Hello everyone! I have an AN here today, and one below too. This one is to thank all my lovely reviewers from the last chapter! French for jumping on board for the sequel, and Green for joining the HSC world, I'm excited to have your submissions for the sequel! Octavia, Kay, and Sev, you absolute angels, I love you guys so much omg. Your reviews make my day, your chaos and support is so appreciated. And Sylea! You always review every chapter, and that dedication is seriously so amazing! Thank you so much! I appreciate each and every one of my readers.

But on that note, I also have to say that this story will be taken at my own pace and taste. I've decided Jolene will be the only POV for this story, I feel like it would be more beneficial to the plot itself rather than each Selected getting one this time around. And as for the plot, I've got a lot in store, but this story is definitely more slowburn than HWC was, so it may be longer. Remember, this is fanfiction! And my job is to write for fun, not to please picky people. Thank you for your continued support, and if you at any point find the story not suitable to your tastes, feel free to drop it. Onto the chapter~!


Chapter 4

As Jolene sat up in bed the next morning, she was surprised to realize she had a foggy memory. If she was being completely honest, she didn't really register half of the names she had read last night. She remembered some names and faces, but mainly she remembered the growing headache she had throughout the night.

She stretched, and saw Willa had left a small bowl of cereal. She clearly hadn't wanted to disturb Jolene, and she was grateful. She certainly appreciated the extra sleep. And dry cereal, Willa knew her so well. Jolene grabbed the bowl, and began eating the cereal a few pieces at a time. She got changed into a pair of light jeans, and a green t-shirt. She tied a small sweat jacket around her waist, and laced up her boots. She made her way downstairs to the music room.

Damon was inside, playing guitar. He looked to her, and his eyes widened, but then quickly looked away. She groaned, she probably looked like a mess. Pale, dark circles under her eyes, a rat's nest of hair. She'd realized only then she hadn't brushed it yet. She flopped onto a couch, spilling some cereal. She groaned, and picked them up, shoving them in her mouth.

"What are you doing?" Jolene asked, staring idly at her brother.

Damon glanced to her, strumming on the guitar again, "I'm gonna be heading out soon, I've got a gig."

Jolene's brow furrowed, "What? Did King Dad allow this?"

Damon shrugged, "I didn't tell him."

Jolene groaned, shaking her head, and eating more cereal, "Damon-" she swallowed, wishing now she had water to help her dry cereal mouth. "You can't just leave without telling him, or security."

Damon sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Look, I do this often-" When? Jolene had never known he sneaks out. And without her?! The audacity. "It won't matter, I'm in no danger. Besides, the audience loves me."

"They're regular?"

"Yeah, they are."

Damon didn't offer anymore, and Jolene sighed, closing her eyes. Her headache was gone for the most part, and she supposed she should try to piece together what she could of what happened last night….


She remembered one of the first bowls, it was labeled Atlin, she reached in and pulled out a form. She opened it (granted it was a smaller version of the ones she'd get later) and read the name, "Alexander Steinberg." He was actually quite handsome, true the ones she'd handpicked were handsome, but how had she overlooked Alexander? She set the form down outside the bowl, careful not to linger too long.

She moved on, and called out a few more names. Some were handsome, some not. She didn't want to sound shallow, but come on, looks did matter. She reached Carolina, and pulled out a form, she opened the form, and a boy with dark, curly hair and gentle features smiled up at her. "Auden Kelly." She felt the words, but they seemed echoed in her own ears. He was a culinary student, currently working at a bakery. She set the form aside, and stepped forward.

"Chad Barrington" of Clermont seemed promising. His red hair and muscular figure, barely visible, but still quite obvious was certainly eye catching. He was unemployed, but seemed to come from a wealthy background. Interesting. She wondered if his unemployment was by choice, or if he was heir? Maybe he just hadn't found a reason to work or what to do yet. She set the form aside, and called the next name.

Columbia- Karim Mahendranath, a traveling photographer. So he must have been to some amazing places! She smiled, she'd have to ask him about his favorite locations. His freckles stood out against his dark skin, and his eyes were two different colors. She knew there was a proper name for it, but she couldn't think of it. He had one brown eye, and one blue. It was quite fascinating, but she had to move on.

Dakota was next, and when she pulled the form, she was surprised the first thing she noticed was the occupation. A Youtuber? Were they serious? She said the name anyway, "Rustin Il-jae Park." He was cute enough, asian features, but freckles all over his face. He smiled, but it almost seemed like a mischievous smile rather than sincere. She would have to be careful with him, he could be a troublemaker.

A few more Selected passed, and she didn't bother memorizing names or faces. She could do that later. She suppressed a sigh as she picked the next name, she was getting a headache, too many names and faces in such a short name. Honduragua, okay, she could do this. "Martin Gamero." She glanced at the picture, and was surprised to see a rather handsome face looking up at her. Unlike Chad, he was thinner and had more soft features. He was an EMT as well. Hmm, but why would someone with such an important job want to get away? Was he not good? Or was the stress too much? In that case would he really want to trade that stress for the stress of royal life? Something she'd have to consider when interacting with him.

The next Selected was "Leander Abernathy". An architect, and rather stoic looking. She grimaced, she wasn't sure how far he'd make it if he was cold to her. But maybe it was just a resting jerk-face. She made a mental note to ask him more serious questions to get a feel for him.

She remembered pulling out the Likely Selected. Another famous singer. She had sighed, she knew the media would be all over her case for having so many famous people in her Selection. They may even call it rigged, but not all of it was rigged, it was just how luck fell! "Daniel Taylor." A thin, young looking boy appeared, and she definitely knew it was the one from Backalley Boyfriend. She held back a grimace, she wasn't a big fan of boy bands, but she couldn't redraw, it was live.

Midston was next, and she couldn't believe her bad luck when she pulled another Two, another singer, she looked to the stagehands, rage heating her face. She was going to be torn apart online for this. "Maximillian Bordeaux". 18. He was young! She was pretty sure he was one of the only ones under 19. She'd gotten mainly people in their 20s, so it would be interesting to see who became friends with who.

She had picked several more, at least there were some 6's, and 7's there, that would make it seem more random. Which it mostly was. She reached Sonage. "Lance Cartwright." Okay, at least he was a Four, another baker, interesting. He was quite handsome, his dark eyes complimented by his dark hair, and his square jaw giving him a very masculine edge. She set aside the form, and moved on.

"St. George, Taylor Wyrick." He was 18 too, one of the youngest she'd picked. The blonde hair, and skinny face stared up at her, almost with no expression, and she stared at this photo for a little too long, wondering what was going on through his mind when this picture was taken. She finally set the form down and moved on.

The next notable form was "Hunter Jones." From Waverly, a Five, and a photographer. So far she'd pulled two bakers, two photographers, about a million musicians, an actor, and a Youtuber. She was certainly getting crucified for having this whole thing rigged. She sighed. Oh well. Zuni was the last province, and of course, that was Rhys, one of her choices.

She turned to the camera smiling, "Well, congratulations to everyone chosen! You all seem very interesting, and I can't wait to meet you. You'll be arriving by this time next week, so prepare for lots of phone calls, visits, and forms before we collect you!"

The cameras had gone out, and she had wasted no time going back to her room. She'd barely undressed before collapsing on her bed and falling asleep.


Jolene sat in her office later in the afternoon, the noon light coming in through the window. Her feet were propped up on her desk as she flipped through the files. She was currently on one Rustin Park, he was moderately handsome, but apparently somewhat a successful media influencer. A Youtuber, apparently. She supposed it would help to have someone to influence her younger subjects to her side. She sighed, she wished she remembered anything about calling his name, but she was stuck with vague memories and moments of last night. So this was the closest thing she could get to pulling her forms. At least now she could properly look through them without the live camera in her face.

There was a knock on her door, and she looked up, quickly removing her feet. "Who is it?"

"Mr. Adams, Your Highness." One of her father's advisors? She frowned, what could he want?

"Come in." She replied, closing the file and sitting up. A short, round man walked in, nervously straightening his jacket. He combed his hair with his fingers, and cleared his throat. "Well, what is it? Did you come in here to use me as a mirror?" Jolene demanded, she half-joked, but he must have had a reason, and she'd rather he get to it.

Mr. Adams nodded, "Yes, Your Highness, well, see, upon inspection of your Selected we came across an….issue."

Jolene raised a brow, suddenly curious, "Oh? A security breach? Criminal record?"

"No...nothing like that."

"Well then how is there a problem?" Jolene asked, tilting her head. If it wasn't serious why was it an issue?

"Well, it seems the Angeles Selected, is a, well, he's not a natural-"

"Don't even finish that sentence." Jolene interrupted, glaring at the man before her. "I've read his form. I know he's trans, and he's just as much a guy as any of the others."

"But, Your Highness, perhaps a different-"

"Are you seriously still standing here, asking the daughter of two men if she has a problem with someone who is trying to grow comfortable in themselves entering her Selection? I don't care if someone is trans, gender fluid, asexual, if they want to enter, they can do so." She was standing now, she hadn't remembered doing so, but she used it to her advantage. She scowled at the man before her, "Get out of here, now."

The man bowed quickly before scurrying from the room. Jolene collapsed into her chair, rubbing her temple. Yes, Elias was a transgendered man, and to her it made no difference than a cis-man. She sighed, and suddenly grew angry again. She had to know if her father knew about his advisor's view on such matters. She stood, leaving her office and heading towards her father's office.

She pounded on the door, and she heard her father call her in. She stormed in, and right over to his desk, "Father-"

"Jolene, may I introduce you to Ian Miller? He'll be the Selected etiquette teacher. He'll be working closely with Ivy during the Selection." Ray said, indicating a young, blonde haired man next to glanced quickly, waving him off, and turned back to her father.

"Father, one of your advisors frowns upon a Selected. He thinks I should pick a new one, all because he's transgender!" Jolene stated, outraged.

Ray paused, blinking, working the words over, "Did you?"

"No of course not!" Jolene yelped, crossing her arms. "I asked for a male Selection, and males I got."

Ray nodded, "Good, good."

"Well what are you going to do about that advisor?" Jolene demanded.

Ray tilted his head, "Nothing. I can't fire him simply for thinking you might want a different option. Everyone has their opinions, and I can't fire them for it."

Jolene scoffed, "Why not? You're king! Just hire another advisor."

Her father shook his head, "Jolene, you have a lot to learn if you think a ruler can do whatever they want. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made, for the sake of others."

Jolene was going to argue, but glanced at the man beside her, and bit her cheek instead. Fine. If her father didn't want to, she couldn't make him, but she didn't have to like it. She spun on her heel, leaving the office quickly.


The next day Jolene sat in the garden, a blanket on the ground, beside a tree. Again she was going over the files, she wasn't expecting to have any of these faces or names memorized, but she might as well get a little knowledge beforehand. She noticed someone approaching, and looked up. It was the man from her father's office yesterday.

He approached, and bowed, "Your Royal Highness, allow me to properly introduce myself." Jolene lifted her chin, indicating for him to continue. He stood, and smiled, "I am Ian Anton Miller, I will be the etiquette teacher during the duration of the Selection. I'll get these men into tip top shape for royal life."

Jolene raised a brow, leaning back on her hands, "You're awfully confident. How do you know I want a properly behaved royal as a husband? My dad certainly isn't."

Ian hesitated, chuckling lightly, "Your Highness, no offense, but even the Prince Consort knows boundaries. If nothing else these men can learn what's appropriate when. We can't have you marrying an animal."

Jolene rolled her eyes, indicating her files, "If any one of them proves to "be an animal", they'll certainly be more interesting than the rocks." But isn't a boring husband something you wanted? Well behaved and out of the way? She shook her head, clearing the thoughts. "Though, I suppose you'll prove important in their development. Thank you, Ian."

"Of course, Your Highness, and if you ever need anything, let me know." He said, winking, and walking away.

Jolene sighed, looking at her pile of files. One of these men would be her husband, whether she liked it or not. Might as well let Ian show them how royal life, well, upper class life, worked. Who knows, maybe Ian could prove to be a worthy friend and ally, after all he'd know the Selected better than anyone else, especially since they wouldn't put on a show for him like they would for her. She had a feeling she'd be seeing a lot of Ian indeed.


Hello everybody! Forms are no longer being accepted, for the complete list of submitted Selected check my profile. The only one I haven't introduced yet is Rysa's character, but I do have a plan, and he's the final form, so we should be smooth sailing from here on out! Thanks everyone! I'm super excited to get this story under way!

See you in the next chapter~!