Chapter 1- Guests

POV Princess Jacklyn

The palace was all decorated, all ready for the Selected to arrive later that afternoon, when the phone rang in the throne room. It was reserved for only foreign calls, as well as national security issues. "Valerius," Jacklyn said, smoothing out her dress. "I imagine it's for you."

Valerius was speaking with advisors, so Jacklyn maneuvered over to the phone. "Hello?" She asked, picking up the phone.

"Princess Jacklyn, how are you this morning?" The voice was crisp and clear, someone she'd heard before, but she couldn't remember.

"I'm good. Awaiting the big day," Jacklyn responded sweetly, imagining it was a foreign leader. "How are you?"

"We're very good," The voice replied. "Our country would like to congratulate you and your brother on your upcoming Selection, as well as we would like to come visit to establish deeper ties between nations."

"I think this is a matter best left to my brother," Jacklyn said warily into the phone. "I don't know if he wants foreign leaders during the Selection. Maybe he does, but I don't know."

"Well, this is most disheartening, as we were hoping to bring a present for the both of you and the Selected as well," The leader's voice was disappointed. "Farewell from Berlin."

"Wait!" Jacklyn said quickly. "We'd be happy to greet you here. When would you like to visit?"

It was Queen Karoline, from the German Confederation. One of the nation's few allies left, and home of her best childhood friend. "We were thinking of visiting on the weekend. Is that alright?"

"Of course. We'll see you then," She set down the phone. She could hardly contain her excitement. Loran, Germany's crown prince was a few years older than her, but they had bonded when she went on a European trip a few years back. Jacklyn raced over to Valerius.

"The Germans are coming over the weekend." She whispered to him, not wanting to disturb the meeting.

"What?" Valerius asked, shocked. "That's only four days from today, Jacklyn. We'll have to throw a festival for them, as well as greet and meet the Selected."

"I know, just, I didn't want to make them angry. They've been so kind to us over the years, and it isn't time to disrupt that now, is it?" Jacklyn said.

"I suppose not. We'll speak more later," Valerius was visibly disappointed, his brown eyes turning back to the others.

Jacklyn sighed and left, heading out to the newly made gardens, her favorite spot already in the palace. There were a few maids tending to the plants, when a few came up to her. Her trio of maids, Jessalyn, Rye, and Carmen. "Hi." Jacklyn sighed, resting her head on the bench she had sat down in.

"Morning," Jessalyn said cheerfully, sitting down beside her. "Can you wait? If I were you I couldn't."

Jacklyn gave her a little smile. "To be honest, I'm a little nervous. Theres a lot at stake here. What if there's rebel attacks and some of the guys leave?"

"Then they didn't deserve you in the first place," Carmen replied firmly, putting her hand on her arm. "It's as simple as that." She smoothed out some of the hairs that had gone awry.

As the three of them began to chat, Jacklyn became immersed in remembering a moment two years ago…

Berlin, Germany

Jacklyn had just arrived at the Palace of Berlin. Her brown hair was straightened, and she prepared for a meeting with the royals of Germany. She had an hour yet, and she was escorted upstairs by a guard. "Good morning, your highness," The guard gave her a quick smile, taking her up to a room on the third floor.

Jacklyn smiled back at him, disappearing into her room and looking around. It was beautiful, full of artifacts from Germany and Illea. It was special, for people from Illea only. As she gazed out the window, she could see children playing in the street below. "Good view?" A voice came from the doorway.

She turned around and saw a prince with blonde hair standing there in formal attire. "Yes, thank you," She walked toward him. "You are?"

"Prince Loran," He bent down and kissed her knuckles. "I know who you are." His blue eyes twinkled.

Jacklyn smiled a little bit. "Can you show me around?"

"Of course," He held out his arm for her, and she took it. "This is one of the oldest buildings in Berlin. I'll lead you to the Room of the Past. It's the most famous room in the palace. Documents the history of Germany, through all of time." She followed him, curious.

Jacklyn checked out recent history with him, looking at the smiling chancellors and kings and queens. German troops voluntarily training Polish and Illean troops. A meeting between the most powerful nations in Europe, Russia, Germany, France, Britain, and Italy. Shipments of weapons to Illea. "I never knew this much happened over here in Europe," Jacklyn breathed.

"Yeah," Loran replied. "I've been to almost thirty-five countries and I'm only seventeen."

Jacklyn's eyebrows raised. "I'm sixteen and I've been to maybe six."

Loran laughed, looking over at her. "Which ones?"

"Germany, Illea, obviously, France, India, Australia, and Brazil," Jacklyn said. "I think. I could ask you to name yours, but it could take the rest of the hour." She grinned softly.

Loran laughed, escorting her past the middle history to early history, of the Holy Roman Empire, and Prussia. She read a little bit, but mostly focused on him explaining it. "You know all of this?" She asked in surprise when he just talked without looking at any of the photos.

"Very well. I spent hours in here as a child, it was easy to hide in here," Loran said. "Back when I was little I knew every word in here."

Jacklyn sighed. "I don't know that much about Illea's history and it's shorter." He led her out of the room, and to the meeting. She continued to meet with him for the next couple days before she had to continue to the next country. She couldn't wait for the day she went back.

POV Prince Valerius

Valerius finished his meeting with the advisors, and they all recommended inviting more nations to meet with during the Selection, to make them feel special. They all agreed Germany was a good pick, and advised inviting France, Russia, India, Brazil, Italy, and a few more over the course of the Selection. They'd be able to meet all of the Selected and his eventual queen first hand. He went back to his room to deliberate which countries to choose, as he could pick another country to meet with Germany when they came over the weekend. He decided on calling France, as they were very tightly knit. He picked up the phone and called King Jacques. "Hello? This is Prince Valerius of Illea, and we would like to invite France to visit Illea this weekend for a festival with Germany," He said into the phone.

"Ah!" The King's voice was delighted. "France will be honored to attend. We will bring our own security." He added.

Valerius rolled his eyes a little, knowing other nations had heard of the rebels, but never really had thought anything of it. He'd need to get his decorators ready immediately to start working on the ballroom and the reception hall. "Thank you, we expect to see you here on Saturday evening." He hung up.

He massaged his temple, and laid down in bed. He heard a little scratching sound coming from the closet. "What the…" He muttered, getting up and opening it. Inside was a little cat, all white, with gorgeous blue eyes. Jacklyn was allergic to cats, so if he kept it, she'd never be able to come near it.

"Alright," He caved, after thinking about it for a few second. He picked it up and carried it to the bed, and set it down. It meowed. It looked fairly thin, he didn't even know how it had managed to the palace in the first place. "Where do I get cat food?" He wondered. He doubted the palace had anything on hand.

Valerius climbed out of bed, leaving the cat there. He changed into a dark coat and pants, leaving the room and locking it with a key. Valerius left the palace, not being questioned by the guards at the front doors. He went into the city, trying to find a supermarket that sold cat food. When he found one, he got a little thing of it so he could carry it back to the palace. It was nearly noon, and the Selected would be arriving at one. He thanked the cashier and quickly departed, running back to the palace.

A/N: I'm sorry that I didn't accent Illea, but unfortunately no internet connection, so here I am. XD I am changing Jacklyn's age from 17 to 18. I need quite a few more Selected, so please, send them in!

And always, review! :) Have a good day!