Hello everyone! I want to thank everyone for 14k on The Selection! I never thought I would reach there, but all of you proved me wrong :D

So, this will be Hugo's first glance at the selection. Let's see what happens! Enjoy!

Hugo sighed deeply, shaking out his shoulders as he left his room. "Morning coffee, your majesty," his assistant handed him a cup. "Thank you," he muttered. It wasn't until the view of Angela had caught his peripheral vision that he realized his actual assistant wasn't there.

"Angela?" he asked astonishingly, "what are you doing here?" She smirked, "I was wondering when you were going to notice," -she giggled- "and, your assistant was busy with party preparations for tomorrow night, so I offered to help."

"Charming," he muttered, sipping his coffee. "Is there anywhere else you need to be?"

"Why?" she smirked, "I can help you complete the things that your assistant does on the first day of The Selection." His eyes brows furrowed, "Excuse me, what?"

"You know, like, comment on how pretty the girls are, and stuff like that." He groaned, "This conversation is proving my point that The Selection is a horrible thing." "Oh, come on," she tugged on his arm, "it's going to be fun."

"You're not forcing me to go anywhere," he chuckled, "especially with your weak grip." "Hey!" She shot back. "I would argue with you, but the girls are already coming in!" She grabbed onto his wrist as they ran down the hall.

"A-ANGELA!" -his breath hitched- "THIS IS ABSURD-"

"Come on," she groaned, "you run so slow!"

"Tch," he muttered, "you're lucky I love you."

"Pardon?" 

"Nothing."

They made it to the balcony that looked over the grand hall, Angela lacing her fingers through the cold railing. "Look!" She exclaimed. "This is probably the place where your father saw your mother for the first time."

"Hmm, I suppose so," he glanced down at the girls walking into the palace. "How could he even see anyone? Every girl looks like an insect I could crush between my fingertips." "Hugo!" Angela groaned, "look! look at her!"

Angela pointed to a girl dressed in pale blue, nervously asking one of the guards for directions. "She's pretty, don't you think?" "I suppose so?" He chuckled, "again, I would like to meet them face to face," -he crossed his arms- "not eyes to head."

Angela tossed him a look, "ahh, you make it impossible to have a good time," she groaned. He sighed, "I apologize," he started, then smirking, "I apologize that your good time is most of the time, pure stupidity."

"Even if I don't have a strong grip, I can still kick your but."

He chuckled, "of course you could," -he pat her head- "though, I'm sure that I wouldn't even notice your beating." "I'm sure you would!" She huffed, "now stop!" "Hmm, fine," he chuckled, "but please stop making yourself such a target."

"You can pick on me all you want, prince-boy-" "Prince-boy?" "Yes," she huffed, "and I won't care." "Hmm, what an interesting mindset," he smiled.

She gasped.

He whipped his head around, "goodness!" He shouted, "that is the noise you make when someone is holding a gun to my head!"

"YOU SMILED!"

"...And?" He groaned, mentally face-palming himself, "I smile all the time." "Lies," she shot back, "and not like that!" She yipped excitedly, "you rarely smile like that!" "I'm sorry that I smile when I'm around you!"

She giggled, "you sound just like Jonathan," -she sighed- "I love him." "You saying that your best friend and boyfriend are similar and 'I love them' should not be in the same sentence."

Angela tossed him a playful glare. "What are you saying?" She smirked, "that you should be my boyfriend?" He sucked in an inaudible breath, mentally yelling at himself to calm down. "Of course not, Miss. Cunningham."

He grumbled, "I have to go get ready for the interviews," -he turned the corner- "I'll see you." As soon as he was out of sight, he grasped his chest, sucking in a hitched breath.

"Someone's in love~!" his kwami snickered. "Shut up, Plagg."

***

Hugo inhaled a deep breath, then entering the grand hall. Many eyes turned to him, the prince avoiding eye contact with everyone. "Hello," a girl ambushed his walking path. "How are you, Your Majesty?"

"I'm fine, thank you." He paused, "and you?" "I'm great, thank you so much for asking," she twirled a piece of hair, the prince's brows furrowing. "My name is Adria Rossi," -she extended a hand- "nice to meet you."

He glanced slightly at her hand, mentally sighing as he kissed it. "I apologize, I may have to-" "It can wait, come on," she wrapped her hands around the prince's arm, Hugo desperately looking up to see if Angela was still on the railing.

Angela flashed a smile, making a heart shape with her fingers. Hugo's eyes slit at Angela, "Is something wrong?" Adria then asked. "No, of course not," he mumbled, stopping. "If you do not mind, I will be leaving now-"

"Prince Hugo!" -he mentally groaned at his name- "oh my god, it's actually the handsome prince in the flesh!" He turned around, flashing a forced smile as the group of girls introduced themselves.

"I'm Amelia," one giggled, "and this is Evelyn," -she gestured to the girl on the right- "And here's Charlotte." "God, stop paralyzing the prince!" a new girl shouted, "I'm Harper, by the way."

"Nice to meet all of you," the prince breathed. "But, now if you excuse me, I'll be leaving." He scurried off, not going far enough until he heard their gossip.

"God, isn't he hotter in real life?"

"He's so mine," Evelyn whispered to herself.

"Do you think he's a good kisser?"

"Hah," Amelia scoffed, "like you're ever going to get the chance to kiss him."

"Oh, I so am! He's going to make out with me first."

"Ew, Harper! Though, he's going to do that to me."

"Yeah, sure, Charlotte."

The prince grew more frustrated as he heard more bickering conversations between the other girls. How could each girl come in to be his future wife, while only one girl in the competition would remain?

Though, with the way everything is going, he probably is going to cancel The Selection.

Hugo raced out of the hall, straightening his cravat as he did. "My prince, your father needs you immediately." "What for?" Hugo sighed, "and can it wait." "No, unfortunately not," his assistant straightened his glasses, Hugo swearing under his breath.

"Tell my father I'll be there in ten minutes." He boomed, "and, prepare an extra spot in the dance tomorrow night." "For who," his assistant asked, "and is it another girl?" "Yes, she's one of my friends. Angela Cunningham."

His assistant nodded as Hugo turned the corner. As he did this, Plagg took the opportunity to start teasing his holder.

"Why are you inviting that girl?" he snickered, "trying to make out with her or something?" "PLAGG!" Hugo rubbed his temples. "Of course not. She's in a relationship." 

"So, you're saying that if she wasn't in a relationship," Plagg swarmed around his owner, "You'd make out with her?"

"NO!" Hugo shouted, then lowering his tone immensely. He didn't want to get looks from the staff for him yelling at floating dark mass.

The palace suddenly grew louder, the sound of scattering footsteps echoing through the walls. The castle shook under the prince's feet, a bit of gravel falling onto the prince's hair. "I believe it is the appropriate time to transform," he sighed.

"No, come on, I don't want to," Plagg groaned, the prince smirking. "Plagg-" "NO-" "Claws out!"

Black magic swirled around the prince, his silver sword forming into his grip. His leather mask and night colour hood covered his hair. His navy blue locks, usually straight and pointed, became curled at the edges.

He smiled with satisfaction, ripping his baton from the handle of the sword and leaping off the stairwell. He landed on the ground floor, bursting out the doors.

"WAIT!" the king's voice echoed, him now standing on a patch of grass.

"Y-Your Majesty," -he stopped himself from calling him father- "is there an issue?" "Where is your partner? Should she be with you?" Monsieur Noir sighed. "We both have separate lives, so I haven't seen her here yet. She may be already at the scene-"

"MR. NOIR!" Lady Rouge screeched, "WATCH OUT!"

He caught her in his arms, holding her bridal style, Lady Rouge then quickly retaliating out. "Thanks, Cat boy," she breathed, getting into a fighting stance. "Uh, is that nickname set in stone-". He chuckled, "-mini-bug."

Lady Rouge's brows furrowed. "We need to both get out of here!" "Why?" "Because if we're both here, he's coming to the palace!" "Or at least outside of it," she added with a mumble.

Monsieur Noir nodded, "right." They lept from the doors of the castle, both of them landing on the dirt road. "Where is the victim?" he asked, "or, are we going to have to do a scavenger hunt." "Hah, solid." She breathed, "but I don't know."

"Wasn't he or her the one who flung you across the kingdom?" He sighed. "How would you not know?" "Her," she muttered. "But I don't know! They just vanished!" She squealed. "Great," he muttered, "I suppose we'll have to go on a hunt, Mini-Bug."

She groaned, "do we have to!?" He chuckled, "unless you want to see this kingdom burn-" he paused "-then yes." She giggled, winding her yo-yo around one of the towers, flinging herself into the air. Monsieur Noir followed her quickly, extending his baton to throw himself onto one of the buildings.

Lady Rouge stopped for a moment, Monsieur Noir landing beside her. "Did you spot something?" he waited patiently for her reaction. She realized the pun; "SERIOUSLY!?" She groaned.

"Though, seriously, did you see anything?" he returned to his normal tone. "Yes - but wait, okay?" She huffed. "We need a plan this time." "Yes, because the next time he flings you across the kingdom, I won't be able to catch you."

"Hey!" She scoffed, "I could have easily caught myself." "Sure," he chuckled, "but what plan do we have?" "Should I do my lucky-thing?" He laughed, "yes, call your lucky-thing." He shot back in a mocking tone.

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" "Yes, do it," he chuckled. "Lucky Charm!" She flung her yo-yo into the air, a red aura flashing as an object fell into her hands. "A pair of scissors?" she asked, confused as ever. "Unless you're giving the victim a haircut, I don't understand the use of those."

She smiled slightly, looking around the area. "I can't see anything," she muttered. "I think we'll have to charge at her straight on to figure it out." "Great," he muttered sarcastically. She rolled her eyes, then immediately jumping off the rooftop, catching the victim's attention.

"So, no plan mini-bug!" he shouted, thrusting out his sword from the holder. "Does it look like I have any ideas!?" "Isn't that just your usual face?" "Are you saying I look clueless all the time!?"

"Uhm, I think you just burned yourself, mini-bug." Monsieur Noir chuckled, then sucking in a breath. "Do you have any clue where the akuma is?" he breathed as they landed beside each other.

"Probably in his scarf, it's the only normal thing about her," she replied, sprinting back into fighting. He groaned slightly, Lady Rouge then pausing out of nowhere.

"What're you doing!?" -he pushed her out of the way- "you're going to get hurt." "Sorry," she muttered, "but I know what we need to do!"

"What?"

"We're taking a trip back to that palace," she winked, "then you'll see."

"I'D RATHER KNOW NOW, MINI-BUG!" He shouted, her pausing on the roof-top.

"Well, sucks for you then," she stuck out her tongue as he rolled his eyes.

He leaped upwards, Lady Rouge calling attention to the victim. "Hey!" she shouted, the villain looking at them. "Want our miraculous? Come get it!" both of the superheroines sprinted the other way, the victim following close behind.

"Our miraculous!?" "You didn't know? That's what the guy is after." "Then, why are we using the miraculous they want!?" "I don't know! Don't ask me," she shot back. Monsieur Noir groaned, Lady Rouge giggling as they leaped into the palace.

***

Monsieur Noir breathed heavily, both him and Lady Rouge turning to face one another. "Pound it," they muttered in unison, both of their fists meeting, both of their knuckles brushing up against one another.

Monsieur Noir sighed heavily, his ring flashing for the fourth time. "Crap, I have to go," he glanced desperately at his partner. "It's fine, go," she smiled tirelessly, "I'll deal with the rest." "Thanks," he flashed a smile, jumping out of the broken window. 

He scaled the side of the castle, leaping through the first open curtains he had spotted. He de-transformed, Plagg landing on his shoulder as he handed him a small slice of cheese. "Enjoy, it's the last camembert that I found in my meal," he muttered, Plagg nodding in between bites.

He raced down the hall, straightening his cravat. Faint sounds of cheering grew more evident as he closed in to the doors of the Grand Hall. He burst them open, a large ray of sound hitting his ears.

"What-" "Lady Rouge! You go, girl!" "Thank you for saving us!" 

Hugo glanced upwards, Lady Rouge rubbing the back of her neck nervously as he felt red magic surround him. The ladybugs brushed up against his suit and hair, him staring in awe as he saw them revert the fallen pieces of concrete and brick.

He smiled softly to himself; what a gorgeous sight. "Lady Rouge!" -he caught her attention- "thank you for saving us, once again!" She froze slightly, then smiling, "Thank you! It was my pleasure," she fumbled nervously.

He smiled at this, the girls' then noticing the prince's arrival. "Wow, Prince Hugo," the girl behind him practically purred, "it's so nice to meet you." "Thank you, madame," -he cleared his throat- "but, I do believe with your stay at the palace that you will be seeing me more often."

The girl squealed, Hugo then realizing what that had hinted. Hugo wanted to deny this out loud, then remembering that his father wanted to see him. He hustled out of the room, shutting the door loudly as he got on route to his father's chambers.

"Ah, Hugo," Adrien caught his eye, "I was looking for you." "As was I." Hugo breathed, "you wanted to see me?" The king smiled warmly, "yes, of course," -he rested an arm on his son's shoulders, "we need to complete a before-selection tradition."

"A what?" "A tradition," he chuckled, "my father did it with me, of course, and I was looking forward to the day I got to do it with you." "What is it?" Hugo questioned. "I'm intrigued," he added with a small smirk.

Adrien chuckled, "you'll see." They raced back to the prince's chambers, Adrien shutting the door as he grabbed a stack of papers from the desk. "Those," -Hugo's breath hitched- "They're just the descriptions for the girls, nothing special."

"Well, the fact is that we're supposed to go through them together," he chuckled, "why didn't you think I let you look at them?" "You didn't have to ask twice for that," Hugo sat down in the chair, his father spreading out the papers.

"Harper Kubdel, daughter of a single mom," the king read, "It seems she works hard for her mother's small business. How interesting." Hugo chuckled, "I met her in the grand hall this morning," -he sighed- "she really is...something."

The king chuckled, "Good something?" "Quite the opposite," the prince huffed, "she was very descriptive on the things she would possibly get to do with me." The king winced, "I mean, who doesn't like a girl with passion?"

They shared a small laughed, Hugo smiling slightly. "Also," the king breathed, "I wanted to apologize for burdening you with my disease." Hugo looked at the ground, "It's quite alright," -he noticed his father would need more than that- "I mean, I'm an adult like you said. So I would be able to handle news like that."

Adrien winced, "It makes me feel much more guilty for telling you." "How so?" The prince questioned. Hugo sighed, "I mean, with this news, it just allows me to cherish the small or large amount of time I would have left with you, father."

The king smirked. "What?" Hugo asked, impatient as ever. "It's just so amazing when you get all feely like that." Hugo chuckled, "you don't know how much you sound like Angela right now." The king stroked his chin, "though, I do believe I will be leaving the kingdom in good hands."

"You are," Hugo reassured. "I will never do anything to harm this kingdom or its people." "Are you going to miss me?" Adrien stopped beating around the bush. "What?" Hugo questioned immediately after.

"It's just something I've been wondering," the king breathed. "Since, over the past years, you've grown into a young man." "And, you're much more independent," Adrien added quickly after.

"Of course I'm going to miss you," Hugo looked him in the eye. "You're my father. I'm not going to do anything but that." He sighed, "It's just a topic I've been avoiding thinking about since I don't really want to at the moment."

Adrien smiled, rubbing his son's shoulder, "That's acceptable. And, to let you know, we're telling Emma and Louis soon." Hugo sighed, "that will not go over well with them." "Of course it won't," he breathed, "you're the most responsible and mature in this family, are you not?"

Hugo smiled slightly, "I suppose I am." "And I trust you. That you'll make good decisions and stay safe." His father stood up to leave, Hugo freezing slightly at the statement. "Where did that come from?" He finally asked.

The king chuckled, "Oh, nothing." 

He smiled softly at the doorframe, Marinette waiting for him as he left. "Did you boys have fun?" she asked, both of them pacing down the hall. "Yes, I believe that I said what I needed to." The king spoke softly, both of them sharing a smile.

***

Hugo rubbed his face, trying to stay awake. It was very late, but he just had a bit more paperwork to fill out. He collapsed head-first onto the table, groaning as he rubbed his heavy eyelids.

He stood up, Plagg already asleep hours ago. He laid in a small bed he had made in his drawer, Hugo falling headfirst onto his mattress. He sighed, falling asleep right there. Angela peeked at him through the door frame.

"Angela-" "Tikki, shush! I think that he finally fell asleep," she whispered. "Nope," the prince groaned, sleepily looking at the girl. "Now, what are you doing here," he mumbled under his breath. Angela let out a breath in her mind; he hadn't heard the first part of her sentence.

"I came here to bring the coffee you ordered," she handed him the warm cup. She then immediately took it away before he could reach it. "But you look like you already have one foot in the grave!" she scolded, placing the coffee on his desk.

"Now, sleep." she kissed his cheek as he smiled sleepily. "Hmm," he rubbed his face. "Fine," he groaned. She smiled, satisfied. "Good night Hugo," she chimed at the door frame as he fell asleep.

She quietly crept back into the room, tossing a sheet over him, placing a pillow under his head. "Sweet dreams," she whispered happily. She skipped down the hallway, the moonlight etching her smiling features.

Hehe, coot moments with Hugo and Angie. But bro, Hugo really needs to sleep. What does have - insomnia? LOL well, anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Stay tuned ;)!