[Music Recommendation: "Blue & Grey" by BTS (instrumental only)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Several maids helped Crystal pack her things. They went in and out of the walk-in closet in her room, presenting clothes to Crystal as they went. Then Crystal would either approve of the outfit or not, and the next maid would come with the next clothes. The others brought shoes and accessories, also presenting them to her in that manner. Those that passed were placed inside a luggage.

"Nope."

"Not that one."

"Next."

"Good."

And so her words were. She didn't even notice we came in until Hora spoke up.

"Crystal? You're leaving?" Hora asked and her eyes almost broke into tears again.

Surprised by our sudden appearance, Crystal jolted from her seat.

"Hora, Senara, you're there!" she greeted us with a smile.

"What's all these clothes? Why are you packing up?" I asked her, worried.

"Oh, don't worry about that. I'll be leaving for a week or two because I have a shooting!"

I grumbled. Was that the truth? Or did she decide to leave to get some space?

"Hey, you two! Come on! I just told you a really good news and you look like someone died," she tapped our shoulders, disturbing us from our negative thoughts.

"What shooting?" Hora asked.

"Remember the one I told you before? The June Bride modelling event that I signed up months ago?"

We nodded. Yes, she told us about that. Crystal wanted to be a professional actress and model that's why she took a course related to performing arts. Even though they were insanely rich to the point they could fund her own event and make her début, she still wanted to do it like how others do it—by auditioning. The June Bride Event she mentioned was one of those things she signed up for. She told us that way back when we were still getting to know each other.

"You got accepted?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed so happily. "Turns out, they needed representatives in my age group and I was the perfect fit for it. My agent dropped by this lunch, that's why we were called out to the faculty."

"Oh, I see. So that's what Kaiden meant earlier," I murmured. "But what does that have to do with Callan? He was with you, too, right?"

"Oh, that stupid Callan," she rolled her eyes the moment she heard his name. "Can you believe it? He also signed up for it without even telling me! Now, the both of us are coming there. That means I'll be with him for two whole weeks! Ugh! It seems that I'll be babysitting again."

"What?! Callan does modelling, too?"

"Uh-huh! He's a copycat. He does everything I do like a little chick too attached to his mommy. If I act, he acts, too. If I do modelling, he does it, too. If I didn't tell him off, he'll be taking the same course as me in college! Talk about wasting his youth. He should be taking a course he likes, not following me around," Crystal complained, shaking her head and sighing as she spoke.

"Pft! Callan is really simple," I chuckled.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Nothing. It's just… maybe he still doesn't know what course he wants to take?"

"Yeah, that's possible."

"At least, he's with Kaiden's department now—Game Design and Development. Though Kaiden is in a masteral class, and he's still in the bachelor's."

"Yeah. He's a triathlete, too. He could have gone with that but he chose to be with Kaiden instead. So it's either Kaiden or me for him. Sigh… He should really get a life."

"It's fine. He's still young. He will know what he wants in the future."

"I hope so. But anyway, do you need something from me? Or you just missed me?" she asked, snickering at us.

"Yes," Hora butted in. "We wanted to talk with you… about…" Her face was filled with worry.

Seeing her like that, Crystal sighed. But then, she smiled warmly afterwards and held Hora's hands.

"Hora… the last thing I want you to do is to stop your feelings just because of me."

"B-but…"

Crystal hushed Hora, and patted her head.

"No buts. Besides, even if I hate to admit it, my brother is right. I didn't really like him. I was just in love with the idea of him being the kind and caring prince in my mind. Ever since childhood, I thought of him that way. I never saw him for who he really was. It was just a fleeting childhood crush, nothing more. So… I'm okay. Don't worry about me."

Hora sobbed. "I'm really sorry."

"Shhh… There's nothing for you to be sorry about. It's that damned fake prince who should be sorry for deceiving me all these years! Ughh… But kidding aside, it's all just me. I'm the one who started to delude myself anyway. Lesson learned, and it's time to move on."

"B-but if I'm not here then—"

"Nuh-uh-uh! Even if you're not here, Verrill still won't like me."

"You don't know that."

"Oh, I know. Kaiden told me about it. He was just being polite and waiting for me to confess so he can reject me."

"No way."

"It's true! You can ask either of them. And besides, like what my mother said… It's impossible to have an 'If I'm not here' or 'If she's not here, then I would have a better chance' scenario."

"Why?"

"Because… love finds a way. Two people that are meant for each other will meet, no matter what."

After that, we talked a bit more and Crystal assured Hora numerous times that she was okay with it, and that she wanted her to be happy with him more than anything. Crystal was so kind and understanding. I knew she was kind but I didn't know she had such a big and golden heart inside of her. What a queen. It seemed that two of my best friends were both queens.

All in all, I'm glad it ended in a peaceful note. I wouldn't want my friends arguing over a guy. Thank goodness they were both emotionally mature for their age.

And so, that night, we all slept together in Crystal's room. We wanted to be with her at least until she flew off somewhere for that event thingy she mentioned.

Before we closed our eyes, I made sure to whisper my prayers and hoped that Crystal's next love life would be something that would sweep her off her feet.

After all, a queen deserves a king.