Princess Kaylie Schreave rode in the limo, watching out the window as rain poured down in the normally sunny province of Angeles. She sighed as she leaned back in her seat. No one had told her anything. One moment she had been at base, just getting back from patrol when suddenly she was called into her captain's office and told to pack her things. That she had been recalled to Illéa, no notice, no explanation, no nothing. Kaylie would be lying if she were to say she wasn't nervous. Something bad must have happened for her to be recalled, right? She tapped her foot impatiently for the remainder of the ride. Eventually, she arrived at the palace. The gates opened before her and she felt a little out of place in her military uniform, with her hair neatly tied back in a bun. She stepped out of the limo and felt weird when a maid came forward and grabbed her bag. She was so used to pulling her own weight in the military that it felt foreign to be waited on. This is your life again, get used to it, Kaylie thought. The palace doors opened before her and she took a deep breath before stepping inside. She found her mother waiting for her in the foyer and rushed towards the Illéan Queen.

"Mom!" She exclaimed as her mother pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Oh, Kaylie," Joyce said as she held her daughter tightly. "It's so good to see you again."

"I missed you," Kaylie said as her mother finally released her hold on her. "Wait, where's dad and Mitchell?" She questioned, confused as to why her brother and father weren't there to greet her as well.

"Your father's in a meeting and your brother's in his room," Joyce revealed. "You should probably change out of that uniform, though."

Kaylie nodded. "Right, of course," she agreed, she didn't want to take it off, but knew that her mother wasn't exactly asking. "Why has father recalled me?"

"I'm not sure," Joyce answered honestly. "But I'm glad you're home, and safe."

Kaylie smiled. "Me too, mom."

With that, Kaylie hugged her mother once more, before she took her leave and made her way upstairs. Before she went to her own room, however, she stopped across the hall at her brother's room. She knocked and entered the room once she heard a muffled come in.

"Hey loser." Kaylie said as she leaned in the doorway.

Mitchell smiled slightly as he stood and made his way to his older sister. She pulled him into a hug and he could feel her toned muscles through her uniform.

"Man, you look different," Mitchell commented.

"Well, it's been five years," Kaylie said.

"Yeah, I guess it's been that long…" Mitchell trailed off as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He looked the same, maybe a little skinnier and slightly taller. His short brown hair was neatly styled, and his shirt brought out the green of his eyes.

"Sorry, I would have visited, but I wanted to be with my friends on leave," Kaylie explained, not wanting her brother to feel abandoned by her. "Do you know why dad recalled me?"

Mitchell shook his head. "Not really."

Great, Kaylie thought. "But everything's okay?" She questioned.

"As far as I know," Mitchell replied.

"Good." Kaylie said with a smile. "Mom wants me to change, so I guess I'll see you later."

Mitchell nodded and Kaylie gave him one last hug before she left his room.

It took everything Kaylie had in her not to refuse the help of her maids. They drew her bath for her, helped her wash, and even laid out her clothes, though she suspected her mother had a part to play in her clothes. Of course, she had opted out of the clothes picked out for her and changed into a pair of black skinny jeans, and a green t-shirt. She opted to let her light brown hair air dry, not having the patience to sit there while her maids air dried it. She sighed as she pulled out her phone and waited for her father to summon her. She had no doubt that he would have been told about her arrival, and she was anxious to see him. She still had six months left in her term, and wondered why it had been ended prematurely. Eventually, one of her maids came to summon her to her father's office. Kaylie quickly stood up and ran downstairs and straight to her father's office in the west wing of the palace.

"Dad!" Kaylie exclaimed, a huge grin on her face.

"Kaylie," Austin Schreave, King of Illéa, greeted his daughter with a smile. He stood from his desk and walked around it as Kaylie rushed towards him. He enveloped her into a hug and chuckled slightly. "Why is your hair still wet?"

Kaylie merely shrugged. "I like letting it dry naturally."

Austin shook his head in good humour as he released his hold on his daughter. He took a seat at his desk and Kaylie sat across from him.

"There is something we need to discuss, and unfortunately it cannot wait," Austin said.

"What is it?" Kaylie asked. "Is everything okay?"

Austin shook his head. "I'm not sure how to tell you this, so, I'm going to come right out and say it…" he trailed off. "I have brain cancer."

Kaylie was taken aback, and furrowed her brows in confusion as she processed the news. Cancer? But how? "I don't…I don't understand…" Kaylie said as tears welled in her eyes.

Austin placed a hand on his daughter's. "It's all right, Kay, they caught it early, the doctor is confident that he can treat it. However, in the event that he can't, I need you back."

Kaylie nodded her understanding, she was his heir, if anything were to happen to her father, she would be the one to take his place. She used her free hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Kaylie," Austin began, his tone serious. "Nobody knows. Not your mother, or your brother, nobody. I need you to keep it that way."

"You want me to keep this a secret?" Kaylie asked incredulously. "How is that fair to mom or Mitchell?"

"I will tell them when the time is right, I promise you that, but there is no need to worry them so soon." Austin assured his daughter. "Can you keep this between us?"

"Of course," Kaylie said, knowing she had little say in the matter.

"Thank you, there is also another matter I wanted to discuss with you…" Austin said then took a deep breath. "I think it's about time you held a Selection."

"A Selection?" Kaylie questioned. "But you're sick, are you sure this is the right time to do that?"

Austin nodded. "You need to marry before anything should happen to me, I, more than anyone want to see your wedding day."

Kaylie swallowed a lump in her throat and forced back fresh tears that threatened to spill over. Did they really catch it early, or is he downplaying this? Kaylie thought. "All right, I'll host a Selection." She agreed quietly.

"Thank you for understanding, Kay." Austin said with a smile.

"Of course, dad." Kaylie said.

"I also think it's about time you start shadowing me," Austin added, as an afterthought.

Kaylie nodded, of course she would, she would do anything to make things easier for her dad. Sure, she would prefer to be back on the front lines in New Asia, but she knew her place was as Illéa's second in line, learning from her father everything she needed to rule. She wasn't happy about this per say, but knew it was the right thing to do.

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