Chapter 1

Zylphire's POV

"Siiiiiisssssss~~~" Abriana said as she goes in the room in our dorm.

"Wut?" I said.

"The principaalll is calllingggg youuuuuu~~~~" She said.

"Fine I'm going" I said and walked away.

"DON'T FORGET THE WATERMELONS" she shouted from afar.

"I'M GOING TO EARN MONEY HONEY!" I joked.

As I get closer to the principal's office I get nervous and nervous gosh!  What will the principal say I'm so freaking nervous.

*knock knock* I knocked.

"Come in" the principal said.

"Good afternoon Mr. Principal" I said.

"Good afternoon Ms. Vale..... So let's go to the top "You are chosen as one of the selected of Prince Jaxvien" My jaw dropped.

"WHat!" I shouted. "I already love someone!" I said.

"And if you don't you will be expelled and never be accepted in different school" he said calmly.

"FINE!" I stormed out and chose my favorite part in the University which led me to the garden.

One hour later (imagine this on Spongebob voice I swear you'll laugh)

"A million thoughts in my head should I let my heart keep listening cause up till now I've walked the line nothing lost but something missin' I can't decide what's wrong what's right which way should I go~~" I sung as tears got their way out.

"Boo!" A man said and I know who he is Jack my one and only love. "You know you really look like Prince Jaxvien" I complimented him and he went pale.

"Hey! Jack what happened you look really pale" I said and snapped him out of his thoughts.

"I'm going to the Capital of Illea" he blurted out of blue.

"What!?" I screamed looking really shocked.

"You too!? Jack they just said I should go to that dumb selection" I cried.

"And you should know tha--" I didn't continue what I could say because he kissed me.

"I love you Zylphire Vale" he started. "I will always love you. And I think...... You should sign up for the Selection I think you might got a chance to see me there when I was a soldier." He said.

"I think I will because YOU BROKE MY HEART A**HOLE" I shouted at him I'm really mad. I just walked away I let my tears have it's way. When I go through the dorm I saw Abriana in my peripheral vision looking at me with worry. I plopped down to my bed and I let all the tears get out of my heart.

The Selection

Name: Zylphire Vale

Age: 17 years old

Hometown: Carolina

Hair color: Brunette

Eye color: Brown

I signed the papers and send it to the Principal I plopped to my bed again thinking about my future. Will I be able to love Jaxvien Schreave? Can I live without Jack? I don't even know he's surname..... Can I live? That's what played through my mine over and over again.

The next day came early but it passed after two weeks.

"ZYL!!!!!" I heard Abriana screamed.

"What is it Yana?" I said with my eyes still closed.

"YOU WE'RE ACCEPTED BY THE PRINCE, YOU ARE A PROPERTY OF ILLÉA NOW!" She squealed I mean screamed to my ears.

"The f*ck Abriana my f*ucking ears" I swear to god I'll kill this girl just joking I love this friend the most.

"Oh! Sowwy I'm just excited" She said.

"Oh! So can I sleep?" I said.

"Yes you may" motioning to my bed.

THE NEXT WEEK WAS FULL of officials swarming into our house to prepare me for the Selection. There was an obnoxious woman who seemed to think I’d lied about half my application, followed by an actual palace guard who came to go over security measures with the local soldiers and give our home a once-over. Apparently I didn’t have to wait until getting to the palace to worry about potential rebel attacks. Wonderful.

We got two phone calls from a woman named Sapphire—who sounded very perky and businesslike at the same time—wanting to know if we needed anything. My favorite visitor was a lean, goateed man who came to measure me for my new wardrobe. I wasn’t sure how I felt about wearing dresses that were as formal as the queen’s all the time, but I was looking forward to a change.

The last of these visitors came on Wednesday afternoon, two days before I was to leave. He was in charge of going over all the official rules with me. He was incredibly skinny with greasy black hair that was smoothed back, and he kept sweating. Upon entering the dorm, he asked if there was someplace private we could talk. That was my first clue that something was going on.

“Well, we can sit in the kitchen, if that’s all right,” Abriana suggested.

He dabbed his head with a handkerchief and looked over at Aquisa my other friend. “Actually, anyplace is fine. I just think you might want to ask if she's your other friend”

What could he possibly say that Aquisa couldn’t hear?

"Zyl?” she asked, sad to be missing out.

“Aquisa, friend, go and work on your painting. You’ve been neglecting your work a bit this last week" I said and joked with her hair.

To her credit, she didn’t blow our cover by jumping up and down as usual. She merely nodded somberly and went away to her little corner in the studio.

Abriana made tea for Skinny, and we sat at the kitchen table to talk. He had a stack of papers and a pen laid out next to another folder with my name on it. He arranged his information neatly and spoke.

“I’m sorry to be so secretive, but there are certain things I need to address that are unfit for young ears.” he said motioning to the papers for me to sign.

Abriana and I exchanged a quick glance.

“Miss Vale, this is going to sound harsh, but as of last Friday, you are now considered property of Illéa. You must take care of your body from here on out. I have several forms for you to sign as we go through this information. Any failure to comply on your part will result in your immediate removal from the Selection. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I said warily.

“Very good. Let’s start with the easy stuff. These are vitamins. Since you are a Five in our last castes, I’ll assume that you may not always have access to necessary nutrition. You must take one of these every day. You’re on your own now, but at the palace, you’ll have someone to help you.” He passed a large bottle across the table to me, along with a form I had to sign to say that I had received it.

I had to stop myself from laughing. Who needs help taking a pill?

“I have with me the physical from your doctor. Not much of a worry there. You seem to be in excellent health, although he said you haven’t been sleeping well?”

“Umm, I mean … just with the excitement, it’s been a little hard to sleep.” It was almost the truth. The days were whirlwinds of palace preparation, but at night, when I was still, I thought of Jack. It was the one time I couldn’t avoid him coming into my mind, and it appeared he wasn’t eager to leave.

“I see. Well, I can have some sleep aids here tonight if you need them. We want you well rested.”

“No, I don’t—”

“Yes,” Abriana interrupted. “Sorry, honey, but you look exhausted. Please, get her the sleep aids.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Skinny made another note in my file. “Moving on. Now, I know this is personal, but I’ve had to discuss it with every contestant, so please don’t be shy.” He paused. “I need confirmation that you are, in fact, a virgin.”

Abriana’s eyes nearly popped out. So this was why Aquisa had to leave.

“Are you serious?” I couldn’t believe they’d send someone out to do this. At least send a woman…

“I’m afraid so. If you’re not, we need to know that immediately.”

Eww. And with my Abriana in the room. “I know the law, sir. I’m not stupid. Of course I am.”

“Consider, please. If you are found to be lying…”

“For goodness’ sake, Zylphire’s never even had a boyfriend!” Abriana said.

“That’s right.” I grabbed that rope, hoping it would end this discussion.

“Very good. I’ll just need you to sign this form to confirm your statement.”

I rolled my eyes but obeyed. I was glad Illéa existed, considering that this very land had nearly been turned to rubble, but these regulations were starting to make me feel like I was suffocating, like there were invisible chains keeping me down. Laws about who you could love, forms about your virginity being intact; it was infuriating.

“I need to go over the rules with you. They are very straightforward, and you shouldn’t have a hard time complying. If you have any questions, just speak up.”

He looked up from his stack of forms and made eye contact with me.

“I will,” I mumbled.

“You cannot leave the palace of your own accord. You have to be dismissed by the prince himself. Even the king and queen cannot force you out. They can tell the prince they do not approve of you, but he makes every decision on who stays and who leaves.

“There is no set timeline for the Selection. It can be over in a matter of days or stretch into years.”

“Years?” I asked in horror. The thought of being gone that long set me on edge.

“Not to worry. The prince is unlikely to let it go for very long. This is a moment for him to show his decisiveness, and allowing the Selection to drag on doesn’t look good. But should he choose to take it that way, you will be required to stay for as long as the prince needs to make his choice.”

My fear must have shown on my face because Abriana reached over and patted my hand. Skinny, however, was unfazed.

“You do not arrange your times with the prince. He will seek you out for one-on-one company if he wants it. If you are in a larger social setting and he is present, that is different. But you do not go to him without invitation.

“While no one expects you to get along with the other thirty-four contestants, you are not to fight with them or sabotage them. If you are found laying hands on another contestant, causing her stress, stealing from her, or doing anything that might diminish her personal relationship with the prince, it is in his hands whether or not to dismiss you on the spot.

“Your only romantic relationship will be with Prince Jaxvien. If you are found writing love notes to someone here or are caught in a relationship with another person in the palace, that is considered treason and is punishable by death.”

Abriana rolled her eyes at that one, though that might be the only rule that worried me.

“If you are found breaking any of Illéa’s written laws, you will receive the punishment tied to that offense. Your status as one of the Selected does not put you above the law.

“You must not wear any clothes or eat any food that is not specifically provided for you by the palace. This is a security issue and will be strictly enforced.

“On Fridays you will be present for all Capital Report broadcasts. On occasion, but always with warning, there will be cameras or photographers in the palace, and you will be courteous and allow them to see your lifestyle with the prince.

“For each week you stay at the palace, your family  will be compensated along with the School. I will give you your first check before I leave. Also, should you not stay at the palace, an aide will help you adjust to your life after the Selection. Your aide will assist you with final preparations before you leave for the palace, as well as help you seek new housing and employment afterward.

“Should you make it to the top ten, you will be considered an Elite. Once you reach that status, you will be required to learn about the particular inner workings of the life and obligations you would have as a princess. You are not permitted to seek out such details before that time.

“From this moment on, your status is a Three.”

“A Three?” Abriana and I both exclaimed.

“Yes. After the Selection, it’s hard for girls to go back to their old lives. Twos and Threes do fine, but Fours and below tend to struggle. You are a Three now, but the rest of your family remain Fives. Should you win, you and your entire family become Ones as members of the royal family.”

"But the castes is now dissolved right?" I exclaimed.

"Yes, but the castes is still an important status to us" he said.

“Ones.” The word was faint on Abriana’s lips.

“And should you go to the end, you will marry Prince Jaxvien and become the crowned princess of Illéa and take on all the rights and responsibilities of that title. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” That part, as big as it sounded, was the easiest to bear.

“Very good. If you could just sign this form saying you’ve heard all the official rules, and Ms. Smith, if you could just sign this form saying you received your check, please.”

I didn’t see the sum, but it made her eyes well. I was miserable at the idea of leaving, but I was sure if I went there only to be sent back the next day, this check alone would provide us with enough money for a very comfortable year. And when I got back, everyone would want me to sing. I’d have plenty of work. But would I be allowed to sing as a Three? If I had to pick one of the career paths of a Three, I think I’d teach. Maybe I could at least help others learn music.

Skinny collected his forms and stood to leave, thanking us for our time and for the tea. I would have to interact with only one more official before I left, and that would be my aide: the person who would guide me through getting from my house to the send-off to the airport. And then … then I’d be on my own.

Our guest asked if I would show him to the door, and Abriana consented, as she wanted to start dinner. I didn’t like being alone with him, but it was a short walk.

“One more thing,” Skinny said with his hand on the door. “This isn’t exactly a rule, but it would be unwise of you to ignore it. When you are invited to do something with Prince Jaxvien, you do not refuse. No matter what it is. Dinner, outings, kisses—more than kisses—anything. Do not turn him down.”

“Excuse me?” Was the same man who made me sign a form affirming my purity suggesting that I let Jaxvien have it if he wanted it?

“I know it sounds … unbecoming. But it would not behoove you to reject the prince under any circumstances. Good evening, Miss Vale.”

I was disgusted, revolted. The law, Illéan law, was that you were to wait until marriage. But one thing bothered me, it's just me and Jaxvien broke up.

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