♕✿~♕✿~Chapter 11//: I'm like a puppet♕✿~♕✿~

Ahren's POV

"Let me propose a deal, Your Majesty," Gregory starts, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded.

I lean back into my own chair. "What's the deal?" I ask, curious yet apprehensive.

"I say you continue on with the Choosing to calm down the people. Also, it would be a good time to look for a replacement for Lady Madison. But if you truly can't find a replacement, I will let you dedicate two months to looking for Lady Madison after your coronation," Gregory tells me.

I stay silent, doubt covering me like a blanket. The yelling from outside drifted towards me, and the sounds seemed to be forming voices. Agree to it. Don't disappoint us. There's no harm in agreeing. You already failed Madison, so you'd better not fail the people.

I bit my lip, a bad habit I had. I knew I couldn't risk having the people angry. Angry people would mean a shaky rule, and that would mean an opportunity for power-hungry people. In a time where dangerous rebels were running around, I knew I shouldn't be hesitating to accept the deal.

Looking out the window again, I see the people gathered outside the palace gates. I knew what Gregory had said about them wanting a false sense of safety was true. And wasn't it my duty as their ruler to provide that just to calm them?

Guilt stabbed me. Continuing with the Choosing seemed like a betrayal to Madison. Like I was accepting the fact that she was dead. That there was no hope to save her. I tried to reason with myself. Nick was sending search parties out daily to search for her. Would it be betrayal if I tried to calm down the people even though I was still putting effort to find her?

Give the people what they want. It won't be betrayal. You're technically not even king, yet you still fail to provide for the people first. You need to provide for your people instead of helping your own selfish needs. These voices echoed in my head, trying to coax me to accept the deal. I could still see Gregory patiently waiting for an answer.

I sigh, giving in. "Okay. But I'm telling you in advance, I won't find a replacement for Madison. I already know I won't," I tell Gregory.

He looks at me, his gaze unflinching. "I already know that, Your Majesty. This is purely just to calm down the people."

♡

After agreeing to Gregory's deal, he pushed me to go eat lunch with the girls while he went to call in the photographers and cameramen to record everything. If I was going to continue this Choosing, it needed to broadcasted to everyone to show them that I'm doing what they want me to do.

My heart is pounding in my chest. Adrenaline pumps in my veins. I don't know why I'm feeling so nervous about being with these girls again. Maybe because I knew they would be more cunning now that the competition was small and the chance to be queen was higher.

Opening the dining hall doors, I do my best to walk in with my head high. I notice the girls' conversations immediately dying once they notice me. I ignore their prodding looks and walk to the head of the table. I swallow as I see there is now only two chairs surrounding the head of the table instead of four.

When I pull out my chair, the wood scrapes against the marble. The resulting sound echoes in the room. I sit down, and a butler immediately places a plate of food in front of me. I notice the cameras focused on me, waiting for something to happen so they can show it on T.V.

I finally acknowledge the girls, looking up at them and meeting each of their gazes. Alexis. Emily. Penelope. Nina. Four girls left in the competition. They all stare back at me with surprise.

I muster a smile, acting for the camera.

"Ladies, I decided to continue the Choosing. I realized that it is important for a future king to listen to his people when they speak. I know now that it is important for me to solidify the rule of the Calore family, and the throne of Norta for the safety of the people. I will not let these rebels destroy everything we have worked to reach. I apologize for neglecting this part of my duty as king." The words I spout from my mouth taste like ash, words Gregory told me earlier so that I can show everyone that I am willing to be a good king for them.

The cameras still intently face me as I start eating my food. Conversations fail to start up again, and I relish in the quiet peace, grateful that I don't have to talk.

Halfway through lunch, the cameramen and reporters gets tired with nothing happening. They turn off their cameras and start to have their own lunch.

I know I'll have to do something to keep everyone calm. Everyone will want action in the Choosing, a sort of entertainment to amuse themselves and pass the time. I feel my stomach twist as I realize that my search to find love is just entertainment for everyone. I'm just here for entertainment.

My feelings of sickness are still very present when Gregory walks into the dining hall. I look up and catch his eye. He jerks his head to the girls then to reporters who look bored out of their mind. Gregory gives me a pointed look, and I can form the words he's silently telling me. You need to create some action to convince everyone.

I grimly nod my head at Gregory, telling him that I know I'll need to take some actions. Drastic ones, for sure. The people will want romance. And I'll be forced to take actions to provide that.

I'm like a puppet, I think to myself as the girls start to finish with their lunches. Still, they remain sitting. I realize with a jolt they're waiting for me to dismiss them. I nod at them. "Ladies, you can leave," I tell them. The silence in the dining hall is replaced by the sound of chairs scraping across the floor. Gregory throws me another look. Choose someone. Now.

My heart starts to become too loud, pounding in my chest and in my ears. I quickly stand up, momentarily dizzy, as I look from girl to girl. Who do I choose?

My eyes land on Alexis. My parents had always favored Alexis. I've always disliked her and had to pretend when I was around her. Maybe it would be easy to continue to pretend around her.

I needed to decide quickly. The girls were all leaving. I briskly start to walk towards Alexis. The cameramen, realizing where I'm walking, drop their lunches and hastily pick up their cameras, turning them on to record everything.

"Lady Alexis," I call out to her. She stops from walking out and looks back at me, a confused look on her face, her brows furrowed. But when she notices the cameras facing us, she quickly schools her features into confidence, arching her eyebrows and letting a smile play on her lips. That's when I realize it, with a jolt.

Alexis is pretending too.

For whatever reason she had, she was acting one way in front of the cameras. I wonder why.

But right now was not the time to wonder. I reach Alexis, my heart hammering, telling me to stop, to not do it. I will it to calm down.

"I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me? On a d-ate?" My voice chokes on the last word, the word coming out strained and awkward. Alexis pretends she didn't notice.

I can see her hesitating. The curious gleam in her eyes. The wariness apparent in the way her mouth is pursed. But one glance at the cameras make her stop hesitating. She looks back at me with a smile, but her eyes still show her hesitancy.

"I would love to, Your Majesty."

♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~♕✿~

Hmmm what secrets could Alexis be hiding??

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Summer is kind of feeling like a drag because I have nothing planned and so I have nothing to do all day. But that just gives me more time to write, so it's good for you guys :p

Have a great week, guys!

Glass_Sword