Epilogue

16 Years Later

"Mum? Mum! What are you doing?" Summer stresses, her voice catching. Her clammy hands grip tightly to the chair she's perched in, her knuckles turning white as they clench onto the wood for dear life.

My daughter's voice brings me back to the present, her panicked tone an all-too-clear reminder of when Maxon's Selection was announced. Those days are behind me now, but I can still remember the trepidation when thy called out the names and the dilemma when they called mine. "Yes, darling?" I reply, sitting down next to her. I brush my fingertips over her knuckles and she relaxes, ever so slightly.

"I-I-I'm really scared. Do you know who they are going to be?"

She doesn't refer to them by name, but I know what she's talking about.

The Selection. Her Selection.

"Summer, honey, we already went over this. Remember what Daddy and I decided was best? It's completely anonymous. They could be from any Caste, even Eight, okay? And no, I don't know any of them. The only people who know are Gavril and the Head Advisors."

She nods her head. "How long til it starts?"

"Ten minutes. Gavril'll be here soon, and then it can start. Do you remember what you have to do?"

A hand flies to her mouth, and a wild crazed look appears in her forest-green eyes. "No! Oh, mum. What am I going to do? Everything Gavril said, it's all gone. I wasn't really concentrating , and- oh!"

I can sense that Summer has a panic attack coming on, we're all used to them by now. Ever since a particularly devastating rebel attack a few years ago, well - she's never been quite the same. It's a pretty similar circumstance to the one that surrounded my maid Lucy when I came to the palace all those years ago.

"There, there. Honey, it'll be fine. You just need to stand up there and smile whilst Gavril reads out the names, okay?" I reassure her, my hand stroking her soft hair. Her hair's really beautiful, all of her is beautiful, but her hair is especially. It's red like mine, but it has the golden streaks from Maxon that reflect and shine in the sunlight. When she smiles, she looks radiant. Any boy will be lucky to have her.

She nods, and wipes her hand across her face. "Yeah. And I should stop crying, shouldn't I? It won't look good if I'm all blotchy, will it?" she says with a laugh and I pull back, giving one last encouraging pat on the back.

"That's the attitude. Will you want me to stand up there with you? I won't mind and I'm sure Gavril won't either."

She shakes her head, but looks at me gratifyingly. "No, it's okay, but thank you. Will you be sitting with Dad and Teddy?"

I nod. "Yeah, we'll be behind you the whole time. But you don't need to worry, sweetheart, you're gonna be fine."

"Welcome, welcome, welcome!" booms Gavril's voice. It's still just as enticing and charismatic as it was those twenty odd years ago, and Gavril looks like he hasn't aged a day. I suspect he's been in for some facelifts over the time. "How is everyone today?"

The audience erupts, everyone shouting and excited. It's a sea of colours, people are stood up on the seats on the plastic seats, hands waving cameras and streamers. It's quite a sight but that's not surprising because this is, after all, the most exciting event of the decade. "Looks like you're all doing well! Now, before you all get too excited, we have the Master of War here to discuss the progress."

A low groan spreads through the audience as Gavril passes the microphone over. The Master of War is literally the most boring man I have come across in my entire life, and he has this comical moustache on his otherwise intimidating face. The microphone is he holding between his iron grip looks so out of place with its gold plating and encrusted jewels that I have to stifle a laugh. You can tell the audience is hardly listening, after all, they probably couldn't care less about how much we are advancing in the war (it's the same as we were last week). They just want to find out which lucky men have the chance to become husband of my daughter and King of Illéa.

After his monotonous report, the Master of War reluctantly passes the microphone back to Gavril, who takes it eagerly. Gavril's looking particularly sharp tonight, I mean he always looks smart, but he seems like he tried extra hard this evening. It is his last year, however, so that must explain it.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen of Illéa, what you've all been waiting for! It's time for The Selection to begin. All over this fine country in the past weeks, thousands of men between the ages of seventeen and twenty have put their names into a ballot to receive the chance of a lifetime to stay at our fabulous palace, right here in Angeles. As I'm sure you all know, our beautiful princess, Summer Schreave, will have the chance to get to know each one of these lucky men. And one, very very lucky man, will receive the highest possible honour of becoming a One, the future King of Illéa, and the Princess's wife!"

The audience erupts into a raucous, cheering and stamping their feet against the floor in excitement. I look over to Summer and see that she's gone as a white as a ghost. Maxon is whispering in her ear and she seems to be relaxing.

"There are still a couple of minutes before the names are called out," Gavril continues. "So let's have a chat with everyone's favourite man, His Majesty King Maxon!" Gavril saunters over to my husband, who greets him as he has done a million times before. The smile is so fake, but that's because I don't see him as Maxon the King. He'll always be Maxon my Loving Husband to me. The conversation goes smoothly, Gavril asks pretty much the same questions he asked Clarkson on the night of Maxon's Selection.

"I have one final question, if that's okay Your Majesty," asks Gavril adjusting the broach on his lapel.

"Ask away."

"What made you and Her Majesty Queen America decide to hold a Selection for Princess Summer? Why not conform to tradition, letting her marry a foreign prince, and hold the Selection for Prince Edward?"

Maxon isn't caught out by the question at all. We've rehearsed our answers so they're off by heart, because we knew that this would come up a lot.

"Ever since my Selection, I have known one thing," starts Maxon smoothly. "I never wanted to 'sell' my daughter - if I had one - to another country. Because that's what it comes down to, really. It may appear to 'forge relationships for our new country' but this is a young woman we are talking about. It's her marriage, but where's her choice?

"So when Queen America gave birth to Summer, I knew that I would not marry her off to a Royal in another country. At that point I hadn't decided whether to let her find the man she wanted or hold a Selection, but time made my choice clear. Think of it this way, the Selection is like a compromise. My beautiful girl has a choice, but at the same time she is bringing this country together. And I'm so, so proud of her."

Summer has a single tear rolling down her cheek at her father a words.

"And Prince Edward, will there be a Selection for him?" It appears that Gavril isn't done asking questions.

Maxon looks over at me and shrugs his shoulders, as if to say, you answer that.

Gavril notices and strolls over, the microphone in hand.

I take it and stand up, as I have been taught to do when answering questions on a Report.

"Hello Gavril, people of Illéa. There won't be a Selection for Prince Edward for various reasons, some of which I am allowed to reveal and some I am not."

Gavril looks at me curiously. "Which ones can you reveal?"

"For a start, holding a Selection is expensive, and to hold two in two years would use up a lot of our budget. Secondly, The Selection is meant to be a special occasion for everyone, if we held one for Prince Edward, it wouldn't feel as special because it would be in the shadow of his sister's. There is also another important reason, but I'm afraid I can't reveal it right now."

Gavril nods, seemingly satisfied with my answer.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty! And now, what you've all been waiting for, the draw! But first, any wise words to those waiting at home?"

I nod. "If you are picked, just be yourself. Don't model yourself on others, we are all individuals. I want my daughter to love her husband for who he is, not who he wants to be."

The audience claps, the faces keen and expectant. I watch too, as Gavril steps into the centre of the stage and pulls out a gold card.

"Is everyone ready to hear the names?"

The audience screams their reply, of course it's 'Yes'. I glance over at Summer, who's nodding as well. I'm so proud of her, I know she's scared but she's sitting up tall and facing her fears with all the courage she can muster. She's so beautiful, as well. Much more than I was when I came to the Palace.

"Okay, here we go. Mr Michael Cashmore of Hansport, Two." A photo pops up onto the screen, showing a handsome man with a smirk. I'd say around the age of twenty, and I know I mustn't judge, but from his expression alone I can tell what sort of guy he thinks he his. The sort that thinks they are God's gift to women.

"Mr Drew Carter of Wavery, Six." A younger guy pops up, dark hair and sparkling blue eyes. I see Summer smile a little.

"Mr Graham Scott of Paloma, Four." Auburn hair, cheeky smile. I listen carefully for the next one, I know it's going to be for Carolina.

"Mr Darren Leger of Carolina, Five."

Oh, my gosh. That's Aspen's and Kizzy's son. He's just less than a year younger than Summer, and if I may say it myself, very handsome. Still, that's going to be awkward. They've never met and I haven't told her about Aspen, so Summer won't know, but if they do get married, well...

I can barely hear the rest of the names being called, my brain is still struggling to process that Darren Leger was Selected. What if Aspen comes to the Palace? I haven't seen him in over a decade and Maxon won't like it one bit.

The Report finishes half an hour or so later and I walk over to Summer, who is looking considerably more relaxed than she did before the names were read out.

"Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?" I ask.

"Yeah, much better." Then she giggles. "Some of them are really handsome, aren't they?"

I nod. "Definitely. Especially that one called Darren near the beginning." I'm trying not to let on that I know him.

She agrees. "Mm, and that one called Drew as well. Did you like my dress today?"

"It's beautiful."

It really is. It's a peppermint green colour that morphs into white. It has a full skirt and little jewels so that whenever Summer moves it looks like she is sparkling

"Uh, mum, can I talk to you for a second?" A voice interrupts and I spin around to see Teddy, my son, or as he's officially known, Prince Edward.

"Of course, just give me a sec," I lean down and kiss Summer on the cheek goodbye, before following Teddy to a secluded corner of the room.

"Sorry if I was interrupting-" he begins, but I cut him off.

"It's fine, honey," I can see he looks really worried, something must be up.

"It's about what you said earlier, to Gavril-"

I stop him. "Do you want a Selection, sweetheart, because if you do, we can organise i-"

He wave his hands in the air, protesting. "No, no! No, I definitely do not want that. It's the opposite, actually."

"What's the opposite?"

"Mum, I don't really know how to say this, but I've been seeing someone. And I really really like her." Teddy mumbles, all the while looking at the floor.

I let out a little gasp, part surprise part happiness. "Who is she?" I ask excitedly, feeling like a teenager again.

"You don't mind?" he asks.

"Not at all. So, what's she called?"

"Nora," he replies, "Nora Williams."

"As in Deputy Head Advisor, Williams?" I ask.

Teddy nods. "Yeah, she's his daughter. They live in a house on the edge of the palace wall."

I stifle a giggle at the gooey look in his eyes when he imagines her. "Is she pretty?" I ask.

"Beautiful and striking," he replies.

"Can I meet her? Maybe she can come for dinner next week?"

He looks a little hesitant. "Maybe. I'll ask her."

"Great. Maybe sometime next week before Summer's Selection?"

-Page Break-

"Thanks, Lucy, that's great," I compliment, admiring the hair she's done for me. It's pulled up at the sides with diamond clips and curls hang loose at the front. I scrutinise my dress in the mirror, trying o decide whether it is good enough for Maxon's special day. Well, Maxon's and Summer's special day. It was a pretty weird coincidence that Maxon's birthday fell on the same day as the Selection draw, but I suppose that's just they way things are.

"Will you be serving at the party?" I ask Lucy.

"Yeah, and Gabriella is as well. It's her induction into serving and being a maid."

Gabriella is Lucy and Officer Jerell's daughter. She's a beautiful girl, just turned fourteen last month. I've seen her at the stables from time to time, and she has a real talent for horses.

"That's great!"

"Yes. And I know I'm not really in a position to ask, my lady, but would you mind doing me a favour?" she asks shyly.

"Of course not, Lucy. I'll do anything."

"It's just that I might not be able to stay with Gabby the whole evening, so if she's near you would you mind keeping an eye on her?"

Ah, Lucy. She asks for such simple things. "Of course I'll keep an eye out for her, let her know she can come and serve me."

"Thank you, Lady America. You're all set to go."

"Great. Is Maxon outside?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "No idea."

"I'm right here."

I spin around to see Maxon leaning against one of the bed posts grinning. I reach over and slap him playfully. "Hey, you. I could've been changing, for all you knew."

He grins. "I wouldn't have minded."

"Just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you can watch me change."

He takes my arm and leads me out of the room. "Doesn't it? What else are birthdays for?"

Two hours later the party is in full swing; royals getting drunk and dancing with their enemies, the kids playing chase, the wine still being poured. I've just finished a slow dance with Maxon and have found a nice corner if the room where I can observe the party with no interruptions. By one wall I see Summer, deep in conversation with May's oldest daughter, Ruby. She's ten years old and very charming, if I may say so. I can't spot May and Harley but I know they must be here if she is, and also because all major foreign Royal Families were invited. England is pretty major.

Sometimes I still find it funny that May and I are the Queens of two of the most important countries in the world. Who would've thought it, two poor girls from Carolina both becoming Queens.

I watch, amused, another corner of the room where May's oldest child, Soren, is approaching Gabriella. She is balancing a tray of drinks and seems quite flustered when he strolls over. They appear to get in a sort of mini debate, from what I can tell he is trying to persuade her to have a dance. He is trying to argue back, but I can tell she wants to from the way her face is blushing. He says something more and she puts her tray to the side. Taking her hand, he pulls her into the middle of the dance floor and they start to dance. It's really sweet. I see Sylvia to the side, looking on disapprovingly because one of her maids is dancing with a royal during a party. I'll have to speak to her later, tell her that Gabriella couldn't very well turn down the 'simple' request that Soren had.

When the party draws to a close, Maxon pulls me away from the crowd, his hand hugged around my waist. Saying goodbyes to May and Harley, I follow his lead up the staircase and down the corridor to our room. I start to walk to the bathroom but Maxon puts a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back. He leans down and kisses me, the feel of his lips on mine giving me a wonderful sensation. I half-heartedly try and pull away - I need to brush my teeth - but there's no point. It is Maxon's birthday, after all. He keeps kissing me, pulling me towards the bed in the centre of the room.

"Happy Birthday, Maxon," I whisper against his lips. "You still love me, right?"

He frowns, pausing for a moment. "Of course, America. What sort of question is that?"

I shrug, but edge closer so our lips meet again. "How much?" I murmur.

"This much."

A/N That's it, Chasing The Crown has ended. *Wipes tear from eye*. if you have enjoyed the story, please just leave a quick review saying so. It would mean so much, and I don't mind if you haven't reviewed before.

I am going to write a sequel *cheers*! I haven't yet decided what it is going to be. Either going back to where CTC ended and write May and Harley's story, OR continuing this epilogue in a third person perspective. Hmmm.

Just to clear things up these are the families:

America and Maxon: Summer and Edward "Teddy" (aged 17 and 15)

May and Harley: Soren, Ruby and Katya (aged 14, 10 and 4)

Lucy and Officer Jerell: Gabriella (aged 14)

Aspen and Kizzy: Darren and Lila (aged 18 and 13)

Thank you to EVERYONE who reviewed, every single one meant so so so much! I love you all! If I could list every single one whose reviewed I would, but I can't... But I want everyone to know that this story has got so much support and I can't thank you enough!

Please review if you enjoyed it, it would mean so much!

Tabitha xxx

To BestFan00 - Thank you! Please get an account, it would be great! :D