Chapter 6 Chapter Six

In the following week, officials from all walks of life poured into my house, busy preparing for my participation in the Philippine election.There was one particularly nasty woman who acted like I made up what I put on my application.Then, a royal guard came to work with local soldiers to develop security measures and thoroughly checked every corner of my house.It looks like I don't have to wait until I live in the palace to start worrying about rebel attacks, which is great. We got two calls from a woman named Sylvia asking what we needed.Her voice sounded confident and businesslike.My favorite visitor, a skinny man with a goatee, came to have me measured for a new suit.I don't know if I can bear to dress neatly and elegantly like a queen all day long, and live a prim life, but I still look forward to this change.

The last wave of visitors came on Wednesday afternoon, just two days before I was due to leave.The man responsible for going through all the royal rules with me, he was very thin, with his greasy black hair combed back neatly and sweating profusely.As soon as he walked in, he asked me if there was a private space to talk, and I felt something was wrong at that time. "Well, if you think it's okay, we can talk in the kitchen," Mom suggested. He wiped his face with a handkerchief, and looked at Xiaomei: "Actually, any place is fine, I just think you'd better let your little daughter avoid it."

What did he want to say that Xiaomei couldn't listen? "Mom?" She was as sad as if she had missed a good thing. "Xiaomei, baby, go and paint, you haven't worked much this week." "but……" "I'll go out with you, Xiaomei." Seeing the tears in her eyes, I proposed.When we were far enough away that no one could hear us talking, I gave her a hug. "Don't worry," I said softly, "I'll tell you all about it tonight, I promise." She wasn't like usual, she couldn't help jumping up and down when she heard good things, she just nodded in depression, and went to her little corner in Dad's studio.

Mom made Paper Boy a cup of tea, and we sat at the kitchen table talking.He held a stack of materials and put his pen next to the folder with my name on it.After sorting out the materials, he spoke. "Sorry for being so mysterious, but in some cases I have to say that these are really not suitable for children to listen to." My mother and I exchanged a look. "Miss Singer, you may find it difficult to accept the next words, but since last Friday, you have been regarded as an asset of the Kingdom of Elijah. From now on, you must take good care of your body. Let us first Go through these materials, some of which require your signature, if you fail to obey these regulations, you will be disqualified immediately. Do you understand?"

"Understood." I replied cautiously. "Very well, let's start with the easy part. These are vitamins, and since you're level five, I can only assume you don't necessarily have adequate nutritional supplements. You must take one vitamin a day, and these days you need to Remember, but when you get to the palace, someone will help you." He pushed me a big bottle on the table, and there was a statement for me to sign when I got vitamins. I couldn't help laughing, who knows how to take medicine and needs help? "I have your physical examination report here. There is nothing to worry about. You are in good health. However, the doctor said you didn't sleep well?"

"Well, I'm... I'm so excited lately, it's hard to fall asleep." This is almost true. During the day, I was really busy preparing for waves of elections, but at night, lying in bed, I Will think of Aspen.In the dead of night, I couldn't keep him from entering my heart, and it was hard to let him go. "I see, well, I'll leave you some sleeping pills, take them if you need them, and we all hope you rest well." "No, I don't need to..." "Okay," Mom interrupted. "Sorry, baby, but you look really tired. Get her some sleeping pills, please."

"Okay, ma'am." The cardboard man wrote something in my document, "The next topic is very private, but I still need to talk to each of the candidates, so please don't be shy." He paused Dun, "I need to confirm whether you can guarantee that you are still a virgin." Mom's eyeballs almost fell out.Therefore, this is the reason for Xiaomei to leave. "Are you serious?" I can't believe they sent someone to ask this, even if they really want to ask, can't they send a woman... "I'm afraid so. If you're not a virgin, we need to know now."

Uh, still with my mom around. "Sir, I know the rules of the law. I'm not an idiot. Of course I'm a virgin." "Please think about it, if you are found to be lying..." "For God's sake, America has never had a boyfriend!" Mom interjected. "It's true." I grabbed this sentence, hoping to end this topic quickly. "Very well, now all you need to do is sign this statement." I rolled my eyes and obediently signed.Thinking of the near ruins of Ilya, I'm glad our country survived, but the regulations really feel more and more suffocating, like being locked in an invisible chain.The laws that limit who you love, and these forms that declare chastity, are infuriating.

"I still need to go through all the rules with you. They are simple and clear, and you shouldn't find it difficult to obey. If you have any questions, feel free to say so." He raised his eyes from the material in his hand and looked at me. "I will." I replied vaguely. "You can't leave the palace at will, only if the prince dismisses you. Even the king and queen can't force you to leave. They can express their opinions to the prince, but in the end it is the prince who decides whether everyone will stay or stay. " "There is no specific time limit for the selection of the Philippines. It may end in a few days, or it may be delayed for several years."

"How many years?" I asked terrified, impatient to think about being away for so long. "Don't worry, the prince can't delay choosing Fei for too long. This is an opportunity for him to show his decisiveness, and delaying it for too long will be bad for his image. But if the prince really wants to do that, according to the regulations, you need to stay Until the moment he can make a decision." I must have been terrified, because my mother reached out and patted the back of my hand in comfort.The paper man was unmoved. "You can't arrange time with the prince. If he wants to be alone with you, he will come to you. If it is a social occasion and he is present, you can initiate. But in other cases, you are not invited. Can't find him."

"Also, while no one expects you to be friends with the other thirty-four candidates, you cannot attack them or destroy their chances. Their things, or any behavior that affects the relationship between them and the prince, the prince can decide on the spot whether to dismiss you." "Your romantic relationship is limited to that of Prince Maxson. If you are found exchanging love letters with anyone in your hometown, or having an affair with anyone in the palace, then you have committed treason and can be sentenced to death. .” Mom rolled her eyes when she heard this, but that's what really worried me. "If you break any of the laws of Ilia, you will be punished accordingly. Faye Wong's status as a candidate does not make you above the law." "Any clothes or food that are not specially prepared for you by the palace are not allowed to be worn or eaten. This is a safety rule that we will strictly enforce." "Every Friday you need to be present on the broadcast of "Capital Report". On some occasions, of course, you will be reminded in advance that the film crew or photographer will be working in the palace, and you need to treat them politely and let them see you life with the prince." "Every week you live in the palace, your family will receive a subsidy, and I will give you the first check before I go. At the same time, if you can't continue to stay in the palace, there will be someone to help you adjust to the post-election life." Life. Before you go, there are people who will help you get ready; when you leave the palace, they will help you find a new place to live and a job." "If you enter the list of the final ten candidates, you will become an elite class. At that time, you will be required to learn the responsibilities that a Faye Wong needs to bear and how to live like Faye Wong. However, before you reach this level, you You can’t take the initiative to find out the details.” "From this moment on, your rank is third." "Third level?" Mom and I both exclaimed. "Yes, it's hard for the girls to go back to their old lives after the selection of Fi. The second and third grades are okay, but the fourth and below are difficult to adjust back. You are now the third Rank, but your family is still fifth. If you win, your whole family will become royals, first rank." "Level one," Mom repeated softly. "If you stay till the end, you will marry Prince Maxson and be named Faye Wong of the Kingdom of Ilia. You will bear all the corresponding responsibilities and enjoy your due rights. Do you understand?" "Understood." This part, while grandiose as it may sound, is the easiest to understand. "Very well, then please sign this statement to confirm that you have understood all the statutory regulations. Mrs. Singer, please also sign this form to certify that you have received the check." I didn't see the amount of the check, but I saw tears in her eyes.I don't want to leave so much, but I understand that even if we go one day and are sent back the next day, this check is enough for us to live comfortably for a year.Moreover, when I come back, everyone will invite me to sing, and I will definitely not be short of work.But as a third degree, can I still sing as a career?If I had to pick one job I could do, I think I'd choose teaching, maybe I could teach other people music. The cardboard man packed up all the materials, got up to leave, and thanked us for entertaining him with tea and time.Before I go, I have to meet another official, who is my assistant: this person will lead me out of the house, to the send-off scene, and then to the airport.After that... I was on my own. The guest asked if I could walk him to the door, and my mother agreed because she was going to prepare dinner.Although I don't want to be alone with him, fortunately, the journey is not too long. "One more thing," said the Paper Man, with his hand already on the doorknob, "it's not a rule, but it's not wise to ignore it. When you're invited to spend time with Prince Maxson, don't Say no to him, whatever it is, dinners, outings, kisses, even more than kisses, whatever it is, don't say no." "What did you say?" The man who forced me to sign my chastity and now advises me to give everything to Maxson? "I know it sounds . . . inappropriate. But it would do you no good to refuse the Prince under any circumstances. Good night, Miss Singer." I feel nauseous, super nauseous.This, Ilya's law, clearly stipulates that everyone needs to wait until after marriage.This effectively stops the spread of disease and also consolidates the hierarchy.Children born out of wedlock will be driven into the street to become the eighth class, and those who are pregnant or exposed will be jailed.Even if someone suspects that something is wrong with you, you may go to jail for a few days.It did bother me that this rule forced me not to go further with the ones I loved, but now that Aspen and I have broken up, I'm glad I was forced to remain chaste. I couldn't contain my anger.Didn't you force me to sign just now? If I break the law, I will still be punished?Didn't he say, I can't be above the law?Clearly, the prince is above the law.As a result, I feel very dirty, worse than the eighth grade. "America, honey, I'm looking for you." Mom called me.I heard the doorbell ring, but was in no hurry to answer it.If this is another one coming over for autographs, I don't think I can handle it now. When I got to the end of the corridor and just turned the corner, I saw Aspen standing there with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. "Hi, America." His voice sounded so restrained, with an air of steady poise. "Hi, Aspen." I sounded so weak. "This is from Campbell and Celia, they wish you good luck." He took a step closer and handed me the flowers.The flowers were from her sister, not him. "It's so sweet!" Mom exclaimed, I almost forgot she was there. "I'm glad you're here, Aspen." I tried to imitate his indifference. "I've made a mess, can you help?" Because my mom was there, he had to agree to help, and the Sixth Order usually couldn't refuse a job.We are all alike in this. He exhaled through his nose and nodded. Aspen walked into the house after me, and I thought, how many times I've dreamed of this scene: Aspen could walk into my house, into my room.Now, under such circumstances, things can't get any worse, can they? As soon as I opened the door to my room, Aspen smiled. "Did you get a dog to clean up for you?" "Shut up! I just can't find what I'm looking for." I still couldn't help laughing. He got to work right away, putting things away and folding his laundry.Of course I also helped. "Don't you have any clothes?" he asked softly. "No, they will prepare clothes for me from tomorrow." "Oh wow!" "Aren't your sisters disappointed?" "Actually, no." He shook his head in disbelief. "The moment I saw your photo, my whole family cheered. They all like you, especially my mother." "I also like your mother very much, she has always been so good to me." We were silent for a few minutes.The room was slowly tidied up. "Your picture..." he began, "very beautiful." It's so unfair for him to tell me how beautiful I am, especially after breaking up with me. "That's because of you." I said softly. "what?" "That's... I thought you were going to propose to me soon." I choked up. Aspen was silent for another moment, thinking about what to say. "I did intend to, but it doesn't matter now." "Important, why didn't you tell me?" He touched his neck, hesitating. "I'm waiting for the right moment." "What are you waiting for?" Is there anything worth waiting for? "Wait for a new round of conscription." That was a serious business indeed.It is difficult for many people to tell whether they hope to be recruited or not.Because in Ilya, boys who have reached the age of nineteen are eligible for conscription. Every two years, all boys whose birthday falls within six months before and after conscription day will be randomly selected, and then they will start serving from the day they turn nineteen. Until the age of twenty-three.The day of conscription is approaching. Of course we talked about it, but not very seriously.I think at the time we wanted to ignore the draft, as if it would ignore us. It pays to be a soldier, you become second class in no time, and the government not only trains you, but feeds you for life.Of course they send you away from where you were born, because they think soldiers are soft on the people they know.Therefore, soldiers are likely to be sent to guard the palace, or to serve as policemen in other provinces, or they may be sent to the army and sent to the battlefield.Few of those sent to the front made it home alive. Those who did not have a family before the conscription generally waited until after the conscription.At best, he would need to be separated from his wife for several years; at worst, his wife would become a young widow. "I just...don't want to treat you like that," he said softly. "I see." He stood up straight and wanted to change the subject: "Then what are you going to bring to the palace?" "Bring a piece of clothing that I can wear back, one day they kick me away. Bring some photos, books. They told me I don't need to bring any instruments, it's all set, so that's all in that bag .” Now that the room is packed, that backpack looks so big.On the desk are the flowers he brought, which are particularly dazzling compared with other things.Maybe it's because everything has gone pale... now it's all over. "Not much," he remarked. "I've never needed a lot to be happy, and I thought you knew that." He closed his eyes. "Come on, America, I did the right thing." "Right? Aspen, you made me believe we could do it, you made me fall in love with you, and then you convinced me to take part in this goddamn competition. You know, they literally gave me to Maxson as a plaything?" " He suddenly turned to look at me: "What?" "They don't allow me to refuse him, and I can't refuse any request from him." Aspen looked angry and disgusted, his hands clenched into fists: "Even...he doesn't want to marry you...he can...?" "yes." "I'm sorry, I didn't know it would be like this." He took a few deep breaths, "but if he really chooses you... then it's okay, you deserve happiness." Enough is enough, I slap him. "You idiot!" I yelled at him, lowering my voice. "I hate him! I love you! I only want you, I've always wanted you alone!" His eyes are red, but I can't care so much anymore, he hurt me too much, now it's his turn. "I should go." He said, walking towards the door of the room. "Wait, I haven't paid you yet." "America, you don't need to give me money." He made another gesture to leave. "Espen Ledger, stop!" The anger in my voice stopped him, and he finally realized I meant it. "That's good practice, you'll be level one soon." If I hadn't seen his eyes, I'd have thought he was joking, not sarcasm. I shook my head, went to the desk and took out the part-time wages I had saved, and put all the money in his hands. "America, I can't take this." "You have to take it, I don't need these anymore, but you do. If you ever loved me, you take it. Isn't your self-esteem doing us bad enough?" I could feel him a little discouraged, No more struggling. "Ok." "And these." I found the small bottle full of pennies in the crack of the bed, poured the coins into his palm, but one stuck to the bottom of the bottle and couldn't shake it out, "These are all your money, Take it and use it." Now, I have nothing that belongs to him anymore.When he has no choice but to spend these pennies, he will no longer have anything that belongs to me.The heartache became more and more severe, and the tears in my eyes became blurred. I had to take a big mouthful of breath to hold back the tears. "Sorry, Ami, good luck." He stuffed the money and pennies into his pockets, turned and ran out. I didn't expect to cry like this, not sobs out of breath, but slow tears. I put the little bottle on the bookshelf, and saw the penny at the bottom of the bottle again.I dipped my fingers into the bottle to get it up.The coins collided in the glass bottle, making a crisp and hollow sound, which resonated with the hollow in my heart.I don't know if it's good or bad, but I know that I haven't been freed yet, not so fast, maybe, I won't be freed forever.I opened the backpack, put the bottle in, and sealed it all up. Xiaomei sneaked in, and then I took a sleeping pill, hugged her to sleep, and finally felt a little numb.