The Prince: A Selection Novella (HarperTeen Impulse)

picks. I didn’t even catch the picture, as my new plan was to stare just above the monitors and smile.
    “Miss Mia Blue of Ottaro, Three.”
    It was too much to absorb. I’d learn their names and faces later, when the nation wasn’t watching.
    “Miss Celeste Newsome of Clermont, Two.” I raised my eyebrows, not that I even saw her face. If she was a Two, she must be an important one, so I’d better look impressed.
    “Clarissa Kelley of Belcourt, Two.”
    As the list rolled on, I smiled to the point that my cheeks ached. All I could think of was how much this meant to me—how a huge part of my life was falling into place right now—and I couldn’t even rejoice in it. If I’d picked the names myself out of a bowl in a private room, saw their faces on my own, before anyone else, how that would have changed everything in this moment.
    These girls were mine, the only thing in the world that might ever truly feel that way.
    And then they weren’t.
    “And there you have it!” Gavril announced. “Those are our beautiful Selection candidates. Over the next week they will be prepared for their trip to the palace, and we will eagerly await their arrival. Tune in next Friday for a special edition of the Report devoted exclusively to getting to know these spectacular women. Prince Maxon,” he said, turning my way, “I congratulate you, sir. Such a stunning group of young women.”
    “I’m quite speechless,” I replied, not lying in the slightest.
    “Don’t worry, sir, I’m sure the girls will do most of the talking once they arrive next Friday. And to you”—he spoke to the camera—“don’t forget to stay tuned for all the latest Selection updates right here on the Public Access Channel. Good night, Illéa!”
    The anthem played, the lights went down, and I finally let my posture relax.
    Father stood and gave me a firm and startling pat on the back. “Well done. That was a vast deal better than I thought you’d fare.”
    “I have no clue what just happened.”
    He laughed along with a handful of advisors who were lingering on set. “I told you, son, you’re the prize. There’s no need to be stressed. Don’t you agree, Amberly?”
    “I assure you, Maxon, the ladies have much more to worry about than you do,” she confirmed, rubbing my arm.
    “Exactly,” Father said. “Now, I’m starving. Let’s enjoy our last few peaceful meals together.”
    I stood, walking slowly, and Mom kept my pace.
    “That was a blur,” I whispered.
    “We’ll get the photos and applications to you so you can study them at your leisure. It’s just like getting to know anyone. Treat it like spending time with any of your other friends.”
    “I don’t have very many friends, Mom.”
    She gave me a knowing smile. “Yes, it’s confining in here,” she agreed. “Well, think about Daphne.”
    “What about her?” I asked, a bit on edge.
    Mom didn’t notice. “She’s a girl, and you two have always been friendly. Pretend it’s just like that.”
    I faced forward. Without realizing it, she soothed a huge fear in my heart while stoking another.
    Since our fight, whenever I thought about Daphne, it wasn’t about how she might be getting along with Frederick right now, or how much I missed her company. All I thought about were her accusations.
    If I was in love with her, certainly it would be all of her attributes that filled my head. Or tonight, as the Selected girls were listed, I would have wished her name were in there somewhere.
    Maybe Daphne was right, and I didn’t know how to properly show love. But even if that were the case, I knew with a growing certainty that I didn’t love her.
    A corner of my soul rejoiced in knowing that I wasn’t missing out on something. I could enter the Selection with no restraints on my affection. But in another space, I mourned. At least if I had misunderstood my emotions, I could boast at the fact that once upon a time, I’d been in love, that I knew what it felt like. But I still had no clue. I supposed it was always meant to be that way.

CHAPTER 5
    I N THE END, I DIDN’T look at the applications. I had a lot of reasons to not bother, but ultimately, I convinced myself it was best if it was a clean slate for all of us once we were introduced. Besides, if Father had pored over all the candidates in detail, maybe I didn’t want to.
    I held a comfortable distance between the Selection and myself . . . until the event crossed my threshold.
    Friday morning, I was