The Decision- A sequel to 'The Heir' by Keira Cass

Chapter Ten

Raoul, along with Lodge had dates with me this week, and both of them were sent home that same week. That left me with 13 valid choices for the Selection, and I was a little worried because 13 is probably the unluckiest of all numbers. I didn't feel any sparks with Raoul, and Lodge, well, he was boring. He didn't do anything wrong, but he didn't do anything right either.

"Are you sure you aren't being too fussy?" Asked Kaden, looking at me from across my room.

"I'm sure" I said, mockingly sticking my tongue out at him.

"You suck at this. If I was having a Selection, I would have picked the prettiest one and kicked them all out." A cheesy grin spread over Kaden's face.

"Kaden! That's awful, you can't just go by looks, you know." I cried, laughing at his ridiculous idea.

"Yeah, well you kicked out eleven of them on the first day."

"That was different! You didn't have staring at your cleavage."

"Ew. Too much information."

"That's what you get for the insults," I called as he left me to be by myself. What if I was being too fussy though? Anyway, it was my life, so I could as I pleased. I was the future queen of Illea, after all. I got up and walked over to my mirror. I stared at my reflection, I looked powerful. I picked up my favorite tiara from my collection and placed it on my head. Staring at my reflection again, I wasn't sure about what I saw. My hazel coloured eyes looked cold, almost like they had no emotion. Why was I like this? I knew I needed to be strong, powerful, able to carry a country on my shoulders, but I hadn't even figured myself out yet. Hot tears slowly streamed down my face.

"I'm not ready!" I said to myself, holding back my choking sobs. I needed comfort, so I rang for Neena, and she was in my room within minutes.

"Oh, Miss Eadlyn! What's wrong?" She asked, rushing over to where I sat.

"Please, Neena. Can you get my mother?"

"Of course," Neena replied, knowing that this was an issue meant for a mother rather than a maid. Before I could count to ten, Mom had rushed to my side, cradling me gently. Soothing my worries.

"Oh, my little Eady. What ever is the matter?" Mom asked, wiping the tears from my face.

"I can't do this, Mom! I can't. How am I supposed to run the entire country when I don't even understand the people who live in it? I don't even know if I'll find someone I actually want to marry in this stupid Selection. I've already kicked out like ten people purely because I thought they were too dull! I can't do a job made for two people." I sobbed for a while.

I could tell Mom thought about the situation, because she took a deep breath and squinted her eyes for a few seconds. "Eady, I can tell you that this is probably one of the hardest jobs available. I know, I've been there. But, I also know that you are a strong, beautiful and independent young woman. You'll learn over time how to do the job, and besides, you still have a few years yet before you will actually start."

"But what about the Selection?"

"You will find love, it will happen. And trust me, there are several young men who I know would happily be your husband. Keep in mind that your father gave eight people the boot on the first day, as well."

"Do you think?"

"Oh, I know so. Some of them are pretty cute, too huh?" This made me laugh a little. Even when I was bawling my eyes out, Mom knew how to make me laugh. "Do you want me to order some tea?"

"You read my mind, Mom! Oh, and some of those chocolate cremes, too."

"Sounds like a plan."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Eady." Mom said before ringing the bell for a maid.

I never realised how the Selection had panned out for Mom and Dad before. They had given us plenty of hints relating to their argumentative nature, but I never saw it from Mom's point of view. We must have talked for hours, she told me everything. The one thing that struck me as the most surprising was that she told me that she kicked him in the groin when they met. If I was Dad, I probably would have sent her home. I loved the story about Aunt May and the three boxes of strawberry tarts, Mom had always put her sisters before herself. She did that for everybody, actually. That's why she was so stressed. All she did was do things for others, including me.