Hey! It's me again! I hope you like this story so far! Let me know if you do in a review!

winterprincess, Frankfish, maggiebswim, and Guest (whoever you are), thank you soo much for the reviews! I haven't been on in about a year and I decided to come back just for this tory! So thank you for making me feel welcome again and reviewing! I really enjoy seeing what you think

Kiera Cass owns The Selection trilogy!

CHAPTER THREE (Scavenger Hunt Continued)

After we finished eating, Maxon gave me a piece of paper.

"America, I need you to do really well on these two challenges. I can help you with both of them. I'm giving you hints on this one and I can help you edit the video diary if you want." He offered.

"I would love your help on that. Thanks. I just remembered I brought my camera with if we wanna tape a little?"

"Sure," I took the camera out of my bag.

"I'm here with Prince Maxon in the Palace greenhouse! So, I'm halfway through this scavenger hunt mini-challenge and I think I'm doing well." I paused, patting Maxon have a chance to talk.

"She is! So far she's in first place." He let me talk then.

"I just finish lunch with Prince Maxon in the greenhouse. Since there's snow covering the garden the greenhouse is the second best place! It's so great spending time with you." I looked at him. He pecked me on the cheek. "Wish me luck on this mini-challenge!" I hit stop. "I should probably get going. I don't wanna fall behind. I promise I'll do my best on these two challenges."

"That's all I can ask." He pecked me on the lips. I opened up the folded piece of paper.

CLUE SIX

After lunch now

I'm sure you're full.

You had too much to eat.

And you need to burn it off

Go to the place

Where it's burns without a fire.

I stared at the paper then at Maxon. Too much to eat. Need to burn it off.

"A gym?" I asked him. He only smiled at me noncommittal. I took out the map. "Since you're no help." I said playfully. There was a gym on the second floor, in the very back of the palace. "I have to go then. I'll see you later?"

"Yep. Good luck." He kissed me on the lips then helped me put on my cloak. Before I left he gave me a small hint "If you ever feel the need to run, just try the treadmill." I pecked him on the lips again as a thank you then left. I ran off towards the palace. I jogged up the second floor then remember I'm not suppose to run. I slowed to a fast walk and followed the map to the gym. I went straight up to the treadmill. There was a piece of folded up paper you you could set books to read while you ran. I picked it up then read it.

CLUE SEVEN

Now that you've exercised in the gym

You deserve to treat yourself to a snack

You love the food here,

But do you know where it comes from?

The people who make the food

Never get acknowledged.

Go say thank you to the chef.

I looked for the kitchens on the map. I followed the directions there. I found the chef by his uniform.

"Thank you." I said to him as he worked.

"You're welcome." He said without even looking at me.

"It's gonna take more than that isn't it?" I asked him. He only smiled noncommittal.

"Okay... Ummm... Oh!" I remembered the queens advice to me. Just ask. "Look, I really need this clue, okay? So if you could just hand it to me that'd be great."

"Let me see your last clue." He said like he didn't even hear me. I obeyed and took it from my bag. It took it without another word and ripped it in half then gave it back to me. Oh! I demanded. I need to ask politely.

"Could you please hand me the next clue that'd be great. It'd really mean a lot. Please?" I asked as nicely as I could. He took a paper out from under his cutting board. I grabbed for it but he pulled it back at the last second. "Thank you! For all the work you do! The food is amazing!" He smiled warmly at me and handed me the paper. I took it and ran out of the kitchen, dodging people as I go. I yelled another thank you as I left the kitchens. Once I was safe in the hallway I opened the paper.

CLUE EIGHT

You have beautiful dresses

Every single day.

We know you appreciate the maids, America.

But do you appreciate all the hard work they do?

Find how they make

The very clothes on your back

This isn't going to be on the map I gave you. Use your resources.

Use my resources. Maids. Clothes. Ask my maids where they make my clothes.

I went to my room, the only place I knew where to find them. But my room was empty. So I rang the bell that called for them. They were there in less than a minute.

"You called?" Anne asked with a knowing smile.

"Where do you guys make the clothes?"

"We'll show you!"

We went down a staircase I've never seen before. It must be for the maids to use. We went all the way down to the basement. This must be headquarters for them. There's sleeping quarters and laundry and clothing want into a large room with every color and kind of cloth imaginable on giant rolls. There were about a hundred working stations. A maid closest to use approached us.

"Lady America! We're glad you're here." She gave me the paper. "Everyone down here is cheering for you. You'd make a great queen."

"Thank you! So much for your support. It means a lot to me." I took the paper.

CLUE NINE

You're almost done

And going great.

But there's one more place

We'd like you to see.

If you were to win

Maxon's hand in marriage

He'd visit this place

For a princess cut diamond.

There is where

The Crown Jewels are made.

I hope you like this place. It's where I'd visit with you when I get down on one knee. You'll also be here when it's time to make your first crown.

~Maxon

The royal jeweler. Where is it? I looked at the map. It wasn't on there. I had to use my resources again.

"Is there a royal jeweler?" I asked my three maids. The one who gave me the clue went back to work.

"Yes! It's in the basement too." We headed to the other side of the basement. I walked into another large room.

"Lady America! I'm glad you're here!" He put some papers in front of me on the glass counter of some ring designs. "The prince wanted me to ask you when you came: which one do you like best?" Rings! Maxon was already looking at rings! I looked closely, knowing I would see this decision every day for the rest of my life. Some were a little too over the top. Some were too simple. Some were just plain ugly. I chose the prettiest one. It looked simple but when you looked closer it was full of little details that made it stand out from the rest. "Excellent choice! Next question: which tiara do you Like best?" They were all beautiful but some look so heavy I wouldn't be able to stand straight. Then I noticed the one that looked like the tiara from The Selection symbol. I chose that one. "Another Excellent choice! Here's the paper." He handed me the next clue.

CLUE TEN

Well done!

You made it to the end!

But for there to be an end

You must go to the beginning.

Go to the first room

You went in the palace

Where you were primped and treated

For the very first time

It was the Women's Room. "Thank you!" I said to the jeweler. The maids led up the stairs and I ran into the Women's Room. There, the queen and Silvia were there alone

"Well done, America! You're first!" I smiled and let out a breathless laugh. "You're automatically exempt from elimination during the video diary challenge." Silvia said.

"Thank you!" I said. "And thank you your majesty!" I didn't dare say for what

"Whatever for, my child?" The queen asked with a knowing smile. I returned the knowing smile but didn't say anything.

I will be Maxon's wife. I just know it. I love him.

I sat down at the conference table set up in the Women's Room. Kris's came about five minutes after me. Elise came, then Celeste.

Hey! Sorry for the short chapter! There will be more on weekends than weekdays, I promise. So tell me what you think? Do you like it?

If any of you guys have any suggestions for what could happen next, please let me know. Also suggestion for what America could say in her video diary could be good, too.

Thank you guys for your support! I'll see you next chapter!