My maid was brushing out my long brown curls as she spoke, "Care are you excited?" Excitement was one of the many emotions I was feeling, fear, stage fright and determination were also some off the long list.

I smiled at her, "I sure am!" I said as I turned to face her but the hair she was brushing didn't let me, so I looked at her through the mirror instead. "Kat, I'm scared."

"I know." Kat always knew about my stage fright, she had been my maid since I was ten and even then I was afraid of cameras, of the Report.

"What if I say something wrong? What if no one wants to join my selection?"

"Kerttu, every male in Illéa will be rushing to fill out their forms. You are their princess, competing for your love would be more than an honour."

I giggled, "Sometimes I wondered why I can't just married you," we laughed together as she continued to brush my hair.

"I'm flattered," she joked but I could see she was tense, maybe she was stressed about all the new people she would work for or maybe she had something personal going on. As I analysed Kat, for a moment I felt my prestagefright go away.

I sat with dad and Jaakob as we watched mum go over the weekly information, I was trying to listen but I kept on resaying the speech I had prepared in my head.

My hair was up in a bun, it was kinda uncomfortable but it looked good and looking good was a extra positive that I needed right now. I was moderately liked by the public, I definitely wasn't hated by the majority but some people liked Jaakob more than me. I mean I couldn't blame them, Jaakob did everything right, even when he was nine he proved he had what it taked to be a better ruler then me. Jaakob beat me in every department of being an good ruler, he was decisive, he was smart, he can control his emotions and he doesn't have stagefright, the only thing I was beating him in was the looks department and as horrible as it is appearance was important to the public.

Mum sat down next to dad and gave me a reassuring smile knowing that soon I was about to go up there and speak live infornt of the many people of Illèa. I took a deep breath as I listened to Angie James introduce me, "Thank you Queen Eadlyn, now I'm sure by now you are all wondering what the special announcement that was introduced at start to report, well can I just introduce the beloved Princess Kerttu." Angie turned to me as the cameras did the same, I froze, stuck in my chair unable to move. Angie must have seen my fear as she save me a soft smile and a small nudge her way, I took a deep breath and put on my camera face.

"Thank you Angelica for that welcoming introduction," I say to Angie before turning to the cameras, "I am sure that all of you know that my birthday is next month, I will be turning twenty years old and be one year short of adulthood. As a way of celebrating my maturity I will be hosting a selection of my own. Thirty-five men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two will have the chance to compete for my heart and I will have the chance to be able to find a fairytale love such as my parents and grandparents. Tomorrow every public shopping centre, school and Community Hub will have a form submission area. I can't wait to see who my potential suitors will be."

As I finished my announcement I felt the knots in my stomach tighten. I slowly walked over to my chair, not wanting to move fast at the chance of looking bad or making myself throw up. Mum looked at me and gave me a smile while Dad mouthed good job, I looked over to Jake but his eyes were glued to Angie as she wrapped up the report.

"That is all for this week, thank you and good night."

It was over, and just as I exhaled a sigh of relief, I realised just how much I need to over come my stage fright.