Hey everyone! Welcome to the sequel! If you're here, you probably have read the first book in this series, and are here for more :D. If not, then you can go check out the first book if you want, but you don't have to read it to understand this one :)!

I hope that you're going to enjoy the book and that you have fun reading the first chapter!
Enjoy!

Hugo Agreste slammed open the door of the dining hall, startling more than one worker. He stormed down the hallway, everyone turning their heads to avoid his gaze. One girl, Angela Cunningham, looked up at the prince and smiled softly.

"Hey, hey, hey," Angela grabbed his arm, twirling herself on the back of his heels as he turned around. "What's the matt-" "My father, my mother," -he pinched the bridge of his nose- "They're forcing me into a Selection!" Angela froze at the statement, "Wait, what?"

"My father is...he's making me become the king when I'm 23 - meaning that I have to start The Selection now, find a wife, learn how to be a proper king," -he paused, rubbing his face- "And spend enough time with my wife so she doesn't leave me!" Angela laughed at his last statement.

"Is something funny, Miss. Cunningham?" Hugo spat coldly. She giggled, "No, just you're funny," she rubbed the back of her hand against his cheek. "When's the last time you put moisture on your skin?" she noticed as he grabbed her wrist and placed her hand by her side.

"Is that really important right now?" he sighed. "Calm down," she started, "Okay, so, why do you need to find a wife?" "Since the kingdom needs a queen, does it not Miss. Cunningham?"

"Well, love isn't forced," she stated as they continued to walk down the hallway. "Isn't that what The Selection is? Forcing women to marry the prince while they sleep in the palace?" Hugo smirked slightly when Angela laughed.

"Well, I think that The Selection is a way to force the stuck-up prince to get married," Angela commented. "Excuse me?" he turned his head. "You heard me," she stopped him with her hands. "If you really want a girl, lose the attitude - and put some moisture on your skin for goodness sake!" she grabbed his face with her hands.

"Stop touching my face, thank you!" Hugo exclaimed instantly, grabbing her wrists and placing them by her sides. She stuck out her tongue as he let a chuckle slip from his lips. "You never grow up, do you," Hugo leaned on the wall with crossed arms. "What's the fun in growing up when you can stay young?"

Hugo sighed, "I wish I could forever stay a child," "You weren't even I child when we met!" Angela bounced back as Hugo rolled his eyes at her foolishness. "Is that some sort of insult?" "No," she braided a piece of his hair as he sighed, "But it's something worth noting," she finished the braid as he separated it quickly.

"Why don't you braid your own hair?" "Yours is thicker it's more fun," Angela commented, a bit of envy laced into her tone. "Hugo," His mother, Marinette Agreste, quickly scurried over. "Nice to see you, Angela," -she flashed a quick smile- "I need you and your sister immediately," her tone spiralled back to seriousness.

"What about Louis?" "Your father is getting him, now go get your sister," she scurried off before Hugo could ask why. Hugo waved to Angela, speed walking down the hallway and into the grand hall.

Hugo muttered impatiently, going up to the third floor, attempting to check her bedroom. He knocked on the door and then opened it seconds later. "Hugo?" Emma asked, a childish tint in her voice. "Come now," he grabbed her wrist.

"What's wrong? Does Louis need some-" "No, and before you ask, I have no idea. Mother and Father just needed us," Hugo muttered, Emma scoffing under her breath. They both got back to the grand hall seeing the Queen and King - both contemplating with an old man in a white suit.

Hugo stood behind his sister, resting an arm on his mother's shoulder. "An issue?" Hugo raised his voice, eyes diverting to him. "It's a man, he's claiming that the crown jewels belong to him," Adrien rested his hand under Marinette's.

"Those are not crown jewels, they are called the miraculouses,"

Hugo's eyebrows raised. "They were stolen by the former king, William Agreste, and I am here to collect them once again," he explained. The King and Queen shared a glance as the eldest child rolled his eyes.

"Idiot," he muttered. "You have no right to march into the palace and claim the crowned jewels," "And, yes, I understand this. But, if these miraculous were to get into the wrong hands, there is no telling what they could do!" 

"I'm sure," Hugo replied sarcastically, Emma hiding her smirk. "But, for now, we would like to keep the crown jewels," "But, keep him here, we are not done with this story," the man was dragged off as Hugo's eyes drifted and followed him.

Both of Hugo's parents turned to face him as Emma gave him a look that practically screamed 'you're in trouble'. "Yes?" Hugo asked impatiently. "You didn't have to be so mean," Emma mumbled. "I agree," Marinette added, "But, what's done is done."

"You're going to learn how to work with people like that once you become king," Adrien remarked, "You're going to have to."

Hugo sighed, "Yes, I'm sure that I will." He concluded. "So, what are we going to do now?" Louis spoke up. "I'm going to leave now," Hugo turned around. "Hugo, wait, we need to talk to you," Marinette spoke up as he stopped.

"You can go now," she turned to her other children, her gaze then returning to Hugo's back. "Is something the matter?" he turned his head back over his shoulder. "We need to talk about The Selection,"

He turned around fully, "I don't need a Selection," "It's the most idiotic thing this kingdom has done," he paused. "It may be idiotic, but we don't see you proposing another idea," Adrien remarked, "And please do not raise your voice,"

"I apologize," Hugo sighed, "But I still do not agree with your decision to force me into one." Marinette rested a hand on his shoulder. "Honey, I know it's not your first choice, but do you have anything else to suggest?" Marinette repeated what her husband had said, but in softer words.

He sighed at his mother, he couldn't be rude to his parents, they didn't know anything about the girl he really liked. Marinette's hand cupped a side of his face as his expression changed. "When's the last time you put moisture on?"

He chuckled slightly, "Angela said the same thing," he grabbed his mother's wrist and placed her hand back to her side. "Angela Cunningham? Yes, what does she do again?" the king smirked, "And are you two a thing?"

"One of the maids," he paused, noticing their smirking expressions, "We're friends," he then added forcefully. The same expression stayed on their faces as he sighed quietly. "Also, we've both noticed that you have been very stressed lately," Marinette sighed as he froze, glancing at his Father.

"Yes, I have." "Is something the matter?" Marinette responded quickly. "No, I'm fine," Hugo quickly reassured, "Just, my future-" "What about your future?" Hugo mentally groaned at his mother's ongoing questions.

"Being the king, and The Selection, and, yeah," he didn't dare to say Angela's name in the mix. "You don't have to worry about being king for five more years," Marinette commented. "I..." he glanced at his father, "I don't think so,"

"What do you mean?" Marinette looked back at her husband. "I...don't want to be the one to tell her," Hugo backed up.

Adrien sighed. "It's because of me," Adrien started. "Why because of you? We agreed that he would be at least 25-" "I don't think that I'm going to make it to his 25th birthday." Adrien looked the other way.

"..."

Marinette sat down, rubbing her temples. "What do you mean," she stared directly through her husband. "I have...I have a disease," "What disease," "It's one I got from my mother, she died because of it," Adrien whispered.

Hugo looked down, trying not to think about the fact his father could die at any moment. "Is this what you've been doing?" Marinette whispered.

"You worry our son with the burden of being king instead of telling your own wife!" Marinette practically screamed. "Because I didn't want to worry you!" "Why did you worry him!?" "Because he needed to know more than you - he is an adult!" Adrien yelled back.

Hugo slowly backed up, before turning around and leaving the hall. "Hugo~" Angela's sing-song voice chimed his ears. He flashed a faint smile before continuing to walk down the hall. "Wait, wait!" she gripped onto his arm as he stopped.

"I got great news!" His eyebrows raised. "I finally got a boyfriend!" he froze.

"You...You did?" his voice was soft. "Yes! His name is Jonathan, he's so cute," she practically squealed. "He is an amazing baker, and he is applying for a job for...Hugo?" she looked at him, as he looked the other way.

"Yes? Sorry, I'm a bit busy at the moment," he began to walk off. "It's okay, we can talk later," her voice echoed as he turned the corner. He never knew that words could wound him this deeply.

***

Angela snuck into the laundry room, quickly rushing to help one of her friends. "Hey, Angie," Angela tossed her a smile,  "What's going on?" "Oh, nothing," Angela muttered, "I'm free, so I can help if you want-"

"Oh, good, darling you're free!~" her mother chimed as she dropped a piece of clothing. "Mom?" Angela batted her eyes, "Do you need help?" Zoey handed her daughter a list, pushing her to the door, "Yes, yes! The laundry workers are all behind-" "I can help!" Angela interrupted, so confused about why her mother was pushing her out the door.

"Well, no! Someone needs one of us for help in the kitchen," "But-" "Go, Angela!" the door was slammed in her face, Angela timidly blinking. She rushed down the hall, knocking on the kitchen wall. 

"Hello...?" she cleared her throat, "Does anyone need my help?" The sue chef noticed her, quickly dragging her to one of the counters. "Oh, thank god," -he rubbed his temples- "No one here wants to go and drop off one of the new prisoners his meal!" he shouted at everyone; all of them ignoring him.

She giggled sheepishly, the chef throwing a plate into her hands, warm from being freshly washed. "Hey-" all the chefs came up to her, each placing a warm new dish into her hands. She was now holding three plates; not the best job to give to the clumsiest maid in the palace.

"Now go!" The sous chef shoved her out of the room, Angela catching herself from almost falling. "H-Holy," she caught her breath, still hearing muted shouting from the kitchen. She balanced herself, kicking off her shoes; not wanting to wear heels while carrying three plates.

She turned through the halls, listening to the echoed sounds of yelling and busy palace workers through the walls. She, very carefully, walked down a long flight of stairs, looking at the number on the list she was biting onto. "19," she mumbled, keeping the paper from getting wet between her teeth.

She placed two of the plates down, sucked in a breath, and slid the plate through the small slit in the metal door. She picked up the two plates, continuing down the hall as she stopped at 32. She sheepishly placed the plate through the slit, the only sound being the loud breathing from the occupants in the cells.

She got to 34 and kneeled to place the plate down through the door. This one had no slit, so she opened up the cell with her keys, not daring to make eye contact with the frail old man. "Hello," he whispered; Angela tilting up her head. "H-Hi," she mumbled, shutting the door slightly.

"Thank you for the meal," "You're welcome." Angela sat on the ground, keeping the door shut by leaning on it with her back. "So..." -she didn't know why she was being nice to this man- "Why are you here?" 

He sighed, "I came back to request for the Crown Jewels-" "Wait, really!?" Angela cleared her throat. "I-I mean, really? Sorry..." she mumbled, smiling faintly. He chuckled, "Yes, really. These jewels are very powerful; much more powerful than they could comprehend. They need to be in the right hands, you see."

Angela's eyes widened; fascinated by the statement. "Really?" -she fumbled with her fingers- "I-I mean, it's not that crazy," she giggled under her breath. "I know the prince once told me that if you are worthy with the crown jewels, they will transform into jewellery that you can wear," -she glanced up- "And it can give you super-human powers."

She then laughed, "But, that could be just a myth..." she trailed off, waiting for a reply. "It seems the prince knows what he is talking about," the man had made her giggle. "Yeah, I suppose Prince Hugo does," she smiled faintly at the thought of her best friend.

"If you want," -she cleared her throat- "I can put in a good word for you to the prince? I'm not sure if it will help very much, though..." "Oh, thank you," -his tone changed to pure happiness- "Thank you so much."

She giggled, "If you need anything, I'm always around the palace," she then rubbed the back of her neck, "And it's no problem." She then got up, locking the cell once more. "I'll come to drop off your meal tomorrow," she felt a wide smile on her face.

"That would be great," she saw his smile peering through the long metal bars. "I'll see you then," she tossed a wave, walking off. A very small, emerald glowing creature came from hiding behind the prisoner's back. "I can unlock the jail cell, master. I now know what key you can use." he offered, the man raising a hand. 

"No, Wayzz, we must stay," he breathed, "I need to get the miraculous - I must stay and get them back." 

Haha, so it seems we have a Master on our hands. Did Angela just help the prisoner escape, or help him do something else? Either way, Angela, don't talk to prisoners!

Haha, anyway, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I hope you decide to keep on reading, and I'll be here for weekly updates! 

Stay tuned ;)!