"Oh my god! Look! It's Nova!"
"He's so cute!"
"Is that him? Even I have to admit he's cute and I'm straight."
"I can see why my girlfriend is so obsessed with him."
Even knowing that the bell rings in 2 minutes no one was rushing to their classroom. Instead the crowds parted like the red sea as I walked down the hall towards my next class of the day. I can hear the groups of people gossiping about me as I pass.
I've long gotten used to it. As a girl I got just as much attention so it doesn't faze me.
Oh! Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Nova. Nova Maxwell. Not to brag but ever since I was a kid I've been the most loved person in the room. Doesn't matter who's in the room.
I got the best of both my parents. My mother's long, sliky, raven colored hair and my father's shining silver eyes seen only on those of the Maxwell bloodline. My mother's slim figure with milky skin and my father's long slender fingers like those of a pianist.
I've been called a lot of things and ugly is not one of them. Angel, Goddess, Fairy, Princess. You name it.
The kind of girl every man wants to have but none can obtain. The kind of girl every woman wants to be but none can compete with.
I have perfect looks and an even more perfect background.
That's right. I'm from 'that' Maxwell family. The richest of the rich. The noblest of nobles.
You would think we were raised getting everything we ever wanted and more but that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Every Maxwell child is sent out to experience life at the age of 7 for 10 years. We are taken care of by nannies who give us the bare minimum. We are made to work to survive. At the age of 10 we are given a choice. Either leave the family and receive an allowance every year until we turn 18 and get cut off, or continue to live like a normal person until our 17th birthday's when we are given 1 billion dollars and asked to turn it into 10 billion in 1 year. Whoever is able to pass this test is named heir of the Maxwell Empire. If none of the children are successful the crown is left to whoever the family head decides to pass it to.
If more than one child is able to pass the test they are thrown into an arena and forced to fight till the other successful candidates are unable to continue.
This may seem ruthless but it's how our family stayed in power the past hundreds of years.
In ancient times the princes and princesses were just thrown into the arena to fight to the death and the winner would take the throne. Knowing this the current arrangement is nice.
In fact this generation there isn't much compitition. I already know all my brothers have passed the first challenge but the moment I succeed in mine they will give up the second round.
My generation only has me and my 5 brothers. We are one of the smallest generations of the Maxwell family in history and my brothers and I are incredibly close. No matter what I do my brothers will be there to support me. If I want the crown they will immediately give it up without a word of complaint.
My grandfather knows this as well but he turns a blind eye as I'm also his favorite grandchild. My parents died when I was 2 and my youngest brother was 6. Because of this I was raised by my grandfather. At the time my oldest brother was already 15 so I was still at home when he passed the test. The family all gathers at the main house for Christmas so I was able to meet my brothers once a year. Despite this they all adore me. I constantly get texts and calls from them to check up on me and make sure I'm not suffering. Especially my grandfather who is known for being ruthless. He worries a lot even knowing how strong I am.
My brothers have already lost long ago. Even before claiming my billion for the test I've already made hundreds of billions on my own. If I wanted to I could immediately go home to take the crown and no one could complain.
The problem is that I'm unwilling. Even as it approaches my 18th birthday I refuse to go home and claim my inheritance. I like my life the way it is. It's almost Christmas and I know I'll have to get home to celebrate so I can take the chance to officially give up my right to the throne. I may be the best choice to expand the Empire but my eldest brother would make a better leader. I can easily command others but Ive heard that its hard to fully understand what I'm asking at times. Only those who have been with me for years are able to translate my orders.
I've never been great at communication and it has a lot to do with my childhood. No matter how much my grandfather loves me he's a busy man and he has been since before I was born. He didn't have a lot of time for me when I was still living at the main house so I was kind of emotionally neglected. I had a nanny and dozens of servants but they only made sure I was alive. They weren't allowed to befriend me and they wouldn't have wanted to since I was just a child. They fed me and made sure I had enough exercise but other than that I didn't see them.
I had no one to hand out with or talk to so it's not surprising I turned out this way. I don't talk a lot. I think it's a waste of energy. There are so many other things I could be doing.
As I walk into the classroom everyone quiets as they know I hate noise and they can't seem to look away from my face despite having seen it every day for years. Most of these people went to the same grade school as me so I know them fairly well and it can be said that they know me exceptionally well.
I slowly walk towards my seat. I sit in the back corner away from the windows.
Taking my seat a frown makes its way into my face as I rub my sore chest. Its uncomfortable having to bind my breasts all the time and recently they've started to hurt after a while.
"Prince Charming, do you want some coffee?" A cute girl asks quietly as she turns to hand me a cup of iced coffee.
"Mn." I hum in agreement taking the cup from her gently.
Most of the girls know I'm not really a boy but they've come to a silent agreement not to mention it. Most of the girls here are sweet and I always make sure to let them know it so they all like me a lot. The few annoying people are too stupid to realize I'm actually a girl.
"Are you ok?" The girl asks worriedly when she notices my discomfort.
"I'm f-fine." I mange to say as breathing becomes harder.
"You don't look fine."
Another girl says as she gently places her hand on my forehead to check for a fever.
"It's m-my chest" I say in pain. The world around me slowly starts to blur and I have to struggle to keep myself conscious.
"Nova!" One of the girls says worriedly as I fall on my desk.
"Call.. ugh.. call fourth idiot." I say as I weakly hand one of the girls my phone. At that moment I lost consciousness.
-
Blade POV
"Help!" A girl says anxiously as a boy walks in with someone on his back.
"What happened?" I ask as the boy sets the person on the bed in the room.
"I don't know! Prince Charming just suddenly fainted!" The girl cry's as the boy leaves.
"Prince Charming?" I ask in confusion.
Is that a dog?
"I meant Nova. Nova Maxwell." The girl says hurriedly.
"Then why did you say Prince Charming?" I ask in amusement.
"That's not the point! Is Prince Charming okay?" The girl asks anxiously.
I don't comment on her use of the nickname again as I walk over to the side of the bed to look at the paitent.
"Does this happen often?" I ask grabing the slender wrist to check the teenagers pulse.
"Not that I know of." The girl says slowly calming down.
"Is there anyone who would know?" I ask with a frown. His pulse is a little strange.
"Ah! I was supposed to call!" The girl says suddenly as she hurridly takes a phone from her pocket.
She hurridly dials a number and puts the phone to her ear.
"Hello! This is Nova's friend Lola. Is this the Fourth Idiot?" She asks seriously.
"What?" I whisper incredulously.
"I-I mean! Is this Mason?" The girl asks looking flustered. "Ah, um... Nova fainted at school and I was told to call you." She says quickly.
"Give me the phone." I say in annoyance.
"Um, the doctor wants to talk to you." The girl says before hurridly handing me the phone.
"Hello is this Nova's family?" I ask calmly.
"Yes, what happened to the little brat?" The guy on the other end asks worriedly.
"I don't know for sure but it seems like he's having trouble breathing." I say feeling puzzled.
"That idiot! I knew we should have made her come home." The guy mutters.
Her?
"Does he faint often?" I ask as I take the boys pulse again.
"This is the second time. I'm almost there." The guy says before hanging up without waiting for my reply.
-
Mason POV
I knew we should have forced her to come home.
She's just so stubborn!
Who would have thought the first call I get from her in weeks would be someone else telling me she fainted.
"I'm here for Nova." I say when I reach the school doctors office.
"He's in the room over there." The receptionist says as she points me towards the door to another room.
I hurriedly open the door and walk into the room. I ignore the other two people in the room as I walk over to grab my sister.
"Idiot." I say as I lift her into a sitting position. I reach my hand under her shirt from the back and easily unclasp the binding, letting it fall and making her chest expand.
Her breathing slowly returns to normal and I carefully remove her wig releasing her long black hair. I gently lay her back down on the bed before finally acknowledge the other people. In the room.
"Give me her phone." I say to the girl when I notice it's in her hands.
The girl immediately passes it to me.
"Tell Prince Charming to call me when she gets the chance." Lola says before hurridly leaving the room followed by the doctor.
A few seconds later Nova groans in pain.
I turn to look at her only to see her curled up and holding her chest with watery eyes.
"Fourth Brother~" She calls pitifully.
"Idiot." I say coldly.
"I'm sorry! Please don't tell Big Brother and Grandpa." She pleads softly.
"I'm taking you back." I tell her.
"I won't go!" She says stubbornly.
"It's not up to you." I say harshly.
"It won't happen again!" She says pleadingly.
"That's what you said last time!" I yell.
"Just give me another chance!" She says biting her lip guiltily.
"I already gave you a chance but here we are in the same situation again!" I yell in frustration.
"I said I'm sorry!" She yells back.
"That isn't enough this time. You will come home with me and that's final." I say sternly.
"It's my life!" She yells angrily.
"It's seems like you forgot who you are, Kitten." A familiar voice suddenly says from the window making me and Nova both turn to look at the newcomer.
A tall handsom man easily jumps inside.
"Second Brother." Nova says looking at the man with wide eyes.
"Miss me, Kitten?" He asks with a smile.
"Mn." Nova nods with a smile as she jumps into his arms.
"Second Brother." I greet coldly.
"Little Four!" He acknowledges.
"What did you mean before?" I ask with a frown.
"That? You seem to have forgotten who you are. Kitten here is the next head of the family but if she doesn't want to be the title belongs to Big Brother who would do anything she wants not to mention Grandpa who loves her more than anything in the world. With a single word from Nova you'll be living on the streets." He says casually.
"She's nicer than you." I say knowing Nova would never abandon her family no matter how much she complains or how mad she is.
"I know, and that's why I have a solution to your problems. It's quite simple really. You're worried she'll faint again and she doesn't want to go home so she can just stop binding her chest." He says easily.
"Then she'll get pestered by stupid brats." I say with a frown.
"She could use her gift." He says casually as if he didn't just suggest breaking the family's number one rule.
"Won't I get in trouble?" Nova asks with a frown.
"Not if you have permission." He says mysteriously.
"And how do you suppose she gets that?" I asks sarcastically.
"Easy. I already got it." He says handing her a pure black ring with strange simbles carved on the underside.
"How do you have that?" I ask in alarm.
"I simply told grandpa that she would be safer if she could use her gifts and he handed it over without question." He says with a smile.