Maxon's POV

I can't believe I said that! I think to myself as I leave the room with the guard. America will no doubt have a huge fit over it once I see her again.

"What is it?" I ask the guard.

"Honestly, your majesty, I have only been asked to summon you," the guard replies.

We rush down the hall and up a few flights of stairs into a meeting room. Opening the door, the lights are blazing with numerous men in suits fiddling with notes or making phone calls. They all stand once I enter.

"Your majesty," Phil, my main advisor announces. I take a seat at the head of the table.

"What is the emergency?" I wonder out loud.

"Your majesty, there are many suggestions that…that…"

"That what?"

"That the Elite from your Selection should visit the palace," Phil says hesitantly.

"What?" I exclaim.

"Well the public really want to see your reunion and many people think that it would be good encouragement for Astin,"

"Yes it's fantastic that I'm still in touch with my previous girlfriends after I am married with kids? What a wonderful example towards Astin!" I yell.

"Your majesty, it is highly suggested that we do so!" Another advisor explains. "It won't only please the people but will be great publicity for the Royal Family."

I turn around and shake my head, considering the variables. It would gain publicity, but I'm sure that the new Selection is stirring enough publicity. However, I am also curious as to how the Elite turned out, it would only be courteous to again welcome them into the palace. I should probably talk it over with America; I'm not sure how she would feel about this.

"Your Majesty?" Phil questions.

"I need some time to think this over. Please excuse me." I say and leave the room.

I can't see any of my children or America in sight so I decide to head into my office and organize…something!

I walk in the huge double doors, flashing back to when I was summoned here by my own father, trembling, scared. For every time I was sure he would cane me. I would never treat my children the way he did me.

I take a seat in the big leather chair and open a file of papers. The file reads, 'Selection Applications: Carolina'. Carolina is America's hometown. I wonder if she would know any of the girls entering or their parents. I close the document and wait to go over it with America or some advisors.

Suddenly a knock came to the door.

"Come in," I say, loudly. The doorknob twists and I so hope it to be America, although she would probably lash out at me for mentioning Kota.

But instead it's Astin. His usually combed blonde curls a messy wreck and his blue eyes filled with worry. I rise at the sight of my troubled son.

"Astin," I say cautiously. "What is the matter?"

Pull yourself together! The voice-no my father's voice says at the back of my head. This is surely what he would have said to me given the circumstance.

"I…I…I just don't know what to do!" He falls back into the chair across from my desk and sighs. "How am I supposed to do this? I don't remember agreeing to it!" Astin runs his hands warily through his curls.

"Astin, I know you're probably nervous about the Selection. Your mother and I did everything we could to try and stop it, but unfortunately it is apart of Illea law and tradition. But you may find the love of your life this way!" I try to point out the positives, but he shakes them off- just like his mother.

"But what if I don't? How embarrassing!" Astin sighs again. "Why can't I be normal?" He shouts before leaving and slamming the door.

I lean down and rest my head on the desk.

"I have been wondering the same thing for years." I say to myself.

Without any knock of sign of entry, someone opens the door.

"What was that all about?" America bursts in, in a better mood than I thought. "Why was Astin so upset?"

"Did you really have to ask why?" I ask, looking up at her.

"Oh," she makes her way next to me and starts rubbing my back. She must've forgotten my mistake at breakfast. I wrap my hands around her waist and she settles onto my lap.

"I just wished they'd see how much we do for them." I say and look down again. "If they knew how my father treated me I-" I shake my head and she wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me.

"Don't even think about that," America soothes. "It is all lost and forgotten in the past." She lifts my head up, forcing me to look at her as she starts to rub my forehead.

"What are you doing?" I ask. A cheeky smile settles on her face.

"I'm erasing that memory."

"But America, you can't erase history." I smile back.

"We can try, besides who would know beside you and me?" We both laugh at the memory when we first kissed, but not long before I plant a gentle kiss on her lips.

I don't know how many times we have kissed during our marriage, but each time it makes me fall in love with her all over again.

I decide this is a good time to apologize.

"America," I say and pull back from our kiss.

"Mm?" She asks cuddling in closer to my chest.

"I'm sorry for mentioning Kota." I look into her eyes and prepare for the worst. It looks like she is about to yell, but she takes a deep breath and calms herself.

"It was going to come up anyway," she says. "It's best we tell them now better than later." I nod.

I remember Kota. America had allowed him to stay at the palace for a while after we were married. She never let him stay after that. I don't like to think about it and America doesn't either, so I try to change the topic.

"Do you want to look over some of the applications from Carolina?" I ask.

"The Selection applications?" America asks excitedly and I nod in reply. "Yes!"

I pull out the file of applications and open it. On the front page is a 16-year-old brunette named Cara. She is exceptionally pretty, and very thin. America starts flipping through and starts exclaiming different things.

"Oh my gosh that's Fiona's daughter!"

"My mom was friends with that girls grandma."

"Aww, Breanna's daughter is so cute. I wonder who she married."

But at one point she gasps and freezes.

"What?" I ask.

She snatches the next application and walks away to examine it.

"What's the matter America? Ames?"

But she doesn't reply, although it looks like she is about to faint or burst into tears.