After dinner, Edward excused Anna, but had Tyler stay behind. Tyler groaned as maids cleared away their plates and slouched in his chair. He knew what this was about, and he didn't really want to talk about it.

"Would you like to tell me why you lied?" Edward asked.

Tyler shook his head quietly.

"Tyler," Edward warned, locking eyes with his son. Tyler quickly looked away. Edward hated playing this game, Freya was better at getting him to open up, and Edward couldn't help but miss her in that moment.

"Can we talk about this later?" Tyler asked as he ran a hand through his dark brown locks.

"No," Edward said, a hint of finality in his tone. "If you weren't okay with this, why didn't you just tell me?"

Tyler looked down and tapped his fingers on the table, he hoped if he delayed long enough his father would just drop the issue and let him go.

"Well?" Edward questioned. "I made myself clear, if you said you weren't okay with it, then I wouldn't have a Selection, and now I find out that you lied to me about being okay with this, and now you've backed me into a corner, so you better start talking."

"Did I really have a choice?" Tyler shot back, thinking back to his conversation with Emmy. She had practically forced him into it, but of course he couldn't tell his father that. "Anna was on board, you clearly wanted to otherwise you wouldn't have asked us in the first place. What kind of ass hole would I be if I had said no? You'd be miserable and you'd only have me to blame."

Edward was taken aback, he didn't mean to pressure his son into saying yes, and he couldn't believe he hadn't thought to ask them separately so the decision of one wouldn't influence the other. "Look, Ty, you should have been honest with me. This decision affects you as much as it affects me," He began. "However, I am a man of my word, and I need you to be one too. Meaning, I won't be going back on my word to Illéa, nor will you be going back on your word to me. You said you were fine with it, and you're going to act like you are."

Tyler nodded as he crossed his arms. I'm an idiot, I should have just said no, he thought. "Can I go now?"

Edward nodded. "Don't lie to me again." he added as he stood. He sighed as he left the dining room.

Tyler sighed as he ran his hands through his hair, his dad was right, he had been given a way out of all of this, but he had stupidly said he was on board, he only had himself to blame.

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Tyler went to his room, wanting to be alone. He grabbed his guitar from where it leaned against the wall. He then laid in bed and started strumming mindlessly, he knew he was going to regret going along with what Anna and Emmy wanted. Besides, why the hell was Emmy so adamant on there being a Selection? What did it matter to her? He sighed, Emmy always got her way. Normally he didn't mind, but she didn't even ask if he was okay with any of this. He didn't hear the knock at his door, too lost in his own thoughts. It wasn't until his older sister was waving her hand in his face that he jumped, startled.

"You haven't picked that up in a while," Anna said, referring to the guitar.

Tyler shrugged. She was right, he had hardly played after his mom died. She was the one to teach him how to play and he wasn't even sure himself why he decided to pick his guitar up, but it just felt right in the moment.

"Look, I know the Selection is going to be a lot, but I'm glad you said yes, I know you just did it for dad," Anna said as she sat on the edge of her brother's bed.

Tyler sighed, that's one of the reasons, he thought. "Yeah, well, I just hope it all works out."

"You mean, you hope dad doesn't marry a monster," Anna said.

"Whoever he marries we're gonna be stuck with," Tyler pointed out. He was nervous about a potential stepmother, what if she hated him? Or he her? Or what if she just wanted to be Queen? Would their father listen to them if they had any concerns about the Selected?

"I know," Anna said with a small smile. "But, I mean, dad clearly made the right choice with mom, so I think he can do it again."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Tyler said. He didn't fully believe his sister, but he was also tired about talking this to death.

"Oh, did dad tell you?" Anna asked. "I'm going to be home schooled soon, and take on royal duties."

Tyler furrowed his brows in confusion. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I want to. Ty, dad can't do everything himself, and if I don't all of mom's hard work will go to waste," Anna explained.

Tyler frowned, she was right, and he was glad she was doing this, because in a million years he wouldn't step up and put himself in the limelight until he had to. As much as he wanted to help his sister, the thought of putting his life even more on display scared the crap out of him. "Well…thanks for doing that," He said, unsure of what to say.

"Of course, and one day when you're ready to stop hiding from the cameras, you're more than welcome to join me." Anna said as she stood. "I'll let you get back to your guitar. But…don't beat yourself too much about this Selection, I'm sure it'll be fine."

Tyler nodded as he watched his sister leave the room. He hoped she was right, but he couldn't help but feel a bit sceptical.