I DO NOT OWN THE SELECTION SERIES. SHOUTOUT TO AVA NAVA AND EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH THIS STORY. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS TRANS PHOBIC REMARKS, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Schreave Castle. Sacramento. Province of Angeles. 2 weeks into selection.

Maxon II was in his office when he heard a knock at the door. He had been working on new decrees for his prime minister to push through the King's Congress.

"Come." He commanded as Benvolio Jackson made his way inside.

"My King." He replied as he bowed his head before the sovereign.

"How fares our horse in the race?" Maxon inquired.

"Three more selected have been eliminated from the selection." Benvolio explained. "Romeo had words with the transgender girl from the province of Hudson. He lied to her and said that the girl from the province of Kent had called her a and I quote...filthy Tranny freak. As a result, the two got in a scuffle."

"I trust that you witnessed the incident?" The King asked as Benvolio nodded.

"Romeo made sure that I was present." Jackson replied. "A gender queer person from the province of Labrador got into it and tried to break them up, so I was able to lump them in and I sent all three of them home."

"Good." Maxon smiled as he lit a cigar and had a smoke. "That means there are only 25 of those commoners left in this competition."

"Indeed, there are a few selected that seem to have caught Melody's eye, but we have some time before we need to up our game." the secretary replied as the King stood and continued to smoke his cigar.

"This selection is nothing more than drain on our coffers." he spat as he inhaled the smoke. "Forget about all of the money that we put into the room and board and frills for these peasants, every week we have to send even more money to their wretched families. Money that they did not earn."

"I understand your frustration my king, but I do hope his majesty does not let the people know that." Benvolio replied as Maxon turned to him.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

"I take you for a king and kings sometimes lack the restraint of common men."

"I know how to play these fools: I give them a royal wedding and they sit down and behave like good little children." The King snapped as his secretary kept quiet.

Meanwhile, Princess Melody Schreave was taking a walk through the royal gardens. She needed a break after the most recent elimination and Nanny Alma had agreed to cover for her. Her favorite spot in the garden was the bush with the yellow roses. She walked over and inhaled their lovely scent.

"I kind of thought that you might be a yellow rose kind of gal." Melody turned around to see a handsome man standing near her.

"Oh...hello!" She exclaimed.

"Forgive me your highness, it wasn't my intention to startle you." He replied as he bowed his head. "I'm Romeo Monroe."

"Ah yes, from Angeles." Melody replied, recognizing him.

"It's lucky for me that I didn't have to take a flight here." He replied as Melody nodded with a smile.

"I just...I had to get away from it all for a while." She insisted, earning a nod from Romeo.

"It's going to be tough." He admitted. "At some point, you will start to bond with these people and eventually you'll have to send some of those people back home. I do not envy you."

"Tell me about it." Melody sighed as she rubbed her temples. Romeo sat down on a bench next to Melody as he squeezed her hand.

"Maybe this whole selection won't be as hard as you fear?" He offered with a small smile. "Perhaps you'll find the perfect guy or girl to be not only your prince or Princess, but your partner in this life."

"That's what I'm hoping for." Melody replied with a sad smile as Monroe gently stroked her hand with his thumb.

"Trust me, you have way too good of a head on your shoulders." Romeo insisted as he looked at her in the eyes. "When you see your Mr. or Miss or Mx. right...you will know who they are without a doubt in your pretty mind." Melody could not help but blush at Romeo's kind words. It was the kind of encouragement that her mother and father could not be bothered to give her.

"Anyway...my mother and father will probably want me to go back in and keep socializing with the other selected." Melody replied as she dusted off her dress and accepted Romeo's hand as she stood on her feet.

"Well, we should not keep the King and Queen waiting, should we?" he asked as Melody shook her head.

"Thank you for the pep talk Romeo, I needed it." the princess replied with a smile.

"Of course your highness, if you need any more reassurance, my door is always open." Romeo insisted as Princess Melody gave him a kiss on the cheek and hurried back inside to relieve her nanny. Romeo smiled to himself, this was going better than he thought.

WILL ROMEO STEAL THE SELECTION AND MELODY'S HEART? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.