I DO NOT OWN THE SELECTION SERIES. SHOUTOUT TO NIKT WANZY FOR MAKING THIS CHARACTER.

Schreave Palace. Province of Angeles. 18 days into the selection.

A few days later, Romeo and Benvolio put a plan into action that would get rid of more selected. This day's activity was a sort of potluck where everyone would dine on a special dish from each province that was still in the selection. The King's secretary had pulled Romeo aside from the 25 remaining selected and and handed him a brown paper bag.

"What is in here?" He asked as he reached inside and pulled out the contents of said bag.

"3 grams of cocaine." Benvoilo replied as he pulled out 3 small baggies with a white substance.

"I don't snort coke." Monroe insisted as he did not care for drugs or the people who used them.

"It isn't for you." Jackson insisted in return. "You are to plant each of those grams on 3 of the selected. I will announce that I was tipped off about possible drug use, the guards will perform a search and when the cocaine is found, the 3 selected will be eliminated."

"Won't they face drug charges when they get back to their provinces?" Romeo asked, feeling uncomfortable about sending innocent people to jail.

"Once they are home, the King will grant them royal pardons. We don't need them jailed, they just have to be out of the race." Benvolio assured the young man.

"Fine." Romeo huffed as he grabbed the coke and left Benvolio alone. As everyone was enjoying the samples; Princess Melody and Queen Jessamine included, Romeo went to work. He planted the first gram on the non binary person from Lakedon. He then proceeded to plant the other 2 grams on the trans boy from Likely and the trans girl from Ottaro respectively. Once the drugs had been planted, Romeo shot a wink at Benvolio and the plan went into action was the secretary left and returned a few minutes later with two royal guards in tow.

"The royal guard received an anonymous tip that illegal narcotics were smuggled into the palace." Benvolio announced. "Every selected must be searched immediately!" Everyone in the room was shocked and fearful except for Romeo and the Queen, who presumed that this was yet another of her husband's schemes to rig the selection in favor of Romeo Monroe. After 15 minutes, the drugs were found and their apparent owners were pleading their innocence. Melody's mother was having none of it though and declared the three eliminated. As they were dragged off by royal guards, Benvolio gave Romeo a nod of approval. A part of Romeo was thrilled that there were now less people standing between him and the princess. However, there was another part that get sick inside at the ways he had been cheating Melody.

Noah Addington sat at a table by himself as he ate some leftovers from the potluck. Everyone was still pretty shaken up after the drug bust. Princess Melody herself had excused herself from the event because she was so upset that some of her selected were using drugs.

It was well known throughout Illèa that the crown Princess took a hard stance against drugs. The remaining selected tried to continue things as usual, but eventually they realized that the mood had been completely spoiled and threw their hands up and went back to their rooms. Noah however, had chosen to stay in the room and eat by himself. It had been a long time since he had eaten so fully and he intended to take full advantage of the opportunity that had been presented to him. He was unaware that the princess has returned to drown her sorrows in culinary cuisine.

"Are you willing to share?" She asked as Noah turned to her in shock.

"Sure." He replied as Melody sat down next to the mechanic. She made herself a large plate of provincial food and began to gorge herself on Illèa's gourmet offerings.

"These are...so freaking good." Melody insisted as she ate while Noah just watched.

"Melody...I just wanted to say that...I'm sorry about what happened." The heir to the Schreave dynasty looked up from her plate and tried to say something, but just ended up weeping silently.

"I can't believe...that they actually brought drugs into my selection..." Melody whimpered. At first, Noah was unsure what to do. In the end, he decided to gently wrap his arm around her; which to his relief, she accepted.

"Shit's like that sometimes, people try drugs and it's a slippery slope." the young Addington explained as the princess cried on his shoulder.

"But how could they, everyone knows that i'm anti drug. I thought that they really wanted to get to know me." she replied as Noah tilted her chin.

"I really want to get to know you and so do a lot of the selected." he argued. "You can't just give up on a car because it has a flat tire." Melody gave Noah a small smile as she planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you Noah, I needed to hear that." Melody insisted.

WHAT NEW LOWS WILL BENVOILO AND ROMEO SINK TO IN ORDER TO THIN OUT THE HERD? REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.