ABANDONED. Fantasy book where main character holds a contest for marriage waste time

[C]

I read this book over 15-20 years ago, fantasy book, where main character holds a contest for marriage to waste time, them having to get married to keep the kingdom (I think I'm not sure). Other countries nearby are trying to take over their country and by inviting the others to the contest holds them as hostages so the other countries can't invade until the winner is chosen
The main character has to think up all sorts of different contest to eliminate contestants.
That's all I remember, I can't even remember if the main character is male or female, I think female but I'm not sure.

[Summer]

Maybe The Runaway Princess or Princess Ben?

[Gillian]

It sounds like it might be one of Sharon Green's romancy-science-fantasy novels, but I can't quite remember which one. You might want to look at them to see. Lady Blade/Lord Fighter, maybe?

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.

C (OP) was last active on the site in August 2020.