Hi everyone, this is the first chapter of my story. All the characters in this story stay exactly the same, I'm just telling it through a new characters eyes. Enjoy the story. Ill try to update on Sunday

Today is a big day, a huge day, the day that basically my brothers life has been leading up to. The day his selected are picked. It's scary. Really really scary. I think I'm going to throw up. But that's not a very Princessy thing to do, so I push the thought out of my mind. A new chapter in Maxons life will begin today. The end of our shared childhood, well shared is a bit of a long stretch seeing as were 6 years apart, and by the time I was actually counted as a human being, he was in the office with Father. But either way, this is a huge day.

" Your Highness, it is time to get up." My replacement maid, whose name I didn't bother to learn said timidly. Well, I suppose I wasn't my Brother when it came towards treating the staff. My normal Maids Ann, Mary and Lucy had been assigned to a selected girl. I reluctantly crawled out of bed, and into the warm bath prepared for me. After my golden brown hair was styled into a French braid, and eyeliner was applied to my small blue eyes, and I was dresses in a lacy black and white dress I went down to breakfast.

it was a rather subdued affair. Mother wasn't feeling well again and was resting in her room. Maxon picked at his food, offering me a weak smile when I walked in. A Servant hastily placed a platter of eggs in front of me.

" Good morning, sweetheart," my father said to me as he walked in, pressing a kiss to my head. He patted Maxon on the back, and he stiffened slightly.

" Father, do you know who the selected are?" I asked curiously. Maxon glared at a quite lovely painting of a river nearby.

" I know a few." He said smiling. " Maxon! Quit sulking and eat your breakfast, I expect you in the office in 20 minutes." Father said. He grabbed his coffe and walked out. When your king, you can't even make time for your own children. It's kinda sad.

" What's wrong Maxon? Fathers right, your sulking."

"Don't worry Ariana, I'm just nervous, this is a really big deal, and it's my only chance." He said smiling, he was leaving something out though. I could tell.

" I'm not worried." I said.

" Of course your not. You are the all powerful Ariana Grace Schreave, who will single handily take over the world at age 13." He said, humor in his brown eyes. While he got Fathers hair and Mother's eyes, I ended up with Golden brown hair and Fathers eyes.

" Not unless I get betrothed to a Emperor." I joke.

" Hey, Ariana, can I ask you something? How do girls get impressed, what makes them like people." Maxon asked, blushing ever so slightly.

" I don't know, Maxon, well I do know but I have to meet them first." I said.

Maxon nodded his understanding. " Are you working with Mother today?" He asked. Sometimes I think he wished our roles were reversed, that I attended the budget meetings and war committee, and he got to do Philanthropy projects.

" I think I have lessons with Silvia" I said.

" Ah, well I have your math Homework, I even got a few wrong so it looked like you did it." Maxon said handing me a neat stack of papers. He had learned all this stuff 8 years ago so, it came easily to him, not so much to me. I know my Mother would probably freak out if she realized that I didn't actually do my math homework, but Maxon was one of those people who liked math. I think after having to deal with such important stuff all day, he just liked doing a 13- year olds math homework, where the worst thing that could happen is I have to go to extra help.

" Thanks, but you did it in purple ink, I use Pink." I said sighing.

Maxon checked his watch and stood up " I got to go, I'm already 5 minutes late." I watched him go sadly. He got to do all the fun stuff. I was just a spare, and a girl.


2 hours later I was suffering through a Math lesson on multiplying polynomials. I could of been doing harder math, but both of my parents were adamant that I stay with the common core learning standards for my age. I doodled a heart in the corner of my notebook while Silvia was distracted with something going on in the Selection preparation. She was getting very flustered, and I couldn't help snickering as she started yelling at a poor maid. I quickly grabbed my phone and sent a text to my best friend, Princess Paige of Holland.

Omg This place is going crazy for Maxons selection.

Despite being in a different time zone, she answered quickly.

I can't wait to see who is selected.

" Your highness, Phone away." Silvia said shocking me from my thoughts. I quickly stored my phone in my bag and settled back into the lonely classroom.

" May I see your Homework, and then we can break for lunch" Silvia said. I handed in my forged homework and walked eagerly out of the room.

I passed various gaurds in the hallway, all bowing to me as I walk past. While some people would be embarrassed I relish in the attention.

The small dining room that we use for when only Me, Maxon, Mother, and Father are dining , have their doors open. Father and Mother sit next to each other talking in low voices, when I walk in they quickly stop talking and smile at me.

" Your new maids did a very nice job in your hair honey." Mother said smiling. She looked rather tired, and her skin was pale.

" I guess." I say, fidgeting with my fork.

" Where is that boy, he was supposed to be her 15 minutes ago!" Father said checking his watch.

"He is probably just running late Clarkson." Mother said. She had a calming presence on the room, and my Father simply shook his head.

" The report is tonight, right?" I asked, I knew the answer but that wasn't why I asked.

" Do you think Maxon should look at the forms beforehand? I don't want him to get overwhelmed." Father worried. My question completely ignored. Just like always.

We were distracted by the doors opening, and Maxon dashing in, his hair still wet.

" I'm sorry I'm late." He said quietly, hanging his head. Father looked peeved, but Mother cut across him before he could criticize Maxon.

" It's absolutely fine Maxon, today is a big day." Mother said. The servants quickly placed bowls of soup, and small baskets of rolls in front of everyone.

" Are you feeling better," Maxon asked.

Mothers smile faltered slightly "Much, I was just tired this morning."

After everyone is finished eating, we disperse. I head to a lesson on poetry with Silvia. She is already standing there clipboard in hand, her foot tapping.


My maids down over an hour on just making me look pretty, before the report. I had my hair curled, my eyes made to pop, and my small frame dressed to perfection. I wore a Dark Blue dress, with Silver accents. Once I was pronounced finished, I headed to the Report room.

The room in which the report was filmed live had rows of chairs, and a live audience to sit in those chairs. My parents weren't here yet but Maxon was. He looked pale, and rather shiny.

" Hey Ari." He said giving me a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Your nervous." I said, he nodded " Why, it's not like you have to marry them, at least you get a choice." I said trying to reassure him.

"You know Ari, I really think your missing the big picture," Maxon said turning away. I pressed my lips together, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Maxon seemed to notice and started to say something, But lucky for him, Mother and Father came in at that moment. Mother rushed right over to him. Hugging and reassuring, him. I watched with jealousy, wishing it was me in Maxons place. I stared at them until a strong hand settled on my shoulder.

" Ariana, do you want to sit down?' Father asked, smiling at me. I nodded and followed him to our seats.

"Ariana, why are you so sad." Father asked, looking down at my face "This is supposed to be a happy occasion." He said, although his eyes betrayed his words, showing his distaste for this event.

I was save from answering by the Report starting. Maxon and Mother hurried over.

Father gave some boring, political speech, but it was obvious what everyone was waiting for. I could tell even Maxon was getting impatient, his leg starting bounce. Father seemed to have chosen today to make the boringest, longest, Big-words-that-nobody-knows-What-they-meaningest speech. Finally it was over and Gavril bounced in full of excitement.

He started asking questions to Mother, Father, and Maxon. I stayed skert for my question, till I realized it as the coming. He started announcing the ladies.

All I heard we're names as I stared at a point above the screen. After 35 names, Gavril concluded the episode.

Maxon seemed in shock. Mother and Father were beaming at each other. I followed Maxon up to our rooms.

I trailed him, hoping he would start a conversation. He didn't. I turned in at my room, and watched him go to his.

After all the the bratty things I did to get attention, I knew my already small part of my parents attention would get even smaller. And I couldn't help but resent the 35 girls I've never met, for causing this.