Aspen
"I like Zofia," I complained, after having scanned another list that Shalom had completed of girls he wanted to eliminate.

"Well then keep Zofia," replied Shalom simply.

"I will."

"I want to send some of the girls home with their families after Christmas," said Shalom, "that way-"

"What if I don't want to send some of them home?"

"AJ this selection is a time for us to show that we can make decisions and will be good at running a country. The longer we let it drag on the more people will speculate about how we're unfit-"

"The selection is about finding a wife," I replied, "falling in love takes time, it's not something you can plan, no matter how much you may want to."

"Well do you think that you could fall in love with any of the eight girls on that list?" Shalom raised an eyebrow at me.

"No-"

"Then they're going home on Boxing Day."

I let out a frustrated sigh. When Shalom set his mind on something it was very difficult to change. Normally I could manage it, but Shalom was treating the selection the same way as he treated games of chess. He had his strategy planned out from the beginning and he was not going to let me ruin it.

I looked down at my watch, "c'mon, Grandma should be here by now and I promised Celia that I'd back her up."

Shalom, let out a tutting noise.

"You need to at least try and speak to her," I told him, "she is our sister."

"She's a stranger," Shalom replied.

"Not if you get to know her she's not," I said.

Shalom mumbled something that I didn't hear before getting and stowing his list away in his desk drawer and leaving our study. I rolled my eyes and followed him.

Mum had told us to head to the Women's Room for around 2 o'clock as her family and Celia's parents would be arriving. She had promised that all of the Selected girls would be out of the way apart from Amelia, who was practically our sister.

I entered the room first when the maid came back with permission from Mum for us to be allowed in. Shalom followed closely behind me, seemingly using me as a shield.

"Aspen!" Grandma Singer immediately spotted us, hurrying forwards and sweeping me up in a hug, "how's the selection treating you? Has anyone taken your fancy yet?"

I chuckled. Grandma Singer was straight to business as usual, ensuring that Mum and Dad were keeping Shalom and I focused.

"I'm still working that out Grandma," I admitted.

"Well don't spend too long or whoever she is may slip through your fingers!" Grandma Singer then moved on to greet Shalom, allowing me to gain a better view of who was present.

Celia sat with her parents and Amelia. Amelia was laughing at something that Celia had said and both Wednesday and Quentin had happy expressions on their faces. Mum sat with Marlee, Kriss, Elise and Natalie the women who had been part of her selection who were visiting for today before going off to spend Christmas with their families. Lucy, Aunt May and Aunt Kenna sat together.

"Thank god you're here," I turned to see my cousin Astra approaching me. She was my Aunt Kenna's daughter and around three years older than I was, "Grandma might give me a break and start hassling you instead."

"I'm surprised she hasn't got her hands on Celia yet," I commented, somewhat taken aback that none of Mum's family were speaking with Celia.

"I think they're all too scared to approach her," said Astra, "I can't even bring myself to go over there, what do I even say?"

"Try hello," I prompted.

"Very funny," Astra rolled her eyes.

"I'm serious," I laughed, "she won't bite."

"Now that you've said that it makes me think she will," Astra complained.

"Where's Leo and your Dad?" I asked, curious as to why Shalom, myself and Quentin were the only men here so far.

Astra shrugged. I watched as a maid entered and scurried over to Mum, who nodded at her before the maid scurried back to the door and held it open for several people to enter.

Dad, Aspen, Leo, James, Kota, Carter, August, Georgia, their daughter Chloe and Kota's husband Luka entered the room, which suddenly felt a lot smaller then it had before. I told Astra that I'd talk to her later and I made my way over to Celia, dodging hugs and conversations from family members as I walked. In the back of my mind I worried about Shalom, he hated crowds and this was certainly that; but I was more worried about Celia, who equally didn't like crowds and had never met half of the people in this room.

"Hello," I grinned as I settled myself down beside her.

"Your Highness," Wednesday greeted me with a smile.

"Just Aspen, please," I told them, "or AJ when he's around," I pointed at General Ledger, "we're family now, so not titles."

"That's not what Shalom said," mumbled Celia.

"Shalom is..." I trailed off, struggling to find a word to describe my brother.

"Frosty?" Celia suggested.

"Tough to crack," I finished, "just give him some time."

"I'm trying."

"Anyway, how are you?" I turned to Celia's parents, who seemed somewhat shocked to be addressed.

"We're excellent," said Quentin, "I still can't quite believe that we're in the palace at Christmas!"

"It is quite wonderful isn't it," Celia agreed. Just as I suspected she looked uncomfortable, regularly glancing around at all of the unfamiliar people.

"So, who do you want me to introduce you to first?" I asked.