Epilogue

Lots of clothes are lying on my bed but I just stared out my window while thinking. This is the day everyone has been waiting for.

Knock, knock. I immediately turned to the door. “Yes?”

The door opened and Aes appeared. “Hi Yani,” he smiled at me at the same time.

I smiled back at him. “Hi Aes.”

“So, are you ready?”

I first looked inside the room and at the clothes lying on my bed before looking back at Aes. “I think so,” I replied.

“Then let's go.”

We walked down the hallway and we stopped in front of a door. Aes opened it and Donna, Jessy and Kyrie were inside the room.

“Aes, you're here,” Donna smiled.

Aes smiled back at her. “Hello Donna. You look beautiful today.”

Donna was speechless and just smiled back at him.

“Where is Yani?” Kyrie asked.

“Oh she's here,” Aes replied once he stepped aside and they saw me as I entered.

“Oh, now that's our princess,” said Jessy.

“Aes, thank you for bringing her here,” Donna said.

“No problem ladies,” as he closed the door at once.

“So Yani, ready for makeup?” Jessy asked.

“Well, I don’t know. I have never tried to put it once. It's up to you. Just make sure I don't become a clown,” I replied.

“Oh your highness, when you become a clown, just blame Jessy,” Kyrie said.

“Whatever Kyrie” Jessy started putting makeup on my face.

“Close your eyes again,” Jessy said so I closed my eyes and she put makeup on it again.

“There. What do you think, Kyrie?” she asked her who was just next to her once I opened my eyes.

“Ugly,” Kyrie immediately commented.

“Pssh. This woman is really mean,” Jessy rolled her eyes. “Then how about you Donna, what do you think?” Jessy asked Donna.

“It’s great Jes. I'm sure the dress will match her makeup,” Donna replied happily.

“Thank you Donna. Thank goodness I can talk to you sensibly,” smiled Jessy.

Knock, knock. “Pasok! I mean come in,” said Kyrie.

The door opened and Callie appeared. “Are you finished?” Callie asked lifelessly.

“Well sort of. Why?” Jessy replied.

“You three get ready because the event is about to start,” Callie replied.

“Okay. Is it okay for you Yani that we leave you first?” Donna asked.

“Of course. Hurry up, you might be late,” I replied.

“Oh girl. We can fix ourselves quickly,” said Jessy.

“Says the one who is always late at parties,” said Kyrie.

“Hey not always ah,” the three of them went out at the same time.

Today is April 1, a week after the tradition and we are preparing for an event.

Knock, knock. “Come in,” I said immediately.

The door opened and Zoltar appeared. “Good day princess,” he greeted me.

I smiled back at him. “Good day to you too.”

He closed the door and approached me. “So you're ready huh?” he asked me looking at me from head to toe.

“I don't know. I think so?” I answered having doubts.

“What’s wrong? Nervous are we? “

“Kinda but actually up until now I'm still thinking, why of all the people here…” I looked at Zoltar at the same time. ”…why did he choose me?”

He sighed before answering. “Frankly I too don't know the answer to your question. It was stated in the letter so we don't really have a choice.”

I fell silent with his answer. ”Well maybe because you're the only person that can control all the elements?” he added.

“Is that so?” I just smiled at his answer and looked at him. “How about you? Do you really think that I deserve this place?” I asked him.

He looked back at me surprised and looked away. “I actually don't know how to answer that because I have no right to say if you do deserve your place or not. Dad already said so through the letter that you're the next heiress so even though he's dead, he was the King and purposely left that letter in his cabinet for you to rule this nation,” he replied.

“Yeah. But I just came here like a month ago.”

“Yani, I don't know what Dad was thinking about picking you to be the next ruler of our nation but I think all I know right now is that he has reasons why he did so.”

I was slightly surprised by his answer and smiled at him. “Thanks. Actually, I think that was all I needed to hear,” I said.

He smiled back. “Glad I helped.”

Knock, knock. The door opened immediately so we both looked at who opened it.

“Zoltar, you're here. I'm looking for you.”

“Oh Jethro,” Zoltar said. “Why? Is there something wrong?”

“Eaux needs your help at the ballroom. There is something wrong on some of the electronic devices,” replied Jethro.

“Oh okay,” Zoltar looked at me and unknowingly I wasn’t aware he was talking to me because I was just looking at Jethro.

“Yani…”

I came to my senses after Zoltar said that. “Huh? Ah yeah?”

“By the way, congratulations… in advance,” Zoltar greeted me.

“Oh uhh thank you,” and gave him a smile.

Zoltar smiled back and went out with Jethro. I just bowed my head and the memory of those times came back.

I kept crying in front of Jethro's unconscious body. I did not realize that everyone was approaching us because of my sobbing and the sadness on their faces was also obvious.

Tit! Tit! Tit! Prince Zoltar was slightly surprised by the sound as he took a device out of his pocket and was shocked to see it.

“What's wrong Zoltar?” Prince Eaux asked.

“The ice. It's still melting,” Prince Zoltar replied.

Prince Eaux was also surprised and they looked at each other before looking at Jethro.

10%… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

Tiiiit! We were surprised by that sound as Prince Zoltar and Prince Eaux just stared at Jethro with shocked faces.

“Why are you crying?”

I was surprised by the voice once I looked at him with his eyes open.

“Jethro?”

He slowly got up as he massaged his head.

“You are alive. Jethro, you are alive!” I happily said and immediately hugged him.

Everyone smiled and could not believe what had happened. I also broke away from the hug and smiled happily at Jethro as my tears flowed.

“You are alive. I thought I was going to lose you,” I sobbed.

He didn't say a word and just gave me a surprised face. “I'm sorry but why are you so worried about me?” he asked me curiously.

When he said that, the smile on my face gradually disappeared. “Huh? W-What are you saying?” I wondered.

“When we’re we this close to each other?” he asked in answer.

I just kept my head down and prevented my tears from falling when the door suddenly opened and Callie appeared.

“Dear princess—” she stopped when she saw my eyes full of tears. “I'm sorry.”

“No wait—” she closed the door at once.

Knock, knock. I wondered as I wiped away my tears. “Come in.”

The door opened and Callie appeared again. “Forgive me for barging in without even knocking, dear princess,” she apologized while bowing in front of me.

“Ah it’s okay Callie. Is it about to start?”

“Yes, your majesty,” she replied and stood up straight. “They are already waiting.”

I got up and looked at myself in the mirror again before I left the room.

The emcee cleared his throat. “Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the Coronation of the next heiress and so as the new princesses of Eullenuum Nation,” said a man. Everyone applauded.

“So without further ado, let's meet our prince and princesses.”

“First, the Prince of the Water Cabin, Eaux…”

Clap! Clap!

“…with the new water princess, Femme.”

Everyone applauded as Femme and Eaux went down the stairs. Femme is wearing a blue dress while Eaux is wearing a blue tuxedo, showing us that both are truly water royals. They bowed in front of everyone and went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Air Cabin, Turuki…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with the new Air princess, Jessy.”

Jessy is wearing a gray dress and Turuki is wearing a gray tuxedo showing us that both are air royals. There is already a camera hanging around the air prince's neck, preparing for his next photo album. They also bowed in front of the people and immediately went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Earth Cabin, Edmondo…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with the new Earth princess, Donna”

Donna is wearing a brown dress and Edmondo is in a brown tuxedo. Don't get me wrong guys because our Earth princess used to be a maid so you can still be chosen as a princess no matter what your status is. They also bowed and went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Fire Cabin, Fuego…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with our new fire princess, Flare.”

Flare is in a red dress and Fuego is in a red tuxedo. Did I mention Fuego's side? Do you think Flare is worried about that? No, because when Fuego's side attacks her, he will get a big punch or be kicked immediately and not only that… she has a lover, believe me or not. They bowed and went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Electric Cabin, Zoltar…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with our new Electric princess, Elesa.”

They are both in yellow clothes but not that bright and eye-catching, showing us that both are electric royals. Question, why is Elesa there? Answer, long story.

“Next, the Prince of the Metal Cabin, Aes…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with our new Metal princess, Hera”

They are robots but they are beautiful and handsome. They are dressed in tuxedos showing us that both are indeed metal royals. They bowed in front and went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Nature Cabin, Feesy…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with our new Nature princess, Kyrie”

This nature lover prince and princess, of course they are wearing green. They still have flowers and stuff surrounding them that they are obviously the nature prince and princess. They bowed and went to their seats.

“Next, the Prince of the Ice Cabin, Jethro…”

Clap! Clap!

“... with our new Ice Princess, Callie.”

They are both in white clothes and both are wearing poker faces. Ice people. They also bowed in front of the audience before going to their seats.

“Lastly, we have the new Princess of Eullenuum Nation, please welcome, Yani.”

Everyone applauded and I went downstairs. Don’t expect me that I have someone with me because there is no Prince of Eullenuum Nation.

The ceremony goes on. Eaux made the opening remarks and was followed by the oath taking of the new princesses.

They lined up in front and made the oath. After it…

“Next, we will have the oath taking of Princess Yani…”

I stood up and approached the mike.

“Please raise your right hand princess and repeat after me…” said Eaux. So I did what he told me.

“I, state your name…”

“I, Yani…” and followed everything he said.

“…do solemnly pledge… to uphold the mission… of the whole Eullenuum Nation. I pledge to perform my duties… to the best of my abilities… in the service for this nation. I pledge to work… in a concerted effort… with the other prince and princesses… to move towards… achieving the goals and objectives. I pledge to support… every member and citizen… of this nation… and protect them against all enemies… foreign and domestic… So help me God.”

Everyone applauded after I said that.

“Now we proceed to the coronation of the new princesses...” at the same time, eight metal guys with eight crowns appeared. All the princes stood up and took each crown and placed it on the heads of the new princess. After they put on the crown...

“Please welcome the new princesses of each cabin,” they all stood up straight. Everyone applauded in honor for their new leaders.

“And for the new Princess of Eullenuum Nation...” Jethro took the last crown and went in front of me. I looked at him for a moment before I bowed in front of him and at the same time he put the crown on my head.

“Let us honor the new princess, who will rule Eullenuum Nation, Princess Yani,” I stood up and they all bowed.

I took the mike. “You may now take your seats,” I said and they sat in their respective seats as well as the princesses and princes.

“It's an honor to be chosen to be your ruler here in Eullenuum Nation,” I began.

Everyone applauded again. “As your new princess, I will do my best to fulfill my duties and responsibilities and will never go back on the oath I said…” I looked at everyone.

“At first when I got here, I was fascinated in this place and as time went on, I learned a lot not only about the place but also the people living in it. I discovered some things that I thought only happen in dreams or imaginations…”

“I also experienced meddling with people, to cry, to care and to love others and most of all, being loved by different people. I learned what it is like to have a family…”

“And because of that, I discovered what the real mission of this nation is. I'll try my best to be a leader to each and every one of you and at the same time, a sister. I will do my best to make you feel that you belong to this nation just like what the others did to me. With that, I end my talk.”

They all stood up and applauded. The others shouted. After that, it's time for entertainment. You know what's going on at parties, don't you? There is singing, dancing, laughter as long as in short, we are having fun.

It’s my first time going to a party and I never thought I would enjoy this first time. I didn’t go back then every time there was a party at school. I haven't had my first dance yet.

But speaking of that, I immediately looked at Jethro and my face was replaced with sadness when I remembered that again.

I was in my room when suddenly there was a knock on my door. I opened it and appeared,

“Prince Zoltar.”

“Can I talk to you?” full of anxiety, he asked.

I just looked at him and nodded my head. He entered once I closed the door.

“So, what's the result?” my opening question.

He first looked at me with pity in his eyes and sighed. “I'm afraid you're not going to like it,” he said.

When he said that, it was as if I would regret what he would say next… and that is what happened.

“He has no memory of everything that happened only between the two of you. It's like when the ice melted completely, some parts of his memory were erased and I'm afraid the ones that are erased are the events that happened why the ice in his heart is melting.”

There were tears in my eyes and I tried to stop them from falling.

“But he knows you… only as a newcomer in this nation.”

I just bowed my head and because of that the tears I was holding back fell.

“Does that mean that he doesn't love me anymore?”

He paused for a while before answering me. “I'm not here to hurt you but actually the right term is that he did not know that he had feelings for you.”

I closed both of my hands into a fist and with all I've got I just tried not to get hurt.

“I'm sorry Yani.”

When he said that, I could no longer cope with all the pain so I immediately sat down and cried.

I thought he was going to die when the ice melted from his heart but that was the reason it saved him but once it melted, he also changed. He already has respect for those he talks to and when you talk to him he will not ignore you. In other words, he is no longer numb and he also smiles often.

This all felt something new at first but as time went on, we also got used to it but I never thought, at the same time as the ice melted, there would also be consequences and that would make him lose his feelings for me.

I bowed my head again and they might see my treacherous tears again. It hurts but it's okay because I know he's still alive and in fact, I'm the only one being hurt by what happened. And at least the people around him were happy, especially his siblings.

Right now, I have to have fun and if I really need to, like what he did, I also have to forget all about us because it will affect me even more as I am the new leader of this nation. If I remember correctly, they said that was really part of being a princess, that you should think about the welfare of everyone before your own welfare and that is what I should do.

Much has happened in my life that I did not expect. The number of people I met who I considered friends and family, memories that served as a lesson for me and all of that happened all because I came to this place so I knew in myself that I belong here.

This is MY NATION.

-END-