He chose me. He chose me. Despite everything that has happened between us, he chose me. I regretted everything that had happened between us in the past few hours, but at the same time, I regretted nothing as it brought us closer together. I wished I told him I loved him sooner, and not just because I'd have this gorgeous ring on my finger for a while now. TV crews were coming to the palace in the morning for the announcement of our engagement, the selected would all be invited along with my family (who would be here in a matter of hours).

I looked at the display on the wall. Maxon's photos were wonderful, they truly captured every one of the selected's personalities. I stroked them all, lingering over Celeste's face. As much as I used to hate her, I would miss her so much. I would miss everyone once they'd left, I'm not sure Kriss would exactly want to go to her love's wedding when he was marrying me! At least Marlee was in the castle, but even that seemed too far away at the moment. But, at least I had Maxon.

"OK, so I'm afraid you're going to need to go through more training with Silvia. You're not exactly a princess." Maxon smiled at me as he spoke.

"I know. I'm up for it. In a weird way I actually enjoyed my private lessons with her. Let's hope she's forgiven me for my project presentation!"

"Well if she hasn't, I'm the King now so I can just order her to." We both chuckled at that before we remembered that that meant that it meant that they were both gone.

"We need to plan their funeral. It needs to be done before our wedding." Maxon whispered. I could almost hear the tears in his eyes at the death of his mother and father. I didn't blame him, I felt nearly the same way and I barely knew them. At least I had been given time to grieve when my father died. There was no time for him to do the same. Instead I leaned up and kissed him lightly on the lips and put my thumbs beneath his eyes.

"No, no tears just now. We both need to be strong to show you as the leader you can be. We need to start rebuilding now so that the rebels don't think they can beat us. We are the face of Illèa."

He smiled and held me with his good arm, I could tell he still needed to cry and mourn and I would let him, later, for now he had a kingdom to run.

I left Maxon's room and walked towards the hospital wing. I wanted to check on the other girls. Before I could get up there, Silvia caught up to me. She looked to be much unscathed by the attack, I assumed she must have been one of the first to get into a safe room.

"America, dear. There's so much we need to do."

"Yes, I thought we could start as soon as I've checked on the other girls" I made as if to go but she stopped me before I could.

"There is no time for that now, we need to go over the format for tomorrow morning." She said as she grabbed my arm and led me towards the library.

"So, tomorrow, you will not arrive with Maxon. The King will arrive after you and Kriss are both in your seats." She started.

"Wait, Kriss is actually coming?" I asked shocked.

"Yes, she believes that it is her duty to her country to be there. In fact I am going to get her once I have caught you up to her level" I hated the thought that Kriss knew more than me. As much as she was a lovely girl she just reminded me that I was not Queen, or even Princess, material. In that way, I still felt that she was better than me.

"OK, carry on then, I just wanted to make sure." I decided I was not going to appear bothered by this fact at all, though Silvia probably saw straight through it.

"As I was saying, you and Kriss will be sat next to each other, but with a space between you, and you will both sit until Maxon arrives. Upon his arrival, Maxon will sit between you and hold both of your hands. When he deems it appropriate he will stand holding only the hand of the girl whom he will marry. As per tradition, you will not see the King between now and this point." She paused before she finished by telling me that she would go and get Kriss before explaining what would happen after Maxon has chosen.

All of a sudden, I realised that this meant that I would not see him for over 12 hours and I would have to spend a lot of those hours with Kriss. In fact, so many of the rooms were ruined that we may end up having all of us in the Women's room to sleep. Though that may be fun, I did not want to spend the night with Kriss.

Eventually, Silvia came back with Kriss. She looked so sad, I gave her a little smile but she didn't smile back. I knew that this all had probably broken her heart and I was sorry for her, but it wasn't my fault that this was the way it had turned out. I loved Maxon and he loved me, that was no one's fault and she shouldn't blame me for it, she certainly shouldn't hate me for it. I decided I would be nice and civil, even if she was in love with my fiancé.

"After Maxon has chosen, she will stand and curtsy to her country and then to the other girl before she is collected by her father and escorted out of the room. Maxon will then kiss his bride and the two will leave during applause and will not be seen by anyone but maids until the next evening."

I listened to Silvia go on and on about protocols but kept looking over at Kriss as she watched Silvia intently. I knew what she was going through, I felt the same way yesterday when I thought that Maxon hated me. I wanted us to stay friends but there was nothing I could do right now so I went back to listening to protocol from Silvia. I should probably listen and follow as something told me that if I broke the rules tomorrow, Maxon would be especially angry with me.