A/N: I've been holding out from publishing this chapter for the past few months because I had wanted to post it when my summer began, but my summer begins at the end of the month so I decided to just publish it after I got my creative juices flowing again (since I had added more stuff to this just a few hours ago XD). Anywhos, if any of you still have dress ideas/boards for your characters on pinterest, I'd still love to see them! If you're not added to The Queenstrial board on pinterest, please do not hesitate to find my account "thesparklyjewel" and feel free to post stuff on the board. I actually have a separate private board that has a lot of the references/rooms for every chapter so go crazy in the group board. (I also still do not understand pinterest group messages, but I'm gonna try and opening up one for the Queenstrial people for like discussions and stuff- or usual crazy conversations XD)

Without further ado, I'd like to thank alexiaroosenhaan, Cookiedoodles168, GreenWithAwesome, xxScarlett (how was Hamilton?), wolfofstark, MABubbles (thank you so much for reading and getting interested!) and ShaelynnSophia (welcome to the world of the Queenstrial!) for reviewing the past chapter(s)! You guys are my heroes for actually sticking with me and my erratic update schedule.

We get to finally meet a few characters whom I wanted to write in since the start but never found the right time to put them in- so I'm really excited to see what you guys are gonna think. I'm gonna stop talking now, but anyways…

Enjoy~


Isla Caballero, 19, Caste 4, Professional Traveler, Dominica

"I love your dress," Isla saw a blonde girl in a flowy white dress sitting across her say.

"Thank you," she smiled back as she smoothed out the flowy pink dress she wore. "I'm Isla Caballero, from Dominica." she introduced as she offered her hand.

"Rylise Hopkins, Denbeigh." she beamed, "So, what did you do before coming here?" Rylise asked as she shook her hand. Isla liked the presence she had, taking a mental note to stick around her during her stay in the competition.

"Well, I worked for my father and I usually looked for goods around the world for him. You could kinda say that I'm a professional traveler." Isla explained.

"You're so lucky!" Rylise exclaimed as she moved to the seat beside her. "This is actually the first time I've left my province. You couldn't imagine how terrifying my plane ride was." she added. Isla was amused by the statement, recalling the first time she had flown on a plane. Just as the conversation was picking up the pace, two girls Isla was already quite familiar with, Isadora LaRoux and Daniela Cortéz

"Isla Caballero!" yelled the taller girl, who was wearing a silly-looking lilac colored gown, the skirt looking too long for the extremely tall girl. Daniela coyly waved as she watched Isadora run towards Isla. Daniela wore a dress that was the polar opposite of Isadora's- a muted earthy green dress, which matched the calm aura that surrounded the wearer of such dress.

Isadora and Isla were the life of the group they were traveling with from Southern Illea- so the two girls hit it off right away. Daniela also was part of the small group from the south, though she always lent an ear to Isadora and Isla babbling about the most random things in their extremely different lives.

Isadora immediately raised her fist just above her waist, forgetting the protocols of being in the palace, but Isla immediately indulged by bumping her closed fist to Isadora's. "Hey there, Isa!" Isla smiled as Daniela reached the small group forming. "Rylise! This is Isadora and Daniela, the three of us came from Southern Illea!"

"Nice meeting you guys." Rylise beamed towards the two girls, extending a hand towards Daniela. The sound of a clearing throat disrupted the small reunion.

"Okay Thalia, before you push us into another room…" Isadora rambled before turning around to see not Thalia, but Duchess Miranda behind her.

"I'm so sorry for interrupting you all but the Prince has ordered an immediate meeting of the Selected here in the women's room." Miranda took a pause to look at the continuing chaos of the Women's Room, the sound of Willow Jones screaming her head off as she clutched the gray strands of her previously brown hair, "If you four would follow me, I'd be able to fix all of this." Miranda continued as she moved towards the eye of the Women's Room, where Thalia Calligaris stood, clipboard on hand and screaming at her walkie talkie.

"Thalia, dear, I believe it's best to gather the Selected right now. It's time for the orientation." Miranda practically sang at Thalia.

"Duchess Miranda, I don't think now's the best time to orient the girls right now. I have a Selected who needs to be a brunette again, one who's begging me to go home, and another in the hospital wing sustaining a bullet wound on the shoulder." Thalia spoke through gritted teeth. Isla and the three other girls with her held back a gasp at the news of a Selected with a bullet wound on her shoulder.

"You're kidding me." was all Rylise had to say.

"What do you guys mean someone got shot? It's the first day of the Selection, for heaven's sake!" Daniela remarked.

"Didn't Quincy tell you? Quincy told me right away, after Percy and Aunt Hanna Beth told him to." Miranda asked, an expression of confusion and concern.

"Might have slipped my mind, when the gray haired Selected was screaming in my ear."

"Just tell everyone to stop what they're doing and just gather the 34 Selected here." Miranda shrugged. Miranda may have portrayed as some airheaded debutante in the papers- but Isla somehow knew in her gut that Miranda was just playing the press the way she wanted them to see her- Miranda was smarter than most people thought of her to be.

"It's too crowded and chaotic in here, Miranda." Thalia said, gesturing yet again to the mess of the Women's Room- which earned another exasperated sigh from the Duchess.

"Fine." Miranda said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let's take them to the West Wing Library- it was used to hold the Selected of Eadlyn Schreave and Kerttu Schreave de Koskinen"

"How did you even know that?" Thalia asked, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face.

"Please, Thalia." Miranda rolled her eyes with a similar smirk, "everyone knows that I was obsessed with the Selection when I was a child. I would have gotten away with having one in England too, if Uncle Xavier didn't get me tied with that Australian Prime Minister's son."

"Now, let's get these girls to the West Wing Library."


Percival Finnley Lombard, 21, Caste 1, Crown Prince of Illea, Angeles

Percy lightly knocked on the door of the private hospital suite where Lady Francesca was confined in. Percy tried to recall some things he had read on Francesca's file on the way there- he remembered her military experience, a well-known family, and how her sisters were married to well to do counts from Europe.

Percy was waiting for Francesca to invite him in, but after a minute of waiting for her answer, Percy had knocked again.

No answer.

Perhaps she was asleep, he wouldn't blame the girl for taking some shut eye after what she's been through. He could just leave the flowers with a note for her- and spare himself the awkwardness of a meeting that shouldn't really be happening if not for the interesting circumstances they both were placed in.

Percy then took hold of the doorknob and twisted it, expecting to see a girl asleep. Only to see said girl, pouring herself over papers on her desk, while sitting in bed.

"Like I said, I do not require anymore water, food, or assistance. You can tell the doctors that I am healthy enough to join the rest-" Francesca spoke as she tucked in a certain paper inside a folder and then looked up, eyes widening in recognition of who exactly she was speaking to. Percy took in her features in person. She looked tired, but she really was quite pretty with her steely blue eyes. Her caramel colored hair was tied back in a low ponytail as she looked at him, shock lingering in her eyes.

"Well, I'll take that in mind, Lady Francesca." Percy said with some humor in his voice, walking towards her bed, wanting to put the girl at ease.

"I hope that you're feeling better, I've brought you some flowers to brighten up your room."

"Thank you very much, Prince Percival. I'm flattered." Francesca said as she slowly took the flowers from Percy, the steel in her voice a little gone, in exchange of a lilt of awkwardness.

"Just call me Percy; Percival sounds too hoity-toity for my taste." Percy noted some of the documents she was working on: a letter to General Lamarque and several reports on the rebel activity in the eastern coast of Illea.

"You're still working?" Percy meant for it to sound declarative, a description of the current actions of the girl, but it came out more like a question with the raise of pitch of his voice- a little confused with why someone, who supposedly isn't supposed to be working because a) she got shot in the arm, b) she is in his Selection and shouldn't exactly be worried about work, and c) SHE GOT SHOT IN THE ARM.

Francesca gave Percy a confused look back at him, as if saying only with her eyes: "Of course, I'm still working, what else can I do here?" That's when Percy noticed that Francesca always tended to hold eye-contact with him, and that's also when Percy had noticed the blueness of her eyes, though it looked more grey in her photograph and dulled out by the state her eyebags were in.

"Well your highness-" Francesca spoke.

"Percy…"

"Right, Percy. I'm not exactly the kind of person who's used to bed rest." She corrected herself as she leaned back against her bed.

"I guess that would seem normal, what with your military background. Thank you for your service by the way, Lieutenant General Kelsey." Percy said as he took the seat by her bedside to be more eye-level with her and unbuttoned his suit jacket in the process. "I'd also would like to thank you for foiling the attempt on one of your fellow Selected. That was very brave of you."

"It really was nothing, your highness. It's part of my duty to serve and protect and part of my miltary training." Francesca replied, a certain gleam in her eyes shining through.

"It was nonetheless extremely brave- you saved that girl's life. I've spent some time with the Illean Military myself, stuff there's crazy- especially in the Andorran-front. Have you ever been stationed out of the country, Lady Francesca?"

"Can't say I have, I've been stationed in Bankston for most of my career."

"Bankston, now that's a cold province. Definitely a change of scenery between Bankston and Angeles." Percy spoke as he realized that he had almost forgotten why he was there with Francesca in the first place. "I understand that you're currently in bed rest," Percy took an audible gulp, the first date always tended to be one of the most awkward to ask first. He recalled his first date with one from his past one, ending at a bit of a disaster when she had fainted in the duration of the date- still Eliza had lasted until the Elite.

"But, perhaps, if you were discharged from the hospital wing within the week…" Percy paused. "May I please take you for a walk around the palace?"

It was Francesca's turn to get slightly frazzled, a light blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Of course, it would be an honor to, your highness." Percy had noticed that Francesca wasn't holding eye contact with him.

"Great, I'll just send a note to you after you're discharged from the hospital." Percy spoke as he stood and buttoned his suit jacket again. "I hope you'll enjoy the flowers, Lady Francesca, and please don't hesitate to ask any of the staff for any assistance."

"Will do, your highness. Thank you."

"If you'll excuse me, I will have to oversee a few matters to be handled, what with today's events. Rest well, Lady Francesca."


Percy walked out of the hospital wing with a giddy feeling, having already accomplished one of the tasks he had set out for him. Now that he was able to meet Lady Francesca, Percy had high hopes that he'd get along with the Selected quite well. Just as he made it closer to the main stairwell, the device in his ear had beeped with Quincy's voice addressing Percy not with his codename.

"Percy, can you hear me?"

"I won't address you if you don't call me by my codename, and won't say 'over' at the end of whatever you say. Over."

"Calling Atlas. This is Hermes, do you copy? Over. " Quincy, who had picked the codename Hermes, spoke through the piece.

"Atlas here. I copy. What do you need? Over." Percy said, pressing a button on the side of the earpiece, stopping in his tracks as he spoke to Quincy.

"Baudin and Battacharya are ready to meet the Selected, your Highness. They're waiting just outside the Women's Room. Over."

"And the Selected?"

"They've just been gathered in the West Wing Library-"

"The old one where Eadlyn Schreave's Selected stayed? Over."

"Yes, that one, your Highness." Quincy confirmed before following with an over.

"You know Hermes, it's actually named the 'Koskinen Library' but I have no idea why people call it the West Wing Library." Percy shrugged as he started walking down the stairs. "Anyway, just get Baudin and Battacharya outside the Koskinen Library and I'll meet them out there. Over."

Percy then walked down the steps down to the first floor as he turned the corner to get to the Koskinen Library. Percy sighed as he made his way to the library, honestly so tired of the workload he's had with this particular Selection. As he rounded the corner of the Koskinen Library, he saw two figures standing together clad in two very different uniforms outside. Vice Admiral Adelheid Baudin stood tall with her blonde hair slicked back into a bun, her green uniform looking cleanly pressed. Beside her was Officer Naveen Battacharya of the Indian Army and was animatedly talking to her. From the looks of it, Battacharya was back to his old ways of trying to win over Adelheid's affections. Oh, if Percy could go on and on about their relationship. Being Percy's closest friends from when he used to fight against the French Conquest Organization, he knew that no two people could teach the two better than Naveen and Adelheid when it came to self-defense.

"Your Highness, thank you for inviting us." Adelheid greeted with a bow as Percy nodded in reply.

"Percy's just fine," he added as he acknowledged Naveen bowing. "Thank you for agreeing to help teach them." He then shook each of their hands.

"It's a particularly good idea with the state of the world. I mean, Illea's facing threats from the Rebels and from the French Conquest Organization. I wouldn't be surprised if we had another war in our hands." Naveen said looking at Adelheid.

"Oh trust me, Naveen, it's happening. It's only a matter of time before it all goes to shit." Adelheid added. "But before that happens, we have to make sure, Prince Percy is to find a wife."

"Yes, that is at the top of my list right now." Percy smirked as he heard the voices of the group of girls talking from just behind the door. "I'm actually supposed to meet them tomorrow, but given the circumstances- I think it's best that I speak to them about the incident with Lady Francesca and Lady Billy."

"Ah, an unfortunate incident indeed with what happened in the air port. Those Illean Rebels are getting more stealthy than I thought." Naveen said, straightening his jacket. Adelheid looked at Naveen with a raised eye brow.

"Which is exactly why I want to take the right measures to ensure the safety of my Selected. An army of guards won't just cut it, they need to learn how to defend themselves in case of an attack."

"Shall we?" Percy said as he turned the door's knob and entered the Koskinen library, seeing approximately 34 sitting silhouettes watching a large projector screen set up right in front of them within the darkened room. It was a compilation of footage of what happened earlier that day playing on the news. There were footage of plane rides and send off ceremonies, Percy noting little details among the girls and how they interacted with the crowds. He watched one of them do an impromptu concert, another blowing kisses at a crowd, another timidly smiling towards the people in the square. The footage then cut to the make overs, the cameras catching the girls getting ready and prepped.

Before Percy knew it, he then saw his mother on the screen announcing the more alarming thing that occurred that day. Her eyes were directly looking at the camera as she spoke about how brave a girl like Francesca must have been and how lucky they were that there were no casualties among the Selected. Hanna Beth then explained how this could have happened at such a high security event.

"The gun man was a rebel who was deeply part of the structure of the air port security. He was a very respectable member of the Civil Aviation Authority, but there must have been rebels who had convinced him to turn on one of the Selected. This is no cause for alarm, but I do have to remind you to be vigilant. These rebels are the ones that had attacked the palace nearly two years ago, all they care for is destruction and their own personal agenda of hate and their unquenchable thirst for power. Please report to any official if you see any signs of suspected rebel activity." The projected version of Hanna Beth said before turning to Sophronisca. Sophronisca then picked up the rest of the Report and reminded everyone about the make over special that would be airing the next week.

Someone had turned the light back on and Percy's eyes teared up at the sudden change of light. It took a while for Percy to blink through the tears and to see Miranda standing in front of the Selected while Thalia and Quincy stood right behind her.

"Well, if the Report has not made it clear for you, one of the Selected was a target of the rebels before she even stepped foot in the palace." Miranda spoke, her blue eyes possessing a look that reminded Percy of his father for just a moment- it was a look his father often used to intimidate people, a look that allowed his father to command a room.

"Living in this palace is going to take more than just a pretty face to survive it. My cousin is in need of a wife who is willing to put her life at stake not just for him- but for your country." Miranda paced down a clear aisle that parted the Selected in two. Percy was thankful to have Miranda around, watching her try to whip the girls into the shape they needed to be in to live in their world.

Serious as she was speaking to the Selected, her face softened when her eyes met Percy's. "If you don't want to hear it from me alone, I believe Percy has a few words for all of you." Miranda stepped aside from her spot in the front of the Selected, indicating to Percy that the floor was his.

Percy raised himself to his full height, watching the Selected's reactions to seeing him for the first time. A few of the girls' jaws had dropped when they saw him take a place beside Miranda, just watching in disbelief. A few merely smiled and curtsied, giggling at him. The familiarity and the alienity of the situation made a shiver go up Percy's spine, memories of his first Selection coming back. If he didn't know any better, it was like he was back to two years ago when he first met Zam. Breathe. He thought to himself as he felt his heart beat a little faster. He opened his mouth to find the words he was supposed to say- but his mind had blanked out.

"Ladies, it is a pleasure," Percy's voice cracks as he tries gets his bearings again, "It is a pleasure to be meeting you all tonight." He cracks a small smile, a way for him to convince himself that he actually has himself together for this.

"I do not want to be keeping you all in the dark about what has happened today- which is why I made sure that all of you knew what had occurred in the airport a few hours ago. Honesty and transparency is an important thing I uphold, and I only do hope that you respect me enough to be honest with me." He continues to say as he tries to make eye contact with a few of the girls. He recognizes a few from their forms like Daniela, Rylise, and Ella.

"I will make it clear that this Selection will be putting your life in danger- more danger than it probably would in your everyday lives. My family-" Percy takes a glance at Miranda, "and those connected to me" his eyes dart to Naveen and Adelheid who were joined by Quincy and Thalia, "are targets of not only local rebels but as well as those part of the international terrorist group: The French Conquest tomorrow, each of you will be receiving special self-defense training if ever you are put into a situation that would endanger your lives."

"I assume that Thalia and Quincy had gone over the rules of the competition with all of you- but I offer another. The final say belongs to me, but I will not be forcing you ladies to stay here if it is not your choice- knowing the risks of being in this competition. If any of you feel like you do not wish to participate in the Selection, I will allow you to leave as soon as possible."

"But before that, allow me to meet each of you before anyone tries to leave." Percy smiles as he approaches the first row of seats to his right. One by one, he approaches the Selected and kisses the back of their hands, introducing himself and themselves before he moved to the next. A few of the girls makes an impression on him, like Thema with a sense of confidence that drew Percy to her, Ella with the smile in her eyes, Stephanie and how unevenly matched their heights were, Isadora and how she nearly matched his height in heels, and Gemma and how fluidly she curtsied.

Time came that he had met all the girls, he asked the question again. "Does anyone here want to leave? If so, please come to the front." There was a silence that followed, no one wanting to make a sound.

To his surprise, Mattise had walked over to the front.

"Your highness," Mattise had strutted over to Percy in a teal trumpet gown, her dark hair pushed back to one side. "you asked for my honesty and this is it. I do not want to put my life in danger, especially if I know that I can't have feelings for you." Percy nodded his head, waiting for Matisse to continue. "I just got engaged the same week I was announced to be Selected, and I don't want to leave my fiancee for too long."

"Thank you, Lady Matisse. I will see to it that you leave with enough security back to your home. Congratulations on the engagement." Matisse smiled as she curtsied and went back to her seat. "If Lady Matisse is the only one who would like to leave as soon as possible, then I won't keep you any-"

"Prince Percy!" he heard a particularly nasaly voice shout, and a figure in the back jump out of her seat in a bright yellow gown. "I want to go home too." It was Billy Driver.

"Me too," Willow Jones and Jolie Fisher accidentally said together, both standing at the same time.

"And me," stood Katerina Theodopolus, her blonde hair pulled back though she still wore her glasses. Two more girls stood up and announced that they had wanted to leave, as well. Percy had counted that seven girls currently wanted to leave, which was surprising that one-fifth of his Selected had wanted to leave not even after a day in the competition. He guessed that his welcoming speech was a bit to heavy, but it was something that came from his heart. He didn't want to keep a girl within the Selection, endangering her life, if she didn't want to.

"Thank you ladies for your honesty, you each will be leaving Angeles first thing in the morning after breakfast, please take your seats." Percy nodded at Quincy, gesturing him to bring Naveen and Adelheid to the front with him.

"For those who remain, our personal interviews will begin tomorrow after breakfast, where another round of elimination may follow. In the afternoon, you will begin your self-defense training with these two people." Percy explained as Naveen and Adelheid stood at his sides. "This is Officer Battacharya and Vice Admiral Baudin, two specialists I have enlisted to teach you. Anything to say to girls?"

Naveen and Adelheid step forward, nodding in courtesy to the girls, it is Adelheid who opens her mouth to speak. "We expect perfect attendance and punctuality in our lessons. You come on time, we end on time. I hope I've made myself clear." Adelheid commands before stepping back and giving the floor back to Percy.

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the competition, I hope you all rest well." Percy tries to close his little speech but it feels like he still has so much to say in that moment. He feels like there's so much to be said to these girls but there's an ache in his bones that makes him want to crash in his bed and sleep with Mario in his arms as soon as he left that room. He follows his instincts and decides to end the night.

"Good evening, Ladies." Percy greets before bowing just a bit before he makes his way to the door, leaving the Selected in the hands of Miranda and the rest of the team.


A/N: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! All thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Question Time: What order should Percy meet the Selected in in the next chapter? (Alphabetically by Province? By Name? Maybe in reverse Alphabetical order?)

Thank you for reading! Be kind to one another~

Next on the Queenstrial: The One-on-One Interviews!

~*Sparky Out*~