Rose arrived outside the council room the following day. The door was closed but she could hear Amaryllis and Marguerite from the other side.

She went to open the door but stopped. Why does Aunt Amaryllis want to talk to me? Rose wondered, thinking back to what Amaryllis had said at her birthday party.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone ask, "You going in, Rose?"

Rose turned around to see Aster waiting behind her. When Rose still didn't reply, he gestured towards the door.

"Oh, uh, yes, I'm going in. Sorry," Rose muttered.

Rose opened the door and walked in, Aster right behind her. Out of Rose's twenty one years she didn't quite come into the council room often. The only times she would be in here were when Basil ordered her to observe business talks or military meetings.

"Ah, Rose, how nice of you to join us," Amaryllis beamed, clasping her hands together.

Rose asked curiously, "Why am I here?"

Amaryllis snapped her fingers towards Marguerite, who went to a drawer to get out a piece of parchment, a quill, and ink.

"We're writing my will," Amaryllis declared. "I need to declare my two successors."

Rose pursed her lips and glanced at both Aster and Marguerite. "You already have two successors here, Aunt Amaryllis. Why am I here? It only takes three people to write the will."

Amaryllis took the quill and dipped it in ink before scribbling something on the parchment. "I discussed this with Aster yesterday. That was why we were both late to the party." She then pointed to what she wrote. Rose leaned in to see. Amaryllis continued. "Aster will be the first successor."

Aster straightened when he heard his name. Rose glanced at Aster, her eighteen year old cousin. Aster's lips curled into a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"As for second successor," Amaryllis finally said, "I wish to declare Rose as second successor."

Rose blinked in confusion. She immediately cut in, "What about Aunt Marguerite?"

Marguerite shifted uncomfortably, looking away. Amaryllis replied, "Marguerite doesn't feel comfortable becoming queen, and she has made it clear to me that she does not want to succeed to the throne. That's why you're here, Rose. I wish to ask you if it is alright for me to place you as second successor."

Rose was taken aback. She didn't expect this. She turned to Marguerite, "Why don't you want to be a successor, Marguerite? You are older and you probably have more experience."

Marguerite shook her head. "I don't do well with leadership. Please understand, Rose. If you are strongly against this then I will take second successor if I have to, but all of us agree that you would be a much better fit. Basil and Flora have taught you so much."

Rose inwardly sighed. Marguerite was right. Basil and Flora did teach her a lot since she was the oldest. On the other hand, though, Marguerite was older, and although she claimed that she doesn't like taking charge, it would make more sense to declare Marguerite as second successor. Rose could kind of see why Marguerite refused the throne, though. Despite being Rose's aunt, Marguerite was a lot younger than Basil and Amaryllis, about a ten year age difference between her older siblings and herself. As the youngest amidst her siblings, Marguerite would have a lot less experience compared to Basil and Amaryllis.

Rose finally nodded. "Very well, I will take second successor."

"Excellent." Amaryllis smiled proudly. She scribbled more words onto the parchment, writing Rose's name on it. "It's settled."

Rose cut in. "There's still the matter of the Red Phoenixes. You told me that a boy tried to break in yesterday?"

"Ah yes, the Red Phoenix." Amaryllis nodded. She then snapped her fingers at Aster, who was looking towards the ground. "Aster, you shall interrogate the boy today. I have duties to attend to but I expect you to get something from the boy."

Aster looked up and nodded. "Yes, Mother," he replied.

"Good, until then," Amaryllis said. She rolled the parchment up and exited the door. Marguerite followed her after giving Aster and Rose a smile.

After Amaryllis and Marguerite were both gone, Aster's smile instantly vanished. He looked stressed, if anything.

"Are you alright, Aster?" Rose asked. "You seem... troubled."

Aster laughed dryly. "Am I alright? It feels really pressurizing to be first successor. Mother has such high hopes for me but... what if I'm not good enough? What if I'm not a good ruler like Mother or Uncle Basil or Aunt Flora?"

Rose exhaled. So this is what Aster is worrying about. She smiled brightly and said, "Aster, I've seen you when we were both observing the military talks. You'll be a great ruler, don't worry." She then added. "Also, even though one of us technically wears the crown, but we all stand together. You're not alone here."

Aster shrugged. "Thanks, I appreciate the support." He then looked up with a serious expression. "Will you come with me to interrogate the Red Phoenix boy? I would feel a lot better if you were there."

Rose hesitated. She knew that Aster was usually the person people turned to when the guards couldn't get anything out of prisoners. She had never seen Aster interrogate prisoners but she knew he had done it before. She wasn't needed, but if Aster wanted her there for moral support she would help him.

Rose replied, "Yes, I can come come with you."

"Thanks, Rose. I appreciate it." Aster gave another smile before moving towards the door.

Aster and Rose made their way towards the dungeons. They passed by other cells that were either empty or were filled with hopeless prisoners.

They heard a few voices coming from the end of the dungeon. When they arrived, they saw Thierry interrogating the Red Phoenix boy.

"Thierry," Aster addressed.

Thierry turned his head and bowed. "Aster, Rose."

The Red Phoenix boy, whose wrists were currently chained in shackles, glared at Aster. Aster also noticed the boy and stared evenly at him. It was clear that they both recognized each other from the night before.

"What brings you both here?" Thierry asked.

Aster opened his mouth to reply but Rose said, "Aunt Amaryllis asked Aster to interrogate the boy for information."

Thierry shrugged and gestured at the boy. "Of course, should I take my leave, then?"

Aster nodded. "Before you go, did you get anything from the boy?"

The Red Phoenix boy looked to the left, as if ashamed of himself. Thierry sighed and said, "The boy's name is Devin Hilton. He's fourteen years old."

"Fourteen?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My reaction exactly. What do the Red Phoenixes do to young children?" Thierry said worriedly. "He's being stubborn on the new Red Phoenix leader's name, though. He hasn't cracked for that. He also hasn't told me why he was trying to break into the castle."

Aster moved his eyes to glance warily at Devin, who was sitting on the ground, looking a little bruised up from being interrogated by Thierry.

"Very well, you may go, Thierry."

Thierry bowed before leaving, glancing pitifully at Devin as he left. If Amaryllis had told Aster to interrogate the boy, it meant that she was eager.

Aster walked into the cell, Rose stepping in as well. Devin sighed and sneered. He said sarcastically, "Well, if it isn't the lovely Prince Aster and Princess Rose."

Aster and Rose didn't react negatively. Aster replied flatly, "We're here to interrogate you."

"Well, your guard couldn't get a lot of stuff from me. It's a disgrace that your guards have to turn to you two to do the dirty work," Devin continued.

Aster snapped dangerously, "Don't talk about Thierry that way. He was just doing his job."

Devin held up his shackled hands up in mock surrender. Rose couldn't bear to see a fourteen year old boy act this way. She asked, "How does a fourteen year old boy like you get mixed up with the Red Phoenixes?"

Devin shrugged. "When you have parents who join the cause you're expected to join too."

Aster rolled his eyes. He hated dealing with bratty kids. Aster finally asked, "Why were you trying to break into the castle?"

Devin clicked his tongue, "Can't tell you that."

Aster just blinked. He warned, "That's probably not a wise decision."

Devin scoffed, "What are you going to do? Use your scary magic on me? I can take a few elemental hits."

When Aster realized that Devin was not going to cooperate, blue asters started to bloom.

Devin glanced at the color of the asters. Blue... the Azalea prince has water. Devin scoffed. I can take splashes of water.

"Last chance," Aster warned again, the asters continuing to bloom around his feet.

Rose looked worriedly between Devin and Aster. She knew that Aster usually succeeded in interrogating prisoners, but she had never actually seen him in action.

Devin laughed, trying to look tough. "If water's the best you've got, Azalea prince, you won't get anything."

Aster clenched his fists, annoyed by Devin's arrogance. "Know your place," Aster said coldly.

At first Devin was confused when he did not see water materialize, but the next thing he knew he collapsed towards the ground, struggling to breathe.

W-What? Why can't I breathe? Devin thought frantically as he coughed for air. What's happening?

Devin kept coughing, starting to hyperventilate. He eventually coughed up blood onto the ground. Aster's cold eyes then softened for a moment, and Devin realized that he could breathe normally again.

"If you don't give me an answer, I'll stop your blood flow again," Aster said, not looking at Devin.

Rose's eyes were wide from shock. This is how Aster interrogates the prisoners? They could die, though! Rose had never seen this side of Aster before. Aster was usually quiet, perhaps a little short-tempered, but also kind. At that moment, Rose believed Aster looked serious but pained at the same time. It's like he's used to doing this. I can't believe I've never seen this side of him.

"B-Blood flow?" Devin asked fearfully. "Don't you have water?"

"I do," Aster drawled. He then said, "The human body is mostly made out of water, though."

Devin's eyes widened. H-He has control over my blood.

Devin scooted back further in his cell, as if that would help him escape Aster's power. Aster sighed and asked in a serious tone, "So why were trying to break into the castle?"

Devin clenched his fists, frustrated, but he replied, "I wanted to try to steal some weapons. I thought everyone would be at Rose's -"

"Princess Rose," Aster interrupted.

Devin gave a glare, but looked away. He started again. "I thought everyone would be at Princess Rose's birthday party, so I tried to sneak into the castle."

Aster gestured, "And look what happened."

Devin snapped, "At least I tried."

"I have another question for you," Aster cut in. Devin flinched when Aster finally asked the dreaded question. "Who is the new Red Phoenix leader?"

Devin shook his head. He wasn't trying to look tough anymore. He looked genuinely scared. He hurriedly said, "I can't tell you that either."

"Why not?" Aster asked in a challenging tone.

"He'll get angry if I tell you. I c-can't," Devin replied, his voice cracking slightly.

Aster pressed his lips in a thin line and reverted back to his cold tone. "Your leader isn't here to help you. I'm going to get angry if you don't tell me, and I'm a lot closer."

Sensing that he was going to be tortured again, Devin held his hands up in surrender. "Wait! Wait, I'll tell you, just p-please don't use your magic on me."

Aster narrowed his eyes, a few more asters blooming around him. "Fine, I won't use my magic for the name, but only if you tell me."

Rose pressed a hand to her heart, feeling her heart rate quicken. The boy gulped, but when Aster twitched his fingers he finally said in a soft voice, "Reese Henessey." Devin felt like a traitor, but he also felt that the world wouldn't end if the Azaleas knew Reese's name. The way he felt when Aster controlled his blood flow... he hated it and he never wanted to experience it again. He would never wish a fate like that on anybody.

Aster and Rose's eyes widened when they heard the last name. "Henessey?" Rose whispered. She turned around and rested a hand on the wall to sturdy herself. She should have known that Raymond Henessey would have had some sort of relative to succeed him.

Aster decided not to dwell on it for too long, because he said to Devin, "I have one more question."

He visibly saw Devin's face pale. "No! You said you wouldn't use your magic on me if I told you my leader's name."

Aster shook his head. "You must have misheard me, Devin Hilton. I said I wouldn't use my magic for Reese's name if you told me. I said nothing about the last question."

"Y-You tricked me," Devin accused, his eyes widening. He attempted to scoot away, but the dungeon wall prevented him from doing so.

Aster said nothing at Devin's accusation, but he asked his last question that his mother wanted to know. "Where is the Red Phoenix hideout?"

Devin flinched when he heard the question, shutting his eyes and shaking his head frantically. I can't tell him. I can't jeopardize my family's safety.

Aster took Devin's silence negatively, because the next moment Devin started coughing uncontrollably again. He felt his heart was going to burst out of his chest. Aster finally released his hold on Devin when Devin started to cough up more blood. The shackles around Devin's wrists clattered as he collapsed to the ground.

"P-Please..." Devin pleaded.

"I need to know," Aster said, his voice merciless. "Where is the Red Phoenix hideout?"

Devin clenched his teeth. If the water prince needed to know so bad, he could find out another way. If they did end up finding out, it wasn't going to be because of him. That's where he drew the line.

"No," Devin proclaimed with resolute. "I will not jeopardize my family."

He must have been mistaken, because Aster's eyes softened a little. He said nothing for a while, as though he was unsure what to do.

"Aster, he's had enough." Rose prompted cautiously, trying to see how Aster would react.

As if he had forgotten that Rose was there with him, he snapped his head to his left to meet her gaze. He then glanced back at Devin, thoughts racing through his head.

He then turned away and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Rose. Let's go."

Devin watched as the blue asters began to disappear. Anger welling within him, he snapped weakly, "You see that blood on the ground? That's because of you. You're a monster, prince, just like your crazy mother."

Devin passed out. Aster clenched his hands into fists, but didn't say anything as he and Rose left the dungeons.

--

Rose was about to snap at Aster, but when she looked at him she saw pain and guilt etched onto his face.

Rose calmed herself and said softly, "You could have killed him."

"I... His loyalty won out..." Aster tried to find something to say, but he couldn't deny what just happened. He remembered the way Devin had scooted farther back from him in fear. "He's a Red Phoenix, Rose." he clenched his fists in frustration.

"He's still a boy," Rose replied, a little concerned. "You can't just torture someone by taking control of their blood." She noticed Aster flinch when she said that.

"I'm sorry," Aster finally whispered. It was barely audible but Rose could tell that Aster was sincere.

Rose sighed and suggested, "Let's just go back, okay?"

Aster nodded, following Rose out of Devin's cell. Aster said worriedly, "Mother's going to be angry."

"Why?"

"I didn't get the location of the hideout," Aster repeated, feeling dejected.

Rose protested. "Your mother can't just expect you to get a ton of information from a fourteen year old boy."

Aster shook his head, "She does, though. Yesterday evening, Mother and I were talking. She told me that if the guards started to have trouble with Devin, I would have to step in. She said she wanted me to get the leader's name and the location of the hideout, no matter what I had to do to get it."

Rose was quiet for a moment. Amaryllis told Aster this?

She wasn't really sure how to answer him, so she said, "Well, at least you got a name." When Aster still didn't say anything, Rose asked. "Are you okay?"

Aster sighed. "I don't know. I just... sometimes I wish I didn't have water."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked.

Aster explained, "Well, at first I felt special for being the only person in the family to have water. I thought it was cool and I could manipulate water and all that, but Mother saw potential in me for these kinds of things, so..."

Aster didn't have to finish. Rose thought, Amaryllis made him use his water like this?

Aster then asked, "Do you think I'm a monster, Rose?"

Rose thought back when Devin had said, "You're a monster, prince, just like your crazy mother."

Rose shook her head. "No, Aster, you're not a monster," she said reassuringly. It's more like he lost his innocence when Amaryllis made him use his water for interrogating prisoners.

Aster stopped at a divided pathway. He said nothing for a bit, trouble still in his eyes. He finally sighed. "Thanks, Rose. I'm glad you don't think so. I have to head this way."

Rose nodded before waving. "Okay, bye Aster."

Aster nodded as well before they both went their separate ways.

Rose was thinking to herself as she walked. Aster would become king if Amaryllis died. Rose knew that Aster was prepared to succeed to the throne, but she had witnessed Aster's dark side. He was usually quiet and kind when he was around her and her sisters, but just like Devin was loyal to the Red Phoenixes, Aster was loyal to Amaryllis.

Rose would never say this to Amaryllis, but Rose knew how determined Amaryllis could be. Rose could see that Aster was starting to be affected by Amaryllis's ideals. She glanced back nervously to where she and Aster had been standing.

She remembered the look on Aster's face when he asked Devin the second time where the hideout was. She could tell he was about to torture Devin again until he got the answer, without mercy. After Devin confessed that he wasn't going to jeopardize his family, though, Rose had seen Aster hesitate, and in the end Aster decided to leave.

I hope Aster doesn't give in to Amaryllis's ideals, not just for the kingdom's sake but for his sake too.