Edit: Fixed that Braille! Darn technology, I'm so sorry. I do have a new device with a QWERTY keyboard, I just need to get used to it and then we'll be Gucci.

He'd just called Levana a tyrant.

Sid, who always followed the rules, who planned most conversations in advance, who would never dream of saying an unkind word about his mom for fear of what might happen, had just... called her a tyrant. Better still, it wasn't just to Kai or in his head. He'd said the words, almost nonchalantly, to a Selected he barely knew who would probably go gossiping about it.

He'd been trying to justify his mistake ever since Adalyn had left and it had fully sunk in. He tried to tell himself that he was just feeling resentful toward his mother, that he'd spoken the words to console Zaire and that it was all in the thrill of the moment. But now that the statement had left his lips, he realized it rang truer than he would've liked. In his heart, much as he hated to think about it and much as he wanted to defend Levana, she was exactly what he'd called her.

But none of his speculation meant anything in the long run. The only thing he should be thinking about was his impending doom.

He knew that was dramatic, that other people with normal mothers would probably laugh at him. But Levana was not the average mother. She'd proved time and again that she felt no maternal connection toward her only son. He knew what happened to those who crossed her. Never had he dreamed he'd be among them, but here he was, sitting in the deserted parlor with his heart beating fast. Trying to salvage his ruinous circumstances.

He'd already scrutinized the room in search for a camera, even gone so far as to run a fingernail along the tapestries in his desperation. But he should've known better. If there was surveillance installed in this room, it would be too cleverly hidden for him to find.

There was the possibility that no camera resided in the parlor. Maybe whoever handled the security had been decent enough to give Sid his privacy. But he couldn't be that lucky. After the revolution, Levana had been extra-sensitive about this sort of thing.

"Your Highness? Are you... are you alive in there?"

"For now," he murmured beneath his breath before calling back to Andrina, "yeah, I'm fine! I'm just... fixing my hair!"

The dire circumstances had rendered Sid less than articulate, and he cringed as the subpar excuse left his tongue. He was still praying that some magical solution would spring into existence, that he could blot the little misstep out, but there was no way. He'd have to either hope Levana never found out or face her head-on.

He could do it. It wasn't like she would harm him in any way - probably. She needed him. He was the heir, a valuable asset and the next in line for the throne, so he was safe.

"Your hair?" Andrina called, voice slightly muffled by the barrier between them.

"Yeah. It got damaged by a... a-"

"Alright, I'm coming inside, I think I could be of some assistance - oh, sweet stars." Andrina burst into the room, gown fluttering as she surged forward. "You look..."

"Fine, I'm fine," he said quickly.

"You look like you just saw yourself in a mirror. Actually, I guess I shouldn't make assumptions. Are you afraid of mirrors? Does it run in the family?"

Sid coughed. He probably looked a mess with sweat sheathing his forehead and face paler than usual. "I, uh..."

"Do you... can you use your glamour?"

Sid bit his lip. "I can. I just... I wanted to look candid today for the Selected. I thought it would be nice to be honest from the beginning."

Ouch. That was probably not the smartest thing to say, but he wasn't surprised; his brain didn't seem to be functioning today.

Andrina practically swooned. "Awwww! That's so sweet! If you want to go freshen up, I could keep the Selected company."

"Oh. That would be great, actually," said Sid.

"How long do you need?"

The fact that Andrina was so eager to please made the whole ordeal easier. He didn't have any sort of plan, and he was probably going to need eternity to formulate one. It took a truly miraculous alignment of the stars to be able to erase the past. But time was what he needed, and Andrina was helping with that.

"An hour. I-I'll probably need an hour."

She nodded. "Alright. Good luck." She waved her trademark wave and floated off, leaving Sid with his thoughts and the impossible endeavor of obliterating his mistake.

Perfect.

Sid drew a rattling breath. He could find a way. He was smart. He just needed to think it through.

One thing he was certain of was that his mother's eyes weren't always trained on the footage. She probably checked it about three times a day, maybe even less. The only people who were on constant lookout were the technicians.

That meant they must already know about everything. They might've been watching it all unfold from their vantage point behind the screens. The news would be spreading among the staff by now, traveling at a rapid pace through the palace. If he didn't do something, it would inevitably reach Levana's ears, and then he'd be in deep trouble - if he wasn't already.

Sid fought to control his scrambling brain. He just needed to think rationally and practically. There had to be some glaring idea he was missing.

The technicians had a lot of power. They had a plethora of duties to fulfill and full control over every electronic device in the palace. Which probably meant they also had the ability to alter it.

If Sid could go to the tech lab and somehow convince the staff to remove that little bit of information... That could be it. He just had to come up with a convincing argument and pray that they were on his side and not the queen's.

The plan was precarious, relying almost wholely on chance. There was the possibility that data could not be erased from the camera archive. There was the even larger possibility that the technicians wouldn't listen to him. Sid might not even get there in time to do any good. The queen could be on her way right now with punishment in toe.

But the prospect of fixing his error, of actually having a way to make it right, still filled him with a rush of relief. At least he had something to go off of.

Sid got to his feet, turning to the opposite door that would lead him to the lab. It certainly wasn't his favorite place in the world. Even though he'd been just once, that day had been filled with all sorts of unpleasantness, and he wasn't exactly thrilled to be returning. But it was far better than being the target of Levana's wrath.

As Sid bolted through the hallways, he didn't stop to admire the non-reflective windows or the delicate, hand-crafted flowers in the moon-rock vases. Mostly he was straining to remember whether to go down the stairway or up, attempting not to slip on the newly-waxed floors and trying to come up with an argument that didn't sound stupid. This was one of the times when he wished he had the gift. Things would be so much easier if he could-

No. He was not going down that rabbit hole today. He didn't have a strong gift, and that was fine. He was fine not fitting in at court. He was perfectly content being just him.

Biting his cheek to keep the cynical smile at bay, Sid decided to just ignore that vein of thought for now and focus on his objective. He was righting his wrong. Levana wouldn't even know, and life would go on, and he'd forget all about it and finish meeting his Selected.

It took some effort, but Sid finally reached his destination. The door loomed threatening over him, urging him to take the risk and go back to the parlor. What were the odds she would ever find out? But the consequences if such a thing happened held him firm, much as his wimpy brain kept trying to talk him out of it.

Really, it was only a couple of tech-savvy Lunars from the sectors. He shouldn't be worried about them.

Sid turned the knob with slick fingers, thinking of something happy to make his grin somewhat convincing. It took him awhile, but he found a memory to pinpoint his energy on - the days before he was aware of his duties, before Levana was such a pain, back when the world was simpler. He recalled going down to the lake with his father for a picnic, running among the halls and playing tag with the few kids around the grounds. The bittersweet image summoned the smile he was hoping for, but he knew the wistful happiness was temporary and would soon give way to his stress. He would be much more convincing when he was smiling a genuine smile, so he hoped the peaceful feeling would linger.

He opened the door wider, trekking into the large room and immediately feeling a wave of dread overtake him - Levana's condescending words, the onslaught of Selected, Kai's confession that he didn't love the queen all came streaming back with cold clarity. The blinking monitors and snaking wires didn't help to console him, but he hurried forward nonetheless. He saw workers everywhere, but their eyes were glued to the screens and no one even blinked at his passing.

Sid wondered who their leader was. He hadn't really mapped out the specifics of his strategy. he just knew he needed to persuade whoever was in charge of the cameras. But none of the studious technicians seemed to be sporting nametags.

As he prepared to clear his throat and notify everyone of his presence, Sid heard a voice among the prying screens that seemed to follow him. "Milo, I need you on - oh, terrific. Just what I need right now." The owner of the voice soon emerged from the various technology, gaze trained on the prince. He'd probably seen Sid or heard his shoes on the tiles, thus prompting his response.

The man was young, probably a little older than Sid, tall and muscular with cocoa skin, a head of curly hair and a very expressive face that now displayed his wariness.

"Your Highness?" he asked, eyebrows raised high. "Can I help you?"

Sid nodded quickly. "Yes, actually. I need a favor."

The man winced. "Is it legal?"

"Probably not."

"You're not smuggling confidential documents to Earth, are you? I'd have to draw the line there."

Sid's eyes widened. "What? No, of course not! I'd never do that."

He grinned. "I was joking, but I'm glad you're not conspiring against us." He glanced over his shoulder into the depths of the lab, then back at Sid. "I can't promise that I'll be able to help, unless you're here on behalf of the queen."

Sid shook his head. "No. In fact, I'd rather she not hear about this."

That same cautious expression. "Oh boy. Well, go ahead and tell me, and I'll see what I can do."

Sid nodded, hoping to stall for just a little longer. Maybe his diplomacy training would pull through and come to the rescue after all. This particular technician seemed very approachable, even if his loyalties to the queen were sound.

"Can I know your name first?" asked Sid.

"Lux Morales," he said, giving a little bow before straightening. "Why?"

"Just wondering," said Sid. "But about the favor... do there happen to be cameras in the parlor next to the Selected's lounge, the one I was meeting them in?"

Lux nodded. "There are cameras in every room. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be with your Selected right now?"

"Yeah, but then... then I-"

"You called your mom a tyrant and you're afraid she'll find out about it?" Lux looked amused, of all things, which Sid didn't understand. Maybe Levana was just comical to everyone else and he was the only one terrified of her.

"Wow, you guessed that quicker than I thought you would," said Sid, trying to laugh it off.

"Much as I'd like to have psychic powers, I saw it on the monitor," said Lux dryly.

"And... how many other people saw it on the monitor?"

Lux once again looked around at his fellow coworkers before shaking his head. "No one. At first I thought someone had hijacked the system or manipulated you into saying that, but you really meant it?"

Sid still wasn't sure. Everything was such a mess, so tangled and confusing that he couldn't seem to figure out which emotion was which, what was right and what was wrong, which part of himself he should listen to. Was he really ready to come to that conclusion?

"I was... I'm not sure."

Lux smirked lightly. "But you said the words of your own will? This wasn't some plan of the queen's?"

Sid shook his head quickly. "She had nothing to do with this. I just messed up, that's all."

Lux pressed his lips together. "Clearly."

"You do have the capability to cut it out of the footage, right? You can just erase it?"

It didn't take long for Lux to nod, and Sid wanted to collapse with relief. Now came the last and hardest part.

"So... will you do it?"

Lux took a breath. "I'd love to help you, but if someone found out - if the queen found out - I'd lose my job. I have a family. I live in the sectors."

"Oh." Sid wanted to slap himself in the face, and not for the first time today. He hadn't even realized that would be apart of it. This wasn't just about himself, it was about everyone who helped him as well. "But no one else knows, right?"

"No. I don't think so." That furtive glance again, like Lux was worried about something.

"You don't think so?" asked Sid, feeling antsy now just from watching Lux's unease.

Lux snapped back to attention. "Never mind."

"But... if no one knows, then we're good, right?" Sid prodded. "If you can remove it..."

Lux nodded slowly, grudgingly. "Right. Yeah." He stuck his hands in his pockets. "What I said about not knowing whether the information had already gotten out - well, things are unusual at best."

"What do you mean?" Sid was getting more confused by the second. This was obviously greater than just his own predicament. There was something else holding Lux back.

"The staff are pretty divided right now. I'm neutral and that's how I'll stay, but it doesn't change the loyalties of everyone else. It still affects me, even though I've tried to keep out of it."

"What are you talking about?"

Lux drew a breath. "I'm not sure I can tell you all the details. Honestly, I'm not sure where you stand. There would've been good reason for someone to manipulate you into saying what you did at the meetings. You might not even be the prince." He ran his hands over his face like he was totally at a loss. "I don't know."

"But you - your gift is strong?"

Lux nodded. "Not as strong as some of those thaumaturges, but yeah, I manage."

"Why would someone want to manipulate me into-"

"Because if someone could prove that you genuinely thought your mom was unfit to rule, they'd also have evidence that you shouldn't be next in line. All they'd have to do is call that one Selected as a witness - probably against her will unless she really hates you - cook up some brilliant speech and boom. You're accused of treason and everything goes downhill from there."

Sid forced himself not to reveal the turmoil inside him, hoping Lux wouldn't see his shaking hands or detect his sharp intake of breath. This was all so much to process. He should've known it before, should've realized somehow that there was a group of people who hated him with such ferocity. But if they would go to such measures to ensure he didn't take the throne, they must worship the queen shamelessly. He and Kai and perhaps Zaire were some of the only people on Luna who weren't fooled.

"I've said too much already," said Lux. It'd been a minute at least, but Sid was still without words, slack-jawed. The notion was starting to sink in and he was beginning to realize that it wasn't so outlandish and horrifying. He'd already suspected people in the sectors were resentful of those with prized status, but he hadn't realized their anger might be targeted on the heir and not the current ruler.

"No, I-I should've known before. Thank you for telling me. But I guess that's extra proof that we need to get rid of that footage."

Lux nodded. "I was going to delete it. The only reason I hesitated was because I thought you might be..." He shrugged, and Sid was surprised he hadn't already discovered the real reason, given the starkness of Lux's emotions. That probably meant Sid was just bad at reading people, but he was intrigued now. "I didn't know who you were, and I wondered if you would be worth my assistance."

Sid's stomach flipped. "And?"

"It seems like you really do believe what you said. It also seems like you're scared enough of Levana to go to all this trouble and get it deleted." Of all the expressions Sid had seen on Lux's face today, this latest one was the most surprising. He'd known Lux wasn't like the guards, that he didn't hide his emotions. But he hadn't expected an actual smile until this moment. "I think you've passed inspection."

Sid thought he could faint right then and there, which he knew was stupid and very unflattering, but the dizziness of his mind and the anxiety crawling through his chest and the overwhelming joy that filled him all felt substantial enough to do the trick. He was alive. He'd convinced this worker - somehow - and now he could continue on with life without that unsettling stain on his clean-white reputation. But now there was a long-term problem, something he didn't know if he could fix or even face. His kingdom, the people who were supposed to love him, were hoping he wouldn't take the throne.

They all loved Levana so much. They wanted her to be their queen forever. He just didn't know why he couldn't feel the same way.

Lux's eyes were narrowing by the second. "What? Isn't that pretty much what you came for?"

Sid nodded hurriedly, shaking himself from the trance of his own brain. "Yes. Yes, thank you so much."

Lux laughed. "You're welcome. You should probably be getting back."

"Yeah." Sid turned away, unsure of what was even happening anymore. Lately it felt like he was an indistinct pin and bowling ball after bowling ball was careening into him, knocking him down again and again. He glanced back. "Seriously, thank you. And thanks for letting me know about... the whole hostile takeover that's being planned."

Lux grinned. "You're funny. Good to know. It seems like I did more harm than good in telling you, but you seem like a good person, so I don't regret it."

Two compliments in a row. They sounded so genuine, like he was actually a nice person, or that he was impressed with Sid's personality. When had that ever happened? Everything about Lux was confusing - he claimed he was neutral, but he seemed to be on Sid's side. He dropped a rebellion and then laughed it off like it was just a casual topic. And now he was complimenting him, after everything.

Sid chuckled self-consciously. He didn't like the attention on him, even if Lux meant well, which no one ever did. Still, a small part of him accepted the compliment and stored it away, a rare treasure he hardly received. "I wasn't trying to be funny, but thanks, I guess. Um..."

Lux gave a little wave. "It was nice to meet you. Be careful. Good luck with all the bride-choosing, and try to be more mindful next time you open your mouth." He winked and walked off, weaving into the rows of unfamiliar technology like he was born to be among them.

Sid bit his lip, drifting toward the door. Had he just found an ally? Someone besides Kai who probably didn't hate him? It sounded too unfathomable to be real, but Lux seemed like a good person and definitely someone he'd want on his side.

Not only that, but the technician had done Sid a huge favor. Sid owned him bigtime just like he would have to owe Zaire for keeping her knowledge secret. His gut twisted just thinking about how he was going to phrase that, how he would convince her to keep it secret and how to answer the questions that would eventually come.

But that could happen at a later date. Now he had to finish meeting the Selected and pretend he was just off being noble and fixing his hair instead of learning about a revolution and changing history. It sounded worse than gouging out his eye with a spoon, but he'd have to manage. He was, after all, the prince.

...

Oh my gosh, a choir of angels are singing in my head right now because after three drafts and however many days I FINISHED the chapter! Holy guacamole, this chapter was harder than I thought it would be. I'm still not sure if it came across correctly, but I hope you enjoyed it. But it's here and complete and now we can get the ball rolling! Yay! Overall lesson from the chapter: Sid does NOT handle stress well lool. I'm starting school this week which should be a party, but that also means I will not be in any way consistent with my chapters. Yikes. You'll have to bear with me but I'll get them out ASAP between homework assignments lool.

With that said, what did you think? Please leave a review letting me know your thoughts, I hope it wasn't too boring. The next two or three chapters will be the rest of the Selected meetings, which means I neeeed your forms, like right now lol. If you do need another extension or if you can't submit, please let me know. I'd be happy to help you, but don't just go silent, I like to know that you're still reading. And for the majority of you that have submitted, thank you a million! These Selected are all AMAZING and I've got big plans. *Evil laugh*

Anyway, y'all are the coolest, see you soon, let me know what you thought, and have a lovely week! :)