A/N: Greetings! Super sorry for the long wait, I promise chapter 3 will be up much faster. Anyways, I just wanted to remind everyone to please review so I can have motivation.

Sweat was building in Connor's palms, the nervousness finally kicking in. As per usual, the Illea Capital Report would be airing live in only a matter of minutes. Thirty-five large baskets filled to the brim and some over flowing pieces of paper containing the names of thousands of girls in the country were placed at the center of the Great Room.

He was amazed at the number of girls whom had entered, though only a few lucky handfuls of names would be chosen. It was new to Connor, feeling worried yet excited at the same time. He might have even been anxious were it not for all the events that awaited him after the picking of the lottery.

"We're on in five!" Ethan yelled, he was Gavril Faydae's son and host for the Illea Capital Report. Ethan and Connor were around the same age, though the former was older by a mere three years. The boys would be best buddies as children, racing through the countless, yet vacant palace halls.

Connor could recall the previous recordings of Queen Eadlyn's Selection as well as his grandfather's, King Maxon. It seemed to be all smiles and laughter. He was not so sure that was how his would conclude.

The rest of the time settled in, the long awaited event for the Report coming to.

"So, Prince Connor, are you excited to choose the Selected?" Ethan asked, the skill coming immensely natural for him. And as always, a genuine and exciting smile adorned his face.

Connor smiled as well and replied, "I will admit, I am very nervous myself, but mainly thrilled for the memories to come." Hopefully, he almost added. Knots tightened in his stomach.

"Without further ado, let the choosing begin!" It might have been the sudden shift in posture in the room or the cameras adjusted or maybe the actual event but Connor was the most uneasy he'd been since the announcement.

Connor was instructed on what and how to begin the choosing just earlier that morning. He got up from his throne and made way to the center of the room where the thirty-five baskets were located. Carefully deciding that he would choose from left to right, he started with the first basket, the province of Allens.

Reaching inside the woven basket, his fingers grasped onto a single piece and pulled it out.

Swallowing, he said, "Emma Sanders of Allens". And so the night continued.

Moving along the row, he chose another sheet of paper and read it out loud, "Hailey Sullivan of Angeles."

It was the third name he picked up when he realized that the butterflies in his body had become nonexistent, the process becoming normal for him, "Vivian Mae Berling of Atlin."

"Sierra Barkley of Baffin" he said, the name slipping from his mouth with ease. It wasn't as bad as he would have imagined it to be.

"Bella Goldberg of Bankston."

"Aurora Noel of Belcourt," Connor said, smiling inwardly much more at her name, it was beautiful in itself. But he caught the movement with the corner of his eye and cursed himself. Their pictures had been displayed on the screen to his left and it would have been on the screen of those watching the report as well. Idiotically not noticing it before, he took a second to look at her, and her name most definitely matched her appearance. She was beautiful if he were to say it simply, her hair a strawberry blonde, eyes sparkling with excitement. Too soon, he had to pry his eyes from the projection of her and move on to the next heaping basket of names.

"Janice Maddie Burchings of Bonita."

"Pienna Adams of Calgary."

"Zoe Tierra Campbell of Carolina."

"Aria Cristine Winsley of Clermont." He made his way with the names and saw that he had chosen names from ten baskets already, twenty-five more to go. So far, the glances at the photos of the girls were not bad at all. They each were pretty, unique in their own way. Yet some stole the spotlight slightly more than the others. Aria he noticed, had bright blazing green eyes that looked too colorful to be real but then again too real to be fake.

Connor continued choosing the names from the baskets for what seemed like hours but in reality was only two minutes at most for each girl. He would sometimes reach for one of the names at the top of the baskets, heaping with temptation. Others he would let his arm reach the bottom of the basket to find the very last name there. Other times he would reach inside the basket but only stop midway, fishing around until he chose one.

"Cora Evelyn Harper of Fennely," Connor spoke, already liking the sound of her name rolling off his lips. Her hair was brown and eyes green like the girl from Clermont but much lighter. It seemed more natural.

The next name he read aloud was chosen from the top of the basket, allowing him the guess that hse was one of the first people to enter the Selection, "Saffron Grace of Honduragua."

"Leah Richmond of Hudson," he was only able to catch a short glimpse of this girl, a shy yet inviting smile. She seemed to be friendly just by her photo and he could already tell that was in all ways true.

"Daniella Ivy Cardiner of Kent." Her photo was strikingly beautiful–gorgeous in fact though he feared it was because of the layered on makeup. Still, she was pretty.

"Jade Lei of Midston" was announced and he observed that she was the only girl who seemed to have a New Asian background. It was nice but she was also pretty, with her dark hair long to the small of her back and the smiles she held.

The next basket was almost towards the end and even though the girls were pretty and all, Connor was tired off all the eyes and anticipation directed towards him. Connor moved along the baskets quicker than before, not paying much attention to how he chose the names.

"Brooke Kells Murray of Ottaro"

"Adeline Monrova of Sonage."

"Sophie Henderson of Sumner."

"Tiffany Leanna Isele of Waverly." Her face was charming to say the least and he had no doubt meeting her in person would amaze even further.

"Giselle Baldwin of Whites," her photo suited her name, just like Lady Aurora. Beautiful, and absolutely so. Her hair was blonde, and her features more sophisticated and matured. All the girls and their varying looks gave off different impressions and it was also because they were. Aurora was young in comparison to Giselle though they were around the same age, three years elder at most.

It was one more basket and his job was done for the day.

"Stephanie Lennox of Zuni" It hit him like a brick. Her hair...wait what? It was different, almost white from the photo, but pale blonde at the same time. He would have liked her were it not for her smile. It gave off the impression of a forced action, not what or why he wanted someone at his palace, competing for his hand.

To finish the night off he exclaimed, loud and clear, "This has been a pleasure already, personally selecting the very ladies whom will arrive at the palace, competing for my hand. I look forward to meeting all of these beautiful ladies and would like to remind," –pause for the suspense– "only one lady will be the One." Connor finished off with a grin flashing his too perfect white teeth, aiming to give off a sense of competition and thrill.

The show was officially concluded with a question or two for the royal family, inquiring about Connor's Selection as well as the previous ones. He would have to say, a great amount of stress was lifted off his shoulders. His family was getting excited over the girls and he could practically hear Mirabella down the hall in her sleep gushing about them. It was always, "I like her", "I like this" or "I like that." Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Not only did she talk about them during meal times, but at times parade into his rooms at the most inconvenient moments of all, like when he was about to get into bed with nothing more than a pair of boxers.

Mira carried around their files day and night and Connor could have sworn she even held them through the night. It was obnoxious though he enjoyed her enthusiasm for the event. He tried looking into their files to memorize names or indulge himself with their stories but it didn't work for him like it did for his sister. Every time he picked up a folder, his mind went blank and the words can't form right. After two days of trying to memorize anyone's names, he gave up and decided from that moment on he would rely on guessing and his wingman or in this case, wingwoman–Mira.

And so the days went, passing and passing until there were only days left until thirty-five strange women would come to Connor's home, and one staying for the ride. And there was no prevail for the prince in the department of learning names or anything of the girls. Luckily, he could blame this on the budget meetings and peace meetings and other boring meetings throughout the week in which he would only show up to sit in his swivel chair and think of what would be for his next meal and if he could sneak in an extra dessert without any eyes noticing. By eyes, he meant his mother.

(some time later)

At this time of day, the sun was blazing against the shining marble of the palace. After the announcement of Connor's Selection and Selected girls was heard by almost every person in Illea, the majority of the preparations had already been put into place. The palace was buzzing with excitement of the Selected girls that were coming in only a matter of one day. Twenty-four hours. The end of those few hours meant he would be meeting the possible candidates for his wife and princess. It all seemed like just a joke until his mother and father spoke of it during their breakfast.

"What do you think, my dear?" his mother asked sweetly, fully aware of his lack of attention.

"It's great," Connor lied, assuming whatever his mother said was 'great', "I love it." His parents and sister all laughed at his response, no doubt he had made a fool of himself.

It was Mira that said, "You sure about that? A pool party as a way to meet all the girls?"

Knowing the mocking would be endless and there was no backing down anymore, he said, "Yes I do think so, and I should get started on preparing the event." Connor got up from his cream colored dining table chair, bowed his head to his parents and stuck his tongue out at his sister who only gave him a knowing smirk. The worst didn't even come yet.

"Make sure you remember the two-piece swimwear rule for girls," Eadlyn exclaimed, loud and clear for everyone within range of the dining room and the stairs to hear. Just great. He rolled his eyes at his mother and slowly realized what he had just gotten himself into. He was too busy trying to maintain his oh so perfect reputation and dragged himself into the mess. A POOL PARTY?! What AM I going to do? Connor thought, practically pulling his hair out.

After a while of thinking, Connor came to the conclusion that maybe a pool party was not so bad in getting to know the girls. Test out their hobbies, help them make friends. Then again, he was spending his time in his study, making himself feel better about the idea. Per province. He wondered what it would be like to have thirty-five girls that were in his age group stay at his home for more than a week, that were not here for diplomatic relations. That was when the thought hit him, it was the last day his family would only consist of his mother, father, sister and him. Less than half a year later, it would be one additional female to the pot.

Connor decided on cherishing this time and went to find his sister. It was not difficult at all to locate Mira, word from maids or guards spread fast. It was only minutes later in which he found her in the Woman's Room, and he had always hated the concept of it. Only females were permitted entrance and unless her wanted to be assaulted with a series of feathered pillows and cushions, he would knock and ask for permission to the room. A heartbeat later he knocked on the door and called for Mira, her blonde head popped out from the cream and beautifully intricate door and smiled at him.

"What is it?" she asked, her way of saying 'Hi Connor'. He rolled his eyes at her, and continued with his plans for the day.

"Do you want to walk around? We should talk."

"Sure," she immediately replied, excited for whatever it was they were about to discuss, "You need help with anything?" They started down the hallway, seemingly already headed for the gardens.

"Umm I just don't know Mira. I don't think I'm ready for this 'Selection' thing," Connor admitted to his understanding sister. She nodded, almost saying she was thinking of how to make the situation better for him.

"Well despite my lack of relationship with males–"

"What do you mean, 'lack of relationship with males'? You've talked to me, father, grandfather, uncle Ahren, Kaden, Osten and practically all the guards in this palace." Connor said, smiling at her comment.

"Come on, you know what I mean, actual romantic relationships that don't involve you or our family. But you can't forget those cute foreign princes." Connor mocked offense, placing a hand on his chest to emphasize his point and rolled his blue eyes at her mention of foreign princes. Mirabella giggled at his act and continued, "As I was saying, even though I haven't been in a real relationship, I will say that no one is ever ready for what the future has in store for us, especially things in the love department. Love is unexpected, it comes at the most inconvenient moment and the only thing you can do is embrace it. Be thankful and love that person like there's no tomorrow."

Connor was surprised at his younger sister's advice. It definitely not often where his sister would say these things, displaying a serious front at all.

"Wow. I'm starting to doubt what you said about the 'lack romantic relationship' idea." He chuckled and made air quotations at her.

"I wish you the best of luck Connor, I know who ever you choose will be far greater than great and be the best queen ever, maybe even better than mom and grandma. But don't tell mom I said that. And don't even start saying things about yourself. I am so sure every girl in Illea swoons at the mention of your name and did you not hear the number of girls who entered already?" she said, emphasizing the word 'swoon', to make sure he knew that it was too ridiculous and she continued, lowering her voice, "I will admit, I find you very appeasing to the eye." Mira looked down at her shoes at the compliment to Connor and he was beaming at this. Not because he was complimented on his appearance but because this was his sister. Mira so rarely said anything nice to him, hence him celebrating inwardly when she said it.

A moment of silence passed and when Connor said nothing for a while, Mira looked up to see her brother smirking like an idiot, almost like a little kid who got ice cream with and extra, extra order of sprinkles. She rolled her eyes dramatically and elbowed his side, only to be dodged.

The rest of the afternoon was mainly smiles and laughter and Connor could never have asked for a better sister. Mira was truly the best, constantly putting others well-being before her own, making it a priority to help those around her. And when the Selection was stressing and worrying Connor, he would remember he had people like Mira who would forever and always support him and his decisions. The Schreave family dinner that night was the final one before all the girls arrived the next day.

Thanks for reading! Please remember to review, favorite and follow, whatever floats your boat.

-Lexi