The Elite (Selection)

smile disappeared. “I wouldn’t lie and say anything bad about you, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to tell Maxon you did something good. I can’t.”
    “It doesn’t have to be that way,” I said quietly.
    She shook her head. “Yes, it does. This isn’t just some prize. This is a husband, a crown, a future. And you probably have the most to gain or lose by it.”
    I stood there, completely stunned. I thought we were friends. Except for Celeste, I really trusted these girls. Was I too blind to see how hard they were fighting?
    “That doesn’t mean I don’t like you,” she went on. “I like you a lot. But I can’t cheer for you to win.”
    I nodded, still taking in her words. It was obvious I wasn’t as mentally in this as she was. One more thing that made me doubt my ability to do this job.
    Elise smiled over my shoulder, and I turned to see the Italian princess coming toward us.
    “Pardon me. Can I have the hostess, please?” she asked in her lovely accent.
    Elise gave her a curtsy before heading back to the dancing. I tried to shake off that conversation and focus on the person I was meant to impress.
    “Princess Nicoletta, I’m sorry we haven’t gotten to speak much today,” I said, giving her a curtsy myself.
    “Oh, no! You’ve been very busy. My cousins, they love you!”
    I laughed. “They’re very funny.”
    Nicoletta pulled me into a corner of the room. “We’ve been hesitant to make bonds with Illéa. Our people are much … freer than yours.”
    “I can see that.”
    “No, no,” she said seriously. “I mean, in personal freedoms. They enjoy more than you. You have the castes still, yes?”
    Suddenly understanding that this was more than a friendly conversation, I nodded.
    “We watch, of course. We see what happens here. The riots, the rebels. It seems people are not happy?”
    I wasn’t sure what to say. “Your Majesty, I don’t know if I’m the best person to talk to about this. I don’t really control anything.”
    Nicoletta took my hands. “But you could.”
    A shiver ran through me. Was she saying what I thought?
    “We saw what happened to the girl. The blonde?” she whispered.
    “Marlee.” I nodded. “She was my best friend.”
    She smiled. “And we saw you. There’s not much footage, but we saw you run. We saw you fight.”
    The look in her eyes mirrored the way Queen Amberly had looked at me this morning. There was unmistakable pride there.
    “We are very much interested in forming a bond with a powerful nation, if that nation can change. Unofficially, if there is anything we can do to help you acquire the crown, let us know. You have our full support.”
    She crammed a piece of paper into my hand and walked away. As she turned her back, she shouted out something in Italian, and the room roared with delight. I didn’t have pockets, so I quickly shoved the note in my bra, praying that no one would notice.
    Our reception went on much longer than the first, and I suspected it was because our guests were too happy to actually leave. Still, for as lengthy as it was, the whole thing passed in a blur.
    Hours later, I headed back to my room completely worn out. I was much too full to even think about dinner, and though it was early in the evening, the idea of going straight to bed was very appealing.
    Before I could even look at my bed, however, Anne walked up to me with a surprise. I gasped and took the letter from her hand immediately. I had to give the postal workers at the palace credit; they were very fast.
    I tore open the envelope and went to the balcony, soaking up my father’s words and the last few rays of sunshine at the same time.
    DEAR AMERICA,
    YOU’LL NEED TO WRITE A LETTER TO MAY SOON. WHEN SHE SAW THIS WAS INTENDED FOR MY EYES ONLY, SHE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE TO SAY, I WAS A LITTLE CAUGHT OFF GUARD MYSELF. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT CERTAINLY NOT WHAT YOU ASKED.
    FIRST, IT’S TRUE. WHEN WE CAME TO VISIT, I SPOKE WITH MAXON, AND HE WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT HIS INTENTIONS TOWARD YOU. I DON’T THINK HE HAS IT IN HIM TO BE LESS THAN GENUINE, AND I BELIEVED (AND STILL DO) THAT HE CARES ABOUT YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK IF THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS SIMPLER, HE’D HAVE CHOSEN YOU ALREADY. PART OF ME THINKS THE SLOWNESS IS ON YOUR SIDE. AM I WRONG?
    THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS YES. I APPROVE OF MAXON, AND IF YOU WANT TO BE WITH HIM, I SUPPORT THAT. IF YOU DON’T, I SUPPORT THAT, TOO. I LOVE YOU, AND I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY. MAYBE THAT MEANS YOU