Chapter 3
Jolene woke to her maid opening the blinds, and she groaned, sitting up. Willa offered a sympathetic smile, "Sorry, Your Highness, but His Majesty asked you to meet him in his office as soon as possible, and I know you don't like to be late."
Jolene sighed, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, getting out of bed, and standing for Willa to dress her. "Very true, thank you."
Willa nodded, and made her way to the closet. She pulled out a black dress with a corset back. It went to about Jolene's calves, and she wondered why she had to wear anything so….dressy, but not formal.
Willa finished dressing her, and quickly made her hair into a curled bun, before applying a light layer of makeup. "That should do nicely."
"Willa, why am I dressing up like this?"
Willa froze, and looked away, reorganizing the vanity. "Well, er, His Majesty, well…."
"Yes?" Jolene turned to look at Willa, and Willa sighed, wringing her hands.
"His Majesty and Your Highness are going down to the dungeon." Jolene's eyes widened, and she loosed a breath of surprise.
"Oh," Was all Jolene said, before standing, and sliding into black heels. She left her room, and made her way to her father's office. She knocked, and she heard a small "Come in", so she entered.
Her father was wearing a black suit, a grey shirt, and no tie. He also looked tired and worried. Jolene made her way over to him, wrapping her arms around him.
"It's okay, she can't hurt us. She's powerless." Jolene said, trying to reassure him. He was always nervous when he had to talk to his sister. Jolene didn't consider her an Aunt, only Aunt Kara, a close family friend and old Selected, had earned that title.
Her father sighed, "Except she can. There's word that the rebels are starting to regroup, and they want to strike during your Selection as well."
Jolene was shocked, she'd thought the rebels had been destroyed years ago after her father had commanded the last attack on their base camp. "But why would they attack my Selection?"
"To finish what they've started. To make sure our bloodline doesn't carry on. Except now, now, I don't know what they're going to do, since you have all males, unless…." Unless they killed her. Jolene knew that's what her father was so worried about, and she only hugged him harder.
"I can handle whatever they throw at me. They won't win." Jolene looked up at her father, and he could tell she was determined.
He chuckled weakly, "That's my girl, I wish I was that powerful when I was your age."
Jolene wasn't sure whether to accept that as a compliment or not. He shouldn't have had to be as strong as her, and maybe she'd break too. Maybe she'd be scared of anyone ever leaving her sight just as her father was. Maybe she'd hold onto those she knew so tightly she ended up strangling their freedom along with hers. She suddenly felt saddened for her father, and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Ray stood, and nodded, "Well, we have to see if she's had any contact. Let's go."
Jolene sighed, and followed her father out of his office.
They made their way down several floors, entering a security elevator, which only Ray knew the password to, and it dropped them underground. Everything seemed so futuristic down there. It was pristine white, clean, echoing their footsteps back to them as they walked down the hall.
They approached a security booth, and after a quick exchange, were given clearance into the prison below the castle. Not many criminals were kept down here. Mainly traitors, war criminals, the big guys. Mainly so the royal security could focus their efforts in keeping them in custody.
They made their way to a cell in the back, and they looked through a tiny peephole, before a wall faded away to reveal a window. The two of them peered through, and looked at the woman inside the cell.
She had ratty dirty blonde hair, a white robe, and was staring directly at the window. Despite her haggard appearance, and dismal living space, she sat like a princess, and was even more beautiful than the pictures Jolene had seen of their family when they were younger.
She smiled when she saw them, "Ah, my family, how are you?" Her voice crackled through a speaker, and it sounded eerily calm. She acted as though she hadn't been locked in a cell for almost 24 years.
"Endra, what are you doing?" Ray asked, staring unforgivingly at his sister.
Endra tilted her head, "What should I be doing?" She looked to Jolene, "You, my dear, I hear you're having a Selection."
Ray snapped at her, "Don't talk to her. How do you know that?"
Endra looked back to him, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Guards talk. Why did you bring her if you didn't want me talking to her?"
"Because I need her to know what danger she's in. How she can't trust anyone."
Jolene's eyes snapped to her father, did he really believe that? Though, after his experiences she shouldn't doubt it.
"You trust Brendan don't you? You trust Christian? How's he doing? Still wearing that eyepatch? If only you'd been smart enough to figure me out sooner…"
"Enough!" Jolene snapped, and both Endra and Ray looked to her. Ray seemed shocked at her outburst, but Endra seemed delightful.
Jolene glared at Endra, "You, you can't do anything now. You're powerless. You can't get to us."
Endra tilted her head, smirking, "So young, so naive still. Oh, you'll learn, darling, you'll learn."
Jolene tried not to let the threat get to her, but she couldn't ignore the promise behind it. "No, you have nothing against me, I won't be beaten."
Endra hummed, "You're all the same. So stubborn, so arrogant. It's only after you're broken that you realize how wrong you were." Endra looked to Ray, and tilted her head, "I wouldn't let go of your family just yet, dear brother. You never know when you'll lose them."
Jolene looked to her father, stiff as a board, and shook her head. She pushed her father away, "Go back."
Ray's eyes didn't leave Endra's until he physically couldn't watch her anymore. Jolene turned to her 'aunt'. Endra spoke first.
"He always was the weak one. At least Christian could think on his own."
"Don't talk."
Endra's eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled, indicating for Jolene to continue. Jolene scoffed at her audacity, but she spoke, raising her chin.
"The rebels won't help you. They can't beat us. They can try their best, but I will get married, and I will carry on the bloodline. But even if you kill me, you still have more Schreaves."
Endra pursed her lips, "My dear, aren't you being a little arrogant? Who says the rebels will target you?"
Jolene's brain short-circuited. Isn't that what the rebels wanted? To stop her from getting married? She shook her head, and crossed her arms. "We know that's what they want."
Endra hummed, "And how do you know you're not playing right into our game? How do you know we don't want you to have a Selection?"
Jolene blinked, "What could the rebels benefit from me having a Selection?"
Endra smiled, standing, and approaching the window. She leaned against it, "Maybe we have an insider that will be part of it."
Jolene shook her head, disgusted, "It's random, you can't possibly know a rebel will be in my Selection."
Endra shrugged, "If you don't believe me then fine. Have it your way. But whatever you choose, we will get our way."
Jolene gasped, and turned away, "You can rot in here, you traitor."
Endra laughed as Jolene walked away, and before the microphone turned off, Endra called out, "Have fun drawing your Selected names tonight!"
Jolene shook her head, covering her ears. How could she possibly know the name drawing was tonight? Mint chocolate chip, shortbread, almond biscuit, gingerbread….
Jolene sat on her bed, Marcus and Damon on the floor as they looked through files, trying to pick her hand-selected suitors. Jolene sighed, this was harder than she thought. She figured she'd find 4 handsome faces and move on with it. But some of them were supermodel gorgeous, while others had eyes that were to die for, or a quirky smile, or some had such unruly hair that she couldn't tell if it was optional or not. There were even a few famous people entering her Selection, but she didn't want to show them too much favor, the people might accuse her of rigging it for the upper castes.
She looked to her companions, and groaned, "Any suggestions?"
"Brent Quinten, he's an actor, pretty famous, good looking." Damon said, handing her the form.
"I think you mean totally hot!" Marcus replied, glancing at the form, "If you don't want him I'll take him."
Jolene scoffed, "Marcus this is my Selection, not yours."
Marcus winked, "That's what you think."
Jolene rolled her eyes, and looked the form over, eventually sighing, "Okay, who's next?" She set Brent's form aside as a definite.
Marcus held up a form, "A singer and songwriter! Pretty famous around his province. Jacob James."
"Didn't he get into trouble a while back?" Jolene frowned, but took the form.
"I'd heard it was some friends of his, not necessarily him." Marcus replied, shrugging.
"If you don't trust him you could always just eliminate him right away." Damon replied, and Marcus nodded in agreement.
Jolene shrugged and put him in the 'yes' pile. "Okay, one more, but no one famous, that would seem too sketchy."
Marcus and Damon went searching through forms. Jolene sifted through the ones on her bed. A passing face looking up at her caught her attention, and she went to pick it up before Marcus cooed in appreciation.
"This one's got to be good. He's got tattoos, and a totally moan-worthy bad-boy aesthetic." Marcus stated, grinning widely.
"Marcus, please!" Jolene scolded, but blushed as she took the form.
Damon shook his head, "Please don't comment on bad-boys like that. I don't need to be associated with that."
Marcus snorted, "You're not a bad-boy. You're an angsty teenager who listens to Green Day in his room and pretends he has no feelings." Jolene burst into laughter as Damon shoved Marcus over.
Jolene looked down at the picture, and Marcus was right. This guy was very hot, and he was a mechanic, perfect, nothing too high profile. "Rhys Graham, welcome to the Selection. Excellent, now we need one more-"
"Your Highness-" Willa walked in, and bowed quickly, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize the boys were here. But I need to get you dressed for tonight."
Jolene sighed, packing up the forms, "Okay." She turned to her cousin and brother. "Can you bring these down? Make sure these three stay separate."
The boys nodded, gathering all the forms, and went downstairs to inform the stage crew of the decisions, and to get rid of all of the other names from the hand chosen provinces.
Jolene sighed, looking to Willa, "Willa, don't ever have a Selection. It's so stressful and they're not even here yet!"
Willa laughed gently, "I'm sure. 35 guys will certainly be a lot to handle, especially since some of them will probably only be here for the bet if they can get into your pants."
Jolene playfully nudged Willa, rolling her eyes, "As if I'd ever allow anyone that far."
"Excellent, Your Highness, make them work for it." Willa replied, grabbing a handful of Jolene's hair, and pinning it up to look like a hairstyle from a fairytale.
Jolene looked in the mirror, and smiled to herself. Oh, she would most certainly put them through the ringer, if they wanted to stay, they'd have to prove it.
Jolene tried to stand patiently as the makeup crew fixed her makeup. She'd thought her maid had done a pretty good job, but they still layered her up. They also tried to pin back some of her small strands of hair, but she shook her head away from them. "I want them there." They immediately nodded, and focused on blending her makeup more. They adjusted the microphone on her dress, and she was careful not to disturb it.
Jolene smoothed down her silver dress. It had floral designs, and was a personal favorite of her new closet. Tonight was the night; she'd be announcing the names of her Selected. 35 men would be coming to her castle to try and win her over. Well, was men the correct term? Or were these all just boys trying to see who had the bigger pair? Well, she wouldn't let them make a fool of her either way.
She was a bit nervous, she had to admit, but she was more determined. She wanted to find someone who was nice enough, and wouldn't get in her way when she took the throne. That was it. Simple enough, right? But she looked to her dads, and she felt a pang of loss. What if that wasn't all she wanted? What if she wanted that true love? But that was ridiculous, she scolded herself. Queens couldn't afford true love, not when people already thought she'd be weak and inadequate for the job. She was losing the respect of some of her people from her harsh (but she didn't think so harsh) words a few weeks ago. She needed to win it back, even if it meant pretending this Selection actually meant something.
Jolene sighed, thinking about her possible Selected. She'd already handpicked Selected 3 of her Selected and they were going in a box of papers filled with the same name, so it looked random to the public. Jacob James, a songwriter, was one of them, as was Brent Quinten, a famous actor. She'd also chosen Rhys Graham, a mechanic. She needed one more, just one.
She was going to random boxes, and pulling out their files, flipping through them, but she couldn't find any that particularly stuck out to her. None of them were famous enough for her to know, nor did they scream "soul mate". But then again, maybe she should be looking for someone more lowkey, a nice painter or something, someone who could spend their days pursuing a passion while she worked on her own.
An adviser came running in, "Where's the Angeles box? We missed one!"
Jolene turned to watch the adviser, but she intercepted him, her heels quickly clacking as she stepped in front of him. "I'll take that, thank you."
The adviser seemed uneasy, but nodded. Jolene looked down at the form and opened it, she looked down at the face that greeted her, and she smiled softly. "Well, Elias Vandergriff, you must have been given this chance for a reason. Welcome to my Selection, she placed his form gently on the very top of the Angeles box so she would pull it, and went to sit beside her family.
The studio staff began to count down, and the light on the center camera turned on. Robert spoke loudly, smiling widely, "Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the Report tonight. This is the night we've all been waiting for. The night the Princess Jolene picks her suitors!" They paused for applause, and as Robert motioned for Jolene to join him, she took a deep breath. This was it, no going back now, this was her future, for better or for worse.
Hello everyone! Another chapter! I hope you enjoyed it muahaha. I'm excited to get things rolling! Next chapter we'll properly hear all the names, provinces, and castes. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
See you in the next one~
