The Selection ✓

fourteen - don't we all live for drama

Although Kiera Cass' official sequel to the trilogy has been released, titled The Heir, and most recently, The Crown, this will not deter any events in this book drastically, or alter it in any way. This book will continue as normal, and think of it as an alternate ending to her story. I love Kiera Cass, and I enjoyed reading both sequels so very much that I hope this book does eventually do it justice.

As for the requests, yes, there will finally be more America present in this story though she is not the most relevant character, for obvious reasons.

***

The women's rooms happened to be overflowing today. As a result of Lucas' date frenzy that occurred last week, a few girls had been sent home. Though one of the group had taken it relatively well, offering him a decent remark, the rest had been quite bitter, and well, bitchy.

What did you expect, exactly?

And, as what Sylvia called the most embarrassing portion of the entire duration was the fact that 'all their reactions had been recorded' despite being released at different times, on different days.

The remaining sixteen, A newspaper article read, ranking the unjust reactions of the girls from most to least reactive. Don't we all live for drama?

Articles surrounding indiscreet outbursts that have the Illeans eating their words on whether our bunch was even half as decent as a Queen needed to be, and many were requesting for a re-do in handpicking the Selected started to flow in. And Sylvia was fuming. 

"I cannot understand how all of you can be so, commoner-like?" She roared, as the last few girls were being collated into the small room. "Is it so hard to ask to be even remotely proper?"

The Queen, America, stood up from her seat, and Sylvia curtsied, stepping aside, "I understand that the losing the Selection will make you lose your stance on your emotions, but a Queen must be proper in her attitude, otherwise, Lucas was right to send you home in the first place. The Selection is not only for him to find love, but to crown a rightful queen. One that would help benefit Illea." all eyes were trained on her as she spoke. "So, Maxo- The King, and I have decided that you each will be put in intensive etiquette lessons, whose effect will be vital to Lucas' choice to whether or not you will stay in the Selection."

We nodded, and she motioned for Sylvia to take the floor.

"You all are excused. Lessons begin tomorrow, straight out of breakfast. I'll have your maids notified of your new schedule, which if interested, they will be more than happy to tell you about. Besides any obligations that include etiquette lessons, mandatory appearances, and filmings on The Report. You are free to roam as you please or go on dates with Prince Lucas. As always, the third floor is off-limits unless a member of the Royal Family gives a special permit." she nods, and the girls begin to leave the area. 

"Holly." America greets.

"Hey," I wince as the words slip through my mouth, "America."

She smiles, "Good to see that you learn." a small pause, "I heard about your date." she sends a suggestive wink as I sigh.

"Yeah," I say, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck, "It's either, you're really good at managing the palace, or Lucas is too easy to get talking."

"Nice logic." Once again, I realize why being in her motherly presence is so comforting. "I heard certain someone had his first kiss yesterday, and it wasn't you." I laughed.

"I bet the selection was just as interesting this generation as it was when you were a participant." I grinned, "There has to be some juicy gossip there."

She shook her head, "I'm sure you've heard of the knee in the groin, a disapproved parental reaction, there isn't that much more besides a mean-girl-turned-nice putting glass in a shoe, ripping my dress, a worldwide obsession with blue, oh, and stealing Maxon's camera. That day was the best." She sighed in awe, reminiscing about her happiest moments.

"Oh," I cackled excitedly, "And the first ever Halloween celebration. You guys sounded like you had a blast." a short intake of breath, "I wish this generation's selection would put a decent fight up to the last."

She grinned, the magazine falling slightly from her hands, "I'm sure it won't disappoint."

Oh, I'm sure. After all, the drama involved fighting for his heart was about to get a lot crazier real soon. Especially with our competitiveness being pushed to its limits.

***

Sylvia raised her eyes from the two-thousand-page booklet she had in front of her, coursing to the subject of matter, etiquette. It really wasn't that hard to control your image in front of the cameras, the problem was being perfect all the time because when the camera disappears, is when your true colors shine. 

But, the cameras are always watching. They're just hidden. And that's the biggest mistake the selected have made.

From the camera's perspective, you can't hear, only see, and therefore, you're actions can't be sudden, jerking, or melodramatic, because people only assume. They don't know if you were simply joking, all they will say is that you aren't graceful, you aren't 'of class', and you aren't worthy.

She slammed the booklet shut with a heavy thud, and began to circle the clusters of girls that either stood or sat as she continued to speak, "Rule number four. You are never to run unless it's for your life. This is part of our social class. 

"Understood?" To which we nodded almost instantly.

"If dates with the prince require you to indulge in such, then make sure you are in the correct attire, and with the intention to do so, not simply because you were bored. Along with this comes rule five, posture." she continued to blabber as if we hadn't already known this.

Even Sylvia probably knew that this basic an etiquette, would be known by everyone, but apparently, she wanted to make sure that we were in complete agreement not to make a fool of ourselves and the palace on air.

I zoned out for a bit until she moved on to rule eight, "Do not display any signs of extreme excitement, remorse, sadness, anger, or any emotion in general. You must carry a poker face throughout the entire duration. You are welcome to contort your face in manners of your preference, it simply must not be extreme, or in a non-polite manner. For references, you can observe the current Queen, King, and the Princes." she noted, "And you will find a strangely familiar pattern amongst them."

No one dared to speak up.

"Dismissed."