I PACED THE FLOOR, TRYING to walk the anxiety out of my body. When the Selection was something in the distanceâa possibility for my futureâit sounded thrilling. But now? Well, I wasnât so sure.
The census had been compiled, the figures checked multiple times. The palace staff was being reallocated, wardrobe preparations were being made, and rooms were being readied for our new guests. The momentum was building, exciting and terrifying in one fell swoop.
For the girls, the process started once they filled out the formsâthousands must have done so by this point. For me, it started tonight.
I was nineteen. Now, I was eligible.
Stopping in front of my mirror, I checked my tie again. There would be more eyes watching than usual tonight, and I needed to look like the self-confident prince everyone was expecting. Finding no fault, I left for my fatherâs study.
I nodded at advisors and familiar guards along the way. It was hard to imagine that in less than two weeks, these halls would be flooded with girls. My knock was firm, a request made by Father himself. It seemed there was always a lesson for me to learn.
Knock with authority, Maxon.
Stop pacing all the time, Maxon.
Be faster, smarter, better, Maxon.
âCome in.â
I entered the study, and Father briefly moved his eyes from his reflection to acknowledge me. âAh, there you are. Your mother will be along shortly. Are you ready?â
âOf course,â I replied. There was no other acceptable answer.
He reached over and grabbed a small box, placing it in front of me on his desk. âHappy birthday.â
I pulled back the silvery paper, revealing a black box. Inside were new cuff links. He was probably too consumed to remember that heâd gotten me cuff links for Christmas. Perhaps that was part of the job. Maybe Iâd accidentally get my son the same gift twice when I was king. Of course, to get that far Iâd need a wife first.
Wife. I let the word play on my lips without actually saying it aloud. It felt too foreign.
âThank you, sir. Iâll wear them now.â
âYouâll want to be at your best tonight,â he said, tearing himself away from the mirror. âThe Selection will be on everyoneâs thoughts.â
I gave him a tight smile. âMine included.â I debated telling him how anxious I was. Heâd been through this, after all. He must have had his own doubts once upon a time.
Evidently, my nerves read on my face.
âBe positive, Maxon. This is meant to be exciting,â he urged.
âIt is. Iâm just a bit shocked at how fast itâs all happening.â I focused on lacing the metal through the holes on my sleeves.
He laughed. âIt seems fast to you, but itâs been years in the making on my end.â
I narrowed my eyes, looking up from my task. âWhat do you mean?â
The door opened then, and my mother walked in. In typical fashion, Father lit up for her. âAmberly, you look stunning,â he said, going to greet her.
She smiled in that way she always did, as if she couldnât believe anyone would notice her, and embraced my father. âNot too stunning, I hope. I wouldnât want to steal attention.â Letting Father go, she came and held me tight. âHappy birthday, son.â
âThanks, Mom.â
âYour gift is coming,â she whispered, then turned back to Father. âAre we all ready, then?â
âIndeed we are.â He held out an arm, she took it, and I walked in their shadows. As always.
âAbout how much longer is it, Your Majesty?â one reporter asked. The light of the video cameras was hot in my face.
âThe names are drawn this Friday, and the girls will actually arrive the Friday after that,â I answered.
âAre you nervous, sir?â a new voice called.
âAbout marrying a girl I havenât met yet? All in a dayâs work.â I winked, and the watching crowd chuckled.
âDoesnât it set you on edge at all, Your Majesty?â
I gave up trying to align the question with a face. I just answered in the general direction it came from, hoping to get it right. âOn the contrary, Iâm very excited.â Sort of.
âWe know youâll make an excellent choice, sir.â A camera flash blinded me.
âHear, hear!â others called.
I shrugged. âI donât know. Any girl who settles for me canât possibly be a sane woman.â
They laughed again, and I took that as a good stopping point. âForgive me, I have family visiting, and I donât wish to be rude.â
Turning my back to the reporters and photographers, I took a deep breath. Was the whole evening going to be like this?
I looked around the Great Roomâthe tables covered in dark blue cloths, the lights burning brightly to show the splendorâand I saw there wasnât much of an escape for me. Dignitaries in one corner, reporters in anotherâno place I could just be quiet and still. Considering the fact that I was the person being celebrated, one would think that I could choose the way in which it happened. It never seemed to work out that way.