Evanthia approaches me and smiles gently. I let her take the lead."It's because our home is somewhere else now. Grandma and our parents who have raised us from so many years await our return. We can't forget about them. That's our world now and we ought to get back. But that doesn't mean that we'll forget about Bellendis. We'll keep coming back and meeting y'all. Someone has to be here to take care of Bellendis. We've chosen you because we trust you and know that you'll make a wonderful queen."

"You really think so?" A curious voice comes from the other side of the door. "But how will the Bellendians accept me as their queen knowing that the both of you are the true heirs?"

"Why do you think it took me so long to come here? I've explained everything to them and they're eagerly awaiting your presence." She sighs. I look at her in awe. My sister is so smart.

"So are you coming out or should I transform Luke into a queen?" I say, sarcastically.

Evanthia bursts out laughing.

At once the door opens and Fleur rushes into my arms and gives me a big hug. She pulls Eva to it too. "Thank you sooo much your highness!" She exclaims.

"Get that over with!" Eva tells her.
The three of us walk towards the hall and Luke stares at us, probably wondering what took us so long.
I look down at the Bellendians from the balcony and smile. "We're so sorry for the delay. I hope Evanthia was successful in making you all understand why we had to take this decision." The Bellendians shout out a huge 'yes' and clap. Once silence prevails I resume my speech. "So, where was I? Yes, so we gladly present to you the true deserving queen of Bellendis...Queen Fleur!" I say and get Fleur to an angle where everyone can see her. She softly bows and thanks everyone. I take out the garland that's around my neck and slide it through her's.

Then, Evanthia gives her the sword she's holding. "They'd want you to have it." She says. After that, I take out the crown from my head and gently place it on her head. She bows in front of me.

The soldiers shout, "All hail queen Fleur! All hail princess Callidora and Princess Evanthia !" And the trumpets and bugles start playing.

The Bellendians bow down before us.
"Thank you princesses, for giving me this honour and thank you dear Bellendians for accepting me as your queen. I know that till now you have experienced so many problems because of Alaric. Many of you have lost your homes, some of you have lost your loved ones too. I cannot bring back what you have lost, but I can surely provide you the necessities to start a new life. You all will be provided with 1000 Bels each from the kingdom's treasury so do not worry about anything. We shall wait to see all your lanterns light up the sky tonight. If you have any other problems, you can approach me anytime. I hope I can serve you all well."

All the Bellendians start clapping and their faces light up with joy.
Fleur bows again and goes back inside.

"Was that okay?" She asks curiously.

"Okay? You rocked it 'Your Highness!'" I tease her.

Evanthia continues, "Yes, 'Your highness', that was a wonderful speech! And it's such a good thing that you'll provide them with 1000 Bels, 'Your Highness!"

Fleur smiles at us, her cheeks red with embarrassment. "Okay, okay...sorry. I won't say it again and you guys please don't too."

Dusk arrives within no time and we all assemble in the open garden for the lantern leaving Ceremony. The chandeliers and candles of the castle light up the castle beautifully. The garden and the waterfalls looks lightened by the lanterns the Bellendians are holding. Some of them stand in a queue in order to collect their share of lanterns from Luke.
Evanthia, Fleur and I go and stand next to Luke. He's busy in writing the name of person the lantern is dedicated to by each Bellendian. The Bellendians tell him the names one by one, he writes on the lantern and gives the lantern to the Bellendian standing in front of him.

"Well, you've become very responsible nowadays Luke." Fleur teases him.
"What do you mean by 'Nowadays'? I've always been responsible! Ask Vio..." He stops writing and sighs. "Forget it." He completes his sentence.

Fleur keeps her hand on Luke's shoulder. "It's okay. We all understand. It's always better to speak it out."
Luke looks her her and then gazes at me. "It's just that...everything happened so suddenly. I can't believe that she's...gone."

Just then a Bellendian approaches us. "Can I have two lanterns please?", she asks. She's thin and wears ragged clothes. Her hair is a little messed up too.

"Names?" Luke asks her.
The lady looks down at the grass and a replies in a soft tone, "Rosilder and Osgar."
My attention at once goes towards her and I stare at her, surprised. "Osgar?" I mumble to myself.

She must be his mother, who was forced to become one of Alaric's scullery maids.
She looks at me and bows before me with respect. "Oh I'm sorry...I'm afraid I didn't see you, your highness. Please forgive..."

"No...no." I hold her both her hands. "I need your forgiveness, you don't need mine."

"Why are you saying that, your highness? You've done nothing wrong to ask me for forgiveness." She says.

Suddenly I feel Fleur's hand on my right shoulder. I look her her and she shakes her head. I give her the 'Why shouldn't I tell her?' look.

"What happened to your lost ones?" Fleur interrupts.

The woman gets tears in her eyes. "My husband was killed by that bastard. My son...my son, Oh my dear Osgar...how much I loved him...I had to leave him at home before Alaric had captured all the women of Bellendis. But when I went back after your coronation, he...he wasn't there! I searched everywhere. Even in his favourite place - the riverside. Probably that cruel Alaric didn't spare him too."
Fleur and I exchange sad glances.

"We are terribly sorry for the loss you have faced because of us." I tell the woman, ignoring Fleur's expression.
"What do you mean, your highness? It wasn't your fault." She says.

Fleur interrupts and says "What she means is that if we had defeated Alaric earlier, then your husband and your son would be alive."

I look at Fleur in disbelief. What is wrong with her? Why didn't she let me tell the truth?

"No, your highnesses. Please don't blame yourself." She replies as Luke hands her the lanterns after writing their names on it. She heaves a sigh of grief and walks off.

"Why did you hide it from her? She deserves to know!" I exclaim.
"You think I didn't want to tell her? She's miserable already. Look at her, do you think she would have been able to handle the fact that it's because of us, she lost her family? It would break her even more. She wouldn't be able to live in this kingdom anymore."
"You're right. I wouldn't want to break her heart." I reply.

Just then a woman, a man and a young boy turn up in front of us.
The woman started at Luke and says, " Remember us Lukey?"

Luke looks at the woman in wonder. He shifts his gaze to the man and then to the young boy.

"Mom? Dad? Drew? Omg! I can't believe it! After so many years!" He hugs his parents and lifts his younger brother in his arms. He looks so ecstatic.

"We look everywhere for you, Lukey! Thank god, you're okay." His father exclaims.
"Well, thank god he found his family. It's the first time he's smiled since Violet left us." Evanthia says.

I nod and we all leave Luke to spend time with his newfound family.
We look around. By now, every Bellendian is holding a lantern with some or the other person's name on it.

The whole garden is lit with the yellowish-Orange light from the lanterns. The sight is euphoric. Fleur hands Eva and me two lanterns. I see mom and dad's name on it. Eva and I gaze at each other, desolately.

Eva and I hold mom's lantern and together, let it go gently. Then we hold dad's lantern and slowly leave it into open air. The Bellendians bow in order to pay their respect. After us, Fleur let's go of the lantern that has her brother's name on it.

Slowly, the Bellendians start letting go of their respective lanterns into the dark sky, brightening it in different shades. We see Luke leaving Violet's lantern and then Grifford's. He continuously wipes his tears. We also see Osgar's mother, slowly letting of both her lanterns, crying in grief.
I slide the fingers of my right hand through Eva's and then slide the fingers of my left hand through Fleur's. The three of us smile at each other, trying to hide our grieved emotions within us.

After a while, Eva rests her head on my shoulder, letting go of all her held up emotions in the form of her tears and Fleur does the same. I embrace both of them and let go of mine too. We recall all the memories which we've created in this wonderful kingdom.

So, here I am...away from home, away from my parents and grandma, hand in hand with my sister and together, we are surrounded by the Lights Of The Other World.

Yes, coming to Bellendis, changed my life for the better. The most important thing I learnt was to never lose hope, to always keep on trying no matter how many times I failed and to always be there for my loved ones. So, you too, keep an eye open, for you may never know when you may become The Chosen One.