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I broughtto lose it on national television, and on top of everything Ahren had said about how people felt aboutI wanted
I looked down Mom needed me Dad needed me Maybe, in a small way, even the country neededaway the tears, I went on
“Please pray for her speedy recovery, as we all adore her and still depend on her guidance”
I breathed It was the only way to get from any moment to the next Breathe in, breathe out
“My reat respect for the Selection, which, as you all know, led to e As such, I’ve decided to honor what I knoould be her deepest wish and continue with my own Selection
“Due to the stress placed on our household in the last twenty-four hours, I think it wise to cut my suitors down to the Elite My father narrowed his field to six instead of ten because of extenuating circuentlemen have been invited to stay on in the Selection: Sir Gunner Croft, Sir Kile Woodwork, Sir Ean Cabel, Sir Hale Garner, Sir Fox Wesley, and Sir Henri Jaakoppi”
These na, like I kne proud they were of this low of it, even from a distance
It was alht die, and that the Selection would carry on Now came the neas terrified to deliver Thanks to Ahren, I understood exactly what ht of me What kind of response would I receive?
“WithMaxon Schreave, has chosen to reent until he feels fit to reclaim his title I will make all decisions of state until further notice It is with a heavy heart that I assu any peace to my parents
“We will have more updates on all these matters as they becoood day”
The ca in one of the chairs that were usually reserved for my fa to regain et aith it, but there was tooon the list was to check on Moain, then off to work At some point today I would have to meet with the Elite as well
As I went to exit the studio, I stopped short because entlemen The first face I saas Hale’s His expression lit up as he held out a flower “For you”
I looked down the line and saw they all had flowers in their hands, some with roots still noticeably attached All I could assume was that they had heard their naarden, and come down here
“You idiots,” I sighed “Thank you”
I took Hale’s flower and hugged hi every day,” he whispered, “but let me know if you need me to up it to two, okay?”
I held hihter “Thanks”
Ean was next, and though we’d only ever touched during those staged photos of our date, I foundhim
“I get the feeling you were coerced into this,” I murmured
“I took mine from a vase in the hallway Don’t tell the staff on me”
I patted his back, and he did the same to me
“She’ll be okay,” he promised “You all will”
Kile had pricked his finger on a thorn and held his bleeding hand aardly away froh and was perfect
“For smiles,” Henri said as I added his flower to my messy bouquet
“Good, good,” I replied, and he laughed at me
Even Erik had gotten me a flower I smirked a bit as I took it
“This is a dandelion,” I told him
He shrugged “I know Some see a weed; some see a flower Perspective”
I wrappedat the others as I held hi the same treatment as they had
Gunner sed, not able to say ently before I moved on
Fox had three flowers in his hand “I couldn’t pick”
I smiled “They’re all beautiful Thanks”
Fox’s eht, like he needed the support more than the others did I held on to him as I looked back at my Elite
No, this whole process made no sense, but I could see how it happened, how your heart could get swept up in the endeavor And that was my hope now: that somehow duty and love would overlap, and I’d find myself happy in the middle of it all
CHAPTER 2
MOM’S HANDS FELT SO SOFT, al es of a stone I sh stone once upon a time
“Did you ever used to get it wrong?” I asked “Say the wrong words, do the wrong things?”
I waited for an answer, receiving nothing but the hum of equipment and the beat of the monitor
“Well, you and Dad used to fight, so yousometimes”
I held her hand tighter, trying to warm it in mine
“I etting married and that you’re a littleindisposed at thecut, but Dad said it was okay and that he did that when it was his turn, so no one can get upset” I sighed “Regardless, I have a feeling people will still find a way to get upset with me”
I bli
nked back tears, worried she’d sense how scared I was The doctors believed that the shock of Ahren’s departure was the catalyst for her current condition, though I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d contributed to her stress daily, like drops of poison so serous until it had overtaken them
“Anyway, I’ets back He says it shouldn’t be too difficult Honestly, I feel like General Leger had the toughest job of anyone today, trying to get Dad to go eat, because he fought so hard to stay here with you The general was insistent, though, and Dad finally caved I’er, Ia backup parent”
I held her hand a little tighter and leaned in, whispering “Please don’t h, okay? I still need you The boys still need you And Dadhe looks like he ht fall apart if you leave So when it’s tiht?”
I waited for herto show that she could hear
Just then Dad tore through the door with General Leger on his heels I wiped atno one would notice
“See,” General Leger said “She’s stable The doctors would coed”
“All the same, I prefer to be here,” Dad said firmly
“Dad, you were hardly gone ten minutes Did you even eat?”
“I ate Tell her, Aspen”
General Leger sighed “We’ll call it eating”
Dad shot hi to soeneral smile “I’ll see if I can sneak some food in so you won’t have to leave”
Dad nodded “Look out for irl”
“Of course” General Leger winked atback at Mom just to check
Still asleep
In the hallway, he held out an arm for me “You ready, my not-quite queen?”
I took it and so”
As we er if he would take me for another lap around the floor The day felt so overwhel already that I wasn’t sure I could do this