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

Chapter Eighteen

What was I doing?
I can't do this! I'm deciding my future, and I had absolutely NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING.
"UUUUUUGH," I flopped onto my bed. "I can't choose!" I really liked Hale, sure. But it felt too safe. The safe choice. The easy choice. I'd decide to have Hale and Henry as my most definite choices I had in my final few. As much as I wanted to choose someone, I missed Kile. That was something I never thought I would have heard myself say.
I missed Kile. I really, really missed him. Why did I have to miss him? On top of all the mooshy-stuff, Dad said that the Youth Rebellion had planned an attack on the Palace and were going to make their way upward through Illea from there.

We had added extra guard rotations, and the palace guards had a number down their left forearm, hidden under the uniforms to prove identification in case the guards were attacked and robbed of their uniforms. We weren't allowed to have dates outside, just in case.
Eventually, I forced myself off my bed and changed into the dress I would be wearing for the Report tomorrow. I strode down the staircase and many hallways until I reached the filming room. I had to pre-film segment where I announced who I was to send home. Leeland was the clear choice. He just panicked when any of the Royal Advisers asked a question.
I glided over to my seat, fixed my posture and looked the at the camera dead center.
    "Action, sweety," said the director.
    "I have decided to send home Leeland Alberts. It seemed he was unfortunately unable to share his opinions with the Selected and with the Royal Advisers, which is a very important skill to have as someone who may aid the the running of our precious country."
    "Cut!" Said the director. "We'll play this tomorrow before the Youth Rebellion report."
    "Thanks," I murmured. We didn't have many Selected left. I would be forced to choose soon.  Choose a husband. Husband. Husband. Husband. The word kept ringing inside my head. 
    "I'll be back later," I said to the director. I needed fresh air.

When I reached the palace gardens, I stopped and drank in the serene view. All the trees had turned bright gold, oranges and vibrant reds. Leaves had scattered the ground, making crunching sounds as I walked. The world was falling into a deep, copper coloured sleep. The breeze was chilly, but the sun warmed my bare shoulders and engulfed any shred of darkness which dared to creep through the trees. Birds chirped in the background, muffled by the breeze. For the first time in a while, everything seemed, peaceful.
    I made my way over to a pair of benches, which sat next to a marble fountain. I sighed, and took a soaked up the afternoon air. Everything is going to be ok. You are Eadlyn Schreave, and you have the power in this situation. 
    Before I could make another move, a palace guard came up to me. "Uh, excuse me Princess, but I was informed by the Captain that the royal family were not to spend too long outside.
    "You're new here, aren't you?" I asked. It was obvious. Pristine uniform, slightly scrawny an sweating like a pig. He was clearly nervous to approach me.
    "Yes, your highness." His hands started to tremble. How cute.
    "Well, I shall spend time out here when I like, is that clear? I am going to be the next queen, and I don't need you to tell me what to do." This was going to be too easy. New guards were always too scared at first to enforce the rules to heavily.
    "Oh, uh of course. Excuse me, Princess," The guard said before blushing and hastily walking away after giving me a bow. 
 
    I laughed. He had clearly only been enlisted a few months ago.
    "What's so funny?" That voice. I knew that voice. I spun around, trying not to let the sun blind me.
    "Kile,"I said, in shock. "I thought you left! You didn't do very well in the goodbyes department."
    "I had to leave in a rush."
    "That's not a very valid excuse."
    "Honestly, the director of the architecture course said I had two days to pack up and come join or the offer was going down the drain."Two days. You had two days? And you didn't come say goodbye. Miss Marlee was heartbroken, by the way. You should go say hi."
    "That can wait. We need to talk."

    "No," I said. I stayed firm. He didn't just get to say sorry and chat me up.
    "What? But I thought we could-"

    I decided to stop the conversation before I had to listen any further. "No, Kile. You do not just get to leave me a fucking note, leave the Selection and don't say goodbye. Leave me alone, you lost your chance." I pushed past him and stormed into the palace, I didn't need to deal with this right now.
    "But Ealdyn! I need to explain, I-"
    I left before he could finish. He didn't deserve my attention right now.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I got into the saftey of Dads study. I shut the door and saw Daddy frowning at a reasonably sized  stack of papers, hunched over at his desk.
    "How are you, Love?" Dad asked when he noticed me walking over to his desk. He must have noticed my expression, because he then proceeded to pester me until I told him what was wrong. 
    "Guess who's back?"

    "Ahren?" He seemed to perk up just a little when he said Ahren's name.
    "No, Kile."
    "I'm struggling to figure out if that is a good or a bad thing." 
    "Bad, I guess. He just kind of up and left without saying goodbye."
    "He does want to be an architect. However, I don't think it was necessarily a good thing that he left without telling you properly."
    "I don't know what to do. I saw him before, he kept saying he wanted to talk to me, but I don't think I really want to hear it."
    "It could be an apology, you know," Dad said, looking at me with a sympathetic smile.
    "Even so, he's kind of wasted all of his chances."
    "Are you ready to have a, uh, whatever it is you guys had before? Because you don't have to do anything just because he's come back."
    "Not yet. I'll give it some time."
    "Good girl. I don't want you rushing anything. You've got a fair bit of weight to carry on your shoulders."
    I gave Dad a hug, and decided to find something to do.  Eventually, I went to go and find Calvin. A date would take the whole situation off my mind. Kile drama was not what I wanted right now.