Jameson Achilles Solenian of Imperia's POV

I yawn as I look out of the vast window in front of me. Another day, another meeting. Normally I would be an eager listener, but no one seems to have anything interesting to contribute. Mother's advisors are all talking at once, going off on a tangent. I am also severely sleep deprived from a long night. All I can remember is a girl whispering something to me as she climbed over my torso….

"Prince Jameson. Would you mind joining us or would you rather stare out at the gardens?" Mother. Always proper, always Prince Jameson and never just Jameson. It is logical, it is simple, it is what I have always known. Yet still it is different from what other mothers would call their children.

"Of course, mother." I swivel my chair to face her and the rest of the assembled advisors. Most of them are young former Southern Rebels, not your typical suit-and-tie Illean advisor. They still can be absolute idiots sometimes, and I wish we could replace half of them. Mother always says no.

"Very well," she continues, "On to our next point of interest. In our last meeting with the Illean Royal Family, we came to a compromise and made a decision together. King Favian of Illea has proposed the idea of reawakening an age-old Illean tradition. The Selection."

Oh, man. I had almost forgotten. I thought it was some kind of joke when Favian was talking about it. Nope, not a chance Jameson. You are going to have to pick a wife out of 35 random girls. How very feminist. It isn't as if it will work, I'm not a very lovable person.

"17 girls will be selected from Illea, and 10 from Imperia. The Selections will happen simultaneously in the two countries, with occasional meetings and balls where the two parties Selected girls will mingle a bit. It is to be announced on both the Illean and Imperian Reports tonight, and names will be drawn a week from today. Jameson and I will personally select the girls in the time between. Any questions?"

Uncle Soren immediately raises his hand, and I contemplate rolling my eyes. I know it is unnatural to think of a family member as an idiot, but I suppose I am a bit unconventional in that way. I am thankful for his loyalty to Mother when the rest if her family shunned her. Yet I can't help it. He always asks the wrong questions at the wrong times.

It is as if Mother knows about my contemplated eyeroll. She gives me a very strong side-eye before acknowledging her brother.

"Yes, Soren."

"Pardon me, my Queen, but I see this proposal as quite simply a way of uniting the countries of Illea and Imperia when you have made it quite clear that the countries are to stay seperate if possible. Can you not see this?"

Can you not see this. Really? Of course she can see it, but Favian wasn't going to leave until a compromise was made. Mother sighs and massages her temples.

"I am aware of this, Soren. Favian assured me that these Selections had no basis in uniting the two countries. They are simply a way to bring joy to each kingdom in turn, and a way for each Crown Prince to find a wife to rule beside him."

I return my eyes to the window. Finding love. Finding love is hard enough for a person as guarded as me. Finding love in a random group of only ten girls? Impossible.

Mother makes a clever segway into another topic, on Imperian immigration. Now here is something worth listening to.

"We have been receiving quite a steady stream of immigrants from the German Federation as of late, making Prince Oryn's engagement to Princess Antonia of the German Federation very opportune. However, we are receiving many undocumented immigrants, how do you propose we deal with th…."

Just then, I almost jump out of my skin. The door bangs open and a butler stands there, panting like a dog.

My mother stands immediately and her advisors scramble to follow her lead. "Butler," she says formally, her chin raised, "What is your business? I should advise you not to barge in in such a way on future official meetings."

The butler takes a moment to catch his breath before speaking, "My Queen, we have news from Illea. They have been attacked. Five maids were killed. The Illean Royal Family blames the government of Imperia. We just heard, and the news is blowing up, they think that we have returned to the old ways."

Queen Nesryn Solenian of Imperia's POV

Illea has been attacked. Five dead as a warning. It looks, sounds, even smells like the old ways. But we haven't returned to our rebellious ways, not the Royal Family, not since we won the war. It was in the agreement. No Illean blood will be spilled if we get a country.

Of course Favian blames us, there is no one else to blame. And it looks so terribly like us. It isn't, though.

Yet if it isn't us, who is it?

Could it be someone from Imperia? Some citizen who is unsatisfied with our nonviolent ways? It could be. It makes the most sense.

I turn towards the waiting butler. "Set up a video chat with Favian as soon as possible. Advisors, you are all dismissed, Prince Jameson, go to your room, I suggest you begin preparations for your speech on the Report tonight."

It is time to face Favian again. I have never known him as an angry men but I suspect that I will see a real change in him momentarily.

Prince Jameson Achilles Solenian of Imperia's POV

Unbelievable. They think we did it. They think we are rebels again. Why would we rebel again when there is nothing to rebel against? Imperia has what it wants. Can Favian not see that?

I only wish I could sit in on my mother's videochat. I wish I could know what is happening. I hate not knowing what is happening.

"Jamie!"

I don't smile often, but I do now as my 15 year old baby sister runs towards me. Well, Aurelia isn't a baby anymore. Yet I still like to think that she is the same five year old fireball who would chase me through the gardens barefoot, holding a water gun.

Aurelia catches up to me and instantly questions me. "What has happened. The maids and butlers are all in a state of panic."

I take a deep breath. "It's Illea. They have been attacked. Five maids have been killed. Illea is blaming us." I begin to walk briskly forward, beckoning with my head for her to follow.

"Well, then," she says, still processing the information, "What is Mother going to do about it?"

"She is on a video chat with Favian as we speak. Trying to convince them that it isn't us, and it couldn't have been anyway. The timing is all wrong." We reach my door and I turn the handle, letting myself in. Aurelia follows, and immediately collapses on the bed.

"We are never going to hear the end of this, Jamie," Aurelia says, "I can just feel it. Ugh, I'm so tired of drama. I've had enough for today with Rose and Angela."

Ah, Rose and Angela, the daughters of some important people that mother forces Aurelia to socialize with. They are the polar opposites of Aurelia, and all they seem to do since they turned 15 is gossip.

"Mother told me to work on my speech on the Report tonight. You know, announcing the Selection. I've written about one sentence."

Aurelia laughs. "How responsible of you. Let's hear it then."

"Good evening citizens of Imperia."

Aurelia laughs again, "Ok. We have some work to do on this."

Prince Oryn Matthew Solenian of Imperia's POV

I've always felt the safest when I'm playing my guitar. I love the smooth blue of its body, the well worn brassy strings that can whine, cry, and produce anger just as well as a human can. Somehow, the best way for me to release my own anger is through my guitar.

I flick through my ipad, trying to find a good song. I decide on some good Queen. I know that they are an incredibly old band, but there is nothing like listening to Bohemian Rhapsody when you are feeling fenced in and claustrophobic.

Is this the real liiiiife. Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.

Sing it, Freddie Mercury. There really is no escape from reality at the moment. In a little over a month I will be marrying the Princess of the German Federation. And nobody knows that I'm gay.

I can't figure out how to tell my family. I don't know how I could possibly tell them. Mother, she wouldn't accept it. Dad, he might be alright with it, but he has to go with Mother. Jameson, I don't even know how he would react. Most of all, it would sever all of our connections from the German Federation if my marriage to Princess Antonia was called off.

The second verse begins and I sit back, letting the words sink in.

Suddenly, there is banging on the door. "Oryn, time to go. Are you dressed? Is that Queen I hear. Oh yeah!" Aurelia. Before I can answer the door, she has burst in and is yelling the lyrics out loud and off key causing me to laugh hysterically. I straighten my suit and stand up, taking Aurelia's arm as she leads me out the door to the Report studio.

Prince Jameson Achilles Solenian of Imperia's POV

The Report studio's lights are very bright. They always are. It is almost blinding.

Right now I am being tickled with a makeup brush and being plucked and styled by a full makeup crew. It is almost time for the Report announcement, and I am beginning to get nervous. It's a rotten feeling, being nervous.

Finally, all of the makeup people cease their work and I am free to sit up and walk out onstage. I take my seat next to Mother. I can see our Imperian report host, Marisol Ruiz, straightening her silver pantsuit. She waves at me, and I respond with a tiny wave. I look around at my family. Mother sits tall, effortlessly strong looking, dressed in a black dress that matches her hair. My father is seated to her left. He gives me a laughing wink and I can't help but smile. Oryn and Aurelia sit next to me. Oryn looks very withdrawn today. Aurelia is as graceful as she always is in public. She flashes me a thumbs up when we meet eyes.

"Ok people!" our technician tells the studio audience, "We are live in 5….4….3….2….1!"

Marisol strides confidently out of the shadows and plants herself directly in front of the camera, her smile wide. "Good evening, Imperia, and welcome to the Imperian Report! Today we will begin with news from our very own Queen Nesryn, and end with a very special announcement from Crown Prince Jameson! Over to Queen Nesryn!"

Mother gets up slowly, brushing aside the long train of her black dress. She walks up to the front podium where Marisol was just standing. "Thank you, Marisol," she says, very courteously. She then describes some things that have been going on in the country. There is the immigration, some things about trade, I eventually zone out. I am just so tired. It has been a very long day. Finally, Mother turns around to come back to her throne and gently sits down. I straighten my back. It looks like it is my turn.

Marisol re-enters and speaks again, "And now, a moment that I am sure that you have all been waiting for, here is our very own Crown Prince Jameson!"

I quickly push myself up from my throne and walk down towards the podium. I have notecards that I brought with me, all written in Aurelia's loopy script. I take a deep breath before beginning.

"Good evening citizens of Imperia. As you might have guessed, I will be announcing something special on tonight's report. Recently, Imperia and it's neighbor Kingdom of Illea have come to a decision. We have decided to host two Selections."

I can hear gasps and murmurs throughout the audience, most of them excited, a few confused mutterings. I continue nonetheless, "Two Selections will be hosted, one in Illea, and one in Imperia. These Selections will be entirely separate affairs, with the exception of a few balls and gatherings. Ten girls will be selected on the report a week from today, one from each Imperian province. Forms will be sent out to all eligible girls, ages 16-21. You have a week to fill them out and return them to your local province services office."

Ok. Here comes the hard part. "I am truly excited to host all of these women, and hopefully find a true life partner in one of them. To all of the girls out there, please do fill out a form. I can't wait to meet all of you. Goodnight, Imperia."

With that, the camera cuts back to Marisol, and I walk back to my throne. Mother gives me a nod to signify a job well done.

Sure. For now. What in the world have I gotten myself into?

A/N: Hi people! So sorry for the delay in updates, I wrote half of this yesterday, but I had to stop and publish today. Also, IMPORTANT INFORMATION I FORGOT! I do not own anything Kiera Cass created in the universe of the Selection, that belongs to her. I also do not own Bohemian Rhapsody and those lyrics from it, that belongs to Queen.

Please leave a review to tell me what you think and what you think I could do better! I love seeing them! Also, thank you to everyone who submitted a character so far or favorited/followed the story: you guys rock! Also, I love all of the selected that I have received, but all of them except one are brunettes. I love brunettes, but I would love some variety in hair color if you please. I also am in desperate need of more Imperian selected, I love all of my Illea girls, but I only have two Imperian ones! I would love more of them.

Also, a little PSA, if you are looking for an amazing SYOC, please submit to Riverbluesbear's story Breathe With Me! It is very well written and Riverbluesbear is so nice, highly recommended!

Sorry for this novel of an author's note, but I hope you liked Chapter 2! See you soon!