Royal Powers

Chapter 1

"Princess!" A voice calls from behind me. "Yes?" I replied. "Your mother is looking for Prince Constantine, have you seen him at all today?" Blaire, mother's maid asks. "No, but wherever he is, I'm sure he can't wait to have the throne." I reply before walking away. "Princess!" Blaire shouts after me. Of course she's looking for Constantine. He is, after all, her favorite. I'm sure she'll do anything in order for her powers to pass to him instead of me. Even though I'm the oldest, he's only 11 months younger, and he's a male. Plus, I have Aspen to worry about as well because even though he's 2 years younger, there's still a possibility for him to inherit the throne. Everyone in the family knows how this works, even Kylo, who's only 14. A ruler is chosen in the royal family. They inherit a power specific to their kingdoms. Inara, my kingdom, has the power to control weather, which mother uses for growing food and keeping natural disasters at bay, while of course helping to make deals with other kingdoms by offering them the same. When whatever source gave her the powers decides that she's ruled enough, the power will leave her body and go to who it believes is the next rightful ruler. Mother got her power when she was 14, which is considered young, since the heirs are usually around 16-19 when they inherit the powers. Since Constantine and I are 18, we're almost at the mark, but Aspen is 16, which means he's in the pool for the powers too, though he will just quietly listen to information from the shadows, he knows more than he should.
        Speak of the devil. "Aspen," I say as he walks towards me. His mischievous smile turns into a smirk. "Did you hear about Constantine?" He says, clearly teasing me. Stupid bastard. He knows I despise Constantine. Of course he'll talk to me about the one thing I don't ever want to talk about. Smug is one way to describe him. Even though I wouldn't ever admit it, he's handsome. He has the same gray blue eyes as Constantine and Kylo, but while Constantine's are almost fully gray, his are blue with a hint of green. His brown hair lays flat on his head, and he could probably cut paper with how sharp his cheekbones were. That was what we all had in common. Blue-gray eyes, brown-black hair, and sharp jawlines.
       I smile a fake smile at him, knowing that me getting angry will just please him more. "No, I didn't. What happened to Constantine?" A terrible accident, hopefully? He leans on the stone wall and crosses his arms, wrinkling his white dress shirt. "Mother called him. She's teaching him about how the Inheritance works. She told me too. Personally." He replies as he runs a hand through his hair. Personally? I only get told by tutors! Ugh! I plaster a faker smile on my face, the kind I would use when a suitor I despise keeps trying to talk to me. "That's great for him, Aspen. Too bad you won't have a shot at the crown. Such a shame." I say, keeping the smile on my face, and crossing my hands. His eyes narrow and he stands straight. "Of course I do. What are you talking about?" He says. Got him. "Well, you know. It's usually the oldest who inherits, me, but if not, then Constantine would be likely, since he's the eldest son. Even Kylo has a bigger shot than you, since the youngest do sometimes get chosen. But the middle child? Never. In. History." I say, walking past him. I feel him tense up, and as he turns around to say something, Constantine walks out of mother's office, with a look that seems like he is confused but is trying to hide it. Great. Aspen chuckles from behind me and I turn around and shoot him a look. "Rosalique." Constantine says, venom dripping from the words. He's not smiling, he's staring me down. Acting like you're so much better. You might be 12 centimeters taller, but I'm older. "Constantine." I say, smiling once again. How many times have I faked a smile these days? He looks me up and down, smirks, then leaves, walking past me and Aspen. What the hell does that mean? I look back at Constantine, and see his blonde highlights glimmer in the light. What am I thinking? Of course mother would want him to rule! Everyone, with the exception of his siblings, likes him. He was taller, more proper, stronger, and a male. While mother was the rightful empress, and earned her title from her mother, the late empress, the kingdom was so desperate for her to marry. They picked sons over daughters every time. When my mother had me, people were happy for an heir, but when she had Constantine a few months later, they had completely forgotten that I was the eldest and rightful heir. Everything was about Constantine since then. He always got more freedom and less responsibilities than I did, even though he kept bragging about the throne.
I started walking away when Aspen called out after me. I turned around and my vision got blurry all of the sudden, and there was a sharp pain in my stomach. Is this it? The Inheritance? Aspen called my name but I couldn't hear him. I fell to the ground holding my stomach as two handmaidens held me by my arms to help me get up. "My Lord, should I call for the royal medic?" One of the maids asked Aspen. "What the hell do you think?" I said through gritted teeth. She hesitated then ran off as the other handmaid helped take me to my room. I looked up at Aspen, and to my surprise, he seemed as confused as I was. He looked like he was happy I was in pain, sad I was in pain, and mad that I might have inherited the throne. As I sat down on the bed, I remembered one important detail about the Inheritance: My mother would feel the same pain I was feeling, if not worse. "M-my mother." I mumbled. The handmaiden tucked my in the covers and put a cold rag on my forehead. "I'll send someone to check on her, my lady, but I'm sure this is just a cold." I narrow my eyes at her. Of course she doesn't want me to get the throne, she serves Mother. I close my eyes and try to stop the pain when the medic walks in. "Well, it's not the inheritance, since your mother seems to be fine." He says. WHAT? What is it then?