A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to upload a new chapter, but here it is. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

"Good Morning!"

I turned around only to find Silvia standing before me. She was holding a small black earpiece, simple and not so easy to find, just like I asked for.

"Thank you so much!" I yelled while walking across the room to find my brother.

I spotted him at the food platters stuffing shrimp into his mouth, and somehow, he made it look princely. Sometimes I envied him for being able to do that.

"Here"

I handed my brother the ear piece. He flipped it over and over again, probably trying to find out what it was for, or he was doing that 'rubbing objects thing' whenever he got nervous. I couldn't tell. My brother and I were trained to never reveal our emotions if we were nervous or upset, it just showed signs of weakness.

"What's this for?" he asked.

"Put it in your ear. This way I can communicate with you and nobody can hear us."

I've never told anybody this, but I really need my brother. He's like an essential part of me, like a body part. I rather die than have him separated from me. And I know, he needs me too. We always cling on to each other. Our mother couldn't even separate us even when we were young. When our mother pushed us to play with the other royal kids, we hit her with our tiaras, crowns, and occasionally our shoes. Our mother stopped trying after that.

"Why? So you can mock every single face you see on the monitor without people listening?" my brother gave me his famous look, a sly brow, that probably melted every single girl in this room, except me, because I thought he looked like a retarded dog trying to be a cat.

"Like you wouldn't be doing that for every girl you see," I retorted.

And by the silence of his response I knew I'd won.

I know what you're thinking, why do I care about winning some silly argument. Well, like me tell you something: I was taught and trained to win. Everything is a game, from a competition to an argument, to even a test. Second place was just a fancy title for the first loser, and third place was just another title for grand loser. And I don't lose!

"Everybody, positions please. Queen Celaena and King Chaol sit over there under the shade. Princess Aurora and Prince James sit over here in the cushioned chairs next to your parents. In case you get thirsty, there's sweetened ice tea right over at that table," chirped Silvia.

Sometimes that lady was just too perky. Oh well, nothing I could do to change that.

Somewhere far away, the cameraman was counting down the seconds to the broadcast. I felt my hands getting sweatier for some reason. What? No-why would I be nervous about meeting some blithering male fools? Pshhhh.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and we're on."

There weren't any additional announcements today, so I watched as the Master of Events came on stage and introduced Gavril Fadaye. His hair was spiked and glitter was flying all over him. He wore a crisp blue suit, tie and shoes. I don't want to be mean, but Gavril looked like a blueberry.

"Good evening, Your Majesty," he said to my father.

"Gavril, always happy to see you,"

"I've never seen Dad so happy for something not that important," I said to my brother.

"What are you talking about? This is the most important event of our lives, this whole announcement is going to change our lives," he responded, irritably.

"What's gotten' into you. Just yesterday, you were making fun of this whole thing. Is mom's talking about finding and falling in love getting to you, or are you just trying to freak me out."

I was starting to get very nervous. What if my brother did find a soul mate out of the 35 selected girls? Not that I didn't want him to find love or be happy, it's just that he might not be there for me any more because he has to focus on the other girls. I started to get envious, but then I saw my brother and he looked exactly as he always did when he was around me, protective and loving, like he wouldn't want to be with anybody in the world but me. I couldn't be jealous over something I couldn't control! How silly and stupid of me.

"And with that, let us reveal the thirty-five young men and ladies chosen for the Selection. Ladies and gentleman, please join me introducing the following daughters and sons of Illea!"

I guess I zoned out on most of Gavril's speech. Oh well!

"Mr. Harry Jackson of Kent, Three"

A picture of a handsome guy with black hair and green eyes showed up on the screen. I smiled, he looked like a decent guy, who could have been my friend.

"Miss Jade Willow of Kent, Four"

A girl with brown hair with blue highlights and green eyes showed on the screen. My brother's smile widened into a grin, showing all of his pearly whites.

Gavril kept announcing names, but I completely blanked out. I still looked at the screen and smiled, but I was basically only doing that. My brother kept saying things to my through his earpiece, but I wasn't listening. The reality of all this just hit me, how was I suppose to find a soulmate out of all these people? How was I even suppose to act towards these guys? God, I don't even know how to flirt or get close to any other person beside the people I've been with my entire life. And dating in front of the entire country… What does Illea think I am, a play toy?

"And there you have it!" Gavril announced, "Those are our beautiful and handsome Selection candidates. Over the next week they will be prepared for their trip to the palace, and we will eagerly await their arrival. Tune in next Friday for a special edition of the Report devoted exclusively to getting to know these spectacular men and women. Prince James and Princess Aurora, I congratulate you! And to you" -he spoke to the camera-"don't forget to stay tuned for all the latest Selection updates right here on the Public Access Channel. Good night, Illea!"

The anthem played, and the lights went down, and I finally zoned back in.

"What happened to you back there? You were completely unlike yourself," my brother told me after we left the broadcasting room.

"I don't know, I guess the reality of the whole thing just hit me, or I was just so bored I couldn't even move," I told him, lying about the last part.

"I doesn't matter anyways because the Selection already started, they're going to come next week."

I just hope everything turns out as I plan it will be.