“I had no idea that people would think I’m a good leader by watching me cry onstage in front of hundreds of cameras,” I say. 

“Well, some are saying that your poll results are a pity vote. How do you feel about that?” I sigh. Of course. The pity vote. 

“Whoever voted for me for valid reasons is amazing. Thanks for that.” I say, leaning forwards. “But if you’re voting for me because you feel sorry for me, you need to take that vote back, and choose someone honestly. I’m probably not the best choice.” Ruth nods, and smiles at me. “And I’ve got thick skin, so I’m not going to be offended by any of it. 

“That’s very brave of you, Olive,” Ruth comments, then starts talking about the other competitors. I don’t listen much. The projection on the board glitches. “Oh, it looks like the graph is updating,” She says, and turns to it, her jaw dropping. I keep my eyes away from it. “You’re in second.” I spin around, and stare. My line is above Angel’s and just below Cai’s. “How recent is this poll?” Ruth asks one of the staff members. 

“This is from a minute ago. Her numbers spiked as soon as she finished talking.” Ruth turns back to me. 

“It appears people liked that speech of yours about honesty,” She says, and closes the projector lens cover with a long, slim finger, the nail painted red. “I just have a few more questions, now, and you’re off the hook.” I nod, and she leans forward. “I want to hear about your relationship with Caden Imperos,” She presses. I try to hide my flush by holding my breath. So much for not gossiping. 

Ruth smiles, opening the projector again. As the lights go down, up comes a picture of Cai kissing me just outside my room last night, in very high definition. I flush red as the interviewer leaves it up. 

“Could we bring in Caden?” She asks one of the staff members, and they leave the room. Only eight feet to the door. I can escape. Before I can run towards the door and escape, Cai is led into the room a few moments later, and they push him onto the couch, sitting next to me. 

He looks at my flush, and reaches for my hand, rubbing it calmly. This helps a little bit with my breathing patterns. 

“So, spill everything,” Ruth urges with a girlish giggle. Cai stares at her.

“Why?” He asks. 

“So the people can know about your lives!” She explains, in a very perky voice. Cai rolls his eyes. “What? It’s my job to tell the news.” She starts to frown, her plastic-surgery face making it an awkward look. 

“Yeah. These are our personal lives, not national news,” He says, putting his arm around my waist protectively. 

“But you’re famous,” She says quietly. 

“So are you, to an extent.” He responds. “Are you in a relationship?” She nods. “How would you feel if cameras followed you whenever you went on a date?” Ruth looks down, uncomfortable. “Thank you for your time. We’re going to leave now.” Cai stands up, and pulls me behind him. 

We leave the room, and sit outside with the other champions. Julia smirks at my hands, entwined in Cai’s. Hadley giggles, and Angel glares at me, walking towards her interview. The reporters realize we are back, and run up to us, cameras flashing in our faces. 

“Is this relationship going to be a permanent one?” 

“Have you guys thought about marriage yet?” 

“How many kids are you planning on having?” The reporters attack us with questions. 

“Go away,” Cai says, holding my hand. 

“Why are you so grumpy today, Sir Imperos?” 

“Have you been fighting?” 

“How many kids are you planning on having?” I glare at them. One of the reporters talks to her camera, her back to us. 

“I’m Charleigh Middleton, and it is Wednesday, October fifteenth,” She says. It’s my birthday? “Two of the most beloved champions in the Governor’s Pageant have just confessed to being in a full relationship. Let’s hear from them now.” Cai stands up, pulling me down the hallway behind him. I walk slowly, my eyes still wide. 

“I should have remembered about the cameras in the hallways,” He says, as we reach the hidden balcony above the ballroom, our secret spot. “This is all my fault,” He sighs.

“It’s okay,” I say, squeezing his hand and turning back to staring at the floor, no longer dusty from our use of it. 

“What’s wrong?” He asks, turning my face to look at him. 

“Nothing,” I say, starting to smile. “It’s my birthday.” Cai’s eyes widen. 

“How do you forget a thing like that?” 

“I’m used to waking up and checking the date off on my calendar, but now I don’t have a calendar, so I don’t know what day it is.” He grins. 

“Well, how old are you now?” He asks, leaning against the wall. 

“Eighteen,” I say, sitting next to him. 

This isn’t how I imagined my eighteenth birthday. It’s a Saturday, of course. Casey got so excited when my birthday fell on a Saturday, so we could celebrate it as a family. I would wake up late, and Mom would make pancakes, just like every birthday. She would let us use maple syrup, for once. 

After eating until I was full, I would go with Casey to hang out with our friends, Ember and Flint. We’d swim and walk and mess around all day, and when I got home, Mom and Dad would pull out the presents they had been saving their money all year to buy. 

I already knew what I was getting for my eighteenth. Mom would have made me a new dress, the kind that Irons had no need to be ashamed of when wearing it in public, and a book, and a shiny necklace with the thinnest chain ever, a single pearl suspended in the middle of it. It was a family heirloom, and it would now be mine. After presents, we would all sit at the table, and eat a hot dinner, laughing until we lost our voices, and then we’d go to bed. 

That was when I was an Iron. Now I’m a Gold. My Gold birthday would include lots of presents from Mom that I didn’t need, something meaningful from Dad, and something amazing from Casey. That is, if she didn’t put an old wig that she found at the dump into the package, like she did for my sixteenth birthday. 

When I get back to my room, I find a huge box on my bed, addressed to me. My birthday presents. I sit down on the bed, and imagine my family is around me as I open the box. 

You’re taking too long. Casey would complain, and then Mom would shush her. I open the smallest of the packages inside the box, and find the heirloom necklace, my eyes filled with tears. 

I find a stack of books, courtesy of our new Gold budget, and at the very bottom, a new, silky dress, and a blonde wig that smells like taco meat. That night, I cry myself to sleep. 

“Attention, champions,” Connolly says, standing up. His wife’s already white face goes somehow paler. What’s going on? “In a few days, the people will vote to decide which of you is most worthy to rule Therncolaos.” Angel sits up straighter in her seat. She’s been glaring at me since she realized I’m ahead of her.  “And on the off chance that one of the girls is chosen, I must bring up one of the most easily forgotten rules of this revered tournament.” 

“I don’t think there is anything in the rule book that discriminates against the girls,” Cai whispers to me, holding my hand under the table. 

“And you know because…” 

“Because I’ve memorized it, of course,” He says with a smile. The governor keeps talking. 

“No female champion may take the role of governor, unless she is engaged or married,” He reads from the book in his hand. My jaw drops. Angel’s smile disappears, and Julia stands up. Hadley holds tightly onto Dennis, her eyes wide. Ashton is ignoring everything. 

“You can’t force us into this sort of thing!” Julia yells at the governor. “Women have rights, just the same as men.” I agree with Julia, and I stand up also. Connolly turns his gaze upon me. He doesn’t seem to like me anymore. 

“And if women can’t rule without help, then why do you even bring them to this contest anyway?” I ask. Connolly glares at me. 

“I’ve often questioned that myself. I might change the rules before I step down, so only men can compete. It would certainly mean less idiots in the room!” Cai stands up next to me, holding my hand tightly. “Now, if there aren’t any more interruptions, can I speak again?” We all stay silent. “To save myself the trouble of finding people for you ladies, I have decided to instead split you seven into pairs.”

“But seven is an odd number. You can’t split it into pairs,” I point out. The governor ignores me and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket. 

“Based on your personality test results from last week, I have decided which people fit best with one another.” He starts walking around the table. “Angel and Ashton, you are now engaged.” Angel smiles silently at Ashton, as they stand up and move next to each other. “Olive, your test results matched Caden. You two are engaged.” 

Cai smiles at me, squeezing my hand. At least that’s not so bad. I look at the three people left in the room, Julia, Dennis, and Hadley. 

“Julia, your personality is the most similar to Dennis. You are now engaged,” Connolly reads. Hadley’s eyes fill with tears. 

“What about Hadley? She’s actually dating him,” Julia demands, folding her arms. Dennis glares at the governor in silence. “I’m not marrying another girl’s boyfriend.” The governor remembers that Hadley is there, and turns to her, sighing. 

“Hadley, I’m afraid nobody matched your personality, and we are going to have to eliminate you from the competition. Guards?” An outcry comes from all of us, as guards in shiny breastplates (that Irons made but got no credit for) grab Hadley by the arms, and start to pull her out of the room. 

“Dennis!!!” She screams, her light brown hair disheveled. Dennis walks away from Julia, his fists clenched. 

“Let her go,” He demands, in a booming voice that makes my legs like jelly. The guards don’t listen, and continue dragging her towards the door. “Let. Her. Go.” He repeats. The governor nods to the guards, who let go of Hadley’s arms. She stands up straight and runs to Dennis, her eyes filled with tears. He hugs her tightly. Julia steps off, smiling. 

“I never liked guys anyway,” She mutters, but the leader of our country ignores her. 

“Fine. We‘ll just mix up the couples a little,” The governor says. “Dennis and Hadley, you’re together.” 

Angel quickly pushes Julia next to Ashton, and shoves me out of the way so she can stand next to Cai. Now I’m the one standing alone. Angel smirks at me. Either her or Cai will win. They’re not letting me win, no matter what. She’s ensuring that she rises to power, whatever happens. 

“And that works out, I guess. Thank you, Lady Bellerose.” Angel curtseys with a bright smile. Connolly turns to glare at me. “Guards?” This time I know they won’t let go. I close my eyes as they start to drag me out of the room. Screams fill the air seconds later, and I force my eyes open.