Hey guys! I know it has been a while since I have update, so feel free to reread last chapter for a refresher! (I did) Also, this chapter may show Jacen to be rude, but that was not my intention. Please remember that he is now in charge of the country, as regent, he has not yet chose his wife, and he has to worry about everyone in the palace. Jacen is still the same, nice, fun, Jacen he was, but he is a bit harder around the edges than before. Please don't change your views of him, as he is one of my favorite characters. (even though authors aren't really supposed to have favorites) I hope you like this chapter! Have fun reading!

---Monday Morning---

After the whole "incident" that left people hospitalized and sick, I, as regent, decided that it would be best to put the Selection on hold. It was a tough decision, but considering the fact that my father was still on the mend and my mother practically refused to leave his room, a few of the main rooms were ruined, because the smoke left marks everywhere and when the things exploded, they left dents in the walls, half the palace guards were in the infirmary, the kitchen had to be completely restocked, and I was holding down a palace that was complete chaos, as well as a country that was getting restless and worried due to the attack. 

I had sent the girls that were previously eliminated home, so now the only people that were left were the Final Four. Celeste, Carlee, Amberly, and Hayley. I knew who I was going to pick, but I had to wait for a good time. It was very hard not running to her and telling her and getting married on the spot. But rules are rules, and the rules of the Selection state that the Selector has to make his (or her, in my mother's case) decision in a live broadcast. I know my great- grandfather told my great-grandmother before the live announcement, but I want to do it right. I only get one chance, and I want to make it the best. 

A knock on the door to my (my mother's. I am only using it as regent) office, startling me and snapping me out of my thoughts. I take a deep breath and straighten my jacket. I pull a small mirror out of the desk and make sure I don't look like I was asleep. Once I determine myself to be presentable, I say, "Come in."

A butler walks in and closes the door behind him. He bows at me and then moves closer to the desk, standing on the other side, facing me. 

"Good morning, Your Highness." The butler says.

"Good morning to you as well." I respond. 

"Sir, I come to you with a small problem." The butler says. 

"What is it?" I say, feeling a bit irritated that this 'small problem' did not come from one of the members of the Cabinet, but rather a butler.

"Sir, one of the Selected is requesting to leave. Her maids found her this morning in her room having a completely packed bag and asking to speak with you. One of her maids found me as I was walking this way, and asked me to ask you."

"Ask me what?" I say, waiting for the butler to get to the point.  

"If she could leave." The butler says, as if it was obvious. 

"Which Selected is it?" I ask. 

"I do not know, sir." 

By now I am very irritated, both at the lack of knowledge this butler seems to have, and the fact that he assumes I will understand him without him being straight to the point. Just as I am about to lay into him about his ignorance, I take a deep breath and remember that I am supposed to be dealing with other problems, not butlers who don't know what they are doing. 

"Do you happen to know where the Selected is now?" I ask, hoping he knows what I am asking. 

"Yes, sir. She is in parlor formerly called the Men's Parlour."

I breathe a sigh of relief, and then say, "Thank you. You are dismissed." As soon as the butler leaves, I stand up and leave the office. I head towards the parlor the butler said she was in. As I walk over, I hope and pray that it is not the woman I intend to marry. When I reach the room, I see that the door is closed. 

I take a deep breath and knock on the door. A feminine voice says, "Come in!"

I take another deep breath and open the door. Inside is Hayley, sitting on a sofa staring at her nails, with a bag between her feet. She is requesting to leave. I stand there for a few minutes waiting for her to look up and see me. I watch her and am about to clear my throat to get her attention when she notices me. 

As soon as she sees me, she jumps up and curtsies. "Your Highness! I did not expect to see you. I thought it was merely a maid or butler coming to escort me out. Please pardon my obliviousness."

"It is not a problem." I respond, taking a seat on the arm chair across from the sofa Hayley is sitting on. 

"So," I say. "You would like to leave?" I ask, hoping that she will answer no, go back to her room, and stay for the remainder of the competition. 

"Yes, Your Highness." She says, staring into her lap. "I'm sorry," she mumbles softly. 

"Darling, please don't be sorry. You have done nothing wrong. I am not mad you would like to leave. If anything, I am concerned and worried and want to help you. Tell me, why is it you want to leave?" I ask. 

"I received a letter from my fathers last night that asked me how things were going and if I was safe. They said that they were worried about me, and missed me. I realized then that I miss them a lot too. I continued reading the letter, because it was a very long letter. As I read on, they told me of how things were going at home, what I've been missing in Belcourt. They got to a part where they referenced one of my friends. They said she had come looking for me and asking how I was doing. She then said-" Hayley broke down crying, and I reached out to put a hand on her knee. She looked up at me. 

"It is alright. Please don't cry." I said. 

"Okay." She said. Hayley sniffled a bit before continuing. "She said that she loves me and has always loved me, more than a friend, and she- she- she wants to marry me." Hayley looked up at me before sobbing and putting her head in her hands. I try to think of something I can say, but my idiot mouth says something terrible. 

"So you are lesbian?" I ask, cringing at the disgust in my voice. I don't dislike lesbian or gay people. In fact, I think they should have a prominent place in society.

"Do you think I am a weirdo? A lesbo?" Hayley asks, tears streaking her face. 

"No, no, no!" I say. "Quite the opposite. I am just trying to understand the situation here."

"To get one thing clear," Hayley says, then sniffles. "To get one thing clear, I am not a lesbian. I really like you your highness. I do. In fact, I think I may even love you." She smiles. "But I am bisexual, and the part of me that likes her is winning over." 

I nod, then smile. "I'm glad you are telling me this. I wish you nothing but happiness, and I hope that now you feel better about your decision." 

She smiles at me and nods. I lean forward, and in in an overly excited way, I say, "Sooooo, what's her name?" 

Hayley looks like she is going to laugh, then says, "Emma." 

"Emma." I say, then ask, "Do we like her?"

Hayley laughs, then says, "I do, Your Highness, but I don't know about you." 

"Well, if you do, than I do as well." I say, in all truthfulness. 

Hayley smiles, then says, "I'm glad I talked to you. It would have been horrible of me to leave without requesting to talk to you."

"You asked to talk to me?" I say, shocked. 

"Yes. Why do you look so surprised?" 

I shrug, then motion for her to continue. 

"My maids told me that I could send you a letter saying that I left, but I felt it would be better to tell you in person. So I requested to talk to you."

"Ahh," I say. "Now, here is a question. Will you come back for my wedding? And bring Emma with you?" 

"I will see what I can do about Emma coming. She isn't the most outgoing and tends to become very quiet around people she is in awe of. Who, might I ask, will you be marrying?" 

"That I cannot answer."

Hayley leans over and whispers a name into my ear. 

"Possibly." I say, smiling. 

"It is! I knew it!" Hayley smiles broadly.

"Yes, it is. Now, you are sworn to secrecy, so please don't tell anyone. I don't want my surprise ruined."

"My lips are sealed, Your Highness."

"Thank you. Now, I believe you have a plane to catch?" I ask. 

"Yes, I do." Hayley stands up and comes toward me. "Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity. I will never forget it, Your Highness." She leans in to give me a big hug.

While we are hugging, I whisper into her ear, "Jacen. Please call me Jacen."

When we are done embracing, she smiles at me and says, "Thank you again, Your- Jacen." She giggles a bit.

"No, thank you, Hayley. I wish you the best of luck in the future and I hope to see you back here very soon." 

"Yes. Good-bye Jacen."

"Au Revoir!" I sit down on the arm chair as Hayley leaves, closing the door behind her. I sit there for a few minutes, then sitting up when a thought hits me. I immediately rush to my office, calling the head of the Cabinet in for a meeting. 

---Friday Night---

Everyone is in the audience waiting. Most of the palace staff, aside from the many guards keeping watch, all of the Cabinet members, even the rest of my family. My parents and I live in the palace, as do my grandparents, my great-aunt, and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins. Grandma America and Grandpa Maxon, Great-Aunt May, Great-Aunt Brice (A/N: Maxon's half-sister, introduced at the end of the Crown) Uncle Ahren and Aunt Camille, who flew in specifically for this, Uncle Kaden and Aunt Josie, and Uncle Osten and Aunt Makayla. Marlee and Carter Woodwork are in the audience, as are Kile and Christina Woodwork. I am sitting on the stage for the Report, with my parents on either side of me. My father is much better, and my mother is not taking her eyes off of my father. The Selected girls are sitting offstage, ready if they get called onstage. 

After everyone takes their seats, we are given the countdown to start. 

When the filming light goes on, I begin talking. "Good evening, Illea! Thank you for tuning in to this week's edition of the Report. First tonight, I would like to introduce my father, Prince Eikko (A/N: Prince consorts are not referred to as "Prince Consort name", rather "Prince name. I did not forget that Eikko is Prince Consort.) 

My father smiles and looks at the camera. "I know you are all worried about me, and I am happy to tell you that I am doing much better. The doctors are pleased with my recovery, and I am ready to jump back in where I left off." 

I say, "Thank you, Father. Next, I would like to introduce my mother, Queen Eadlyn." 

"Illea, I have been very happy to rule for the past years. But this past week, I found myself very happy not having to worry about my queenly duties. Now, when I was Prince Jacen's age, I was made Queen. I do not wish to make my son King yet, as I am happy doing this, but also because I do not wish to cause him the stress I had during my first few years as Queen. I was far too young, as my father had been. But unlike my father, I had a choice. And I believe that I was too young. So, I will be remaining Queen, at least until my son is older. But I admired the way he ruled for the past week, and so I have decided to give him a permanent position as regent. He will report to me, learn from me, and help me, sort of as my 2nd in command." She laughed, before continuing. "I hope you are as excited as I am to welcome Prince Jacen into this part of ruling." 

Everyone claps politely, and I say, "Thank you, Mother." 

I stand up and take a deep breath. 

"When I was first told I would be doing the Selection, I did not want to. It was introduced to me as a way to 'boost morale.' I thought 'boosting morale' was parties with ambassadors. Little did I know that it was so much more. The Selection was something I was not excited to have to participate in. I said, 'How can you expect me to find love in 16 random girls?' But, my mother found love in 36 men, although the way she found love was a bit unconventional." 

Everyone in the audience laughed, and my mother was trying very hard not to laugh, but her smile was big. 

"My grandfather found love in 35 women, and their love is one of the most beautiful I have ever witnessed, aside from my own parents. I went through the Selection, not believeing I would find love, but trying to find the one that I would hate being with the least. But very soon into the competition, I realized that that was not the right way to go about this. I changed my mindset, and everything was a lot clearer. I slowly narrowed down the competition, and each time I had to send someone home, it was bittersweet. Sweet because it made me one step closer to finding my wife, bitter because it was one more person that was not 'The One'.  I narrowed it down to 8 girls, then 5. One of the 5 went home on her own, and then there were 4.

"Once I had 4, it was a very tough decision. A few eeks ago, I was ready to choose, when the palace was threatened. I put my choosing off, waiting for a good time. Earlier this week, one of the Selected left, and I knew I had to make my decision fast. I thought long and hard, weighed pros and cons, as if I were choosing between things, not people. But I knew that my gut was right. Love is not something that can be measured or weighed. It is something that when you find it, you know it."

I pause, taking a deep breath. "Can I please have the Final 3 up on stage?" 

Amberly, Carlee, and Celeste come up on stage, and I face them, smiling at each one.

I turn back around and face the camera. "These 3 wonderful women are the Final 3. Amberly Jacobs, of Carolina. Carlee Woods, of Kent. And Celeste Princeston, of Clermont. I was in the office a few days ago, and I found a great parallel to previous Selections. Amberly shares a name with my great-grandmother, and a province with my grandmother. Carlee shares a province with my grandmother's best friend. And Celeste shares a name and province with one of the Selected in my grandmother's Selection, a girl whom my grandmother became friends with and trusted. These 3 amazing ladies behind me are all fit to be royalty, and I would like nothing more than to have all of them join me. But alas, that is definitely not possible. There is only one.

"The moment you have finally been waiting for has arrived. I am now ready to introuce to you the woman who is to become my wife." 

I turn around a face the girls, watching them and then motioning them up front with me. I stand center, and they all stand to my right. 

"I am pleased to tell you that my future wife, and the next Princess of Illea is... Amberly!!!!!!!"

I smile and watch her as realization dawns on her face. She looks so absolutely excited and happy. The audience is clapping and cheering, Carlee and Celeste are hugging her, and my parents are hugging me. 

"Thank you Illea, and Good night!" I yell out, waiting for the cameras to go off before I move over to where the girls are standing. Celeste runs up to me first. 

"Thank you, Your Highness, for this amazing opportunity."

"Call me Jacen." I say. 

"Jacen." She says, then gives me a big hug. She then runs back over to Amberly. Carlee comes over and thanks me, giving me a hug, then going back to Amberly. 

My mother comes over and says, "Congratulations!" 

"We are so proud of you," My father says. 

"I love you both." I say, giving them one last hug before going over to Amberly. 

She sees me and runs over, enveloping me in a hug. 

"Thank you!!" 

"Of course." I say, smiling and hugging her. 

"Can I have Celeste and Carlee as my ladies-in-waiting?" She asks, eagerly.

"If you would like, and they are alright with it." I say. 

"Thank you!" 

"Amberly, I didn't do this on camera for a reason, but I will do it now." I reach into my pocket and pull a ring box out, hiding it in my hands. I get down on one knee and say, "Amberly, wil you do me the great pleasure of becoming my wife, forever?" 

"Yes! Yes!" She says. 

I stand up and she gives me a hug and a big kiss. 

"I love you." I say to her, meaning it 110%. 

"I love you too." She says back, before giving me another kiss, this one a long, passionate kiss, one that melts everything else away, leaving just me and the girl I love in my arms. 

THE END

Hey guys, Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to writ and have my stories read!!! I hope you all loved The Reign as much as I did! I don't think there will be a sequel, but I may write a few short chapter about what happens after! Readers, I am so thankful for you all for reading and giving feedback. To -lostparadises, thank you for giving me feedback and helping me! To Ahey_23, thank you for reading my stories and talking to me about them, and for being an awesome friend. To everyone else, stay awesome!

Love always,

~Dodgerbun1302