Chapter 1

 

"This is for my best friend also known as the Queen." my best friend hugged me tightly as if she was afraid I'd be gone by the time she let go and gave me a cute bracelet with a heart-shaped bead. Inside was the word 'soulsister' engraved.

"Do you like it?" she smiled happily as she watches me admiring the bracelet with sparkling eyes.

"It's beautiful." I admitted and gave her a hug though we hugged each other just a second ago.

"But you really didn't have to, I'm already happy that you're my best friend. I don't know what to do if I didn't have you as my bff." I said genuinely. It's true, Rose always has been there for me through good and bad times. If I hadn't someone so loyal and supportive like her by my side I wonder if I could make it to where I am today. We rarely give each other presents either.

"Oh Krystal please! don't always be so modest. You're the Queen by tomorrow, you have the right to be more bold. You're the most important person in the nation! what am I saying? the world!" she let go of me and looked at me straight in the eyes. "When you're the queen, promise me to be more confident. Don't always think about others but yourself too, okay?"
I nodded "Okay, I promise." Just to let her stop worrying about me, I can't say if I'd do that. Rose makes the weirdest promises.

"Great, now let's go shopping for your outfit after the official ceremony tomorrow." we got off of my bed and afterwards went shopping in the most expensive shopping street, it was worth it.

~
5AM, a soft knock on the door already wakes me up. I'm a light sleeper, since it's a special day I couldn't get a good sleep either.

"Wake up sis, it's your special day." Kyra, my younger sis was the one knocking as she was peeking her head through the half open door.

"Mmm I know, give me a few more minutes." I responded and put a pillow over my head.

"No way! if you're planning on sleeping now you will be late!" Kyra retorted and literally kicked me out of my own bed.

"Hey! stop!" I protested but she didn't seem to listen as she called a few of our maids to get me dressed.

"Well, you should be grateful that I woke you up on time. The ceremony starts in 2 hours. I gotta do something, see you there." my little sister waved as she exited the make-up room.

"What are you gonna do?" I asked but she was already gone.

I didn't think much of it and looked in the mirror at my reflection. Even I could admit I looked stunning. I wore a long floor-length baby blue silk dress with layers starting from my waist up until my feet. The bodice was beaded with cute flower patterns. The make-up was natural and matched the dress perfectly. I definitely looked like the upcoming Queen, no doubt. Although in our culture the princess who is inheriting the throne has to wear traditional clothes such as a kimono, I thought screw it. After so many generations I wanted something different, a bit of western style will do.

Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, when I turned around my face lit up immediately, prince Kyo smiled as he walked up towards me. He held my hand in his and pressed a soft kiss on my knuckles, making me blush in embarrassment. I loved his chivalry, not many royals have such wonderful manners like him.
"How have you been, my princess? or must I say, my Queen?"

I chuckled "Kyo! I'm not the Queen yet! please don't act so formal. Why haven't I heard of you all this week?" I stood up from the chair and gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry, I had some things to do abroad. But hey, I'm here now! you missed me, didn't you?" he grinned.

"Of course I did! I've sent you so many messages but you never responded.." I trailed off and pouted in disappointment.

"I'm really sorry okay? does this makes it up for you?"

As he said that, his handsome face inches closer until our lips softly touches. I kissed him back but he withdrew his face too soon for my liking. When he let me go, I looked him in the eyes questionably. "Later.. when you're the Queen, I will continue." he mumbled.

His eyes... I don't know if it's just me but there was a mysterious glint in it. I blinked several times, maybe I got it wrong but when I gazed at him again, the same look was there.
He didn't seem excited for this day unlike me, but rather strange. Well whatever, he probably doesn't have his day then.

~
It was noon, 12 o'clock to be more exact. The official ceremony has begun. The hall was filled with guests from all over the world, mainly kings, queens, princes and princesses. They wore the most expensive and rare suits or dresses that I have ever seen. In other words, you won't see a normal person with an average wage wear this. And if the do, they likely hired it from the costume rental for cosplaying.

My mom and dad were sitting on thrones made of diamonds, wearing a stoic face as always. I wonder how I didn't end up like my parents, instead I smile way too often and always am happy over the tiniest and stupidest things. See, this is how much Rose has an effect on me.

The seemingly never-ending stairs leading up to the thrones separated the public from the ones who were important today. Around the hall were lots of cameras and a huge screen zooming into my parents and from time to time the public. Of course camera men's and reports can't be missing, this ceremony will be broadcast worldwide afterall. Speakers and mic's were scattered around the hall aswell. Everything could be heard and seen.

Me, Kyra and prince Kyo stood in front of the current king and queen. One of the royals started with a story about the history of the royal palace, the generation of kings and queens etc. Since I've been teached this in kindergarten numerous times, it's extremely boring to hear it again, so paying attention to this wasn't on my to-do list. If he didn't stop soon, I ought to fall asleep.

After impatiently waiting for the man to be done talking about history and other stuff people don't want to listen to because it gets repeated every year, it was time for the inauguration. In other words, time for me to wake up because all the time he was talking, I just blankly stared in front of me.

"Now it's the time you all have been waiting for, I give the floor to our Queen." the man gestures to the current Queen.

Before looking at my mom in anticipation I gave a quick glance to Kyra and Kyo who were now smiling contented at me (or so I thought), much different than before and I smiled back.

I faced my mom who unfortunately still was looking aloof and nowhere near satisfied. But that won't spoil the happy feeling I felt.

I was waiting for the words to come, words along the lines of "Congratulations of becoming the Queen." and with a long speech afterwards about things like caring about the nation, having the power to rule, being an example for everyone and so on.

However... those words I hoped for never came. Instead, my parents were staring intensely at me with an emotionless face. As if they were shooting lasers at me through their eyes.
Everyone in the hall was silent, waiting for either the king or queen to speak up. I could literally feel the tension in the air, and already from that moment I knew that whatever they had to say, it won't be good news.

"Krystal." my mom finally spoke up in a monotone voice. Hearing the first word of the queen, the reporters and camera men readied themselves for what was about to come. The audience was completely quiet, it was like only my parents, me, Kyo, Kyra and the paparazzi were in the hall.

"You are expelled from the palace. Do not show your face here ever again." the queen said in a strict and serious tone. The scary thing was, it looked as if only her mouth was moving, no emotions at all. There was no pity, nothing.

The bomb had just been exploded.