"Honey, I just want you to know that, if you don't get into the selected, I won't be mad or angry in any way."

"Mom, I know." Avery assured. "I won't be either."

"Just know that they are literally picking from millions of people. Don't be too disappointed if you're not picked."

"I'm not expecting to get picked, you know that. And you know my...opinion on all this."

Mrs. Love smiled down at the her, eyes tearing up. "I love you."

"You don't have to tell me all this. I know this. You don't have to cry."

Mrs. Love laughed, making her daughter smile unconsciously. Her laugh made everyone smile just from the sound. "I don't even know why I'm crying. Did I tell you about my own mother?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm gonna tell it to you once more.

Once upon a time, I had my own selection. And, like you, I hadn't really cared much for it, I really did love my life, even if my father was gone.

But, my mom forced me to enter, so I did. And, like I had been expecting, I wasn't chosen. But my mother, I guess, had been expecting me to win.

That night, she weeped and weeped and drank. And next morning was just horrible. I-I…"

Mrs. Love took a deep breath. "I was kicked out of the house. I spent the night with my horse on the family farm. But someone had found me. Someone who took me in and loved me and filled my life with happiness."

"Yeah, Yeah, andyou pursued your dream as a pianist and had bunch of really lazy children." Avery said, trying to make her mom stop crying.

"Yes. And now I have a daughter that is the best painter I know, and who can sing like an angel."

"Mom!" Isaac called from the living room. "The Report is starting!"

"Already?" Avery yelled, rushing over to watch it.

Isaac was sitting on their small, worn out couch with Mr. Love and Lucian. Their resemblance to each other was quite uncanny.

"Hello, hello! And welcome to this week's report. I'm Barton, as you all know, and I hope you guys are excited because I know I am!" Barton gestured for the crowd to get louder, which they eagerly obeyed. He smiled perfectly, not a flaw in sight.

Avery couldn't stop the tingling in her hands or the butterflies in her stomach. She shouldn't be nervous, she doesn't even care about the Selection. Mrs. Love rubbed her back, trying to be as soothing as possible.

Barton started off with all the reports; first about Illéa, then worldwide. The Girl felt like he was never going to get to the Selection, until gave the crowd an almost secretive smile.

"Now, we get to the good part. Prince Edward, please come up to the stage."

The crowd went wild as the Prince walked toward Barton with a smile that was sure to melt every girl's heart.

Avery just blinked and studied him more closely than she ever had in her life.

He had devilishly good looks, with the confidence of, well, a prince.

"How is our favorite Prince of the evening feeling?" Barton asked, giving Prince Edwards a small pat on the back.

"Hungry." He said with a smile, making Barton and the crowd chuckle. "That, and quite excited to see all the candidates for the future queen of Illéa."

Avery wondered how he could be so calm with the idea of finding a wife through some kind of game show.

"I'm sure we all feel the same. Am I right?"

The crowd answered Barton with as much zeal as him.

"Well, let's get to it folks!" A small box to the top right corner of the screen suddenly appeared with Prince Edward's flawless face. He just smiled calmly.

"Our first guest to the Castle is Miss Nina Gin of Clermont, Two."

The screen was filled with a beautiful girl's face that probably turned every boy into a puddle.

Avery hands clenched to fists. Even if she did get into the Selection, how could she ever compete with someone as beautiful and of high status as her.

She looked at the prince's reaction, but as always, he was smiling charmingly. Her eyes went from the screen to her brothers. Of course, their eyes were wide and their cheeks were pink.

"Miss Connor Johnson of Whites, Three."

The girl that appeared on the screen was obviously mixed with Asian with a bit of Caucasian. She was pretty, with smooth, pale skin and dark hair.

As the names kept going, Avery suddenly couldn't help but hope that she was chosen. She knew that it would only be like this for the moment. She just needed to remind herself that she was quite content with what she had right here.

All the girls that had passed by were pretty, and higher than five. At this rate, Avery didn't stand a chance.

"Miss Elina Salzburg of Bonita, Five."

Avery smiled a bit. It was nice that a five was chosen from a more poor place like Bonita.

"Miss Tessa Gold of Labrador, Two."

More and more names rolled by for what seemed like forever until one certain name made Avery and her family gasp.

"Miss Avery Love of Waverly, Five."