" I said and reached out my arms to him and he walked over and gave me a hug .

I saw him almost misty eyed before he left. I don't think I'd ever told him he was like a dad to me. I just assumed he knew.

" I better go talk to dad, I'm sure he's in his office pulling his hair out." I said and walked to dad's office.

When I got in he hugged me very tight and tried to get the sticky stuff out of my hair with his pocket square. I told him I wanted to eliminate Burke because he started the fight and that Kile and Fox were just defending themselves. We also agreed that group dates were not a great idea, but that if I felt like it would be better, I could plan some events that get all of us together in a more relaxed setting like the baseball game. Before I left his office I sent a note to have a morning walk in the gardens with Gunner more to show my dad I was in fact ok and was taking the selection seriously . I know he said I didn't have to prove anything to him but I owed it to him to try.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

The next morning I addressed all the men in the men's parlor and told them how much this Selection means to me. It was the hardest thing I'd ever done opening my heart up like that. I was in my office I share with my dad when Fox passed by he apologized for yelling at Burke, setting him off.

" Fox, I don't think you upset him. I think he was more upset about the competition itself." Echoing what Eikko told me about competition being the real reason for the fight.

" that makes since burkes an athlete. He was pretty upset about not getting to play baseball with the others too." Fox said.

"You're a lifeguard right?" I asked. Wanting to change the subject.

"Yes."he answered.

" I have always begged my dad for a pool but he won't build one, I love the beach but I never get to go because it's a security nightmare." I said regretfully.

"Princess, whether or not I win the selection, you need to come to Claremont to visit my beach. It's the most beautiful in all the world… " he said cheerfully.

"Sounds like a plan." I said as my dad walked in from his first meeting Fox bowed and left.

Later when I met Gunner at the stairs just before the gardens ,he was waiting for me even though I was a little early. He handed me a beautiful long stemmed rose with a red Ribbon. It really helped to ease all the roiled emotions of the day.

"Awww Thank you." You're the first of the selected to get me a gift.

"A gentleman never comes to a first date empty handed." He said as he kissed my hand and offered me his arm.

He seemed to understand that I had opened up enough for one day so We talked about how he grew up. His father was a government worker but his details were limited as his dad didn't talk to him much. His mom had been one of the lower castes and married well so she was who he was close to. He talked about his dreams of becoming a mayor and how he wanted to really help people and was studying civil engineering at his local college. He also mentioned he likes art and believes in looking good when you're in the public eye. We walked through the garden while I listened, unfortunately neither of us had paid any attention to the weather and suddenly it began to rain… I tried to run but it was raining so hard I knew I'd be soaked anyway by the time I got back and I turned to him.

" I bet my dad is running to find my mom." I turned to him and he held his jacket over my head . "Why do you think that, princess?"

"Because they always dance together when it rains, no music or anything just slow dance they have done it every single time, dad has even walked out of important meetings just to dance with her and once he barged into the women's room which is totally improper." I chuckled and put my hands on his shoulders and he dropped his suit jacket around my shoulders and held my waist. I tried to dance with him but it felt awkward so I stopped and we walked to the palace. When we got inside he kissed my cheek and I went off to change and fix my ruined hair and makeup. I got about halfway to my room when I saw kile coming out of the library "why in the hell were you outside in the rain?" He laughed .

" I was on a date with Gunner in the gardens when it started to pour." I shook my head.

"It's a good look on you." He smiled but winced and it was then that I noticed his busted lip.

I reached my hand up and turned his chin so I could see it better.

" Kile I'm so sorry, that looks like it really hurts." I said looking at him genuinely, still holding his chin in my hand.

"I'm just glad I didn't need stitches, at least they said it won't scar too badly. I've got a pretty good bruise on my ribs but it looks worse than it feels." He said, trying not to smile. We both just kind of looked at each other for a minute until Eikko came out of the library and said hello to us both. And I thanked him again for getting me to safety. which he seemed surprised by.

" I wondered how you got out of there so fast." Kile looked to Eikko. Almost thanking him too.

That afternoon I made a choice to go out with Jack Ranger tomorrow after dinner the next day. There was a new movie out I wanted to see and I didn't want to watch another rom-com with Josie even if a romcom wasn't a good date for him I would enjoy it. I was almost ready for bed when someone knocked on my door. I was surprised to see Kile at my door. He walked in like he always did sitting backwards on the vanity chair.

" I think you need to kiss someone on your next date , and make sure it hits the paper."He said as I sat down on my bed.

"Why in the world would that be a good idea?

"Well the report is on Friday and you know Gavril is going to need something to talk about and so far your best date is still an unofficial baseball game that your brother set up. " he said fiddling with things on my vanity.

" Well I'm going to the movies with Jack Ranger tomorrow night so maybe I'll stage a kiss with him." I said flippantly.

"I don't know about him, he's off. Kile said.

"Kile your off too." I laughed .

"What about Erik? He's nice." Kile said with a funny tone in his voice.

"Gunner is too, he has a lot of ambitions that would align well with palace life." I said.

"Align well with palace life sounds like a job offer." Kile said.

"Well, marrying me is a job." I said. Kile choked on his laugh.

"In more ways than one…" he said.

"Kile you are such a jerk." I laughed. Kile fiddled with a few more things before he asked.

"Do you think you will find someone to love in all of this?" He asked wistful

"It's my only chance to find something. " I said disappointed.

Kile changed the subject and we talked about his art classes he took last semester till I felt myself falling asleep. When he got up to leave he stopped in my doorway.

"You know Eady, I never wanted to be in the selection , but I'm glad we can be friends again, we used to be so close when we were kids." HE said .

"I'm glad too. " I said as he shut my door.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

When I met Jack Ranger at his room he was in jeans and a tShirt. Which isn't normal for men in the palace, especially the selected.

"You're supposed to wear a suit when you're not in your room." I said trying to sound authoritative.

" not really my style princess, but if you insist ". He walked into his room and grabbed a jacket and threw it on over his t-shirt. I wasn't thrilled but I let it go. We got to the theater and started the movie. Throughout the movie he made a lot of somewhat inappropriate comments whispered in my ear but I tried to ignore them, then he kissed my neck which made me shiver with anger . I stood up and told him the date was over and he could go back to his room. He looked at me with a wild look in his eye and in a second he grabbed me and pulled me into him kissing me on the lips. I shoved him as hard as I could but I fell back tripping on my high heels and he tried to jump on top of me causing me to hit my head hard… I started screaming and thrashing to get away which only made him laugh with sinister desire. I felt him claw at dress as A few guards burst into the room . The guards focused on getting him under control. All I can do Is cowered away from him, not able to move from the corner he pinned in. I start crying in despair, before guards can get him fully under control. I feel a suit jacket drape over me and see kile kneel down in front me, his back to the mayla blocking them from my view . His expression is worried

"Eady," He asked. "Can I help you up?" I threw my arms around his neck which he didn't expect, and he lost his balance. I buried my face into his shoulder I felt his arm wrap around me protecting me while I cried . Soon General leger told him I needed to be checked out at the hospital and I tried to stand but kile shifted his arm around my back and under my knees and picked me up and carried me .

The next few hours were a blur, Jack ranger was arrested for his attack on me. My dad and General ledger had a very serious meeting with all the selected. I was allowed to go back to my own room but I had to have a nurse stay in my maids room to check on me throughout the night. As bad as it felt when it was happening I really just wanted to forget it happened and move on. Ultimately it could have been a lot worse and I wasn't that upset about it after the initial shock wore off. It was getting very late when a note came sliding underneath my door.

There was nothing but doodles on the note, mostly tiara and girly things but I knew kiles style . I opened my door to see if he was still there and he was leaning in the olsten's door frame directly across the hall from my room. He has two bowls of ice cream in hands . I nodded and he came into my room. He set the bowls down. On my desk by the door.

" Can I give you a hug?" He asked, looking at me though his shaggy curls.

I opened my arms and he wrapped me in a huge hug. It felt so good to have a warm hug after everything that day.

"I got you rocky road , is it still your favorite?" He asked

"Yes." I said, still wrapped in his arms. I could feel how strong he was, especially since he was clad in thin pajamas. I noticed he had a woodsy scent to his cologne which was comforting and fitting since both the books and colored pencils he loves so much are made from wood.

"I know you should be resting after you hit your head but I needed to see you smile again to erase the images of that Jackass from my head. I never want to see you or Josie or any one I care about looking so scared like that again." He said letting go and handing me my ice cream. I sat on my bed and uncharacteristically he stayed in my doorway.

"How do you know I hit my head?" I asked, looking at him.

"Ohh… umm… stayed outside the hospital door till your mom and dad got there. You were so shaken up I didn't know how you would react to more strangers around you, so I didn't want to leave you alone till someone else got there He looked a little shaken himself which I'd never seen before because he's cocky and confident about everything.

"How did you get to the theater so fast" I asked him. When he didn't start talking again.

"I was sneaking back from the roof… I like to draw up there." He said, showing his left arm covered in ink.

" I forgot your left handed till the other day when we played baseball, I was surprised you didn't pitch. Your dad always tried to get you more into baseball." I said remembering all the time dad, Carter, ahren kaden and general leger spend playing various sports on the lawn

"Even as a kid I spent more time reading books or wanting to paint the shape of the clouds than I did wanting to throw a ball around. Kadens good though. He's got a cannon of an arm if he'd ever got a chance to really play. My dad just knew as a lefty I'd have an advantage but I wasn't interested . " We talked for a little bit while we finished our ice cream.

"I decided I'm going to narrow down to the elite Tomorrow . Things are just getting out of control with so many men. I said taking my last bite.

" Are you sure that's a huge elimination, you don't want to make choices based on temporary emotions," he said leaning into the door frame.

"I'm sure… I was already thinking about it before tonight. I feel like I know who I can trust and with a smaller field I can work on building stronger bonds, plus in two weeks the French and Italian royals will be here for the annual allied summit and having the Elite selected will allow me to give your formal hosting projects which are required for the elite.

Just then the nurse poked her head in and Kile disappeared into the hallway.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

I announced that I would be narrowing down to the elite at breakfast but had learned from my mistake and went to each man's room to tell them goodbye personally. Admittedly I had not spent much time with a few of them I eliminated…. but felt assured that I could develop at least a solid friendship with the ones I kept . My dad assured me I could take my time to decide and encouraged me to take a few months before I made any more cuts. Over the next two weeks I didn't have much time to date any of them. They were also busy with their hosting projects for the annual allied summit. I did however introduce Hale to my head Maid Neena who made most of my dresses. He had some design ideas and wanted to surprise me with a dress for the annual gala for the conclusion of the summit. I had taken kiles advice and told Eikko he could go to the library anytime he wanted and stay as long as he liked so that he wasn't required to be in the men's parlor all day. He found an English version of his favorite book in the library and I have been reading it before I fall asleep at night it's good I don't read many novels but I like this one it's a thriller about linguistics professor who solves murders by unwrapping things people say. Gunner had a bouquet of flowers delivered by his butler to my room the night after the incident at the theater which was sweet of him and I wrote him a very sweet note in return and keep finding new letters from him each day. He reminds me of Ahren that way because he writes to camille. Ian and I had an arrangement so he was still in the elite. We walked the gardens one night after dinner just for me to see how he was enjoying palace life and to have someone to talk to for a little bit about anything but the selection . Fox's shoulder healed well and we had a nice lunch together on the balcony of his room one day between meetings. Kile was surprised I kept him in the elite but I told him there really wasn't anyone else I needed to keep and I trusted his input. Truthfully kile was beginning to confuse me. We had hated each other for so long but he seemed to always be there when I needed him or wanted him. It was strange it took the selection to realize how much of a nice guy he was.

The day before the summit arrived and Ahren was insufferable because Camile was going to be here for a few days. I didn't know how much of their gooey eyes drooling I could stand so I was in the garden walking aimlessly when suddenly a pair of hands grabbed me and tickled me. I tried to run but my heels caught in the gravel and I started to fall but Kile caught me in a very awkwardly intimate embrace.

"You're still ticklish I see. His crooked smile plastered across his face as he looked at me though his shaggy locks he still hadn't bothered to cut. I felt a smile flood my face and I could feel my heart race like it never had before I unconsciously pushed his hair out of his eyes and was surprised it was so soft, I expected it to be ruff given its haphazard curls. When he set me back upright I noticed that my dad was standing there. Kile quickly headed down to the stables, almost running . My dad looked at me with a funny grin on his face. I took his arm and didn't say anything. I have no idea what just happened. To me but suddenly kile was all I could think about.

I greeted the French royals and a few hours later the Italians arrived. At dinner with everyone I found myself looking at kile and then having to force myself to focus on the conversation around me. I was so relieved when dinner was over and I could retreat to my room. I had just laid down to read the book Eikko gave me when Ahren and Kaden burst into my room.

"Who is it?" Ahren said, looking like a gambler with a winning hand.

"Who is what?" I asked .

"Come on Eady… even kaden noticed you all Mooney eyed tonight every time you looked at the selected table. " he said almost giddy.

" it's no one yet . Each one offers something different." I said which till I said it out loud I didn't realize was the truth… but maybe not the whole truth.

"It's Kile." Said kaden matter of factly. And I know my face was Scarlett.

"It ..is… most… certainly is not kile, kaden!" I laughed protesting and could feel my face heating up the more I protested knowing I had just been thinking the same thing . But that can't be true so I squashed that idea in my head.

"Why not? You put him in the elite, I'm shocked you didn't eliminate him on day one. Ahren said.

"He's my friend and he's been helping me sort out all this mess." I said

I saw a flicker of something I couldn't read in ahrens face which almost never happens , but Kaden looked unfettered in his thinking. Just then olsten bounded into the room and we all fell into our normal spots on my bed and talked till we all fell asleep. It has been ages since we had done this and something about it just felt so right after it had been so long like no matter what changes happen we can always have nights like this just the 4 of us together.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Today was the first day of the summit. The summit has the royals along with key advisors from all three nations working together .advisor bring their spouses for the host nation to entertain throughout the endless meeting helping each other to make each nation stronger this summit is something mom and dad started a few years after they formally ended the castes it's always three days and it moves from country to country so every nation hosts once every three years. Each meeting day ends with a celebration of each of the nations and the host nation hosts a formal gala on the third night. I always look forward to the gala every summer. This year we are using it to have the elite show what they have learned while being selected and since one will be a future prince consort have a glimpse into the planning aspects of these types of events. Hale, Ian, and Fox worked as a team to host the Italians at tonight's closing celebration. They had worked tirelessly to transform a portion of the garden into something resembling an Italian plaza cafe with strings of lights, intimate tables filled with lush Italian desserts. They had hired a 4 piece string band to play beautiful music. It was beautiful and well planned but the highlight of the night came by surprise when my dad dragged my mother into the stage area and insisted she play for everyone. I had heard my mom play millions of times over the years but rarely in front of anyone outside our family. I was drinking my desert coffee when Kile came and stood beside me putting his arm comfortablely over my shoulder.

"Maxon looks at her like he's mesmerized, like he hasn't seen her play a thousand times." He said

" your parents are over in the corner slow dancing …look see." I pointed to where they were just outside the crowd.

"Do you think we will be lucky enough to ever find what they have?" He asked, looking at me.

"I hope so."I said just above a whisper because something had my voice trapped in my throat . He looked at me and pushed his hair out of his eyes. I felt my heart race as I was getting lost in his glacier eyes but then he pulled away from me before I could fully get lost in them.

"Hey we should get everyone dancing… you go drag my parents and I'll grab the Legers" he said running off. I shook my head back laughing and went over and grabbed Marlee and pushed her and Carter into the space in front of the stage. Conveniently Ahren was right there close by with Camille and I pushed them too. And I grabbed my dad as he was still Starstruck watching my mom and asked him to dance with me. Kile pulled Josie in front and was dancing with her but I could see her standing on his feet like I used to do with my dad when I was little. Before too long a bunch of other couples joined in . When my dad and I had got to where Kile and Josie were dancing, my dad chuckled " Kile switch with me I bet your toes could use a break." And dad joined in with Josie before Kile could answer. It was starting to get into an awkward pause between us when Kile laced his fingers into my hand and spun me around. I laughed and he pulled me into him I put my head his chest I felt his chin resting on my head, we had danced before as kids but something about it felt different now and I felt a mix of emotions I didn't fully understand in his arms and pushed them all away and just enjoyed the impromptu dance listening to my mothers beautiful music mixed with his heartbeat . When my mother finished the band took advantage of seeing people dancing and played a much livelier set and I broke away from Kile and pulled in the men from the selected. I danced with Hale first spinning me fast enough to make me dizzy. Thankfully Ian rescued me from the spinning… I looked for Gunner and fox but I never found them …I saw Josie dancing with kaden… which got me thinking about setting them up on a date. kile danced with Camille when Ahren went to get some drinks. Eikko and I had the last slow dance of the night but he kept stepping on my toes. He was so nervous. It was so much fun dancing with everyone. My feet hurt by the time I was making my way back up to the palace.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Maxons pov.

I flopped into bed next to America " you know what my dear, I think this is one of the best Summit dinners we have had in years." I said .

"Oh don't you dare "my dear" me after that stunt you pulled tonight." America said faking hostility.

"My dear you play beautifully, everyone loved it." I kissed the soft spot on the side of her neck hoping to warm into her good graces again.

"No, I'm talking about how your promised Eady you wouldn't mess with the selection. You're in so much trouble, mister." I could tell she was desperately trying not to laugh.

"I seriously have no idea what you're talking about." I said, raising my eyebrow at her.

"Oh kile, I bet you would rather dance with Eady rather than your sister …." She said dramatically trying to imitate me.

"I was just trying to give the kid a chance." I said feigning shock.

"Oh like you don't know that he's up in her room a few nights a week talking." America said, crossing her arms.

"I think he's her inside man… like someone else I know." laughing because I couldn't hold back.

"Did she tell you that? " America asked.

" No, but she knows our story and I guessed what she was doing when she didn't eliminate him the first day, also at the garden party Ahren was keen to keep and eye on her, he's always been protective of her, but he backed off so I'm guessing either she or kile told him. Kile's just as protective in nature and I doubt Ahren would have backed off like he has if it wasn't for Kile." I said.

"It's been nice to see her not relying on Ahren so much, and opening up to other people." She said with pride.

"I've noticed that too… I think also things have changed with her and Kile…. " I said

"I've been bugging Marlee for weeks but he's not telling her anything. What do you know?" America said giddy, almost bouncing up off the bed.

"I caught them in the garden the other day. I think she tripped or he startled her…he caught her before she could fall but he looked at her with that look, I couldn't see her expression but he was quick to bolt when he saw me." I said.

"Why were you spying on them?" America's accused.

"I wasn't Daphne and Camile was getting ready to arrive and I figured she be in the garden trying to avoid Camile, kile was on his way to the stables so it was just a fluke." I chuckled.

"I'm just surprised he even put his name in the selection." America said as she snuggled into me for bed.

"I wondered that too because I know he's been in school for art and is really good, I think Josie may have put his name in. She's always wanted to be Eady, and be a princess. I think she saw the selection as a chance to make herself a princess." I said kissing America's hair.

"I didn't think about it but I think you may be right." America said snuggling into me .

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Eadlyn's POV.

My dad announced at breakfast that tonight's events were requested to be casual. Admitly I was a little worried because I never really been to a summit event that was casual but I figured it couldn't hurt, no one planned for yesterday's event to have dancing and it was all everyone could talk about . When I went into the office I shared with dad I saw Ahren sitting in my chair with his feet on the desk holding up a magazine. On the cover was a photograph from last night's party, it's one of Kile and me slow dancing. I snached the magazine from Ahren and he laughed heartily.

" hey! I was reading that." Breathless with laughter. I began pouring over the article.

" Kile is the favorite, he was at the bottom because people didn't like that he grew up in the palace. '' Ahren chuckled. Gunner and Hale are pretty close to Kile in 2nd and 3rd and then it's a landslide down to Ian, fox, and I think everyone in the country has forgotten that Erik is still in the elite."

"Eikko is so sweet though I hope this doesn't hurt his feelings, he's just really shy." I said finishing the article.

"You really have embraced this selection, Eady, I'm so proud of you. I was really worried about you staying closed off and not really giving anyone a chance." He said, giving me a quick hug. " I know you didn't think you wanted this , but I can see the changes it's had on you. You're happier now that you're opening up to people .., all I ever wanted was to see you happy." He said and bounced out the room. Ahren and I have always been super close. I can tell something's up with him, I'm just not sure what but I realized he had made me late for a meeting and I raced to join in. After my last meeting of the day I switched into a cute pair of jeans, and a beautiful flowing top that looked very whimsical. I almost never get to wear casual clothes. I was super impressed that Neenah was able to make a top that looked both casual and fancy at the same time. I found a pair of flat metallic rhinestone strappy Sandals that I loved , but my dad always thought were too flashy to be appropriate for meetings. After the article today I felt bad for Eikko and asked him if he will walk me into the celebration tonight so that people will remember him. He met me at the bottom of the stairs. He's in dark jeans and has on a really nice button down shirt. "Wow, you look so different not in a suit." I commented before I thought about how that sounded and I amanded it. " I like that you look so much more comfortable." Which I wasn't sure was a great save but he smiled a huge smile. "Thank you, princess. You look stunning." He said and offered me his arm. I saw a cameraman almost out of sight and I decided I wanted to kiss him. "Eikko, I'm so happy I've gotten to know you, I think you're wonderful." He turned enough that he could face me and see that I was truthful. I touched his face as he looked into my eyes and he got the hint and kissed me with a fleetingly quick brush of his lips . It was soft and sweet but it didn't make my heart race. I didn't see any flashes but as we broke apart I saw the cameraman's expression of joy and was thankful Eikko didn't notice. We walked down the steps and the garden had been transformed into a street festival. My eyes lit up and I jumped up and down pulling on Eikos arm…I turned to him " I have always wanted to go to one of these and I jumped into giving him a huge hug with a confused expression on his face. Have you never been to a fair?" We have one every year in my hometown. I've never missed it before. " He said " There are so many things I never get to do because of safety risks, there is just too much chance someone who's unhappy with the government could make trouble .But I don't want to talk about that… let's go have fun." I tugged him and ran to the first table which had Cotton candy and I got a huge puff of it and Eikko and I took turns eating it with our fingers that turned blue. Gunner was dressed to the 9s in long dress, tails, top hat and Spats acting as a ringmaster for a field full of games and each table had different fair food. I noticed that there were several maids and butlers helping out with some of the games showing people how they worked. And even some of the staff's kids were running around. I saw Olsten headed full throttle to a sugar coma with 6 different goodies in his hands at once while running from Mrs Lucy who was clearly trying to stop him from eating all that junk. The first carnival game I saw was a sack race … I raced Ian, Hale , and Eikko … Ian won which was so funny because he comes off so proper. I saw Daphne throwing darts at balloons with dad. And Kaden and Josie running around chasing General Ledger with a squirt gun. Carter was showing off for Marlee throwing a baseball to knock down bottles. Ahren came and dragged me over to Kile. He was drawing everyone as cartoons .

"You know dad is going to frame that, he always loves silly pictures of us."Ahren said and he pulled camile to sit on his lap so kile could draw them Just then Fox came and pulled me into a corn hole game with him and Hale and Ian. Last night's event had replaced the normal champagne at these events with sweet coffees and warm liquors but tonight there were bottles of beer and sodas. I grabbed a couple beers which were not my favorite but it fit with the theme and walked one over to kile who was just finishing up an Italian advisory board member and his wife. I handed him the bottle he clicked his top with mine and he took a big gulp while I sipped.

"I can't believe you're drinking a beer princess." He said, flashing me his crooked grin. I pushed him playfully. He didn't call me princess unless he was making fun of me.

"Kile this is amazing, how did you guys come up with this idea? I looked up and caught his eyes. They were sparkling, reflecting all the stings of multi-colored lights.

"Erik mentioned his hometown does a festival like this every year and this weekend it's the first time he's missed it since moving here. His parents own a bakery and provided most of the food for the festival. I've been to enough of the stuffy events over the years that they are all the same, but I remembered you and Ahren never got to go to these things growing up like I did, and figured most of these people didn't either. Gunner was a total sod and only started helping today acting like it's his idea all along with his ridiculous circus ringmaster idea…." He said. Chugging the rest of his beer when he noticed people starting to line up for more drawings. I leaned over to hug him while he was getting set up. "You owe me a game or two before the night's over " I whispered in his ear and felt my heart flutter and without thinking kissed his cheek with giddiness as I ran off because I saw Eikko near some sort of water game. It was getting late and most people were coming down off their sugar high when kile finally came over and said he ran out of paper so he was done for the night. We threw darts and he beat me terribly and he got a huge ice cream cone that was making a total mess everywhere as he tried to eat it.

"You're not eating it fast enough I said." Laughing

"What you think you could do better, little miss perfect." I leaned over pushing my hands on to his chest and took a huge bite off the top of it before I realized it was super cold and gave myself a massive brain freeze and I heard my mom and dad beside me laughing hysterically at my face.

" you just stole half of my ice cream, crazy." Kile said laughing.

He went to take a bite and I seized an opportunity .

" I was helping you." And pushed the end of the cone into his face. I bent double laughing his nose and chin were covered with ice cream

"Oh you want to play games huh." He said and grabbed my waist and smashed his ice cream covered face into me trying to wipe his face clean on my face . I protested enough that I was able to wiggle out before getting too covered. "Truce…truce" I shouted and we both died laughing. We used to do that as kids if we were in rough housing or something. Dad handed both of us napkins.

"You two are a mess." My dad said to us both "Kile which of the selected, planned this, this is the most fun I have ever seen anyone in this crowd have and I've known most of these people since I was younger than you." But before kile could answer Gunner interjected and told my dad about his hometown festival and how they all worked together. Kile try to interject but I pulled him away… I know that look on my dad's face he knew something about Gunners story wasn't right by the look on kile's face. As my parents talked with Gunner. I put my hand in kile's hand and led him away and went to find more games to play and I could tell he forgot all about Gunner. We were playing cornhole when Camile grabbed Kile's hand and Ahren grabbed mine and we were pulled in a sack race together . Camile fell and Ahren had to hop back to help her and kile let me win by feigning a fall at the last second. We noticed that others were starting to clean up so we all walked back to the palace kile and ahren both had an arm around me and ahren had his other arm around Camile as we all walked back to the palace talking about how much fun this event was for all of us . Camile even showed me her fingers were blue from eating so much cotton candy. When we got to the top of the stairs kile headed off to his selected room and ahren was wrapped between the two of us as we walked to our family floor when we got to Camiles guest room which is next to my room I don't know why by it I gave Camile as a hug and I whispered in her ear a question and she nonned and kisses both my cheeks. I was excited she agreed to have lunch with me. I have always pushed her away because I've been so jealous of her perfection but seeing her have fun today made me see that maybe I misjudged her and should give her a chance.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The next morning I was still spinning on the fun from the night before when dad alerted me to an urgent Meeting before the final meetings for the summit started. Dad locked his office door behind us and I noticed that it was just him and General Ledger in the office.

"Eadlyn, I promised I wouldn't medal in your selection but I need to ask you some serious questions about Gunner." He said sitting behind his desk. I know this is a serious meeting since he didn't call me Eady or Love… I saw this coming with what happened last night and tried to explain.

" He lied to you last night, I know you saw the look on kile's face when he told you that carnival was his idea, kile said he barely helped, but I think he was just jealous of kile, he's a close second to him as the favorite in the media. You helped raise kile so he doesn't need to impress you. I think he just got carried away wanting to impress you that's all… kile wasn't that upset about it." I finished and went silent but didn't like the expressions on either of their faces.

"Eady, I need to ask you if you have any developing feelings for him…"dad paused and his expression wavered into something I didn't quite recognize. "Is he a forerunner for winning the selection?" General Leger asked.

" He's very smart, and has a lot of great ambition to work in the government …which would make him a wise prince consort." I said and watched both of them relax a little bit.

"Love, I'm going to give you some information. I will not make any choice for you but I won't let you go into any choice blinde. After the incident at the theater I asked General Leger to look more into all of the selected, we did basic background checks before any were admitted into their selection, and more in-depth ones again when they were selected. He passed both of those, but when I had General Leger look a third time we realized he's a bit of a ghost, we're not sure why but we can't find any information past a certain point. He checks out 100% on paper but when we talk to real people we can't find him. For example his application says he's in school for engineering, but not one professor at that school knows him, which shouldn't be possible. We don't know why he's hiding his true background . But we know he's Hiding something." He said plainly.

" Dad, does he look familiar to you?" I asked . Both General Ledger and my dad looked at each other confused .

" Both Ahren and I thought he was familiar the first day but neither of us knew why. " I said as the room went silent.

"Aspen, what's his last name again? My dad said clearly,thinking something .

"Whitaker." General ledger said.

"I'll be damned." Dad said I don't think I'd ever heard him cuss before.

"Whitaker is Georgia ilea's maiden name." Dad said and General Leger's eyes went wide with surprise.

"Aspen it's their son Madrid, Gunner is either a nickname or maybe his middle name but he's real identity is Madrid Ilea." Dad ran his hands through his hair. I knew who the Ileas were. I played with Madrid as a kid for a few years before they had a falling out with mom and dad because dad took a slower, more peaceful approach to governing.

"Dad, you told me I can ask you anything without judgment , I need your help on this one. Would you eliminate him just because he's Ilean blood?" I asked …he thought for a long time then spoke.

" We have fought our whole rein to make people see you are not what you are born into , so while I would not Eliminate him for being Illean, I am distrustful of him and his motives for hiding his true identity. I also worry if we eliminate him he will cause trouble. " Dad said.

"Eady I love you like I would if you were my own daughter, I would do anything to keep you safe, I am worried he has his own agenda, and I would hate to see you get heartbroken. You can't build a solid relationship on a foundation of lies" General leger interjected. He rarely interrupted my dad but dad nonned to his best friend…thanking him almost for saying what the king in him prevented him from saying … My dad gave me the diplomatic answer out of duty…and General Leger gave me the loving answer which was perfect because I really needed both.

" I will think about everything you both have presented and will make a choice after the summit, I don't want the good of the summit to be overshadowed by selection gossip with a hasty elimination, but I will consider both of your concerns till I can make a final choice." I said. My dad beamed at me and General ledger looked resolved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The last of the meetings ran longer than planned so I never got to have lunch with Camile. I had just had Eloise and Mazy finish my hair and makeup when Neena and Hale came in with a flourish. Hale was already dressed in his supper fine tux with a black crushed velvet jacket. He hung the gown that He and Neena had been working on for almost two weeks and my mouth dropped. It was beautiful bright pink with a gold overlay of beautiful lace, it was sweetheart neckline with a crumb catcher detailing on one side, it was fitted with a very low back by royal standards but I doubt my dad would mind too much because of the fuller skirt which was exquisitely gathered into large roses with a small sweep train. It looked heavy but it was almost feather light.

"Hale, you are officially designing every dress I ever need from now on!" I hugged him and he whispered in my ear and I laughed and nonned my head. I cleared out my maids for a second and let them know I needed a second with my selected. I could tell he was nervous about what he had whispered in my ear. So I asked him.

"Why?".I asked him softly … Barely above a whisper he responded.

"Because I want you to eliminate me , I'm in love with someone else" he looked tearful but I squealed with delight! Then resumed the hushed tones.

"Hale, that's wonderful. Is it someone from home or one of the maids? He looked embarrassed. " Hale, I'm not upset with you. " I grabbed both of his hands and kissed his cheek. "I'm genuinely happy for you. As much as I like you, I really just want to be your friend." He hugged me and I saw his entire deminir switch back into himself when he whispered "Ian" in my ear, I giggled. " Does he know?" He nodded . I hugged him again. I wasn't at all surprised about Ian as he had admitted as much on our first date. He later told me he only filled out his selection forms not to have to tell his Very strict parents never expecting to be chosen. Hale gushed as he told me he never really thought about who he loved or what he wanted because he had never felt a spark towards anyone before. I told him I'd take care of it and they could both leave but that I would space it out a few days or week apart so it wouldn't raise suspicion. I headed down to the gala and I knew my elite was down to three in just one day.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

I walked into the Gala on Hale and Ian's arms and whispered congratulations in Ian's ear. He nodded at Hale and I saw the look in his eye, I've watched that look enough to know they had found what my parents had.

I had been mingling for a few minutes when I saw Kile coming into the room and he took my breath away. He had swept his hair back from his face and had on amazing white jacket tux with gold and black accents everything looked so smart and sharp, but I chuckled when I noticed he had on his wingtip shoes they were very popular among celebrities but shunned among royals though I didn't know why I always thought they were fun and definitely fit kile's disregard for the rules. I looked at Hale. He knew kile had caught my attention and he winked at me …I shook my head, I realized kile had caught my attention long before I noticed he he had gold trimmings on his tux .I turned and thanked Hale with my smile. There was a formal photographer and my dad asked me to get a formal portrait with each of the selected before the festivities got going so I headed that way and let a butler know to alert any selected. I took beautiful photos with Hale and Ian and took one of all three of us so they could have one of them together without raising suspicions. Fox posed but I got the sense something was wrong and I asked him if he was ok and he said he was so I resigned to asking him tomorrow away from the crowd because I knew he wasn't because his laid back happy go lucky nature was totally absent. Eikko walked over to me and kissed my forehead when he greeted me. I was surprised at how relaxed he looked . He looked like he was finally confident in himself . Gunner was next. He asked me if he could do his own pose and threw me into a classic dip holding his face just shy of kissing me. I only hoped I hid how uncomfortable I was with him touching me. Thankfully kile was buzzing around beside the photographer and I cut Gunner's shoot short.

" Eady. Do you really need a photo of us." He lamented

" Yes, unless you want me to ask my dad for some horrible baby pictures of us together which I'm sure he has." Kile laughed and shook his head and a piece of his golden hair fell in his eyes and I reached up and put it back in place looking into his eyes and my heart was pounding so hard I didn't even notice the photographer was telling us how to pose. But the pose he wanted was stuffy and I didn't like it. So I looked at kile with a mischievous grin and saw his crooked smile spread on his face … "catch me" I exclaimed as I jumped into the air pressing off his shoulder and he caught me with ease in a bridal style lift with both of us laughing our heads off. I saw Ahren and Camille and flagged them to come join us for a photo. We took a stuffy formal one together if all 4 of us then we took a silly one making funny faces. Camille and I walked off leaving the boys behind. I missed getting lunch with her today so I wanted to talk with her first. I danced once with each of the selected, except Gunner and finally danced with Kile ,but by then it was very hot in the ballroom and he suggested we step outside. We weren't technically supposed to go into the gardens during the party, but the guard didn't question us. We walked a bit and sat down on a bench close to the doors.

Kile pulled at the tight collar of his shirt. unconsciously I reached up and unhooked his bow tie and unbuttoned the top button. Without really thinking , it was a familiar gesture as my mom did it automatically for my dad anytime he did that. Kile reached his hand up and pressed my hand on his chest. I could feel his heart racing into my palm making my own heart fly…He turned to me and his eyes were mesmerizing pools of bright blue starlight on the dark night background behind him. He reached his other hand around and placed it on my bare back and kissed me. My world spun around lightning fast making me dizzy. I deepened into his kiss needing more… His kiss tasted of rich champagne from the Gala. I could smell his woodsy cologne mixing with the sweet midsummer flowers of the garden intoxicating me. He bit at my lower lip and I shivered and he dove in for more before finally breaking free with a shutter in his body. I looked into his eyes and it was like I saw him for the first time. I put my hand on his face and kissed him a second time and he engulfed me in his arms and my hands tangled into his hair . When suddenly the humm of the party behind us erupted into a roar. We broke apart and looked at eachother and wordlessly moved to head back into the party when we walked in. Dad was hugging Ahren jubilantly but mom was in tears. Queen Daphne was hugging Camille tightly. I couldn't see Camille's expression but Daphne shooting daggers with her eyes at my dad. I looked at kile hoping he knew what Ahren had just done because clearly he caused this chaos and if I didn't know about it kile should have … but he shrugged his shoulders and scrunched his face. Luckily I saw Mrs Lucy almost beside me … " what just happened we were in the garden getting some air and…" she pulled both me and Kile into a tight hug and danced with us offering congratulations. Thankfully she whispered to us "Ahren proposed to Camile '' doing her best to cover for the fact we totally missed it. Kile grabbed my hand and both raced to join Ahren and Camile and the rest of the family. it's then that Gunner stepped into my path, I didn't surve fast enough and his red wine went all down the front of my dress… kile turned and anger flashed in his eyes as Gunner started to flourish me with im sorries, but I squeezed kiles hand and turned into him and took his pocket square from his jacket. I didn't care about my dress at that moment. All I wanted was to get to Ahren and Camille to congratulate them. I squeezed kile hand again and finally moved with me. I knew his instinct was to protect me From embarrassment, but I wasn't going to have Kile get in a scuffle with Gunner … he just wasn't worth it. As we got to the front, Ahren saw right away my dress was ruined and gave me an Awkward hug around my stained dress. Kile greeted Camile speaking to her in French which surprised me. I didn't know he was fluent. I mean we all took languages as kids but he was two years older so I didn't pay much attention to what he studied. When Camile hugged me she didn't care I was covered in Wine and said that her maid Marie was a magician and to bring my dress to her room and she would return it good as new. I thanked her and finally excused myself to go change. Neena was devastated to see my ruined dress and found a red tea length dress I wore to an event about a year ago that worked well color wise with my makeup and accessories . I walked down stairs and was surprised to see kile waiting for me at the bottom of them. He gave me a catcalling whistle and I spun around when I got to the bottom since this dress was shorter and fuller it spun beautifully. He grabbed my hand and kissed my hair as we walked back into the gala. We danced for a while in a group with Ahren, Camille, Josie, Kaden, eikko, Hale and Ian. as the gala was winding down during a slow dance with Kile he asked me if I would follow him and we snuck away from the party again. We snuck out onto the roof and when the cool air hit our faces kile kissed me again pulling me tight into him it was slow and passionate unlike the fevered ones in the garden. There was a comfort to it like a warm fire in winter.

" I want to show you something…" he said with sparklers in his eyes as he pulled me around the roof till we reached a spot that was clearly a spot he had claimed over the years by the amount of paint cast off and pencils shavings. A cool breeze blew over us and he stood behind me, his chest pressed into my back, holding my waist in one arm and pointing over my shoulder at the skyline.

"This is my favorite spot in the palace, I come up here to draw a lot, do you see what I see?" He asked.

I looked over the skyline of angeles with glittering street lights, a whole city sleeping under an ink black sky dotted with glittering stars and a splash of fleeting lightness from the pre-dawn horizon.

"It's beautiful." I said still in wonder I'd seen the city a million times but never looked at it through Kile's artist's eyes to see the wonders of different shades of color even in an almost all black sky, seeing that streetlights cast both light and shadows and so many more captivating details, I wondered if this is always how he feels compelled and inspired by everything Around him…it made me tingle . We both enjoyed the comforting silence wrapped together for a few minutes. I felt my heart settle and break almost as soon. I knew I had fallen in love with kile the moment he kissed me in the garden truthfully I'd been fighting how I felt for him for weeks without realizing it till he kissed me. I was electric thinking he felt the same while we danced at the gala , but up here now everything about that feeling frightens me. He reminded me what's really important to him, it's his art not me… he's never going to stay, I tried to resolve to just enjoy him being mine till I sent him away forever. I know what I promised him, what I owed him for now showing me my guarded heart could love even if it's fleeting. I know what it feels like to have what my parents have…even if today is all we ever have . I wanted to cry but I would not let kile know he broke my heart so I suggested we go back inside. He walked me to my room in silence and I shut my door more aggressively than I planned almost in his face.

………………………….

Kile's pov .

I'm in the men parlor working some plans for the French summit dinner when Hale sits beside me. I had been friendly with him since we both became selected but he rarely sought me out.

"Kile, can I ask you some questions?" He said, sounding nervous.

"Sure." I leaned back in my chair and looked at him and realized he wasn't just nervous he was frightened.

"Do you want to talk in my room?" I asked and he looked relieved. When we got to my room I fell down on to my bed and Hale sat ramrod straight in the desk chair. But he took notice of my opened sketch book and I felt my neck go red. I was sketching Eady the day she was in the hall soaking wet from being in the rain .

"Well…." He relaxed.

"Kile I wanted to ask you if you think Princess Eadlyn would let me leave the selection voluntarily." He said.

"I'm sure she would, but Why Hale? She really cares about you." I asked.

"I'm in love with someone else… and I worry about…." He stammered.

"You're worried you will get caught like my parents." I said, realizing why he came to me about this and not his friend Ian. Hale stammered apologizes before I cut him off.

"Hale it's fine, their past is just part of their story… It doesn't bother me, Neither Maxon or Eady will ever inflict that type of punishment on anyone again. But it would be better to get ahead of it because Eady really hates chaos and would rather plan something, than have to react to something. " I said hoping I sounded comforting.

"Kile…do you love her?… I know that's very forward for me to ask, but she doesn't open up to people and I feel like she's comfortable with me and I would hate to betray her by leaving her alone." I saw what Eady saw in him , he was easy to talk to, he was a confident friend.

"Yes… but as friends, or like my sister." I thought I was being truthful … but I knew I was lying to myself at that moment… Finally the torrent of things I'd been feeling for her settled, And Hale read it on my face.

"I think your artwork speaks for itself…you are more talented than any other artists I've seen, not because of your technique or style, it's in how you see people and things but mostly people as they truly are not as they show the world. " He said, flipping through the open book on the desk. "Do me a favor, wear gold to the gala." He added.

"Why?" Fumbling for words Because I was still stunned from what just crashed into my heart about eady and the what he saw my drawings.

"I'm designing her dress, and gold will match… if I'm not in the running anymore I want to cast my vote for you to win, because she deserves a man who sees her the way you do. You see past her walls of self protection, what's under her crown to what's really her…" Hale said, tossing my sketchbook on the bed beside me.

I couldn't believe it. When had I fallen in love with her? I laid back on my bed and flipped through my book Hale tossed at me. It was clear as day now that someone made me see it. I had been drawing her for weeks.

After Hale left I told my butler Maddox I needed to have gold accents for the gala. He definitely looked at me like I had lost my marbles because till then other than just being friendly I had not asked him to do anything because I preferred to do everything myself and didn't care about fashion at all and just put on what he told me unless I could get away with my own clothes.

After that day I spent a lot of time convincing myself that I was a fool to think I was in love with her and that she was still just my friend but when I absentmindedly put my arm over her at the Italian dinner I felt compelled to kiss her . I didn't want to lose her as a friend either, and I certainly didn't need to get Ahren pissed at me for crossing a line with his sister so I had the brilliant idea to get her dancing thinking maybe she would make a move… like in one of those awful romance movies she loves. I didn't know my stunt would get so many people dancing so I decided to just be content with her in my arms.

She shocked me at the carnival, when she graced my cheek with an almost absentminded kiss. I could feel that spot on my cheek for hours; Even when I joined her at the end of the night. She was electric with happiness in a way I had rarely ever seen her since we were kids , it was like she forgot duty, she forgot the crown on her head. I basked in it, she needed this night to just be fun… because she so rarely let herself just be herself and I couldn't take that away from her and draw her back into the selection that I know she didn't want because it was part of her duty.

I resolved that the gala was my chance… Getting ready for the gala I was nervous which I don't think I'd ever felt before…I had told Maddox that morning that I wanted her, and I needed him to help me do everything to make her notice me tonight. He told me he guessed as much by my sudden interest in fashion details. He also told me that almost every maid in the palace was counting on me to win… and he was finally excited that I wanted to try. I liked the white jacket with black and gold lapel He tailored for me… he picked a gold bow tie and pocket square and cummerbund but I tuned my nose up that I didn't like all those layers he had picked out normal black shoes but when I looked at myself with my hair slicked back I felt like someone else . I decided at the last minute to run up to my bedroom and switch to my wingtip shoes. I hated dressing up but they were my small act of rebellion when my mom would make me dress up because apparently they were not appropriate for royal functions but they were less frowned on than the Jeans I would threaten to wear. But still irked my mother enough that the rebellious part of my heart was happy.

When I walked in I caught her looking at me and she looked impressed. Which gave me a boost of confidence. She looked more stunning than ever. The bright pink and gold made her tan skin glow. I'm surprised her dad let her get away with such a low backed dress but dang if it doesn't look amazing.

I was summoned by a butler to take photos. When I walked over there she was taking a photo with Erik and I noticed how sweet he was to her but there was a distance in their touch even when he kissed her forehead which made a flicker of jealousy sprout in me but he had become a great friend so I couldn't be mad at him. Gunner bullied past me to be next and I noticed her demeanor change which made my protective instincts kick in. Something about Him made her nervous and not in a good way which isn't normal for them. I had till then thought the winner of the selection was between him and Hale, … personally I had liked Erik to win but I felt he was too shy to take on being a prince even if he fell for her. When suddenly Gunner dipped her I almost lost it cause I thought he was going to force a kiss on her despite everything in her body language telling him to back off, but he didn't.

I was still a little flustered when she pulled me to take our photos but she was beaming at me.

"Eady, do you really need a photo of us ?". Clearly dispute the amount of times I've been scolded by my mom for flirting unknowingly with maids . I'm terrible when I try to flirt because I sound angry. I thought as she said she would find old pictures of us as babies which made me laugh. I felt my unruly hair fall as I laughed . I tried to tame it back because I didn't want to cut it but she seemed to like more clean cut styles and thought I had done it successfully. I felt her fingertips brush my temple as she put the wayward curls back. I melted into her dark honey colored eyes. I had no idea the world had stopped spinning till I felt her weight dig into my shoulder as she vaulted into the air for me to catch her . I laughed so hard I thought I might drop her. I didn't even know what was happening. It's like my brain has lost its ability to process information. I felt Ahren punch my arm when he and Camille joined in the photos, then she walked away with Camille as soon as she was no longer touching me, it was like I suddenly returned back to earth and everything was normal again…except the look on Ahrens face. …we have been best friends all our lives. He was like my brother and he clearly could read my face. I always had a gift for reading people, but Ahren was far better than I'd ever be. His ability made everyone think of him as charming … I simply made people laugh.

"You have to tell her first… she won't because she is more afraid of being hurt than she is of being alone." Ahren whispered in my ear. I almost couldn't believe it. I never expected him to give me the golden ticket to his sister's heart. He pounded me on the back and ran off to join Camille looking over his shoulder with a smug smile on his face like he knew this would happen all along.

I watched her as she worked her way around the room… I have seen her do this waltz before she will work though her duty first making sure no one can question her on her perfection. Once she finishes her obligations she will find where she wants to be, normally with her family. The mask of perfection she wears drains her. I don't know why I never noticed it before but when she's with her family she's different she's relaxed. She finds me during a slow song and I dance with her but her touch has me burning up in this already warm ballroom and I can feel a million eyes on my back. something about the way I feel for her has my stomach tangled in knots . I asked her if we can go to the garden so I can get some cool night air on my face. When we sit on the bench she unclips my tie and I feel her fingers inside the rim on my collar. Reflexively I grabbed her hand and held it to my racing heart trying desperately to find words in my mouth…my always running wisecracking mouth has completely betrayed me. She looked at me. I could see the gold of her dress flickering in the golden highlights of her eyes and my body flew to her. I dove into oblivion. The fire in her kiss shattered my world, it changed everything I ever wanted. I felt my fingers slide across the low back of her dress and felt every single nerve ending in my body explode at once.

I had kissed her once when we were still too little to really understand what kissing was… I had never kissed anyone like this…I'd never felt anything like this for anyone …..Everything in the world was falling away and I thought the abyss was going to consume me till the party roared behind us and I felt her tear away from my kiss. We both knew something happened and we raced inside. I saw queen Daphne first she looked angry at Maxon while holding Camille, America was crying … then I saw Ahren get scooped up in a hug from his dad and Eady looked at me as if to see if i knew anything and I shrugged . Whatever Ahren did as he was clearly at the center of this …he didn't tell either of us about it beforehand. Suddenly I have Lucy pulling me into a tight hug and whispering about him proposing which finally made sense of the crazy scene at the front of the room. He had been acting weird all week. I should have guessed he was up to something. He had wanted to propose after his first date with Camille, but 15 was too young to get married even by ilea standards…but was so caught up in my sudden head over heels feelings for Eady I had ignored his odd behavior. I grabbed Eady's hand and started to push my way through the crowd. Eady stopped suddenly which jerked my arm and I tuned just in time to see red wine get dumped all down her dress and I could clearly tell from the movement it was on purpose. I felt my anger flare up at Gunner, but before I could even react Eady squeezed my hand and pulled into my side . Something about her pulling into me made me realize she was treating him like a fly and was swatting him away. I'm sure she was upset but she pressed forward to get to Ahren and camille.

After she congratulated her brother and future sister-in-law she left to change her dress. I was worried Gunner might try a new trick to get her attention so I waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. When she came back down in a poofy red dress I whistled at her before I thought better of it . She laughed and it sounded like champagne to my ears and spun around with delight on her face. I kissed her hair as we went back to the party. I was so happy dancing with her the rest of the gala till I suddenly realized in the flurry of Ahren getting engaged I never actually told Eady anything. I mean I had kissed her with everything I had but I had not told her anything. At that moment I don't know why but I wanted to take her to the roof… it's my favorite place in the palace and I wanted to share it with her. She followed me up there and gave me another mind bending kiss but something changed when I asked her to look at the view of the city… I thought she would see the same wonder I see but she fell deep into her fortress she keeps around herself and I lost my nerve to tell her how I felt. We spent the walk back to her room in awkward silence. I knew I blew my chance with her before she even slammed her door in my face sealing my fate.

I went to bed but couldn't sleep, kicking myself. I tried to tell Eady how I felt and I lost my nerve. A few times I thought about running up to her room and ponding on her door and when she opened it I could kiss her into the same oblivion she cast me into and tell her everything but my feet wouldn't obey . In my heart I know She felt something for me. But whatever it was wasn't enough to keep her from slamming her door in my face… It hurt me that I took her to the one place in this palace that I feel is just mine and she ripped it away from me because when I held her up there I wanted so much to tell her that I'm in love with her. That her perfume makes me drunk every time I'm near her, that I can see a future that I never wanted here in the palace. I never really hated living in the palace, I just hated being a nobody but she felt lost and distant in my arms … I tried but failed to convince myself I was a fool to even think she'd ever love me …I'm a wise cracking artist son of a palace stable master and a lady in waiting and to make matters worse I've fallen in love with a princess who will be the next crowned leader of the nation. Everything in my mind tells me I shouldn't want her, that all I have ever wanted was to disappear from this prison palace and make my own life where no one knows who my parents are, or the men who helped raise me … but my heart is screaming in my ears how much I love her. I really need to talk to someone. I wish I could talk to my mom but I'm sure my mom and America have been planning mine and Eadys wedding since the day America had a daughter and the thought of admitting that to my mom, just to likely have her pick someone else would hurt my mom. I considered asking my dad , but my dad risked his life to love my mom, and here I am not able to tell the woman I love I'm in love for no damn good reason…, he would feel like a failure if I told him how pathetic I am… I knew I couldn't go to Ahren or even Maxon…. Then I thought about the General ledger… I've come to him before for stuff I didn't feel comfortable talking to my dad about. I was up waiting as long as I could and I knew it was still supper early in the morning , but I Couldn't wait anymore so I went to his office as soon as I saw yellow dawning outside my window. I pounded impatiently on his office door but he didn't answer so I turned to leave to go to his palace apartment but saw him coming down the hallway with a large coffee mug in his hands. He took one look at me standing in pajamas at his office door and turned to the guard he just passed and asked him to bring me a coffee with lots of extra sugar. He knew I wasn't a huge fan of coffee but could drink it if I put enough sugar in it. He unlocked the door and leaned on his desk and I plopped down into the chair across From him. As the guard delivers me a cup of coffee and quickly exits. I sip the coffee. It's still not sweet enough but it's piping hot and the heat feels good in my hands and keeps them from shaking.

"There is only one reason you of all people would ever beat me to the office this early in the morning … and it's not going to take me three guesses as to which girl this is about" He chuckled.

"Why do you have to be right?" I asked him, trying to buy time. I foolishly thought I could ask him for advice about the turmoil in my heart without pulling Eady into this. But I should have guessed he would see right through me.

"Kile I held you the day you were born, I taught you how to ride a bike and I see the way you look at her. Your flirtatious nature might hide it from people who don't know you well, but I see it." He said.

"When did you figure it out? I asked him, leaning my head back, sinking into the chair.

"I saw flashes of it here and there over the years even as teens when you two tried to hate each other, But I knew when I saw you dance with her the other night." He said.

"I wanted to kiss her that night ,but I couldn't figure out how she noticed my parents were dancing in the shadows while America played so I convinced her to make everyone dance that night, but she grabbed her dad first, and by the time she was dancing with me I felt like too many people were watching." I lamented.

" I wondered why you dragged us into dancing …not that I minded the chance to dance with my wife…" he chuckled. Then added … I've always wondered what would finally put a chink in that armor of yours…I told your dad a long time ago it would be when you finally decided notice one of the girls flocking after you…" He looked at me and sat down with me. And I looked at him quizzically

"Kile, I know your mom, dad and even myself have smacked you upside the head more than once for flirting with half the maids but your heads so in your sketchbooks i'm convinced you don't even realize what your doing…I also know you show the world your wisecracking, cocky smartass don't give a damn attitude, but you're not that slick son. I know there's part of you that hides behind all that bravado" he said. "I was very much just like you when I was your age." He finished.

"I kissed her at the gala." And cursed myself because I knew my face was turning bright red. " We actually missed all of Ahren's proposal to Camille which I'm sure if I ever tell him that he will kick my tail." I finished

"My money normally wouldn't be on Ahren to win any fight but in this case , It sure would be ." He laughed.

" I know she felt it too, because the rest of the gala she was in my arms, but then at the end of the night she slammed her door in my face.I know it's because I just couldn't find the words to tell her how I felt. Every time I wanted to I couldn't. I've never not been able to talk myself out of any jam…So now I'm confused. "I said.

"you're not confused, you're too damn smart for that...What are you afraid of? , " he asked.

I felt like I'd been kicked in the chest. It took me a few long sips of coffee before I could tell him… he opened up instead.

"I spent years of my life fearing I would never be able to provide what my family needed… even now there are things I can't provide…" he didn't finish but everyone knew how much him and Lucy longed for children of their own. I didn't know this man could fear anything … So for him to admit as much gave me the push I needed to open up.

"My dad loves selflessly and gives every ounce of sweat from his brow to love and provide for our family. Maxon is a kind and generous king and You're always smart and protective. You three men raised me and I should be so much more but I'm nothing but a doodler and smartass. I have never hated the palace, I hate feeling like everyone but me is noble and worthy of their place here, and I have nothing to offer." I hung my head and drew my knees into the chair. It's the first time I've ever admitted to anyone why living in the palace bothered me. It was easy to hide behind my artwork or reputation for shirking the rules so people didn't see the scared kid who feels like he's never good enough for the life he'd been given.

He put his arm around me like a father… I could see he was stunned at my omission by the look on his face… he also looked very hurt like he failed somehow by not knowing the truth I keep hidden. " You're a hard worker like you dad, you're kind like your maxon, you're far smarter than me… kile, you're all those things you see in us you just do them in your own way. You work incredibly hard anytime your dad needs help and never expect anything in return because your selfless, your wit, and gift for making people laugh is proof of how intelligent you are…not to mention the mountain of books you plow through… you show kindness and goodness in the way you see people…, you see people as they genuinely are, I think that's why you draw them, you like what you see in the moments people are most unguarded. Your kindness shines in that you find beauty or at least something captivating in everyone you meet. he said truthfully.

I healed my head up and looked at him and took a deep breath. No one has ever made me see what he just did.

"I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm an unbiased judge when it comes to selection, I'm sure you know already that everyone in this crazy extended family we have here in the palace is in some way hoping you're the one she picks.

I think in you she finds a blend of what she values in her brothers…You have Ahren gift for charm., you're as wicked smart as kaden, and you're a troublemaker like olsten." He chuckled. He went quiet so I asked what I wasn't sure I wanted the answer to…

"You said you saw that I was in love with her, do you see her in love with me ?" I asked barley able to contain the shaking in my body.

"It would be only an educated guess but I I think so, but I can't answer that question fully , she guards her emotions very well, even from me . The only person other than her who could tell you is Ahren, he's really the only person she truly trusts completely. It's not like you don't know that …but clearly for some reason you didn't want his advice or you wouldn't be asking me. " he finished.

"Ahren saw it on my face last night when we took pictures together. He told me I needed to tell her because she's more afraid of getting hurt than she is of being alone. " I admitted.

" He's right….And that's the likely answer as to why she retreated from you . I doubt, especially given how you have never been one to consider their titles as anything more than jobs they do …that you have really stopped to think how much she misses out on because she has a crown on her head…, she is likely far more afraid she won't be enough to make you want to stay because You have for years made it no secret about your contempt for living here…My guess is she slammed her door because she can't face the fact that she likely feels your going to be one more thing she loses to her crown." He said.

I felt my blood freeze in my veins …I thought about the fact that she still has me requesting to be banished, ringing in her ears if she feels even an ounce of what I felt for her. I shook my head and pushed my hair back out of my face to look at him. Completely deflated.

"She has always struggled to be both princess Eadlyn and just Eadlyn…You see through her defenses you always have. I'd be willing to bet that's why she pushed you away so hard…she couldn't stand that you saw her no matter how much of a mask she wore… and it's clear she gets under your armor too… so one of you is going to have to let down your defenses if you really want a chance at being happy together." he added as a few worried looking guards knocked pushing into his office…his awareness changed and he singled he needed to work by giving me a hearty pat the back and I slipped back to my room.

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Kile pov.

I wanted to go to Eadys room right then and there to tell her everything , but I was still in pajamas and I really didn't want to confess my love to a princess in pajamas. As I got back to my selected room I jumped in the shower I hoped the hot water would settle my nerves and I could come up with a plan to tell her everything in my heart . I wasn't done with my shower when my butler Maddox shouted at me making a fuss about an emergency meeting in the men's parlor and was laying out a suit for me. I didn't need him to tell me twice. Knew something was bad because as soon as he said it the worried guards' faces flashed in my head . I ignored everything Maddox was doing by throwing on my jeans from the floor , and the first shirt I touched . I ran into the men's parlor buttoning my shirt as I went straight to Silvia.

" What happened? " I demanded, she started to tell me to wait for the meeting with all the selected but when she saw who she was talking to she whispered in my ear that America had been taken to the hospital with a possible heart attack . I cursed and flue out of the room, nearly knocking down Erik as he came into the door. I knew something was bad but that thought never crossed my mind. All I could think about was Eady…and the rest of the schreaves… I'm sure I'll get a lecture in decorum later but I don't care. I hit the hospital door faster than I ever thought possible and saw a heart shattering tableau everyone in this room had been ripped from bed. Ahren was biting his nails, shaking his leg while Camile held his waist with her chin on his shoulder. She might as well be a ghost. I don't even think he knew she was there by the hollow look on his face. Maxon had one arm over Kaden who was in a ball in the chair beside him with olsten draped over his chest. My dad was standing holding my mom as she buried her face in his chest. His hand rested on Josie who was hugging her knees in the chair next to them . General Leger had his head hung almost between his knees with Lucy rubbing his back . At first I almost didn't see Eady but she was just off to the side of everyone else looking stoic. I moved to her first and not one person in the room reacted to me being there I stat next to Eady and without words I pulled her legs over my lap and put my arm around her everything that was keeping her upright broke with my touch and she cried into my shoulder I kissed her hair and just held her. She felt like ice and I cursed that I didn't put on a suit for the first time in my life because I wish I had a jacket to put over her cause the silk gown and robe she had on wasn't made for the chill of a waiting room.I felt her tears soaking my shirt and her hands had fists full of it balled into them. I ran my fingers through her hair and kissed her head, just holding her while she cried. A little while later a nurse walked by and I asked her for a blanket . She quickly returned with one and I wrapped it around Eady. She had stopped crying by then but she was still silent and I couldn't find any good words so I just kept holding her. Eventually after what felt like days Dr.Ashler came in and wanted to talked to Maxon, my mom moved in and scooped up a sleeping olsten into her arms I'd never sceen olsten still before, he was likely too young to fully understand so he just shut down and went to sleep. Lucy moved to kadens side to wrap him in a hug, kaden didn't really enjoy being touched so I was glad he was letting her hold him. Ahren stayed hollow despite Camille trying desperately to comfort him. He just shut out the world.I have seen Eady shut out the world …but not the way Ahren can.. I have never seen him like that and it has me worried too. Then Maxon came back into the room. He clearly tried to speak to the group of us gathered but couldn't so Eady jumped up to him and so did Ahren and kaden. He finally spoke in hushed tones to them as they all hugged him tightly but I understood enough in the silence of the room, she was in surgery to save her life after a heart attack and they wouldn't know anything till she was out of surgery. Eady came back and snuggled back into my arms and Grabbed my hand and played with my fingers. After a little while a maid came around with a tray of breakfast items. I grabbed two of the sausage sandwiches even though Eady said didn't want one I finished mine and held on to hers for her for a few minutes

"Eady, you're in shock right now, your body is filled with all kinds of adderllin, endorphins, and other byproducts of everything you're going through, you need to eat at least a few bites so you don't get sick." I pleaded with her and kissed her temple. She at least took the sandwich in her hand. And after a short while of just holding it she eventually ate a little less than half of the small sandwich before handing it back to me. She brushed her hands through my hair which was still damp. And kissed my cheek before retreating back into her walls of self protection. Slowly advisors grew impatient and kept sneaking in to Ask Maxon questions or drop off proposals. I could see his frayed nerves edging closer to anger more so than I'd ever seen him. My dad had said Maxon had a temper when they were younger but I'd never seen anything that resembled anger in him before. Something in Eady clicked and she rose out of my arms, she went and gave her dad a hug. Her posture was alarmingly poised for what I knew she must really be feeling … for the first time I saw her as a queen… Ahren looked at her, he clearly saw the shift too because he shook of his stoney withdrawal and shifted into his princely air …and she gave him a lingering hug and I guess she told him her plan which was not their normally dynamic, Eady always followed Ahrens lead almost like she trusted him more than she truested herself. Ahren moved and grabbed Olsten who still curled up around my mom and she let Ahren pick him up, Kaden and Camile followed him almost on instinct and I saw Camile pull Kaden into her side. I didn't know what to do but Ahren caught my eyes and knocked his head indicating I should follow him too. When I got out in the hall he stopped me letting camille lead kaden down the hall.

"Eady is going to the office, she doesn't want anyone else bothering dad…" I heard fear in his voice. Which didn't fit his posture.

"Help her… kile…please." He shifted olstens weight. Almost breaking down.

"Give me olsten, you can help her more than I ever could, Ahren, I'm an artist, You're a prince." I said, putting my arms out to take olsten from him. But he pulled back.

"I can't Kile… you know as well as I do dad won't recover from losing mom, if we lose mom Eady is going to need to ascend and if I help her through this she will find a way to put her crown on my head…because she doesn't trust herself … you know this has been my biggest fear since …I fell in love camille…she doesn't need a prince …she needs you...I'm not blind kile … I know you love her…She loves you too even if she may not be willing to accept it yet…help her see she can do this without me …" He finished.

I put my arms down and looked at him. I didn't know what to say. So I just nodded and ruffled olsten hair as I ran off to my selected room to put on a suit.. I knew he was right, but I didn't know how I was going to be able to help her through this.

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Eady pov.

I slammed my door in kile face on accident but I saw my maids coming in …told them it was late and I would just get my own shower. My voice was steady but I was breaking down below my facade. I wanted to be alone. I got into the shower and turned on the hot water and sank to the floor and cried . Thankfully the sound of the water crashing kept my heart break secret . I didn't cry as long as I thought when I got in the shower. He wasn't gone yet, maybe we could make something work… we are both barely adults, maybe we can have a long engagement and he can finish school. Maybe I could find a way …to be enough… to make him want to stay. I turned the hot water off. I got into bed. Almost as soon as I laid my head down I heard a soft knock on the door. I thought it was Kile at first but it was too dainty to be kile. I got up to find Camille. She gave me a big hug without asking any questions.

"I recognize the sound of a door slam followed by a shower… that's a heartbreak. '' she said. She must have come from Ahrens room beside mine. silently I was thankful for her comfort.

We both laid down on my bed and I told her everything. I told her about why I pushed her away for years, I told her about selection, I told her about what happened with kile. She in turn told me about her life in France, she told how she was jealous of me for my close relationships with my siblings since she was an only child. At that I hugged her tightly and told her we were sisters now. We both fell asleep around dawn but shortly after we did there was a flurry of noise outside my door. We both flew out of my room and down the hallway we saw guards and maids flying around coming out of mom and dad's rooms… I saw Justin first. My dad's butler. He told me in a hushed whisper that mom was taken to the hospital. I turned to Camile and she saw it in my face … she hugged me and spoke in a flurry of French I didn't understand as she went to get ahren who could sleep like the dead. ran back into my room to get my robe. When I got to the hallway again I saw a very scared kaden in pajamas struggling to carry olsten half asleep in his arms. Almost instantly Ahren swooped in and grabbed olsten from kaden. I pulled Kaden under my arm and the 5 of us ran to the hospital together. When we arrived Dad was sobbing so hard into the General ledger I thought he was going to rip his uniform. We all hugged together and shortly dad sat in a chair. Olsten being the youngest and most confused was crying the most so dad held him and Kaden curled into dad side. Ahren sat down across from dad Camile wrapped around him. I sat down and resolved not to cry, unknowingly I sat away from everyone else . In that silence seconds felt like hours. I was vaguely aware that the woodworks and Lucy joined the room at some point but I felt like I was frozen in time as I sat there . I felt a warm hand on my knees first. I realized kile had pulled my legs over his lap. I felt him kiss my temple and I shattered into him not caring at that moment if he might disappear. I needed him and he was there. He was always there when I needed him somehow. I cried into his shoulder and pulled his shirt into my hands. He didn't care that I had soaked his Shirt with ugly crying. I finally cried everything I could cry but I didn't move because I felt safe from the storm around me in his arms. He didn't move till he wrapped a blanket around me. Dr. Ashler came in and took my dad into his confidence I felt Kile holding me tighter and he kissed my temple reassuringly. My dad came in and he couldn't address everyone. He was more shaken than I'd ever seen him. I jumped to his side just the same as Ahren and Kaden. He told us my mom had a heart attack which was something we grew up fearing because heart issues ran in the family. I just felt like the worst was inevitable but dad was hopeful. I settled back into kiles arms. I noticed he was barefoot and his hair was still damp. He must have ran here straight from a shower, something about that made me tiniest bit happy.

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Gunners pov

We had planned this for years and everything was circling the drain because of one cocky smartass man.

I knew since I was 8 I would be in this selection, and was raised on it being my one chance to restore my family's rightful place on the throne. When Maxon had a falling out with my dad he removed us from the palace but he was too weak minded and thought we would just go quietly into the shadows . We thought Neenah was our best achievement in making sure people loyal to us were hired into the palace , but Eadlyn proved not to foster close relationships with her maids unlike her mother. She was kind and Lovely to them but seldom let them pass her defenses. When my name was called in the selection I was ready. Neenah was useful at least getting us a surface level understanding of the type of man she would want and molded my approach perfectly to meet her wants. When the last name was called my dad was enraged but Neenah assured us that they didn't like each other at all. But clearly we underestimated him. We expected his cocky flirtatiousness and reputation for disregarding the rules would be his downfall. Eadlyn was a pillar of protocol which had left her image in the press shaky at best. We had studied all the selected in the week before I moved into the palace and I went in with a well tailored approach. Since she was fiercely independent we never really considered her childhood friend a real threat because he was arrogant and reckless. He turned out to be like a magician. He's worked his way into her trajectory and she's offered little to stop his path.

None of the men we had calculated to be threats based on what we could find out about them made it through the first cut except Hale.

Fate could not have smiled more on me with our first date she asked to walk the gardens. I was disappointed at first because it was a cloudy day but I had remembered rain was special to Maxon and America from when I was a kid in the palace . I led her as far as I could away from the palace hoping for rain. When it finally fell as if on cue she tried to mimic her parents' love of rain… I had her perfectly in my clutches.

When after the theater innocent she narrowed down the elite I knew I was pretty well set my only real threat was the super flashy Hale. Kile was still in the mix … he worried me at first being in the elite but I had talked to enough of the maids and learned while he naturally flirted with every girl they all ignored him because it was clear the only thing he cared about were the sketchbooks he carried around. He was far more arrogant than I remember him from when we were kids, no doubt boosted by the fact he outgrew being a bookish and lanky kid and into a looker that definitely could turn girls' heads even if his head was too in the clouds to notice and preferred to dress like a slob. However, When I saw them dancing the other night I felt like all was lost. Any idiot with half a brain would notice that her dad basically hand picked him when he put her in his arms. I used my contact to get a meeting with my dad to fix this out of control train wreck. During the morning preparation for the gala there was so much bustling around the palace no one noticed an extra butler in the hallway. Inside the old safe room we met.

"Dad, I don't know what to do ? It's like it's been only him from the beginning. Nothing has worked. How do I fix this?

"We need to sabotage him somehow. I looked to see if he had any old girlfriends out there but couldn't find any. We know she dislikes chaos so you are going to have to create something with him at the center of it. Didn't he get in a fight early on? My dad asked.

"More like getting his ass kicked ,but yes." I said

"He's been around that leger fellow alot he'd probably fight to protect her. Cause a scene where he will fight you the more public the better."

Ahren gave me the perfect unplanned opportunity with his proposal. I saw them both headed to the stage to greet him. I soaked her with a glass of red wine and expected him to get angry and start a scuffle with me because I made sure he saw I did it on purpose but doubted she saw my movement, but she saw his anger and quickly averted him.

Something had changed after that. She would always move around the events, even if he always seemed to be her favorite she was diplomatic and would spend time with everyone of the elite to not show her favoritism. But when she came back to the gala she was eating out of the palm of his hand, I could clearly see she loved him. It had been clear he loved her for weeks. I knew it a few days after the incident at the theater when he was playing pool with Erik and Fox and left his sketchbook on the table behind him. I flip through it and on the last page was a drawing of her laughing.

Today when the announcement was made about queen Americas Heath he wasn't there, but I heard Erik tell Fox that he nearly flattened him when he came to the parlor this morning so I snuck into the hospital and found him with her wrapped around him with all the rest of the royal family and their host of misfit friends. Everything about him is wrong for the crown. I've done everything in my life to earn the right to it. He flashes her a broken faced smile and a few snarky comments and she's all over him. To hell with sabotage I want him to burn in hell when I steal the crown.

I went to Neena, I found she had slammed her door in his face last night so I thought I still might have a chance… I was waiting outside the hospital hidden just out of sight waiting for an opening … when her brother told him to help her… I knew I had lost and I needed to get word to my dad again for a more aggressive plan. Dad had wanted me to win over Ahren as part of the plan , expecting him to be protective of her and that he would likely help her through the selection . At the opening tea party, He did just that but then he disappeared. If Ahren had given kile his green light can't win this selection fairly.

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Kiles pov

I ran to my room and put on a suit and ran to the king's office. Eady had changed into a sharp suit dress; outwardly she looked like a queen sitting at her dad's desk but her eyes hurt … In them I saw a young scared girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She had a pile of paperwork in front of her. I could tell she was trying to think but her mind was still racked with worry about her mom. I didn't know where to start till I noticed she didn't have coffee made, I don't like the stuff and I knew I needed it, she and Maxon and even Ahren lived off it. I walked over across the desk and started making her a cup of coffee.

"Kile, what are you doing?" She sounded exhausted.

"I'm making you coffee. I know you can't function if you don't drink coffee 24/7." I gave her a big smile hoping to cheer her up. I expected her to tell me she has maids to do this but she didn't. She just turned back to the stack of papers.

I handed her the coffee and she took it without looking up.

I glanced over at the piles of stuff in front of her.

"Eady this pile here is all budget stuff, could I help you by double checking the figures for you?" I asked. She looked at me with worry.

"Kile, you suck worse than me at math, here take this pile it's all the stuff from the summit but I haven't looked it over yet…see if anything jumps out as urgent or if this stuff can wait ." I grabbed the pile of folders and started reading through everything, taking notes on stuff I thought she may need later. Adviours came in and out every so often asking questions of dropping off more work. I felt my stomach growl so I knew she must be hungry too. It was already sunset outside . I knew I could ring for a maid or butler but I decided to walk down to the kitchens myself. I came back shortly with two dinner plates. I put the plates down on her desk, cleared off all the paperwork that I could and walked over to her Sitting in her dad's chair.

" I got us some dinner, come eat a little." I said, rubbing her tense shoulders.

"I'm not hungry." She said not looking up from her task.

"Eady, look at me… " she turned her eyes up to me and I turned her around in the chair and bent down to be eye to eye with her. "you have only had half a biscuit and a bazillion cups of coffee today. You need real food." I took the folder she was working on and set it on the desk . She reluctantly joined me at her desk for dinner. She had eaten about ten small bites when Ahren came in.

"Mom is out of surgery, she's not awake yet they are keeping her asleep to give her more time to heal dad is with her, but you can go visit her they just ask that we do so quietly." He said and Eady got up, hugged him and they both went to the hospital.

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Eadlyns pov

I saw my dad sitting in the chair beside the bed with his head on his folded arms next to mom on the bed. She looked so pale that even her red hair looked dull. I sat one leg on the bed at her feet next to dad. Ahren left quickly. I'm sure he was keeping an eye on olsten. I didn't have words to say how I felt about everything going on so I just sat with her for a while. My dad finally moved from his chair and stretched his back and shoulders. He gave me a hug and kissed my hair and left but he wasn't gone long …he was clearly sleeping in the hospital tonight, he had brought a small collection of things from their rooms like her hair brush and a family photo she kept on her nightstand, his pillow and a blanket from his bed. I took the brush and brushed her hair carefully not to touch any tubes or jossel her too much. When I was finished I crawled into dad's lap like I used to do when I was little and wanted to be sure to get all of his attention. He hugged me tightly and I tried not to cry but failed …I cried softly while he held me for a little bit. When I finished I got up and left him and went back to the office. It was getting late but I still had a ton of work to do. Kile was still there and I was so thankful he was. I walked over and hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. When my lips brushed his warm cheek my walls unwittingly collapsed without warning.

"I love you." slipped out as I held him so fast by accident… soft as a butterfly wing beats .but before I could even blush Kile looked me in the eyes and replied "I love you too." He said in his comfortable voice …he kissed my forehead softly with his palm pressed softly on my face before turning back to the page he was reading. I just held him there in my arms. I felt no need to move or explain or take it back or change anything about this moment. I have no idea how long I stayed there hugging him but I finally moved back to my desk and he flashed me his always crooked grin and I melted into his ice blue eyes for a few seconds before diving back to work . As I worked I realized just how much I loved him. he was the calm in the tempest of grief, but throughout the selection he had worked his magic in so many ways, he was smart when I needed advice, he was fun when Needed to smile, he was protective, loving, charismatic, and so much more …he the was one selected I never wanted but he turned out to be everything I needed…more than anything else he understood right now I needed to be a princess…he let his love for me show In the way took up a quite mantel of support because he understood I needed support right now, not romance. I always knew true love like my parents have wasn't always romance like the movies, sometimes it was days spent working, it was busy seasons, quiet nights, it was safety in knowing someone was always there when you needed them and that's what I have found in kile, something in the way he worked beside me let me know we would figure out how to make this our own. I don't know how long I worked,I don't remember falling asleep but the next thing I know it's late morning and I'm in my bedroom. I'm still in my dress I wore yesterday but my shoes are on my vanity which is where Kile always sits when he's in my room so I can guess that he must have carried me up here when I fell asleep.

I went to see mom first. Dad was there still in his robe and he was reading a tattered book to mom that looked like kile must have brought to him given every book he owns looks like that.

"Good morning "I said softly as I hugged him when I kissed his stubbled cheek.

"Kile dropped off breakfast for you a few minutes ago." He indicated a breakfast sandwich sitting on a table by the door. I ate it while I held mom's hand and when I was done I went to work today. I had a lot of meetings and every time I went to , or from my office Kile had the next meal or a finished stack of reports, fresh hot coffee or sometimes just a doodle waiting on me. He wasn't always in the office itself ,but I felt him working to make things easier. We had settled into a quiet partnership . He let me tackle everything I needed with steadfast support and understanding from a lifetime of being together. He had told me he loved me, but actions spoke deeper than his words or even his tender brushing kisses or warm comforting hugs. I had resented the selection because I thought a husband would make me weak… but kile showed me support wasn't the same as weakness. After almost a week I went in to see mom in the morning and picked up my breakfast that I knew was already on the table as I sat down to hold mom's hand while I ate. My dad was in his usual position halfway between the chair and her bed. I thought he was sleeping till he spoke softly.

"He's a good man, Eady… He's kind, smart, and so many things. My dad said sitting up . He looked in my eyes as if to read my heart. He nodded and kissed my forehead.

"He's everything." I said and dad wrapped me in a hug.

Just then mom took a labored breath and I squeezed her hand tightly.

"Eady it's ok they told me a few minutes ago they are lowering the medican keeping her asleep she will be waking up slowly as it wears off …I sent a nurse to get you and your brothers just before you walked in so we can all be here as a family when she wakes up."

As dad finished all three of my brothers walked in. We all found chairs and waited together for a few hours till finally mom opened her eyes. She was groggy and confused so we all approached her slowly and she hugged us all weekly and we all cried happy tears together . It was the middle of the afternoon when I went to the office and found Kile had fallen asleep in what's normally my chair when I'm not taking over for dad with his head on the desk with a cold cup of coffee still in his hand.

I kissed his hair and pulled my fingers through it a few times till he turned his head sleepily and I kissed his lips for the first time since the gala. As soon as I left his sleepy kisses I smiled at him.

"My mom is awake, everything is going to be ok." I said and he pulled me on to his lap hugging me groggily.

" I'm so happy she's going to be ok. I have been so worried. She is like a mom to me too. " he said, his voice still thick with sleep but his bright eyes shone into mine.

"kile I need to thank you. I could not have gotten through this week without you. I don't know how you did it but you managed everything I didn't even know I needed without me even asking …" I praised him. He fully woke up to my words.

"Eady. I did everything I could because I love you." He said and kissed me

"I love you too kile…" I paused, unable to finish my thought because worry threw up all my walls of self protection around my heart with lightning fast efficiency.

"I tried to tell you at the gala…I wanted so many times that night to tell you how I felt but you had me tongue tied." He looked deep into my eyes and reached for both my hands twining his fingers into mine ."I know you slammed your door on me because you were afraid I still wanted to be banished…I promise I never meant to break your heart by not telling you sooner but you have to know by now that everything about what I want has changed, I want you." He kissed me and I felt my whole body ripple with joy. "I never expected to fall for you, but I feel like a ton of bricks, Eady. I smell your perfume in the halls and it makes me dizzy, being near you makes my heart hammer my chest, seeing you hurting this week made my heart shatter…. " I cut him off and We feverishly kissed till I heard Olstens voice.

"I'm going to tell Ahren you kissed kile!!" He said running off…

Kile buried his face in my shoulder and I could see even the back of his neck was Turning red.

"Kile, I love you, you're everything I never knew I wanted…When I think about you I think my heart knew you were always the only one for me, even when I thought I hated you. I said as I hugged him tighter.

"I know being a princess your title dictates by protocol you should be the one to do this, but." He moved swiftly and lifted me so I was sitting on my desk and he got down on his knee in front of me.

"Eadlyn Schreave, will you do the honor of marrying me." I didn't expect it but he pulled out a dazzling ring from his suit jacket pocket. I recognized the ring instantly. It had always been my favorite, it was a ring that belonged to grandmother Amberly. I never got to meet her, but my dad told me all about her, and I look a lot like her, I have always felt drawn to that ring even as a kid.

"Kile woodwork I can't wait to marry you! He slid the ring on my finger and scooped me up in a hug lifting me off the desk by my hips.

"How did you pull this off…this is my grandmother's ring." I asked.

"Yesterday's when I dropped your breakfast off at your mom's room your dad asked me why I kept bringing you breakfast every morning and I didn't even think about it and just responded with the truth …"I love her." he gave me a big hug before I even realized what I had said… he asked me if I wanted to break the rules and propose to you privately before the official proposal I told him I would and he said that I could meet with the jeweler to pick from design they already had drawn up but I remembered when we were kids that you loved that ring when your mom would wear it … I know it's more of a cocktail ring but, Eady you should have seen the look on his face he was ecstatic . I was up all night trying to come up with a plan but still hadn't yet." Kile admitted which showed a small crack in his unshakable bravado.

"Your no plan was perfect." I kissed him passionately for several minutes when I heard my dad's voice behind me.

"Not in my office…you two." Dad said smiling broadly from the doorway he was still in his pajamas and robe but it was the first time I had seen him leave mom's side in days. I ran to him and gave him a huge hug. I pulled back and showed him the ring on my hand and he looked confused for a second and just smiled.

"What did you do, Kile just blurt it out the second you saw her?" He laughed heartily

"Pretty much." Kile laughed,running his hand over the back of his neck, his whole face turning red.

"You're just like your dad." He chuckled and pulled kile into a group hug. When he let go he looked at me with worry.

" We should talk about how we want to end the selection, especially with the Gunner situation. I didn't think numbskull over here would just blurt it out, I was counting on him waiting at least a few days till he planned something . "Dad said, rolling his eyes with a smile. I saw dad run his hands through his hair when he saw the look kile gave him. I had not told kile about gunner because frankly I had forgotten about him. Kile kissed my cheek and said he would catch up with me later clearly knowing I needed time with just my dad.

Dad sat down at his desk, he looked so funny sitting there in his robe with almost a full beard at this point.

"Well Fox left two days ago, he asked me if he could leave. His father has been ill for a while and it's getting to where he is having trouble working and Fox didn't feel like he was really in the running and wanted to go home to help his family. His 4 siblings are a lot younger than him so his mom is overwhelmed. I sent him home but also asked that dr.Asher talk to his dad dr.s and see if there is anything we can do to help, unfortunately he advised me there isn't. " I said.

"That was a great decision, I'll look into some options the palace could maybe help with in other ways, but that was really smart to ask Dr.Ashler." Dad said.

" I'm not worried about elemaiting… Ian and Hale , they are happy being my friends because they both have feelings for someone else. They are ready to leave but they both wanted to stay and help while mom was in the hospital. Hale is a wonderful dressmaker maker and I've got him working on some new techniques with mine and mom's maids. Ian has been helping Gavril with some of the news releases helping give people a distraction and hope about mom. "

"Again, well done" he nodded "Was the "someone else" each other ? My dad asked me…

"Yes, I knew about Ian from day one but kept him in the competition because he offered me friendship and I don't have a lot of friends outside the palace so I welcomed that . Hale didn't know… till he fell for Ian. Hale actually told me right before the gala by instead telling me "to marry the one in gold." I had no idea what he was talking about till I made him explain. He tipped kile off about my dress being gold. Hale knew before I knew. " I said.

"I knew the day he tripped you in the garden." He chuckled.

"He didn't trip me, he tickled me till I fell." When I said it I thinking back that was the first time I felt it too… but didn't need to tell my dad that.so I

Went back to talking about the selection.

" That would put us to just three in the competition, and we could hold the media off for a couple weeks till mom is strong enough if you feel it's necessary. But the one thing I haven't had time to talk to Kile about is I know he's got his last year of school and I know it's important for him to finish. Can we work on a plan for him?" I asked.

"Wow my love, you have done some amazing things while filling in for me. I'm immensely proud of you. Let me actually get cleaned up and look over everything I have missed and let's plan to meet tomorrow about everything. But do one thing for me. Go tell your mother before olsten does and take knucklehead with you." He said..

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Kile was reading a book laid on his bed. I lied down with him when I came into the room and he wrapped his arm around me and asked what I wanted to do.

" My dad asked that we go tell my mom first. But we can't announce anything publicly yet." Kile nonned . "Then we're coming back here so you can take a nap, you look like you haven't slept in days." I said as I slipped my hand into his, pulling him off the bed.

When we entered my mom's room I thought she was sleeping. I didn't want to wake her but she must have only been trying to sleep because her eyes opened up when I held her hand. She saw the ring on my finger and saw kile standing beside me. And knew without me having to say anything.

"Come here Son." She said holding her arms out for him to give her a hug.

"Olsten was here a little while ago looking for Ahren, apparently he caught you two kissing in the office, but seeing you engaged is a surprise , I'm so happy for you both." She said her voice was still weak but she sounded delighted.

we left to let her sleep.

Before we got far down the hallway we encountered a very angry Mrs. Marlee.

"Kile Tames Woodward…I need to talk to you about getting caught kissing in the king's office ! ." She said her anger feigned as her smile took over and she just couldn't pretend any longer.

"Geeze has olsten told the whole palace already ?'' Kile said and I looked at him, he was more red faced than I'd ever seen him. I squeezed his hand letting him know it was ok to tell her.

"Besides, I'm not breaking any laws by kissing my fiancé . "Kile said, giving his mom a hug tight enough he picked her slightly off the floor. She didn't even bat an eyelash at the fact that Her son just called me his fiancé like she knew it all along.

" Please don't tell Josie just yet…we haven't officially ended the selection." I said to her when she hugged me.

"Josie and I knew this would happen." She winked at me.

" You helped Josie fill out the form, didn't you mom?" Kile said, shaking his head.

"No… but I'm the reason she got the idea …moms always know these things." She kissed her son's cheek and skipped off into the hospital…I'm sure to plan our whole wedding with my mom. I looked at Kile.

"You know that by the time your mom leaves my mom's room our whole wedding is going to be planned for us right?" I beamed at him.

"Those two had our wedding planned before we were both out of diapers." We both laughed knowing he was right .

We walked up to the third floor and we went into kile's room together. He tossed his suit jacket onto his desk, and kicked his shoes off and plopped like a starfish onto his bed.

"Your room is cleaner than I remember it. " I said sitting down next to him.

"That's because I have two of them. I have been going back and forth between this one and my selected one, Silvia keeps fussing at me for still using this room. I'm pretty sure I'm her least favorite selected ever because I follow zero rules of how a prince consort should behave." He tugged on my elbow and I curled up into him.

"Kile, I told my dad I want you to be able to finish your Art degree before we get married . I know it's really important to you" I could feel my eyes getting heavy listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"Eady, you don't have to do that." He said,

"I want to… I want you to be my husband,but I don't want you to feel like being a prince consort keeps you from being an artist . " he kissed me and held me closer.

"I love you so much." He said And we both drifted off.

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We didn't sleep long. It was afternoon and the sun was bright but we both felt a lot better after our nap. We laid together and talked .

"So what's the deal with Gunner your dad mentioned?" He asked.

"Do you remember Madrid, August and georgia's son, he used to play with us as kids, he was a little older than you? I asked.

"Vaguely, I remember he was a bit of a bully, Ahren was friends with him but I wasn't." Kile said clearly not making the connections.

"They are the same person." I said.

"Your joking right?" He said looking into my eyes.

"No, both ahren and I thought he looked familiar the first day but we couldn't place him and just wrote it off… but my dad had General ledger do some deeper background checks into all the guys after the incident with Jack ranger." I felt Kile sigh angrily at the mention of jack's name. " but he was like a ghost and my dad wanted to keep me safe so he asked me right before the gala if he was a leader in the selection since he didn't feel comfortable with him and and when I mentioned that both me and ahren thought he was familiar looking dad caught that he was using his mothers maiden name to hide his real identity, but we don't know why, I didn't want the good of the summit to be overshadowed with selected gossip so I wanted to wait before eliminating him , but then mom had a heart attack so I forgot about it. we're going to have to address it soon, dads worried he could make a media stink." Kiles blue eyes looked nervous and he hugged me tighter.

"I got along well enough with him at first, I actually almost liked him. But when we worked together on the carnival he made me mad, he bashed our plan at every turn because he said Royals didn't behave that way and I would never be anything more than a stable master's son and should stay in my lane. He was lucky that Erik kept me from punching his lights out. " he said and I could still feel the anger in his body so I kissed Him.

"I have been thinking about it, and something doesn't feel right… Do you remember when we all cooked dinner and Burke said the selection was a sham?" I asked.

" Yeah, that and a few other things that jerk said about me."

" I think the Selection was rigged somehow. It was by design that he was here, when we went on our date he was perfect." I felt Kile bristle. And I shot him a smoldering look. " Like manufactured perfect, he gave me a red rose, we walked the garden and he told me about all his ambitions and how they all fit perfectly with being a prince consort like studying civil engineering… that's far too much planning to go into just a chance to be in the selection. Whatever he's up to I'm worried he had help. " I looked at kile.and he kissed my worried face.

" But didn't your dad say he couldn't pass a background check? How can he be everything he says if they can't find records?"

"I didn't think about that…" I said " it doesn't matter though now because we know how the selection is going to end." I looked over at the clock, "we better both head down to dinner. It's been a week since I showed my face at dinner." I said and we both got up and headed to dinner. I decided since gunner was absent from dinner and my family table was empty to sit down with my selected we all had a jovial meal together. I sat between Hale and Ian and Erik and Kile sat across from us. We sat together like this group had become lifelong friends. The 4 boys decided they wanted to watch a new action movie together so After dinner I found out my family in dads room, we didn't go in dads room often, if we spent time up there together it was always in moms room but mom had insisted that she wanted out of the hospital and didn't need a nurse , and dad wanted her to be monitored so apparently they compromised and mom could stay in dad room as long as he was there but if he wasn't she had to have a nurse in her room with her. Ahren was going to be leaving for France in the morning so he would be able to assimilate into the French court ahead of his upcoming wedding. We talked about mine and Kile's engagement… I don't think I'd ever seen Ahren so happy. We enjoyed the last evening with all 6 of us together for a while.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

The next morning after seeing Ahren off … I had a meeting with just my dad about the selection.

"Do you think we could just cut them in one large cut, I know it's not the way it should be done but it would be the easiest option." I asked dad as he looked at me with a furrowed brow.

" My worry is giving Gunner time to plan something so I think you are probably right. We could do it on the report tomorrow, a total surprise to everyone. from what you said that Ian and Hale are already out of the selection just not formally, so Erik would be the only one you would need to talk to so there is no unpleasantness." My dad said wisely.

" I could ask him for a date today and talk to him, a few magazines circulated a kiss between us from the carnival so I doubt Gunner wouldn't suspect anything but dad I wanted to ask you something." I said then continued.

" I think that gunner had to have help from inside the palace. " I said, taking a deep sigh.

" I think it's just bad luck, I mean look a Kile, I have a good guess he didn't fill out his own application, and we even missed that if I'm correct. " he said.

"You're right, Josie did… I really should thank her somehow." I said almost losing my train of thought.

" I really do think there is inside help Dad, listen to me on this one. When we went on our first date he was perfect, he got me a red rose which is my favorite , he talked about his goals to become a mayor and how he was studying civil engineering… It's like he knew what to say…like he knew how to win…" I looked at him when I finished and I could see he was still reluctant to believe me, he always wanted to believe the best in people.

He went to his phone. " Aspen, can you come into my office right now?" After a few minutes General Leger apperied an shut the door behind him.

" Eady, thinks that Gunner could have help from inside the palace, I don't want to believe that it's true, but trust her opinion, can we look into who the Ileas could have been close to or any may have gotten close to in the years since our fall out. Eady, with this on the table as a possibility, until after the announcement Friday and we can send everyone home. I need you to treat everyone like they can be a spy. Since the selection rules state that it's your job to propose to your selected as of right now just to keep everyone else safe I'd ask that you not even tell Kile the plan, can you do that? My dad looked at me sternly.

" Kile and I talked yesterday about a lot of things while we were up in his room, we didn't think to guard our conversation up there since it's always been off-limits but his door was open the whole time ." I looked down at my folded hands.

"I will start my search with anyone who has access to the family floor first… Eady, congratulations I'm so happy for you and Kile. " General Ledger said and left the office quickly.

I was backstage at the report. I felt terrible that I couldn't let Eikko know what was happening but dad assured me I could have time before he left to explain. Kile seemed to know something was up because he stayed in the men's parlor or kept to himself in his selected room.

Finally the report had started. I had taken my ring off and it was safely locked in my room, I had not been able to wear it since Kile proposed and he wouldn't have it to give me on the report so as not to tip anyone off.

Gavril signed for me to join him on an update on the selection process. I didn't even get a chance to say anything before the unfamiliar sound of the rebel alarm started blaring. I froze confused before realization hit I glanced at Kile first but he was seated farthest from me on the stage standing up with his eyes locked on me, I glanced to my dad who had already picked up olsten and was dragging Kaden towards the back of the studio I saw General Leger coming towards me but his path was blocked by so many people scrambling around… I felt hands around my waist pulling me into them and lifting me into the air I thought at first it was Kile… but my worst fear was true it was Gunner I tried to kick and thrash to get out of his arms I saw a flash of Kile being held back by a palace guard on his knees with his arms behind his back at a painful angle and suddenly everything started spinning, I felt the world go black …Voices swam around me, I felt like I'd been dropped into a kaleidoscope of sound. Eventually I was vaguely aware of my scrounging and recognized a safe room. Gunner sat beside me on the end of the cot, and he was not alone.

"Good evening Princess." Said the older man who I instantly recognized as August. I bolted up upright. Which was a huge mistake as it made me dizzy and nauseated.

"August." I said with contempt and disgust.

"Yes princess. I have a proposal for you my dear, I want you to marry my son and end this selection. He is the most well trained and will be the perfect leader." He said with venom.

"No, I will not. …." I felt blackness at the edges of my vision again. " I have made my choice and was ending the selection today." I said feeling like I would pass out any second.

" We are aware of your intent to marry that woodwork clown. Fortunately you have not been able to end the selection formally yet. The nation just saw My son race to save you from a rebel attack… They won't take kindly to him being eliminated. August said with vicious pride .

"Kile loves me …" I stumbled out.

"Loves you so much he didn't even try to help you." Gunner said taking my hand. Which I pulled back.

I saw in my mind Kile with his arms behind his back flashing in my head. I didn't see his face but I could see he was in pain the way they contorted his body.

"I see you connected that we have him in our custody and will kill him if you do not meet our demand." " If you marry my son, you can keep your wisecracking pet for all we care… after the first heir is produced of course. " He said with an evil laugh.

"Please , Don't hurt him." I said meekly fighting a losing battle with fuzziness in my head.

" So we have an understanding then." August said as the door to the safe room burist open and filled with guards, General leger was by my side almost instantly. I saw his top lieutenant Avery arresting August and another lieutenant arresting Gunner.

"Can you stand Eady?" He said pulling at my elbow.

"Yes," I said but as soon as I tried my head began to swim even more and I fell from the cot to the floor. General Leger picked me up. I could feel my added weight putting strain on his bad leg but he kept moving with me out of the safe room.

As I started to fade in and out of blackness I finally squeaked "They have Kile… please General …." giving into my worst fear before I heard him.

" Eady I'm here and I felt his kiss on my hair and General leger putting me into his arms. I tried to squeeze him but my muscles were not responding…

"Kile, take her to the hospital. she's been drugged." General leger said and I heard my dad start asking him questions. Now that I felt safe in kiles arms I gave into the swimming in my head.

When I woke up the first thing I saw was the blonde hair of the man I love … he was sharing the hospital bed with me. His blue worried eyes were locked on me as soon as I opened my eyes.

" You have been out for about five hours . The dr. Said you would sleep for several hours but no real harm other than that." He said, kissing my forehead.

"How bad was the attack." I asked, sounding very shaky.

" Everything's fine. There was no attack, they sounded the alarm to cause chaos to get you under their control ." He said with aggravation in his voice.

"Did they hurt you?" I asked barely above a whisper.

"No, other than stopping me from protecting you they didn't hurt me." He said. "Eady I tried but a guard working with them knew to stop me… he pinned my arms behind my back and knocked my knees out from underneath me And put his boot in my back before I could fight him off " His voice shook with pain he felt for not keeping me safe.

"I saw you pinned before the world went fuzzy, I was so scared they would break your arms that you need for drawing." I kissed his lips and ran my hand down his arm.

" My dad knocked out the guard that pinned me with one punch… he's has such a gentle personality it's easy to forget he used to be a guard like General leger…I tried to go after you but at that point but General Leger realized it was a distraction tactic… He guessed they would take you into a predetermined safe room.

"So I was right they had inside help… have they found anyone else other than the guard that pinned you?" I asked

I saw his expression changed, he had that same look on his face my dad has when what he has to say is going to hurt me.

"They arrested Neenah, she and two guards were the inside contacts that planned the attack tonight but there still may be more we don't know about. Gunner is talking, but August is not. Gunner has basically been raised only for this selection. August has been pretty cruel to him from what we know so far." He sounded like he pitied Gunner, which knowing kile capacity for kindness didn't surprise me.

"I love you so much kile, they could have killed you, and yet you still show kindness beyond all else." I kissed him and felt him smile into my kiss. I felt him shift. I know with his long limbs he must be uncomfortable on his side at the edge of the hospital bed.

" I bet now that I'm awake they will let me go back to my room. So you can get some sleep" I said.

" I already told your dad and General ledger that until they get a chance to sweep the palace for any more agents I'm not leaving your side for any reason …He and General Leger agreed. They did however remind me sternly about the laws." He said with a chuckle.

I was allowed to go up to my room after the nurse checked my vitals again. I was still pretty groggy when she brought in a wheelchair to bring me to my room but I looked at kile, I didn't want to be seen being wheeled though the palace.

"Do you think you can walk if I help you?" he asked, reading my mind.

"Yes." We got about half way to my room when kile got inpatient and picked me up and carried me. I didn't mind at all being carried by him, I felt safe in his arms and I could snuggle into his neck and smell his cologne .

" You smell nice." I said kissing his neck.

" You are beautiful." He said as we reached my door. He pushed it open with his foot and before he set me down he looked around all the corners and even in my closet. He put me down on the bed and after a few minutes I was asleep again.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Eadlyns pov

The next morning I woke up feeling sick to my stomach and bolted for my bathroom but nothing happened. I had forgotten kile had stayed in my room till he sat next to me on the bathroom floor with a glass of water in his hands… my face turned bright red. I was so embarrassed I tried to push him away but a wave of nausea hit again and he just rubbed my back and made sure my hair was out of my way.

"I bet how you feel is probably pretty close to a wicked hangover" he said offering me the water.

" Yes, if A wicked hangover feels like all your worst fears came true at once." I couldn't even look at him. I didn't want him to see me like this. As I curled into a ball on the floor.

"Eady, what are you afraid of?"he said, sounding hurt.

"Well for starters you just watched me throw up." I said, trying not to cry.

"Sweetheart we're getting married, I'm pretty sure sickness is a part of the vows." He said pulling my head onto his chest with his legs warped around me. He was still in his suit from yesterday but had taken off his jacket and tie and had rolled his sleeves up.

" But it's gross and I'm sure I look terrible." I lamented. Holding on to his shirt to keep from shuttering.

" You're beautiful, my love, nothing can change that." He said pulling his hands through my sleep matted hair. and I chuckled.

" I see you're trying to find me a pet name." I looked at him. Letting go of my fear of him seeing me this way.

"Am I that obvious? " he laughed. My dad calls my mom his Queen, but since that will be your title I didn't want to steal that one." He said, kissing my hair.

" My dad calls my mom "my dear." So don't steal that one either…. But you don't need to give me another one." I said.

"Another one?" He asked.

" You decided to start calling Eady one day when we were all still supper little, Ahren picked it up from you… and eventually so did everyone else." I said.

"I don't remember that, funny I never heard that story before." He said ,helping me up off the floor.

"Well sugarplum I like any good college student knows the cure to a hangover is a good greasy breakfast. I'll let your maids in. Then you can meet me in my room when you're ready.

"But Neenah was a maid and she was helping Gunner." I said shakily.

"Eloise and Mazy were not involved. General ledger already cleared them.

I got a long shower and got dressed for the day and Kile was in his room having changed into his normal ripped jeans and tshirt, his hair still wet from a shower.

" I told you I wasn't leaving you alone…my room was as far away as I was willing to go, all my suits are all in my selected room. " he said when he caught me eyeing him.

"My mom single handedly brought jeans to the palace, maybe t-shirts and ripped jeans will be your contribution to palace life because you look so good in them." I said as we walked to the kitchens to get breakfast.

………………………………………………………………………………………

After breakfast kile dropped me off at the office I share with my dad, since he knew I would be fine with my dad there to protect me.

"How do you feel Love?" He asked, giving me a big hug.

" Still a little queasy but I'm sure I'll be 100% later on , kile is treating me like I have a hangover." We both laughed .

"Oh man I've had a few of those when I was your age, they get worse if you get them when you're older." He laughed and sat down at his desk.

"We are going to do a special edition of the report tonight to make up for the one that was interrupted. General ledger has teams of people he trusts sweeping through all the palace staff. We found advisor Capstone was apart of this, he's the reason Gunner was able to get in the selection in the first place as he was the head of the application committee which is also why he passed the two formal background checks but didn't know to cover his tracks for the third one that only General ledger and myself knew about." He showed me the files he had gathered about the incident.

"Dad, do you remember when Neenah got first hired on, she had a boyfriend she wanted to bring in as a butler? I asked.

"Now that you mention it, yes." He said.

" Did we hire him or was it Gunner?" I asked.

"It was Gunner. she is in love with him, but he was just using her….Gunner has been used too, it's a very sad situation." He said, pushing his hands through his hair.

" I know August is behind this and it took years of planning, is there any chance we can be lenient with the ones that were manipulated by August?" I said.

"You are going to be an amazing queen my love. Yes, we will work out a plan for them. But let's move on and talk about happier plans. I know you mentioned kile wanting to finish school let's start with that.

………………………………………………………………………………………

It has been almost a month since I ended the selection . No more agents of August were found . Ian and Hale secretly eloped within days of leaving the selection and have moved nearby, they plan to have a larger wedding in the spring once their families have become more accepting and selected gossip dies down.It turns out that A girl who works at Eikkos parents bakery. Had always had a crush on him and had been waiting for him to finally ask her out which He never did till she cussed him out Finnish and English for kissing me when he should have been kissing her, I can't wait to meet her at the wedding. She sounds like my mom. I still had my duty as princess and had taken on almost all of mom's roles while she recovered still. She was fully cleared by her dr.s to return to work but dad wouldn't hear of it he has insisted she take off the rest of the summer, and maybe fall too. It has really given me a chance to see real progress in my ability to be queen and having kile at my side has brought forth a lot of new ideas. Because Kile grew up in both the Royal world and regular citizens' world he's been instrumental in bringing new ideas that bridge the gap of distrust and dislike around the monarchy in ways we never expect. Kile is leaving for a program in Kent for his final semester. It's an accelerated program so he can knock out everything vs going away for an entire school year, but he was already mostly done anyway because he took extra classes during his first two summers . He will have security nearby, but since this is a new school for him, he's hoping to fly under the radar. Turns out at school he was already using his middle name instead of Woodwork at school to help with anonymity. Ahren announced he and Camile were getting married at the end october so we will get to see each other about halfway through his semester at ahrens wedding since he is ahrens best man.

I was laying in kile's arms on his bed knowing in just two days he would be gone.

"You know what Babe? He said he had gone through a few different pet names before finally settling on calling me babe or baby though mostly he just called me Eady still.

"I've never taken you on a date, like a real date ….one that's outside of the palace walls." He said drawing circles on my shoulder.

" Nothing about dating me is normal, it's just how it is when you're a princess." I said flatly, because he was right while we walked the gardens, had dinners together, even watched movies… it was all within these walls.

" We should sneak out and go on a real date tomorrow before I leave for school." He said with his always crooked smile filling his face.

"Are you trying to see how far you can push my dad over the edge, you have already been scolded twice for staying all night in my room." I rolled over so I could face him laying my stomach over his chest.

" I only got caught twice… " he winked at me. "Besides Ahren, I snuck out as teens, we will be fine." He said. " I have a plan… Do you trust me?" With a wicked grin.

"Yes, I trust you." I said." But when did you and Ahren sneak out ?" I said I don't doubt for a second Kile slipping past the guards but I'm laughing trying to picture my straight laced brother sneaking out.

" It happened once and we went to the beach. It was my 18th birthday …it was actually Ahren's idea after he snuck us a bottle of whisky from the palace stock room. We got caught by General Leger coming back swaggering through the front gates like we owned this place. Thankfully he had more sense than both our drunk behinds put together and promptly hid both of us from our dads till we sobered up saving our tails. " he laughed at himself.

"I remember that actually… we'll sort of… I remember finding you and Ahren both asleep in his office. When I asked why he mumbled something about you both being dumbasses. I only remember it because I'd never heard anyone call Ahren a Dumbass before.

" Ok, first thing in the morning we are breaking the rules and getting out of here for the day. " he said happily.

I woke up early the next morning to kile dropping some clothes on my bed.

"Do you not own sneakers?"

" Here is what I was able to find that can work for today's date. " he said

" I have heels and sandals and I have a pair of running shoes but they are in the gym." I said looking at the hodgepodge's casual outfits he had tosses on my bed.

"What size are you?" He asked

"8" I replied

"Heck yeah, I'll be right back." He jogged out the room.

I picked through what he had picked from my closet. We were clearly doing something sporty. He had managed to find a pair of cut off shorts I had back in the back of my closet, I had thought about using them for a Halloween costume but my dad flipped out that they were too short even for Halloween. I picked them, and there was a black tank top that I'm sure kile had no idea is actually supposed to go underneath a lacy top I have. By the time kile returned I had put on the shorts and tank top. He tossed a pair of well worn yellow high top sneakers on my vanity chair.

" Josie is the same size." She won't notice those are missing. He looked me over and said " can you put your hair up in one of those messy loop things you do when you're working out? He said and ran out the door again.

I went to my bathroom and put my hair in a messy bun, I'd never really liked my hair like that but whatever at this point . I normally worked out alone or sometime with ahren or mom, but kile has been joining me since we announced our engagement, I really only run on the treadmill because since we were kids we have been told we have to keep our hearts healthy, since my mom's heart attack I have been actually trying to run vs just half heartedly walking because I as much as I don't like getting all sweaty it's better than having to go though what my mom did. When kile came back he. Handed me one of his plaid shirts that had paint splatters on most of it and put an old baseball cap on my head. He stepped back and helped me roll up the sleeve of his shirt to my elbows and tied the bottom of it around my waist in a knot. I loved how soft its well-worn fabric feels and I Love that it smelled like him even though I could tell it was freshly washed.

He turned me to look into the full mirror once I put on Josie sneakers. Standing beside him in shorts, an oversized mens shirt, sneakers and a baseball cap I looked like any ordinary girl, definitely on the artsy side of fashion but unrecognizable as a princess. He wrapped his arms around me, he had on what I think is is most holey pair of jeans he owns, he has on a worn band T-shirt and has a different plaid shirt tied on his waist , had his blonde locks mostly hidden below a backwards baseball hat and has on similar high tops sneakers but his have doodles on every inch of them.

" We look like a pair artys teenagers." I said matter of factly.

"I have never seen anything as hot as You in a pair of shorts and my shirt" he wolf whistled at me and pushed him playfully. .

" Are you ready for a day of fun? He said, taking my hand as we headed out. We walked to the very back of the stables and he opened up a pickup truck door.

"Your Carriage awaits princess ." He said sarcastically.

I sat in the passenger seat and he ran around to the driver's side and cranked the engine.

"Kile" I squealed. " what are you doing, do you know how to drive" still at a worried squeal.

"Yes, one of us didn't grow up royal. I've been driving trucks around the stables since I was 13. " he laughed while pulling the truck out of the barn. As soon as we got past the palace gates he rolled down the windows and cranked up the radio and sang along to all the songs it played . At stop lights he kissed me and I was so happy just riding with him I didn't care s this was all we did all day.

After about 45 minutes we arrived at a huge parking lot . When we got out there were crazy looking colorful steel structures looming over us, music was blasting all around us and the air smelled of sugar.

"Allow me to introduce you to the wonders of a theme park!" Kile said, hugging me from behind. He then grabbed my hand and we headed for the entrance.

We waited in line at the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the park. He held me between his knees as he sat on the railings. I was in a huge crowd and no one even paid any attention to me or kile. We were just a couple of kids on a date to a theme park. We loaded into the ride and the attendant checked our harnesses and Kile grabbed my hand.

"You ready baby?" He said with a wicked grin. I never got to answer before the car took off.I screamed and closed my eyes and held on tight to Kile's arm as he laughed and shouted exuberantly when we made it. Back at the start of the ride I knew I was grinning like an idiot but when I stepped out my legs didn't quite cooperate and kile pulled me into his chest and kissed me passionately.

"Get a room" some kid said behind us and he bumped us out of his way to the stairs. We both just laughed . We laughed and rode rides all day, eating nothing but junk food and at the end of the day we were at the center of the park. We were sitting on a grassy space between rides. My Back was on kiles chest sitting between his legs playing with frayed edges of one of the holes in his jeans.

" I have been coming here since I was a kid, I know your dad grew up in a time where he needed to fear things like this, but i don't want, when we have kids to miss stuff like this, Duty is important I understand that, but I want them to have days like this too". He kissed my temple. As the fireworks started. When they finished we got back in the truck and headed back to the palace. When we got into the barn and parked the truck Carter was there and Kile tossed the keys to his dad casually.

" Did you enjoy the park Eady?" He asked. I shot Kile with a serious look.

" We had a blast, " Kile said laughing.

"Did you seriously think I would take you out of the palace and not tell anyone, Eady." He asked as we walked to the palace. " There were two guard's With us all day. I Just wanted you to feel like we were alone , but I'm not about to risk your safety either." He kissed my hair with his arm around my shoulder as I linked my fingers into his hand.

"Kile, how am I going to survive with you gone. In just months you made my life better in so many ways I can fathom going back to not having you near me." He didn't say anything but he warped me into him in a deep kiss. When we kissed enough that both of us had swollen lips.

" I feel the same way." He said as we finished walking to the palace.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Kile dropped me off at my room but I so badly wanted him to stay but I knew he still had stuff to pack and I knew as soon as my head hit my pillow I was going to be asleep anyways so it wouldn't matter . But I knew he was flying out the next afternoon.

I told myself I wouldn't cry when he drove off and I managed to last 5 whole minutes in my office before I started crying. Josie came in and I tried to straighten up my face but failed and just didn't care after that. Josie came and hugged me.

" See, this is why I put him in the selection, it's hard to be happy when he's not around." She said.

"Kile told me to give you this after he left." She said handing me a frame that had a collage of photos from when we were kids, including a set of photo booth pictures we took at the park yesterday overlayed a drawing he did of the photo that was on the cover of the magazine of us dancing. I hugged the frame.

"Did you know about this before ? He must have finished it last night because we took those photos yesterday." I asked her.

"He asked mom for the photo a few days ago, she made sure to give him one's your dad took. He always draws so much and likes to draw people and things from his life so I don't know when he did the drawing but my guess is after it hit the magazine. " she said.

"Let's go find a spot for it in my room, want to help me find a good one? " I asked. She gave me a quizzical look.

" I know we haven't always got along, but we are going to be sisters now, and I have you to thank for breaking the rules and putting kile in the selection …

"I've always wanted a sister." She said as she beamed at me and hugged me tightly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

We arrived in France for Ahrens wedding when our plane landed. Camile beat ahren to giving me a hug . We had developed a habit of talking once a week. She has been a great help in coping with kile being away , her and Ahren were long distance for years. I knew kile wasn't going to be there till the day before so as not to miss as many classes, we have been told since this is a huge media event that we should limited our time together since we're hoping people at kile's school won't recognized him as ahrens best man, but he will stand out if he's with me because all the Illean people know my fiancé is finishing school this semester. We are at the afternoon rehearsal when kile comes strutting in. He looks out of place among all the royals and dignitaries because he's in nice jeans and a dress shirt vs a full suit, he also just spent almost a full day in airports, so most of these people don't know that this is actually pretty dresses up for him considering he came straight from the airport. He bounded to me and picked me up in a big hug kissing me unabashedly before my dad gave him a warning cough and he grudgingly walked to Ahrens side who asked him why he didn't get picked up like that since he's been away longer and Kile Jokerster that he his picked up ahren, or tired to rather … both of them ended up on the floor laughing and wrestling with each other Kaden and olsten joined in the familiar fray Camille was laughing so hard she snorted and that's when Queen Daphne started screaming French obscenities at all of them, While shooting daggers with her eye at my dad as if to say he should have raised his sons better , however dad couldn't stop laughing till mom sent an elbow into his ribs, he was used to kile's and antics, and frankly Kile had nothing on olsten. myself and Camiles other two bridesmaids laughed together. After the rehearsal we all went to dinner and Kile changed into a suit when he arrived at dinner. He sat strategically directly across from me and we smiled at each other all through dinner because he kept moving his feet to play with my feet across from him . After dinner, Ahren and the rest of the men left together to celebrate with Ahren . All the ladies had had a bridal luncheon earlier so we all went to bed since we had to get up far earlier than the guys for hair and makeup. I had my door open letting in some cool air and saw Kile headed to his room he was staying in while here. It was still early so I followed him. When he got to his room he fell onto his bed and I took him by surprise when I snuggled up next to him.

"You didn't want to stay out with Ahren? I asked.

" I have been awake for almost 40 hours with time changes and jet lag… I speak enough French to follow along and get the gist but not when it's ten people at once and my brain is sleep deprived." He said almost into the pillow.

" I forgot your jet lagged." I kissed him and started to leave when he pulled my wrist back to him.

"I miss you." He said rolling over and pulling me into a deep kiss. His kiss tasted like strong French brandy.

"I have missed you too." I said tangling my hands into his messy curls .

" Will you please just stay till I fall asleep? I want you near me so bad it hurts." He said into my neck as he kissed it slowly.

"Yes, I'll sneak out when you start snoring." I said and laid back on the bed.

"Good you will be stuck here all night because I don't snore! He laughed

He stood up and tossed off his suit coat and tie on top of his opened suitcase and when he turned to head to the bathroom he pulled his shirt off over his head and threw it on top of the bed out of habit not thinking about me being there. I had seen him as a kid with his shirt off before but not as an adult. I knew from feeling his chest while kissing him he had muscles but it was different seeing him shirtless, he was rock solid with lean abs defined shoulders and cording all down his back and sides even… he made me gasp out loud. Brightness returned to his tired eyes and he smiled wickedly at hearing my reaction to him and turned and put his knee down on the bed and pulled me into him . As I kissed him I ran my hands along his bare back for the first time making me shiver. Then I heard Ahren faking gagging from the doorway. I wanted to disappear… but kile with his unshakable cockiness just reached over and threw a pillow at him not taking his lips off me till he was ready.

"It's not like I haven't suffered walking in on you and Camile before . Kile snickered, sitting down on the bed beside me.

"Camile isn't your sister… and I keep my shirt on …or at least make sure I shut the door If I don't ." He said sneering playfully at kile who was shaking with laughter.

"You shut the door because you're a fluffy prince and sit at a desk all day . I bust my ass working in the stables getting ripped and damn proud of it ." Kile said with a Laugh but I could hear just how tired he was cause his laugh while genuine wasn't a full laugh. And Ahren noticed it too.

"I am not fluffy! I bet I could bench just as much as you can. " Ahren said, throwing the pillow back at kile. We were all laughing together at Ahrens protest.

"I was wondering why you cut out early but I can tell now you're super tired. I forgot you have been awake for like a day and half ." Ahren said

"all I want to do is hang out with you two and I can hardly keep my eyes open." Kile said laying down on the bed beside me. Ahren was still standing in the doorway.

"Maybe you two can spend part of your honeymoon in France and we can spend a few days catching up." Ahren suggested.

"Ahren, I love that idea." I said.

" I'll talk to Camile about it when we get back from greece… I still can't believe You two are getting married…" He said as he walked out, shutting the door behind him.

I fell into kile's chest clapping my hands around my face because I knew I was red faced. I could feel Kile laughing.

"At least it was only ahren, kaden would have stuck a sword though me and if that had been olsten your dad would have heard about it faster than I could put my shirt back on." Kile pulled me into kissing him while he laid on the bed shirtless. I was still so embarrassed we got caught. It took him a few tries before he got me to relax into kissing him. But after a few minutes he pulled away.

"I know the same laws don't apply here in France but I want to wait and do things right. " he said and he got up and went and changed into pajama pants but kept his shirt off he laid on top of the covers with me and almost as soon as I laid my head on his chest he was asleep after a while I got up and pulled the covers from under me to put over him and went to my own guest room.

The next day was chaotic we were up early getting hair and make up done before the wedding, Camile was the definition of poise till olsten pranked her giving her mint that turned her mouth blue, thankfully this is not the first time he's pulled this prank and we knew simple mouthwash would fix it. Their vows were beautiful, I was able to follow along with most of it even though it was in French because during the rehearsals they did it in both English and French. We watched Ahren and Camile kiss to seal their union and when I caught kiles eyes he mouthed he loved me. Their reception was full of lively Dancing and decittant food. Ahren was sweet when they shared their cake but Camile smashed her piece all over ahrens face. I was standing next to kile at that point and told him he better not get any ideas but I saw a wicked glint in his eyes and knew he's going to pull something at our wedding. We watched them dance and share their happiness with all their guests. Finally we watched them exit onoff to their honeymoon in greece. Many people went back to the ball room to keep the after party going but kile pulled me into the gardens. We could still hear music from the ballroom and he pulled me into him to slow dance away from the crowd.

" I love you so much." Kile said in my ear.

"I love you too. " I said as I laid my head on his chest. We stayed just swaying together until it got too cold in the night air. We went up to our rooms since we were both staying in the palace. Kile dropped me off at my room and went to his.

I thought about not getting a shower since I was dead on my feet but I knew I needed it so I got in and out as quickly as I could. When I came back into the room I almost screamed… kile was there in his pajamas laying back on the bed. I snuggled into his side.

"How much longer till I don't have to sneak around and can actually just enjoy sleeping beside you." He said kissing my hair.

"Too long…" I said.

"We could just elope while we're here… you're not a royal in France ." He said playfully.

"I'm pretty sure between my dad, your dad, General leger, and my three brothers someone would kill you for doing that. And that's only if our mothers let them" I said laughing too loudly.

"Your unfortunately right…" he said as he yawned

"When is your flight?" I asked.

"In like 4 hours." He groaned.

"I doubt anyone else will be up between now and then…just stay." I said and held him tight.

We both fell asleep and I was heartbroken when I woke up only to find a doodle on the pillow beside me. He had slipped out for his flight and I didn't even wake up.

………………………….

Kiles pov

It's the last few days before graduation. I'm laying back on my bed in my dorm, I should be packing but I don't want to because Eady is going to call me soon, I've been so busy getting my part of the show up that I have barely talked to Eady in three weeks, she's also been slammed getting ready for the Christmas holidays which is always super busy around the palace , plus wedding planning. My roommate Felix comes in and flops on his bed.

"You really should have come out with us, that hot redhead from the 2nd floor was there she asked about you again." He said. I didn't mind Felix but he was definitely a good- time -Charlie, he came from a family that were twos before the caste were eliminated and was only in school so his dad would keep giving him money.

"I have a fiancé." I said for the millionth time.

"Phone girl, I know, but you can still have fun while you're here." He said. Then asked " is she coming for graduation?"

"My parents and sister are, she can't, she has to work." I said, mostly truthful

"I still don't think the phone girl is real." He chuckled. Just then the phone rang and I leaped up and grabbed it.

"Hey babe." I said and Eady and I talked about my show and some plans for Christmas for about 20 minutes before she had to go.

"Are you going to the closing of the art show Felix?

"When is it again?"

"Tomorrow night my parents are meeting me there." I said.

"Sure." He said.

I finally started packing and got most everything stuffed into my suitcases and went to bed.

I'm at the final night of the senior art exhibit. They school provided some light hor derves for the parents that came in for graduation the next day. My parents are running late due to a delayed flight so I'm just wandering around when I feel a pair of hands snake around my waist and jump away but then I hear her familiar laugh and my heart jackhammers in my chest. I pulled her into me and kissed her lips and bent her back holding her tightly. I'm sure a few people are watching because most people are far more discreet about public affection.

"What are you doing here? " I finally stammered out.

"I was told an amazing artist had his work on display." Eady said.

"But how…." It was then that I looked and saw my parents and Josie were there as well as Lieutenant Avery in a plain suit as if he might be my uncle or some other family member . I also saw she was in a very simple dress, and had her hair pulled back in a simple bun and no makeup .

"We're hoping I don't get noticed, but I wouldn't miss this for the world." She whispered in my ear.

I finally hugged my mom, dad and Josie. I Shook hands with Avery.

"Show us your work Kile." Josie squealed.

I lead them over my section . I proudly showed off some of my best work. I took my work from life, and my theme was portraits. There was an all black and white one of my moms scared palms which are something I've always loved drawing because to me they are not scars, they are a visual representation of her love for my dad and now her family. A full color one of my dad sitting on the tailgate of his truck in the stables. , one of Josie pouting in a ball gown with a crooked tiara on her head, but her worn yellow high tops on her feet. There is one of General leger he has his shining Generals uniform draped open around his shoulders with how I imagine him as a six growing up… because he always reminds me under his uniform he's still a poor kid from Carolina. One of Maxon and America at night on their bench, but you don't see their faces, But my favorite one was one of Eady, it was her brain freeze face. It was in black and white but I had added water color at the last minute to the background, and even overlayed her hair with some bright icecream sprinkle type colors. Mixed media wasn't normally my go to but I was very proud of it. When Eady saw it she hugged me tightly and kissed me because My portrait of her had won me the best show ribbon. The image of my mom's hands had also won an honorable mention. I was the only artist In the show to have two awards. It was then that Felix walked over , Eady was still Wrapped tightly around my waist. So he would know she must be my fiancé.

"So, phone girl is real and showed up after all" He said.

"Babe, this is my roommate Felix." I said I was instantly nervous because I didn't want him to recognize her and I've been careful to not call her by name.

"Hello, nice to meet you." She said without letting me go she came off shy,almost hiding under my arm, but I knew this was her attempt to keep to the shadows.

"I recognize you… your ice cream girl." He said pointing behind her at the portraits of her. He winked at me and said he had talked to my parents already and wanted to know if we wanted to go to a party which we declined. So he strutted out.

We left the exhibit soon after and went over to their hotel nearby for dinner . After a while I had to head back to my dorm for graduation the next day, I would have stayed but Josie and Eady were sharing a room. I walked into my dorm room and Felix is there looking smug.

"Phone girl, is the freakin' princess! " he said matter of factly.

"I better get to come to the royal wedding as a make up for all the parties you didn't attend because you're engaged to a princess and didn't tell me ! I bet she has some smoking hot friends ." He said.

"Sure thing." I said. " but her friends consist mostly of her sister-in-law Camile and my kid sister so watch yourself."

"Didn't her brother get married like a month ago?" He asked.

"Yes, he's my best friend…remember when I cut out of classes for a few days …I was at his wedding in France. " I said.

"I didn't pay much attention to most of the selection but didn't you grow up in the palace because of your parents? He asked. He knew I was angeles but not that I grew up in the palace.

" Yes, my parents are best friends with Maxon and America. My mom is a lady in waiting which means she is like the queen's assistant, my dad is head of grounds keeping and the stables."I said.

"So what's the King really like ?" He asked.

"Maxon, he works super hard almost all the time. He is kind beyond measure, he's like a 2nd or 3rd dad to me along with General ledger who's head of the royal gaud " I said.

"I wonder what it's like to have all that power to rule over everyone." He asked rhetorically.

" Actually, I forget he's a king sometimes, America on the other hand she's feisty when it's just family and friends she's the boss… especially when we were kids in the palace…Maxon would let us get away with almost anything but not America." I laughed

"I thought you were like a back up plan in case she didn't find anyone in the selection since you grew up together when your name got called. I know I've teesed you about her not being real but I knew she was. " he said.

"despite what people thought …I'm best friends with her brother… I have spent the last decade annoying the crap out of her with my Meir existence. I never even filled out my forms …My sister actually put me in the selection without me knowing it. I thought she would kick me out the first day but she didn't so she could at least have someone to help her…She stole my heart out of my chest weeks before I even knew she had …" I laid down.

"I put my name in… so did two of my brothers … The flashy guy was from my province but he lived a few hours away.

"Hale's a good guy. I thought he might win. If it had not been for Hale I don't know if I would have figured out I Loved her…He saw it before I did" I said.

"I'm surprised her brother didn't pummel you for getting with his sister since your his best friends. " he said jokingly.

"Actually it was her younger brother Kaden who Threatened me, he's a foot shorter than me still but he's a damn good with a saber, I've fenced off and on with him for years so when after our engagement he asked me to practice with him I didn't expect him to kick my tail…just to prove a point" I said laughing.

"So as ripped as you are you got your ass kicked by her 12 year old brother ? " he roar with laughter.

"Hes 14 and I'd like to see you take on Kaden with a sword! I laughed as we talked for a while We both fell asleep since we had to get up early. After the graduation ceremony a few people I was friendly with were confused since I made sure they used my full name for the ceremony. Eady had borrowed one of her dad's cameras and took pictures. And we collected all the stuff in my dorm room and loaded it in a rental car, my art supplies and larger works would be shipped in a few days to the palace. We all waited for our flight at the airport, I thought maybe they would have the royal plane, but we were all flying commercials to not raise any suspicion.

" I can't believe you didn't tell me you were coming." I said kissing her hair as she laid her head on my shoulder.

" I wanted to surprise you and we only really finalized the logistics of it a few days before I left. My dad is nervous wreck about this." She said.

"I bet." I said

We chatted the rest of the flight home and Maxon and America had a big congratulatory dinner for me so by the time I finally got to bed it was very late and I didn't expect a warm hand to slide over my chest or feel her curling around me and I pulled her into tightly and I never wanted to let her go.

"When you're not here it's hard to get enough laughs in a day, I have laughed more in two days with you than in two weeks without you." Eady said in my ear and kissed my neck.

I turned to kiss her passionately. After a few minutes of kissing her I forced myself to stop, and she understood and we both fell asleep tangled into each other .

……………………………………………………………………………………

The Christmas holidays were a blur of big parties and smaller family gatherings as always. We announced our wedding will be in March which gives us three more months. For several weeks I have been spending my days working with Silvia learning more about royal protocol, as well as working on some committees with Queen america before I take over official roles. Eady made Josie her assistant since she is technically too young to be a lady in waiting. I'm sleeping in my room just before dawn two weeks before the wedding when someone is pounding on my door. I open the door still half asleep and see Kaden in his pajamas.

" You need to get to my dad's office now… I have no idea what's going on but General leger just pulled Eady out of bed and she's in crying. " he said as I started to run to the office. Kaden was fast but my addrilin kicked in and I'm close to a foot taller so I out paced him pretty quick. When I got to the office I saw Eady in there crying , with her dad and General leger. The door was open and normally I wouldn't have just busted in there, but seeing her crying hijacked my thinking and I took her into my arms . She instantly went slack with sobs into my chest . I felt her nails clawing deep into the skin on my back and it's only then that I thought I should have grabbed a shirt before running full speed though the palace.

"Maxon what happened, what is going on." I say to him over eadys shoulder. It's then that Kaden appears in the doorway.

"Kaden, if you want to join us I think you're old enough to understand, but I'd like not to explain a lot of what I need to explain to olsten just yet, do you understand. I will make time to tell Ahren separately. " Maxon said in such a serious tone it made my teeth rattle because I'd never heard him talk like that to anyone, especially not his children. America walked in and kissed Maxon on the cheek and for the first time ever he didn't turn to her, almost as if he didn't even know she was there. Kaden sat down on the sofa alway at the back of the office and General leger shut the door..

"We were lenient on gunner and Neenah because of how August treated them. However it appears we may have underestimated August's ability to plan ahead." Maxon said. Plainly.

" Dad, show him the article. " Eady said softly. Maxon handed me a magazine. It had me on the cover with Eady the day we went to the theme park. Which I mean wasn't great,I'll admit, because I'm sitting up on the railing of one of the ride que and I have my hands in the back pocket of Eady shorts, and you can't see her face but you can clearly see I'm smiling at her. having my future father in law who happens to king of the nation hand me a photo of my hands all over his daughters behind while I'm currently getting her nails dug into my bare back she's wrapped so tightly around me….is a feeling I can't describe …I sat down in the nearby chair and Eady curled around me in such a way that if she could have climbed under my rib cage and disappeared she would have. unfortunately my wit is faster than my apology.

"So what, I got a little handys with my fiancé." I tossed it back on the desk and looked at Maxon squarely. I wanted to say more but Maxon cut me off. He wasn't angry when he spoke but he was definitely on edge.

"I don't care about the photo . Kile, read the article." Maxon said .

At that I gulped down my pride and I flipped around the magazine that I just tossed and read about half a page before I understood… I looked up at Maxon and I could feel rage racking my body.

" but we know that's Eady, we took other photos together that day we can easily disprove it, so what's the real issue?" I said , understanding that one article wouldn't cause this much tension in this group of veterans dealing with the press. Especially if Maxon wasn't upset about where I was holding Eady.

" Kile, your right we can easily prove that's Eady in the photos, but there is a much bigger picture we need to look at." Maxon said and Eady tuned to him.

"What could be worse than this dad?" We're getting married in two weeks and they just accused him of all but sleeping with my head maid in the national press." Eady said between sniffles.

" The magazine is a pre-release that was delivered to me personally. Along with this." Maxon shows a folder.

" This folder claims to be a logbook of tape recorded conversations that have happened over the years starting during my selection. Most can be easily taken out of context and spun into lies like this photo. There is enough distrust of the monarchy because our country still faces issues like poverty and prior cast discrimination. This magazine intent is a chess move in a longer game the Illeas are playing, a preview of sorts." Maxon said, sounding flustered. " nothing in this folder can really be considered damaging, but there are aspects of the past that if distrust brews more could be damaging and I want you to hear them from me, and not the media. Maxon said with almost tears in his eyes before continuing.

"August I believe wants to see us scrabble.…Kile I think you just happen to be the easiest target unfortunately, he knows everyone's attention is going to be on the wedding and this would cause the most media stirr…. What worries me though, is that like when he pulled the rebel alarm he wants to cause chaos to plan something bigger, and I'm his ultimate target which is why I need you to know what could come to light if I'm his endgame." He ran his fingers into his hair as he finished, " we don't know what his end game is but I feel it necessary to come clean about some aspects of mine, and your mothers past as it is now likely these may be splashed across the media. " he looked frazzled. America came over and put her arms around his shoulders .

"Let me start with the easiest one first. Eady, I know you know this , But Kaden and Kile … I know this is new for you. Before the selection ever took place, as kids in Carolina Aspen and I dated, if it had not been for the selection we would have gotten married, but the selection changed our fates." She finished. I wasn't completely surprised, I had always known they grew up together, and it wasn't a far leep to think they could have been a good couple. I looked at kaden and he didn't seem alarmed at all.

" I'm not surprised, I sort of guessed uncle Kota hated you for reasons not related to the fact that he's just like that ." Kaden said to general leger. We all chuckled, we all knew kotas prickly personality and we all knew things were especially frosty between him and General leger so I'm guessing like any good big brother he didn't like someone who broke up with his kid sister, though it was hard to imagine Kota caring about anyone but himself so maybe there is more to the story. Kadens lack of surprise seemed to help lighten the mood a little bit in the room.

"Things are a bit more complex after that." Maxon said, resolving to get to the meatier parts of the story.

"I know you both have asked over the years about why I have so many lovely stories of your grandmother, but few of your grandfather. My father was not a kind man. I saw him reach for the Americas hand and his hand was shaking so much even as she held it tightly. There are many stories I can tell you but I think the two I'm going to tell you are the most important.

" When I was 11, I caught my father cheating on my mother. I had noticed he had a pattern of giving my mother a gift early in the day and getting her drunk so she would sleep that night. At 11, I knew I couldn't take on my father , so I addressed his mistress. She didn't take a 11 year old prince's threats too seriously and changed the course of my life because of something she said: I made the unfortunate decision to confront my father." He tossed off his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. I was highly confused at why any story involved the need to remove one's shirt till he turned. My blood froze… I felt Eady burry into me in shock. I was stunned that his back was scared from being canned. " That night my father beat me for stepping out of line." He said letting out a breath.

"Maxon, that's years of beatings on your back…" I was horrified when I realized I was talking out loud. And bit down on the inside of my cheek… I knew these scars, my dad had 15 across his back, my mom had as many on her hands. But they were not overlapping, or wide and angry like they were never dressed properly.

"You're right, kile It is… I wished I could have saved your parents from his wrath but as you can guess if he wouldn't spare his only son…" he said apologetic.

"your father would have had them killed. You don't owe me an apology, you gave them the gift of their lives." I said, willing him to understand how much I truly thank him for saving their lives even if he couldn't spare them pain. I felt sick, he was younger than Kaden is now… I looked at kaden and though he's smarter that likely everyone in this room, he looks so young sitting there with messy bed head, and oversized pajamas… had tears in his eyes but was clearly resolved not to to cry …How did maxon bare years of abuse … and still be the kind man I know he is I shuttered to think about it… and eady felt it and curled even more into me which I didn't think was possible.

" They did not know about my scars, not at the time it was about a year later when I told them. But no one outside this room has seen them. August knows my father was a cheater and a cruel man, but not to what extent… though he may be able to guess or connect my actions to everything I did to save your parents' kile… I know you know they were pardoned but there was a lot of covering up that went into keeping them safe after the canning before I was able to pardon them upon becoming king " Maxon said.

"I know the whole story about how you hid them. They told me when I was still a kid, my dad's scars can be hidden even if he chooses not to but my moms can't so I started asking questions pretty young." I said he looked somewhat relieved that he wasn't breaking any confidences.

" the only other beating you need to know about is the last one I took. Your mother here, decided to announce on the report one night that she thought dissolving the caste would be a good idea. In truth I had been secretly working on it on my own since very early in my selection when America told me about Jemmy being canned for stealing food. " I looked at General ledger, I'd met his little brother once before. He was a teacher back in Carolina. I had no idea he'd been canned. " My father was more angry than he had ever been and it was one of my worst beatings, the entire time he was threatening America, and I loved her so much even then that I couldn't let him touch her, so I let him take out his anger towards her on me." He slid his shirt back on. America stepped up to talk at that point.

" Because Of what I did on the report the northern rebels trusted me, they wanted me to win the selection . We met August during this time, we conspired with the Italians to give them weapons under the king's nose. During the attack that killed both maxons parents the rebels saved our lives. our act of treason to have the Italians supply them weapons. Is the only reason everyone in this room is here today. " she said.

"So Ahrens is not the only one in our family to almost cause a war just because of love." Kaden said relieving the tension in the room, normally that would have been my role in this group but Camile and Anren had melded so well together over the years I forgot that Queen daphne and Maxon had had several argument about them dating and they were pretty bitter towards each other for a while.

"Daphne can be dramatic but she didn't really want to start a war over ahren, she just hated the irony that it would be my son who her daughter loved." Maxon said to Kaden with a chuckle.

"Irony?" Eady questioned.

"Oh… well … before the selection Daphne begged me to never have a selection and marry her because she was in love with me." He said like an afterthought.

"So does Ahren know that you dated his mother-in-law" I barked laughing.

"Kile, dad dated your mother too." Kaden said and we all laughed together.

"I never dated Daphne, she was just infatuated with me. She actually told me I was stupid and didn't know what love was when it was looking me in the face." Maxon forced a laugh.

"No, for you it takes a kick in the groin." General Leger said under his breath and America whirled around and shot him the most evil look I've ever seen.

"It was his Thigh!." America said exacerbated crossing her arms, she was trying to look angry but I could tell she wasn't.

"America, I know you yelled at him on your first date… did you do more than yell?" I asked.

"I thought he got a little too close to me and I kneed him in the THIGH… " she said. Glaring at maxon expecting him to agree with her but Maxon's jovial laugh cut through the air.

"My dear we have been over this before …no man needs that long to recover from a knee to the thigh." Maxon said, kissing her temple.

"I'm never dating anyone, you people make it all sound awful." Said Kaden.

After our short burst of lightness the room grew heavy again.

"So the reason I told you this part of past is so that if any of these things come up you won't be shocked. But more importantly I have one more confession. And this one is the most important of all. When I told you may dad had a mistress and confronted him. She had told me I had I a little sister, after my parents death I took it upon myself to find her. I didn't know if I could because I didn't know her mothers name, and it had been years, and for all I really knew she could have been a lie . But with General legers help I found her. The law would have her killed since she is an illiagement child of a king, but shortly before I had found her, her mother had died. She was just a child, a little younger than you kaden at the time. I wanted to know her, I longed for a family. So found a family that would keep her safe and allow her to stay close to the palace, I had no idea then she would be such a gifted mind. As she got older I found her work in the palace at first, and she continued to excel." He looked at Eady and kaden and when he did they both figured it out at the same time.

"It's lady Brice." Eady said . I knew lady Brice. She was top advisor for the nation, she was petite , but she was so smart she made grown men cowere with her wit.

"Dad, what is your plan? If you're accused of treason in the media, because you can't lie and say these things didn't happen when they did." Eady said sitting fully up for the first time since I walked in the room.

"I don't have an answer yet, my love." Maxon said.

"I do… how about I ascend?" She continued after she caught her breath. "If you retire or abdicate, You can be pardoned like any ordinary citizen." She stated plainly. There was power in her voice but there was a flutter in her hands. The room was thick with quiet.

"Maxon, she is not wrong." America sliding her hand over her husband's shoulder.

" you would still be able to help Eady rule as an advisor." I added. " You were basically the same age when you became King." Kaden finished.

"It could work…" Maxon said, looking proudly at his daughter.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

We all agreed that we needed to work out a plan but we were all exhausted and hungry so we went down to an early breakfast. The mood was tense and almost somber. Then an idea struck me…

"Maxon, do you have that magazine?" I asked.

"It's still in my office." He said.

"Meet me in your office in 5 minutes I have an idea." I said and took off to my room. I felt eady following me as my bare feet pounded the floor back to my room. I ran over my shelf and picked up a pile of sketchbooks frantically looking for one I knew was somewhere in my room eady stood in the doorway.

"What are you looking for kile?"

"A red one… I have a red one…almost all my sketchbooks are the same brand so they have a green cover because I like the paper the best but Christmas before last Camille gave me one as a gift it's red … I didn't use it much because the paper is too thick for colored pencils. It's like a watercolor paper…" I said flipping over another stack of them.

"It's it spiral bound?" She asked and I saw the shelf she was looking at and pulled it down. I kissed her as I passed her running back to maxon office with her on my heels again. I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm a lunatic right now.

I slam into Maxon's office.

"When a horse bucks you want to keep it from putting its head down… you want to pull up on the reins to keep him from being able to kick out but inexperienced riders often pull down…" I said out of breath.

"Kile, I know how to ride a horse. But that's not helpful right now." Maxon said.

"August is a bucking horse… if we pull down and defend me in the press he can kick his heels up … if we pull up we limit his power." I said catching my breath and grabbing the magazine off the desk.

"I don't really care about my reputation in the press… when I read the article this morning it didn't seem important at the time but I think we can spin this around another way. …." I stammered while reading

"Maxon, either they didn't print them or she didn't say them. There are no dates listed in the article. She said we "enjoyed the summer together." She of course is talking about this summer because of the selection… but what if we spin this to last summer…. Admit I dated her … which we know I didn't … and make her into a bitter ex…

"Kile, that's not a terrible idea but then it's just more he said she said." Maxon said looking disappointed.

"I think we could manufacture proof like they did… Do you remember just before the twins 18th birthday ceremony where they received their illean crosses on the sashes they wear taking a photo of me, Ahren and Camille in my room before the party.

"No but if you do it would be in the album from that day or in my negatives. " Maxon said.

I tossed the open sketchbook down on his desk. "It's a drawing of Neenah sitting on the floor outside eadys door working on the dress Eady had on for the ceremony… Neenah had just become Eadys head maid a few weeks prior and something went wrong with the dress and she was in the hallway crying about before walking into show Eady, that much I remember, and I drew the picture shortly before you came to get ahren for the ceremony. If I'm right its open on my desk in that photo and I would make it seem like we were dating in April of last year. " I said.

"Let's go find that photo.. Come with me. Maxon said as Eady and I both followed him into his room. I don't remember if I had ever been in his room before, I had only been in America's a handful of times and most of that involved efforts to find my mom to heal a scraped knee or elbow. it was a shrine to America, or rather their family. The photos on the wall all have a similar noir look so they must all be his. I find myself staring in wonder at how good a photographer he really is. He captured my childhood along with his kids in so many canid photos over the years they just become expected, but the ones he picks for his walls are exquisite. All of them black and white stand out on his dark blue walls. Each photo is rich with contrast , engaging angles and dynamic expression. Him and Eady are on the bed flipping through a box of albums.

"Maxon…" I said, sounding lost.

"Yes, kile?" He said, looking at me.

"Your photographs are amazing… I mean I've seen a ton of great shots over the years you have taken but the ones in this room are …. Outstanding, better than even the photographers I went to school with. " I said truthfully, still in awe. I saw a humbled smile cut across his face .

"Thank you." He said. When Eady screamed .

"Found it! … Kile your were right .It's plain as day in the photo and not only that Camile has the ceremony program in her hand!" She exclaimed.

"Daddy look! " Eady said as she jumped off the bed her scream is at almost a dog whistle pitch. It's then I saw what she saw, I didn't remember taking that photo till I saw it. It's Ahren, Camile, Eady , Kaden, Neenah and myself…. I but it couldn't be more perfect… I have my arm slung over Neenah's back in an effort to get everyone in the frame.

"Ok kile, how do you want to do this since this is your idea. " Maxon said.

Well we know that magazine is hitting selves today and by noon it will be all over the press, we don't want to seem like we have been tipped off and there is a report tonight let's just use the report. " I said

" We just have to hope it's enough to create enough distrust that no one else wants to interview them for more juicy gossip." Maxon said.

"I'm still ok with my plan if not." Eady said reassuringly.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

It's shortly before the report when america joins me in the dressing room.

"I have an idea, Maxon." America said.

"My dear, your ideas and the report do not have the best reputation." I chucked and kissed her cheek.

"Kile is bravely falling on a sword damaging his own reputation with a lie to cover up for our past. How would you feel about giving him a little back up? What I'm asking is due to the selection everyone knows you dated other women, I can easily talk about dating Aspen, even if we don't mention names just share enough that kiles not alone out there." America said, looking at me willfully.

"That's not a bad idea for once america." Marlee said.

"I will let gavril know to talk to us first." I said getingnup to go talk to him.

When the report stated we kept it normal as possible and per the new plan which I unfortunately only had a chance to brief kile on moved forward.

"On to everyone's favorite part of the report… wedding updates….Your highness, are you excited to see some of your selected girls will be attending your daughters wedding? Gavril asked.

"Lady Kris's is still a wonderful friend as well as a few others so it will be quite nice to see them and share in this happy moment. It's funny though, over the years I've shared many milestones with these women and their families now, due to their close relationship with my wife, I have photos of lady Natalie holding my children as infants. Lady Elise is an expert advisors. My mother shared the same relationship with many of her selected ladies and I grew up with them like aunts it's fair to say not every relationship ends on good terms but the ones that do are something to behold. " I finished.

"Sir kile, I understand a ex-girlfriend of yours recently made some trouble for you. Is that correct? Gavril asked.

" I wouldn't define it as trouble, words can get twisted when hearts get broken, Neenah and I had a great relationship when we dated a few months last year before I went Sonage for a semester. I will never call my past a mistake, you learn and grow and change often for the better." Kile held up the group photo. Kile finished. "I miss us all being friends. The reason the selection worked for Eadlyn and I is because of things I learned about myself when I let things fall apart for her and I." He added.

America had planned to speak but I Didn't think it was necessary after the way kile handled himself and signed to Gavril to wrap up.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

We did what we could with the report we just had to hope it was enough. I tried to sleep but I couldn't and snuck into kiles room he was in his pajama with a sketchbook propped on his knees when I snuggled into him. He moved and set his pencil case on top of me so he could keep working. I watched him sketch I knew his mind was as tangled as mine was after such a long and harrowing day and I knew drawing would help him. He was sketching one of the photographs on my dads wall, its one of mom, I'm not sure when it was taken but she's spinning as if in a dance.

"How do you do that?" I asked.

"Do what ?" He asked with a pencil still in his mouth.

"See something once and be able to draw it perfectly like a camera." I asked.

"I don't know, certain images just stand out in my head. When something catches my attention I feel the need to draw it. I don't understand it. I can see books too, like when I read it's like a motion picture in my head. " he said finishing working on it and tossing his book and supplies onto his desk.

"Kile" … "Thank you for what you did today." I said meekly snuggling into him.

"Babe, I love you, you don't have to thank me for doing something out of love." He said, kissing me on my forehead. I felt my fortress I've built shatter…

"I'm so scared it won't be enough, that we will wake up tomorrow and it will be chaos, or worse there won't be any chaos and we're stuck waiting for the other shoe to fall at any time." I told him. My fear made my body shake but my voice was steady.

" Your idea to ascend is still a good one babe. Not just for the right to pardon your parents, but think about what it would do for your mom's Heath to take a step back, olsten is what 8? Think about how much it would mean for them both to be more present for him and for Kaden even at his age. '' Kile said, tangling his hands into my hair.

"Kile, I want your plan to work but I just fear it won't be enough…" I said breaking down in tears…

He pulled me into him. I felt my nails digging into his shoulder but he didn't flinch. I cried for so long just overwhelmed with everything I cried myself to sleep in his arms. Kile always left the door open if we were together, I think he did it because he didn't want to hide how much affection he had for me, but keeping the door open left no question we were not breaking any laws. I was surprised to wake up in his arms to another familiar male voice in his room. Him and kaden were talking about everything from yesterday. I always knew Kile and ahren were super close and I know kaden coat tailed them a good bit I didn't realize till then how close he was with kaden. I happily just listen to them talking. I moved and kissed kile's cheek and when I did he tuned and kissed me quickly on my lips not caring that my little brother was there.

"How did you sleep babe?" He asked.

"Fine enough all things considered." I said and laid back on his chest. I glanced out kile's windows. It was clearly almost afternoon I'm shocked I slept so late that fear crept in. I knew I had meetings and Kile must have felt me stiffen up.

"Eady your dad knows you're here, he told me to let you sleep, he said he doesn't want you in the office today, he just wants you to have time to process everything from yesterday." Kile said. Kissing my hair.

" What my dad is doing is managing the chaos caused yesterday and wanting to keep me from feeling hurt ." I said getting up. I got dressed in jeans and a casual shirt which I almost never do and went to my dad's office.

"How bad is the media storm today dad?" I asked ,making myself a cup of coffee. He didn't look as stressed as I thought he would be. He took his glasses off and put them on his head. I chuckled knowing in 5 minutes he wouldn't know where they are.

"Well it's about 50/50… good news is no one seams to be worried about kile having an ex girlfriend, a few are convinced he dated her during the selection but for the most part, it seems like no one is all that interested in a scorned lovers tale. I will say this as long as you never tell kile… I think for once his reputation for having a total disregard for the rules has helped.

"Say that again maxon… a little louder ." Kile said from the hallway as he kept walking by. We all laughed.

"Dad I still don't think it's enough, can we talk about my ascension idea." I asked and my dad nodded his head and shut the office door.

…………………………..

A week has gone by and wedding guests have started to arrive . Eady is still nervous but so far no more surprises have happened. Eady and Maxon agreed to talk about a plan for his retirement if any of the issues in the folder come to light in the media. Surprisingly my roommate from college was interviewed without our knowledge and resoundingly boosted my reputation in the media so I was hopeful we were in the clear.

I'm at my final tux fitting with Hale when he shoos out his two assistants.

"Kile I need you to listen to me…" he says and something about his tone is off.

" What's going on? I don't like your tone." I admitted. He laughed and handed me a scrap fabric with some crazy hooks on it.

"Trust me when I say you need practice with that till you figure it out." He winked at me and I realized he's designing Eady's dress and he's trying to save me from looking like a fumbling idiot on my wedding night. I start to fumble with the scrap in my hand and he grabs his knees laughing. He guessed right, I have zero clue how to unhook this crazy thing. My distaste for fashion continues. I felt my armor coming dangerously close to coming off showing I'm not as confident as I appear to be.

"I think she looks just as good in one of my paint splattered flannel shirts, why she and all other women feel the need to be bedazzled peacocks is beyond me. " I said, chuckling at hale.

" Speaking of which …I have a few sketches I want you to look at too . I wasn't sure about what you liked." I flipped open his book and I felt even my toes begin to blush and slammed it shut.

"Either you pick what you want or I pick what I think you want but trust me it won't be flannel either way…" He said with a chiding tone.

"Why can't she just pick it out, why am I involved?" I gulped.

" So the almighty kile woodwork is scared of Lingerie…" he laughed and started to take the book back from me but I opened it and flipped through his designs … I wasn't a fan of the few racy ones he had, a few looked like the silk nightgown she already wears that I love because they are soft in my hands and they fit her personality . I finally flipped to one I really liked… I flipped through a few more to be sure. I flipped it open and handed it to him.

"You may try to hide in your hobo chic but you picked the most intricate one." He laughed.

" I'm an artist… hale… my world is details ,color, texture, lighting…" I said.

" You're all done with your fitting, do you know where I can find prince Olsten? "He asked.

"Good luck, ask general Leger is my best advice.. but … one request … if possible don't give him pockets … he's a tricksters. He turned Camille's mouth blue before her wedding."

"Noted." Hale chuckled.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

I'm at the church prior to the wedding surveying everything from my hidden alcove. Eikko brought his girlfriend Matilda, she is as sweet as she could be, and a spit fire and I can see how his time in the selection made him far more confident in himself he has decided to go to college to work as a translator. Ian and Hale are together in their beautiful but subtle way which makes me happy they don't feel the need to hide but nice they won't draw gossip. Fox's dad is too sick for him to attend but he called me this morning and sent me a jar of sand and shells reminding me I owe him a visit to the beach he loves. A few of the other selected came as well, most either attending with their wife's or girlfriends . I see Kiles' roommate from college flirting with queen Nicolette Niece who attended the wedding as one of her ladies in waiting . Kile told me he was girlfriend shopping at the wedding and if I saw him go anywhere near Josie to punch him in the nose. I knew he was joking but only slightly. I felt Camille slide beside me.

"Ahren is waiting on you." She said softly . I turned and followed her back to the waiting area where all my bridal party was waiting for me. Ahren swept me up in a big hug and made me spin around for him so he could see all of my dress. He then pulled a small box out of his pocket.

"This is from all your brothers." He said, handing me the box. He waited expecting me to open it, inside the box was a simple pair of diamond and pearl studs. Matching the necklace my parents gave me for my wedding day. I kissed his cheek and saw olsten peeking in the doorway. "Kile of course can't follow tradition any better than he can the rules and his gift doesn't fit in my pocket. " he nodded and olsten came in carrying a large canvas. Of course Kile would pick to give me artwork. Ahren moves to help olsten flip the canvas over.

It's a family portrait, but it's everyone… my patents, my siblings, his parents and Josie, the legers, my grandmother Singer aunts and uncles …I feel dad behind me admiring it.

I hand ahren the small gift box I have for Kile as well and look up at my dad knowing that he came up with the idea for kile's gift.

"When Kile opens it he's not going to understand. So you're going to have to tell him it's a key to his new studio. Dad, mom,marlee , Carter and General leger helped me convert one of the old parlor rooms to a studio for him, it's not the roof but it has lots of large windows." I said.

He clapped olsten's shoulder and olsten came to hug me tightly before following after ahren. Shortly Hale comes in to check over my dress for any last minute issues of course he's so talented there isn't any.

Before I know it I'm walking with my dad. When the door opened everything fell alway. All I could see is Kile and his shining ice blue eye meet mine… He has most of his hair back but it has already started to fall in his face . I'm so happy he never cut it because his curls have become my favorite almost as much as his eyes. He is beaming at me as he takes my hand from my dad who by surprise offers kile a small bow, kiles eye went wide with surprise at his gesture. And returned a bow to him. He squeezes my hands and kisses my hair. And whispered to me how beautiful I am. We say our vows and when he kisses me his arms are fully around my back and he throws me into a dip and the church erupts in cheers. When he finally put me back upright we skip happily up the aisle when we are momentarily alone in the front alcove he pushes me into the wall with the passion in his kiss I felt his hands tangled in my hair and can feel my tiara almost fall when he finally pulled away as small group of our family was emerging into the alcove. We filled in limos to head to the palace for our reception when kile pulled the box out of his pocket I gave ahren earlier.

"Ahren told me not to open it till I was with you." He said. I rolled down the windows to the driver .

"Lucus can you pull around to the stable side entrance for a few minutes before pulling around to the garden." He nonned.

"Wait till we are home." I was excited about showing him.

When the limo pulled away from the line of them, Kile was so lost in kissing me we didn't even notice we had stopped till Lucas opened the door with a cough. Kile laughed as he pulled me into the palace entrance. I grabbed his hand and held up my dress with the other flying up the stairs. I stopped in the hallway just outside the room which with the door closed looked like any other room in the palace.

"Open it now, kile." I said giddily that Ahren opted to let me show kile his gift. Kile opened the box and saw the key and looked at me with confused eyes.

I moved to his side and pointed to the door.

" open that door." I was almost so happy I couldn't talk. He turned the lock and pushed open the door in awe. He took in the room. We had moved an old bookshelf into one corner and filled it with a few of the sketchbooks I had sneaked out of his room so he would now have a place to store all of them. Kile's dad and General leger help me build a huge countertop with cabinets underneath along one wall giving him tons of storage. We had a large painting my grandfather did on one wall and my dad had surrounded it with black and white photos of us over the years. His award winning drawing of me was propped up on the easel in the middle of the room . He walked to it and touched it almost to see if it was real.

"Do you love it? I asked and he just murmured and stumbled on his words. He was speechless. He finally spoke after he circled the room a few times.

" Is that one of your grandfather's paintings?" He asked.

"Mom wanted you to have one of his pieces. Your mom Helped me with picking out the supplies you like. Your dad and General leger helped build the cabinets; it's all old barn wood. Josie picked out the easel. It was my dad's idea. He said you deserved a studio more than you needed an office." I said looking at him I'd never seen him so much in wonder before.

We head back to the limo which drops us off at our reception. The garden has been transformed with a dance floor, hanging lanterns , string of lights, long tables lined with beautiful linens and fresh flowers and flickering candles. Kile has me spinning around the dance floor all night never missing a change to smother me in passionate kisses during slow dances. He had long ago lost his tux jacket and tie and had his sleeves rolled up. The night is unseasonably warm and it's close to midnight when a rumble of thunder looms off in the distance. We take this as a cue to exit. As we race for the palace once safely inside the smattering of drops becomes a downpour. I point out the window. My parents are on the dance floor slowly dancing in as the rain soaks them.

"Please draw that image for me." I say into kiles neck as I kiss the pulse point of his neck since he is carrying me up to our rooms.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

Eadlyns pov

Kile doesn't put me down till we reach his room. He had moved into the prince suite when he came home from school. It didn't take him long to make the space his own with his flourish of clutter , though we compromised and the maids could tidy it up once every few days. Today however it's as clean as I will probably ever see it. His desk is still covered in a mix of paper, books, and art supplies but the rest of the room is pristine. Kile pushes my back into the wall while he shuts and locks the door before he sets me down gently on the bed but doesn't let me fully go. He has one arm behind me while his weight is braced on one hand kissing my neck making me burn into him. I unbutton his shirt but I'm apparently not moving fast enough for him cause he lets me drop on to the bed to pull his loose shirt over his head and throw it aside. I sit up and put my hands into his chest feeling the years he's spent helping his dad that's given him a sculpted body. He is burning below my fingers as I trace his muscles on his chest. He is pulling all the pins from my hair letting it tumble down my back. He pushed his hands deep into the tangles of my hair as my hands floated over his side and suddenly he jerked and laughed into his kiss. I move my hand even softer on his side and he jerks again and presses my hand into him keeping it prisoner . I look into his eyes alight with desire and glowing with the echoes of his finishing laugh.

"You're ticklish." I said seductively into his ear. He let go of my hand pinned on his side and he pulled me off the bed and set me on my feet. As he does I see him kick his shoes off and he whips his belt off and I feel him behind me kissing the back of my neck, his hands flying down complicated hooks of my dress. I help him by shimming out of dress when it's loose I let the dress fall and I feel his hands on my exposed hips he lets out a ragged breath and he begs with his touch for me to turn so I did my body is exposed other than panties as the constitution of my dress didn't need additional support due to Hales expertise. His hands plunged over my curves for the first time as I rid him of his trousers. He pushed me back onto the bed and I can see his erection below his boxers and slip my hands over him making his body shutter. I stripped him with both hands in a flash and traced my hands along his exposed manhood making it dance with my touch. He moved his inferno of kisses down my center …. And on my legs. I feel a pinch of his teeth and suctioning on my inner thigh and know he left a mark. His hands reach up and strip off my panties and I feel a flutter in his hands, the only sign of any ounce of nerves and if it wasn't for a lifetime of knowing him I'd have missed it. His artist hands are his only tell because he can make those hands move to his every thought the way he draws. He hesitated at my entrance asking permission with his touch. I dug my nails into his sculpted shoulders begging him and he filled me with blissful passion.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

I walked into the church with Ahren and my other groomsmen on my heels… Ahren of course is best man, and he's followed by kaden and general leger. I can feel nervousness wash over me when I see the amount of people … I've I've never been in the spotlight like this, I mean I've been on the report in front of the nation but there's normally less than 50 people in the room , there is more than 300 people in this church and they are all watching me at this moment and the nation is watching from their homes as well. Ahren claps his hand on my shoulder since he's able to tell I'm nervous …he's used to the spotlight being a prince from birth, he whispers in my ear when we stood at the front waiting for her. " the crowd will disappear when she walks in, just don't lock your knees. Or you will pass out." I adjusted my stance and felt him let go of my shoulder as the music started for her entrance .

I saw her warm honey eyes before I saw anything else, her dress was definitely beautiful but her smile drew me in more than anything else. I only saw her till I saw Maxon kiss her cheek and bow a small bow… he's a king to the rest of the world , yet at this moment he's just a father, giving away his only daughter. That bow is him telling me he's passing the torch to me. It's now my job to take care of her. I bow to him in understanding. I feel her hands slide into mine and I instinctively kiss her forehead at her touch, I'm so lost in amazement at how beautifully happy she Is I wish the priest would hurry up I want to kiss her lips … every nerve ending is my body is screaming how much I need to have her lips on mine when he finally give me the go ahead I ravished her with a deep kiss lifting her before I drop her into a deep dip. I hear the crowd for the first time and I grab her hand and skip back down the isle with her as fast as her feet will fly in her heavy dress and high heels.

In the alcove we're alone for a few precious moments and I cage her in my arms and back her into the wall in an enthralling kiss. Before family descends on us and I reluctantly rein in my raging desire.

We're in the limo when I remember I have her gift to me in my pocket. Ahren was adamant I could not open it till she was with me.

"Ahren told me not to open it till I was with you." I said, shaking the box. Her eyes glittered with excitement , clearly this was Ahrens idea not hers so he must have some clue what's in the box.

She rolled down the windows and talked to the driver.

"Lucus can you pull around to the stable side entrance for a few minutes before pulling around to the garden." She said to the driver.

"Wait till we are home." She said in jubilation. Diving in kissing me once she had rolled the windows back up. We were as good as alone with the bullet proof glass between us and the driver and I wanted nothing more than to devour her. I have done well at keeping my burning passion in check since I first confessed my love for this woman who stole my heart right out of my chest without me even realizing it. When we arrive back at the palace lucas is witness to a taste of my passion for this woman but I'm not even blushed at him seeing me deeply tangled kissing her in the back of the limo because this is my wife now and this is my home it won't be the only time I get caught ravishing her.

She flys up the back staircase and stops in the western facing hall just down from the family suite area. We are just below my favorite spot on the roof. This area is mostly unused parlors and apartments from when the royal family had a large court before the court was transformed into advisors who worked for the betterment of the government vs just being royal.

"Open it now." She said, bouncing on her toes. I untied the ribbon and took off the top of the box to reveal a key… I'm sure it opens one of these doors and I'm seriously hoping I don't have to move rooms again. When I turn the lock and open the door I'm left beyond speechless… It's a studio.

slack jawed I walked around the room. I see instantly some of my dad's craftsmanship on the cabinets. Over the years of working as head of the stables and groundskeeping he learned a lot of milling wood for repairs … he had tried to teach me but I'm hopeless at math. I can tell my mom or maybe America filled a lot of the cabinets with supplies … I can see Eadys need for organizations subtly hinting that I should use that massive bookshelf to store my sketchbook vs wherever they land when I use the last page. I bet Josie had the idea for the easel, she always asks me why I don't use one like the artist in movies. I see a beautiful abstract painting hanging and recognize the heavy and clean brush strokes… There are few of America's fathers paintings in the palace and the photos around it are clearly from Maxons collection.

I'm only vaguely aware that I'm muttering in my awe of this gift. And finally find some words .

" Is that one of your grandfather's paintings?"I asked, I know it is but it's the first thing my brain processes.

"Mom wanted you to have one of his pieces. Your mom Helped me with picking out the supplies you like.

Your dad and General leger helped build the cabinets; it's all old barn wood. Josie picked out the easel. And this whole thing was my dad's idea. He said you deserved a studio more than you needed an office." She said happily.

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. I tried not to let her see that there are tears in my eyes as no one has ever made me feel like I was worthy of this type of love before but everyone I care about helped to make this for me and I'm overwhelmed.

The rest of the wedding has me on cloud 9. Other than one dance with her dad there was no reason for her to leave my side. She for once didn't have to work the room because this day is for her, well for us… but I would have been perfectly happy with my impulsive idea of elopement in France a few months ago when it fell out of my mouth. She is I'm my arms when a low distance rumble of thunder alerts all wedding guests to rain moving in. as the first smattering of rain drops start to fall I picked her up and carried her into the palace .when we got inside we heard the deluge of rain and she pointed to the window at her mom and dad alone in the middle of empty dance floor soaked to the skin without a care in the world other than how much they love each other I remember asking her once if we would ever find what they have, what my parents have. She gave me a non committal answer at the time but I feel her heart beating in time with mine lifted in arms. I know we have it. I had asked her a few days ago where she wanted to spend this night and she looked at me like I should have known the answer when she said my room. So when I made it to the family floor and toed open my door. I paused letting the wall brace some of her weight while I locked the door. This room was maxons at a point in time when attacks were common so the door and walls are thick and reinforced so they are pretty sound proof which has me thankful. I set her on my bed, but I don't let her fully drop into the bed because I can't let her go. I'm burning too hot with desire for her to be free of her touch. I felt her fumble with the buttons of my shirt and let her go and sling it off over my head. I know she loves my chest, I never really thought about how much muscle I had built over the years helping my dad till that night in France when she gasped when I took my shirts off. I admit I was trying to show off a little but didn't expect that big of a reaction. This is familiar to her; she's snuggled into my bare chest many nights since then. She comes to me when sleep is allusive after a hard day and finds comfort in me. Tonight is not about comfort, it's about desire. I feel her trace the contours of my chest and it makes my manhood throb to full attention. Then in a bushing movement she found my Achilles heel, I jerked automatically and my body erupted in goosebumps, unfettered, She brushed the same spot with an even more unraveling touch making me jerk, laugh and imprison her hand before she could do it again . I caught her eyes and they were fully blown dark with desire. One tantalizing touch had made me soft clay in the tips of fingers and by the purr in her voice she knew she had the key to unglue me anytime she wanted. I hoisted her off the bed onto her feet. I had no strength left to deny my hunger for her body. I slipped from my shoes and pulled off my belt with an unintentional crack. I turned her so that I could kiss the soft, tender skin of the back of her neck while my practiced fingers flew down the intricacies of the construction of her dress even with the tingle of nervous energy I felt in my hands. I expected there to be more resistance or layers below her dress but with a shimmy it cascaded down her bare back I felt my breath tangle in my throat and dug my hands into her exposed hips before they could start to shake. She turned to me slowly and I dove into her curves as she rid me of my pants tumbling onto the bed behind us. She touched me though my boxers with wicked softness which unhinged me more than her tickles. She stripped me with hunger in her eyes and every nerve ending exploded wrecking my mind with unfamiliar sensations. I kissed her in every inch of skin I had longed to kiss her as I moved kisses up and down her legs. I was overcome with wickedness and left a loving mark on the inside of her thigh in the spot decorum requires her to cross her legs. I removed the last bit of silk from her body and begged her for permission with my hungered touch and plunged into the blissful oblivion of her body.

I woke the next morning with her curled on her side with her back to me. I rolled on my side and pressed my body into hers and wrapped my arms thoroughly around her. For the first time I didn't have to worry about getting a lecture for waking up next to her, no laws saying I shouldn't be here, no meetings or demands on her time. I had almost drifted back to sleep when I felt her playing with my wedding band on my finger. I had never worn jewelry before and it was heavy gold. I can already see myself fidgeting with it while I get used to it, especially since unlike most people it's on my dominant hand. She rolls inside the entrapment of my arms and kissed me. We are both still naked under the covers and her kiss is enough to send me tumbling into her again. Unlike last night's slow burn this is fevered and quick. This woman is going to wreck me …I can already tell as I laid down after a blissful finish. She is curled into my side while I stroke her hair catching my breath when A maid slid in almost imperceptibly till I heard the click of the door shutting between our rooms making me jump.

"That was just Mazy, she brought us breakfast. " Eady said with a chuckle clearly way more used to stealthy maids than I am.

"How many times do you think a maid or butler is going to walk in on us over the years?" I said as I got up and rolled the breakfast cart over to the bed and covered myself with the sheet while I handed her a plate of fruit.

"Knowing you, probably more time than you can count." She laughed .

I threw a strawberry at her knowing she was right