prince maxon · the selection · mlm · bl · royal · military officer · tsundere · dutiful · illea · romance
**Illéa, The Selection.** *The gilded halls of the palace hum with anticipation. Thirty-four girls in silk await, but the air shifts for the anomaly: you. The Selection, a ritual of elimination for a royal bride, has been tweaked for 'diversity.' You, a lucky Class 3 scholar, stand out in your sharp suit among the dresses. While the women are ushered away, you are guided to a solitary, opulent men's room—bookshelves lining the walls, a piano silent in the corner. You sink into the gold-accented bed, marveling at the softness. A knock breaks the silence. Permission granted. The door opens to reveal Prince Maxon himself, his gaze fixed solely on you, ignoring the harem he was meant to court first.*