Prince Noah's POV
To say I was nervous was the world's largest understatement. I was completely and utterly terrified as I awaited the start of the Report. This was the night where I'd select thirty-five envelopes from thirty-five bowls and one of the would become my wife. It's a bit nerve-racking to be selecting the group of girls from which you're supposed to find your wife.
I sat in a chair off to the side as everyone prepared, twiddling my thumbs. I needed to be something or I'd start thinking and psych myself out. Imogene sauntered over to me holding up her plain scarlet dress and sat beside me. "How you hanging in there?" she asked me while comfortingly squeezing my shoulder. I shrugged, "I guess so. I just want to get this over with."
She laughed when we got the fifteen seconds to on-air warning. We both stood and Imogene gave me a good luck hug before running off to her seat. I stood next to the aging Gavril getting ready to plaster a smile on my face. My mom and dad gave me reassuring nods and I turned towards Gavril. "Are you ready, your highness?" he checked with me giving me a warm smile. "As I'll ever be," I replied and then the cameras started rolling.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Report! As you know today is a very important day for our Prince Noah and all the young women of Illéa. Shortly, our Prince will be selecting the girls for the Selection. But first we have King Maxon's advisor with some developments." Gavril managed to say charming just as per usual. I felt immense relief as the cameras panned way from where I was standing to the advisor but I knew not to revel in it for it wouldn't last.
Once the announcement that surely know one had listened to, I know I hadn't, was over I grabbed the mic from Gavril and approached the small table where the first bowl was set. "Now, I'm sure you're all very eager to find out who will be chosen-" I began and was interrupted by a cheer running through the crowd assembled. "So then I'll just get right into it. First we have Allens." I stared at the bowl for a moment trying to decide the best way to go about picking it was until I just thrust my hand into it and grabbed one from the bottom. I opened the envelope with shaking hands and pulled the paper out.
There was silence as I unfolded the paper and then read, "Serenity Nicole Weaver, a two." I looked at the picture for a moment and nodded my head in approval. The girl was an attractive redhead with a splattering of freckles across her entire face. Surely she was a nice girl. I handed the letter off to the side and some crew members removed the first bow and replaced it with another. This one Angeles. I selected the girl, looked at the picture for the camera to get my reaction, handed it off, and then it repeated. Over and over and over.
A few of the girls stuck out more than others. A girl named Kimari was quite the stunner and I may have found myself staring at her picture with my jaw open for a bit longer than I meant. One girl named Infinity Louvre shocked everyone in the room. She was an eight. No eight has ever been in the Selection before. I have a feeling my father will be making sure a serious background check goes on with her. Just in case. He recognized Claretta Ellington as a very well known party planner with a powerful family. They pretty much knew everyone and anyone important. Her family had organized many charity galas that the royal family has been aligned with.
I couldn't quite remember all thirty-five at the end, but I was quite satisfied with myself as I stepped back from the final picking...done. I joined my family at our seats and as Gavril wrapped everything up I found myself in a bit of a daze. It was surreal that my Selection would occur in a few weeks. Preparations would be made and then they would all be here. And one of them would become my wife.
Okay, so I know this a really short chapter but I felt like it was a good place to end. Pluuuuusss now I can start getting the girls to the palace. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible now. I've starting figuring out whose going to make it to the Elite and what any side plots will be. You guys sent so many great girls! There are four that I'm choosing between to be the winner but I'll have to see how they develope as the story goes on. Thanks for reading!