"What do you think she wants?" Maddon asked as we hurried to the ballroom. Mother had summoned me for an "important announcement."

"No idea," Maddon said as I pushed open the door.

The room still smelled like new wood, as the flooring was put in two days ago. New thrones had been placed at the front. Mother sat in hers, smiling.

I furrowed my eyebrows at her face and went up to my throne.

Mother clapped her hands and the doors on the other side opened. A line of boys my age walked in, all smiling. They bowed and stood in front of me.

"Who are these people?" I asked.

"Since your engagement was terminated and the recent news of your accelerated coronation, you need a king by your side," Mother said. "These young men are suitors to fulfill that role."

She's joking, right?

My father's funeral was two days ago. Could she not give us some time to grieve before throwing another curveball? 

"Okay," I drawled, scanning the crowd.

"They will step forward and introduce themselves," Mother said and the first guys stepped forward.

"Erix Jones of Livia," he said, bowing deeply.

"Kensrick Stewart of Barne," the next guy said.

There were about ten of them in total, all average looking. I tried to hide the bored expression on my face as they told me their titles. They were all of royal descent of course.

"This is all very...shocking" I said carefully. "I think I'll need a few days to talk things over with my mother."

"Of course, dear. The boys will stay in the castle," Mother said and dismissed them.

"Are you crazy Mother?" I shrieked.

"How dare you?" she demanded, dropping her happy act. "This is necessary."

"It absolutely is not!  I can rule on my own. I don't need a king," I protested.

"Please, you haven't had a day of experience ruling a country."

"And these men have?"

"Well, not yet, but one of them will when you marry them," she said.

"I am not going to marry one of them," I barked.

"You will. You will interact politely with all of them before you make your decision."

I scoffed and pushed off my throne, stomping out of the room.

I was most definitely not choosing one of them. I was going to marry Maddon, not some random guy I meet two weeks before marriage.

I didn't need a man to rule beside me. I could manage on my own. The only person I would gladly let on the throne would be Maddon.

"Are you really going along with this?" Maddon asked.

"What choice to I have?" I mumbled.

"But we were just getting together," Maddon whined.

"I know, I'm sorry. But what am I supposed to do?  I can't exactly tell my mother that I can't marry a suitor because I'm in love with my guard," I said.

"You're right."

"What are we going to do?" I groaned.

"We'll just have to be secretly in love and leave it at that," Maddon said.

My heart just about stopped.

"In love?" I squeaked, my eyes going wide. Maddon's did too once he realized what he had said.

"Um-uh..." he stuttered. "Yeah."

A huge smile came over my face. I had never been this happy.

"You love me?"

"How could I not?  From the moment I met you, I knew I was doomed. I love you, Braelynn," he said.

I was in shock. Maddon loved me. Me.

"Please say something," he begged.

I literally jumped on top of him, making us crash backwards on my bed and attacked his lips with mine.

I think I made it pretty clear that I loved him too.

~*~

Okay I know this was short but I thought it was cute. Let me know if you think it's too soon for them to say I love you.

This chapter was inspired by the selection. Would 10/10 recommend that series. It's by Kiera Cass and is amazing. It's also where I came up with the name Maddon, which was inspired by the name Maxon.