Chapter 11

Jolene had only slept a few hours before she got up to do paperwork. She was in her office with her desk lamp on, reading over tax paperwork her father had given her. They were taxes in the poorest area of Angeles province, which means there wasn't much paperwork since not a lot of people paid taxes there, but the papers were still quite tall. She was surprised to hear a knock on her door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Dad."

"Come in." Jolene replied, pulling another file in front of her. Brendan walked in, shutting the door behind him. He took a seat in the chair across from her. "What're you doing up so early?"

"It's 7, Jo." Jolene looked to the clock on her desk suddenly and sighed.

"I seriously thought it was only 5 or something." Jolene grimaced, "Well, I'm on a roll, I'm not gonna stop now."

"Are you coming to breakfast?" Brendan asked, raising a brow.

Jolene shrugged, "I don't know."

Brendan tilted his head, frowning, "Young lady do I need to start treating you like your father? He never eats when he's working, so I have to practically force feed him."

Jolene laughed, "I'll get food when I'm hungry, I promise."

Brendan grimaced, but nodded, "Fine. Just as long as you eat something. Before lunch please, I'd like you at lunch at least."

Jolene rolled her eyes, but smiled, "Yes, Dad."

Brendan clapped his hands together and stood, "Good. Oh, and uh, about that Danny kid…"

"What about him?" Jolene asked, setting the paperwork down. She was curious about anything having to do with her Selected. Especially if her family brought it up. Unless it was Marcus, he would probably just be gushing over them.

"I don't like him."

"Dad-"

"He's just a boy-band carbon copy. Like any other popstar out there. Practically just a pretty boy put on display."

Jolene rolled her eyes again, "Dad, seriously? You're letting music determine if you like him or not? This is about me finding a Prince Consort, not a musician."

"Exactly, if the current Prince Consort is a rock star then you would only be down-grading if you married a pop singer." Brendan replied, nodding to himself and smirking smugly.

Jolene scoffed, crumpling a ball of scrap paper and throwing it at him. "Get out, you're ridiculous."

Brendan shrugged, "I only thought you should know your standards should be higher."

"I haven't even been on a date with him yet! How am I supposed to know how he is?" Jolene replied, shaking her head.

"Fair point, just keep it in mind." Brendan answered as he walked out of the office. "And remember! I wanna see you sitting with everyone and eating lunch."

"Yeah, yeah."

The door shut and Jolene turned back to her paperwork.


Jolene never ate breakfast. But she did make her way downstairs when it was lunch time. She entered the dining hall and smiled at the boys she passed to get to the head table. She sat next to Ray and Marcus. Marcus was waving to the Selected and trying to shout to a few of them.

Jolene groaned, "Marcus, please! Indoor voice." She scolded, adding the last bit into a baby voice.

Marcus scoffed, "Puh-lease. Don't come at me with that baby talk. I do what I want, okay?"

Ivy turned to her son now, "Quit it." She hissed, pinching his arm. Marcus yelped but kept quiet afterwards. Ivy winked at Jolene and Jolene stifled a laugh as Marcus elbowed her.

A servant placed a plate before her and shortly after she began to dig into her meal Ray leaned over, speaking quietly. "I need to talk to you after lunch, come to my office. It's important."

Jolene nodded, her mood dipping a bit. She didn't know why she expected anything other than business when her father talked to her. He was a loving father, but he also expected great things from her and always kept her busy. But she supposed he was always busy too, and on much higher levels, so it was only fair she went along with him.

After lunch she started to follow her father to his office when Ian stepped beside her. Ray kept walking, but Jolene turned her attention to Ian. "Ian, erm, what can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to inform you that I found some self-defense teachers for the Selected and will add it to their schedules."

"Oh! Great! Just be sure to run the people you chose by my father. Security and all that." Ian nodded and Jolene smiled, "Thanks, this really means a lot to me. I'll see you later, okay?"

Jolene turned away and hurried along to her father's office. She opened the door and slipped in, closing it quickly behind her. She walked to his desk, and cleared her throat. "Father, what did you want to meet about?"

"We have news the rebels have been rather active in Clermont."

"Oh. Really? Are you sure it's not just normal Clermont stuff?" Jolene asked, chuckling nervously.

"We're sure."

"Oh."

"Jo, what's Sir Chad like?" Ray asked, tilting his head.

"No! No, oh my god there's no way he's a rebel. He's just a sweet guy who has questionable self preservation but he's not capable of hurting anyone." Jolene replied.

She didn't know him well, but she felt herself getting defensive over him. There was no way "alligator wrestling frat boy" Chad was capable of being part of a malicious group trying to kill her family. After all, he'd sought her out and took her on a nice walk when she was busy. He obviously liked her well enough.

Ray hummed, "We'll still have to ask him some questions, but I know you Jo, you're a good judge of character." Jolene smiled at that. "Your Selected could still be more secretive than we know though, be careful Jo."

"I thought you increased security around who could join?"

"Yes, I did, but there was still the possibility something was overlooked. Jacob for example." Ray replied. Jolene froze. "Turns out he was actually Jacob's twin brother. They'd switched places."

"What..?"

"Yes. So just make sure you know who your Selected really are."

Jolene felt the blood rush from her head, and she steadied herself with a hand on his desk. Who else was keeping things from her? How would she know if it was a secret guard or a secret rebel? How would she know who was lying and who was telling the truth? Or even worse...half-truths.

She felt sick. She must've looked it too, because Ray suddenly became worried.

"Jo? Jo, calm down, I- I didn't mean to make you panic over it." Ray stood, coming around the desk and gently holding her.

"You- I- How can I not panic over that Dad? You just told me my Selected might be lying to me."

Ray winced, "I'm sorry, I just meant keep an eye out." Jolene scoffed, pulling away from her father. She walked to the door.

"Anything else?"

"No."

Jolene pulled open the door and walked out.


Jolene was walking out in the garden when she heard a dog barking excitedly. Jolene followed the sound and found Martin and Luna in a small clearing. She was jumping around as he held a stick. He threw it and she chased after it. Luna ran back to him, and when he tried to grab the stick she began a game of tug-o-war.

Jolene laughed, and both Luna and Martin looked towards her. She felt her face heat up as Luna dropped the stick and ran over to her. "Uh, sorry, I was just watching... I meant to move on."

Martin shrugged, walking over to her, "It's fine. She's just getting some exercise. She's been in my room all day while I do work."

"Is she not on duty?"

"Not while I'm out here. There's nothing that could, well, trigger anything." He fiddled with the ends of his sleeves. "So, what brings you out here?"

Jolene let out a long sigh, and Luna nudged her hand. Jolene bent down, wrapping her arms around the dog. Luna was panting but didn't move as the princess hugged her. Jolene stayed there for a long moment, before she eventually loosened the hold, standing up.

"Royal stress."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Martin offered.

"Oh, no, I don't want to bother you with it." Jolene replied, giving a small smile before looking back down at Luna.

"Well, I hardly think it's a bother. Besides, if we can't talk, how are we supposed to support you when you're the Queen?"

Jolene laughed, stroking Luna's snout. "Uh, sure, yeah." Martin sat on the ground, patting the grass next to him and Jolene chuckled again. She sat on the ground and Luna laid between them.

"Well, for starters I was up since like 3 am doing paperwork, I didn't eat breakfast, I was enjoying lunch before my father said he had something to talk about. Then when I was in his office I learned about rebels in Clermont. Then he suggested that my Selected were lying to me! Can you believe it? I swear he always knows how to stress me out. It's like he doesn't even realize that I also get stressed."

Martin was silent, just listening as she continued speaking.

"You'd think I was some perfect princess but I can't even handle more than one subject. How on Earth am I supposed to manage a Selection along with royal duties while the rebels are a threat and now my dad thinks there could be spies or something. You're not lying to me are you?"

Jolene looked to Martin, he let out a small laugh, but cleared his throat when he saw she was serious, "No, I'm not. I wouldn't lie to you about anything."

Jolene sighed, laying back on the grass. She looked up to the sky. White clouds moved slowly by, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Martin lay down too.

It was quiet out. The only sound was the wind rustling leaves further off, and Luna's panting. Jolene was keenly aware of the tickle of the grass on her arms. It was definitely warming up by now, and she was sure it would be warm enough for short dresses and pants soon.

"You're easy to talk to, you know?" Jolene looked over to Martin.

Martin smiled to himself, "Thanks, that's what I aim for." There was silence again and Martin breathed in, then sighed.

"What?" Jolene asked, watching as a rabbit shaped cloud rolled on.

"Nothing, I was just….would you ever like to do work together?"

Jolene looked to him, raising a brow. "Work?"

"Yeah, I mean you have paperwork and I have homework for school. So I was just going to suggest we could have a, well, 'study-session' isn't the right word, you're not studying. But we could do our paperwork together. Just chat and keep each other company." Martin answered. "But we don't have to, if you don't want to."

"No. No, I'd like that. It does get kind of lonely, Damon and Marcus never want to be around when I'm busy." Jolene replied, looking over at him. "Thanks."

Martin smiled, and gave a nod. Jolene offered a smile too. This would be good. It would be nice having someone to work with, just be in each other's company. She could have a friend to call on.

And if this ended up being more than friends, well, she supposed that would be okay too.


Martin and Jolene walked back inside with Luna walking beside them. Marcus whistled from the balcony above them, "Hey! Jo! Get up here!"

Jolene sighed, turning to Martin, "I'll see you around. Thanks again."

Martin nodded, "Of course." He whistled for Luna, and she trotted along as they left. Jolene glared up at Marcus and walked up the flight of stairs to the balcony.

"This had better be good Marcus."

"Have. You. Kissed. Yet?" Marcus asked, clapping at each word.

Jolene rolled her eyes, clapping her hands, "We. Are. Just. Friends." She answered, "For now at least."

Marcus groaned, "Lame! Oh my god Jo, you guys are my ship, okay I can't let you sink it by keeping him the friend-zone."

Jolene let out an incredulous laugh, "Please, first of all, don't ship me with people, it's weird. Second, there's no such thing as the friend-zone okay? It's just a made up term for butt-hurt people who are pining after a pointless outcome."

Marcus rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Jo, seriously, he's cute, and smart, and not to mention you two are now interacting quite a bit." He wiggled his eyebrows, smirking.

Jolene spluttered, 'Wh-what?! No. I just- he's just around!"

Marcus snorted, "Well, if you have favorites that's okay, but you gotta at least talk to the others." Jolene groaned, raising her fist, causing Marcus to scramble away. "Wow, crazy, calm yourself. I'm only half-kidding. Seriously. The guys are wondering how long until they all have dates."

Jolene sighed, "I'm busy. Besides I have everything planned out. It's only been like what, three weeks? It's fine."

Marcus shrugged, "If you say so. I'm gonna go before I say something dumb again, but remember, all the guys are eager!"

Marcus left, and Jolene ran her hands through her hair, resting them on the back of her neck. So her father was telling her to be careful about who she trusted, and her cousin was telling her to jump blindly into dating. Great. No wonder she was so confused about everything right now. She had little demons whispering all around her. It was time she started ignoring them one by one.

Maybe then she'd know what she was doing.


Hello everyone! Turns out updating is rough in college hehe. But the school year is almost over, so hopefully the summer will grant us more chapters! No dates for this chapter, but we're gonna have 3 next chapter again. But we had some interactions with family and a Selected this time! Let me know what you thought!

See y'all in the next chapter~!