Disclaimer: Kiera Cass and Sarah J. Maas own everything

Prince James POV

"Oh god, the Selected are coming today! Has it really been a week?" I ask my father.

"Oh don't be so worried! You're the one choosing them, not the other way around. Look at your sister, she's not even bothered or worried at the thought of finding her 'soul mate'," my father responding, mock emphasizing the last two words.

There he goes again talking about my sister. Sometimes I think I rank last in my parent's love because my sister is just so "perfect". She never loses at anything, she's confident at everything and anything she does even if she doesn't even know what she's doing, and better than me in most things. I know my parents always tell us that they love us equally, but when you have a sibling that is the perfect person, then you kind of get envious.

"Hey dad," I say.

"Yeah?"

"Last Friday, at the Report, there was a picture of a boy in Aurora's selected group that had the last name Havilliard. I was just wondering if you know…"

My father seemed to guess what I was about to say even before I was about to said it.

"Your mother's old lover's son is in the competition. I have no idea how he got in."

I've never seen my father like this before. He looked so worked up, confused and angry. When that Havilliard kid comes to the palace, it sure is going to be awkward. I wonder how Aurora and mom are going to deal with it as I walk out of my father's room.

Princess Aurora's POV

My mother told me at the beginning of the week that it was going to be like this. Girls screaming, either at the poor maids or because they are super excited (all except one is the latter), and guys yelping as they get their body hair removed. The third floor had the best view of the action, you could see them, but they couldn't see you. It's funny to watch, but I have to focus because it's the only way I can choose who I think are right for my brother. For example, if they act bratty and yell at the maids, then I know exactly that they don't have a shot with my brother. He likes kind girls, not girls who are so self-absorbed and conceited. It's also a chance for me to get to know the guys in my selection without them knowing.

All of a sudden, a voice behind asks, "Your Highness, would you like some tea,"

I turn around and see my head maid Anne. Anne always knew where I was even if I didn't tell her.

"Thank you"

I take the cup by its white porcelain handle, smelling the sweet fragrance of the chrysanthemum, my favorite.

"So who do you think is going to be your brother's favorite," asks Anne.

I almost forgot that she was here. Mom told me maids always liked to gossip about the selection. Anne, Callie, and Tiffany couldn't even stop talking about it when I first brought it up.

"'That dark red-headed girl over there at station 6. She seems like a good match for my brother."

I pointed my head in the direction of the girl who was know sitting in a chair with a backdrop and a camera sitting in front of it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was getting interviewed.

"You know everybody is so elated that this is finally here," Anne suddenly bursts out.

"Why"

"Because we finally get to see you fall in love. Your brother has dabbled a little in love, but you have never. You have always stayed away from it as if it were some dead poison," Anne stated, as if it were a fact.

"That's not true," I said stubbornly.

Anne left without another word, and I knew I had upset her. It's just a reflex. When someone or something tries to attack I attack back. I begin to ponder Anne's words. Have I really acted like that? I mean, it's just because I didn't love anybody yet. Then I remember when I was on the Capital Report. I probably looked disgusted by the Selection. No wonder everybody around me was trying to cheer me up about it. I won't let people think I'm so cold-hearted, so I go back to looking through the application of the selected with a new attitude.

I flip page after page until I found a picture of a jet black haired boy with the most mesmerizing dark blue eyes.

"Logan Havilliard, well that's a memorable name," I mumble to myself.

I skim through the application and stop at the caste. He's a One! Why is he even in the competition then? The rules stated that only people from Illea could be in the competition. How bizarre? I'll just ask mother or Logan about this later. Or maybe I could ask him right now if I could spot him, even though the rules stated that I wasn't supposed to meet any of the Selected until tomorrow.

I try to spot Logan in the group of boys who are sitting on the circular couches in the corner. So far, all I see are blondes, browns, and blacks, but not jet black.

Soon enough, Silvia headed towards the group of Selected, probably giving them a tour and bringing them to their rooms. This was my que to get up and go into my room.

"Girls get used to that room- you'll be spending a lot of time there, and the men's parlor is all the way on the other side of the palace. Now on your way in, you passed the Great Room, which is generally used for parties and banquets. If there were too many of you men and ladies here, that's where you'd be taking your meals, but the regular dining room is large enough to meet your needs. Let's take a quick step in there." I hear Silvia say through the door of my room.

A few minutes later, I could hear Silvia's voice again.

"Another thing that is off-limits: the third floor. The royal family has their private rooms up there, and any sort of intrusion will not be tolerated. Your rooms are all located on the second floor."

I couldn't hear Silvia's voice anymore. Must be because she walked too far away. But I've got bigger problems to worry, like what a One is doing in my selection.

Trivia:

Who is the current leader of the Northern rebels?