The Queen of Nothingness

Spotlight

The first thing I heard this morning was that my brother disappeared from the academy last night.

The letter was addressed to my parents, signed by the prickly headmistress herself. Of course, I knew nothing of how he suddenly just went poof though I know why he did it.

My brother wasn't kidn*pped or so to say, as I rummaged around his dorm in the academy when the butler arranged to pick up his items. I found a pad of paper in which the front has lines and carves from writing too hard on the recent leaf. If I were to shade it with a pencil, it would indicate my brother's plan on how he managed to escape the magic academy without being seen or heard. But I did not shade it, I only took a wistful glance at it.

It reminded me of a time when all three of us, siblings, planned out our hiding away from the studies and homework back when we were kids. We were royalty and I was a lady, so was my younger sister. Mom always told us that we must be educated. However, she would delightfully indicate in a whisper that we should go live our lives to the fullest instead.

My mother was a daughter of a powerful duke and was sold off to marry my father to exterminate his bills and debts. It was a sad story I know and I often wonder how cliches can also come in real life despite it being so... cliche.

My father extremely loved my dear mother. That the whole world knows of. The king's love for the queen was equal to the limit of the sky. No. Maybe much more farther than that.

After a year they were married, my elder brother was born and he was instantly named the heir to the throne. At that, Grandma insisted to name him "Crown". She really did and pleaded to Dad once. Oh, how I laughed at that tale whenever Mom tells my brother of how he was named preciously by Grandma Jules.

I only heard it because I loved to eavesdrop back then. My favorite door to listen to, for a fact, is brother's door. He holds such secrets that I dare to use for blackmail. He never catches me eavesdropping though. He never did yet I would still use those secrets for my own benefits.

I was born three years later after his birth. Such a bright light was emitted by me when I was born thus Chiara was given to me by my parents although Grandma wanted to name a baby again and pertained that my name should be Arabella. Dad and Mom like Chiara much better.

Once I could talk, I spoke neither my parent's name and instead called out my brother. On the contrary, my words aren't as skillful as a well educated lady back then and I ended up saying half of his name, becoming "Crow". I do remember him sulking in a corner because a person had told him that crows were bad luck. I called him "Ro" for quite a while and began to be used to it calling him in that nickname.

Two years after, a new baby girl was born. Back then, I was overwhelmed in joy realizing that I was to be an older sister. I imagined Ro with shining starry eyes like me when I was born, and almost vomited at the sweetness of lies. Bitter is a much better look for him. Or perhaps I was just used to him looking like that way?

And once again, Grandma smiled, saying that she vouches to be the one to name the sweet little child. "Celestine," she had said. Dad and Mom liked it.

Out of the three of us, I was the unusual, different and entirely made out of something else. Maybe it's because of the fact that Grandma wasn't the one to name me? Hold on. I think my logic isn't right. How would that be of a change to my personality and looks?

Ro and Tina inherited their blonde hair from Dad. Mom, on the other hand, has strands made of soft chocolate. No one in our family has ever had a color as dim as mine. Practically, no one in the entire universe has a glum color as mine. I envied my siblings because of such a small matter. It gave me a lot of attention and if there's one thing I dislike, it's the blinding spotlight.

Chiara. It meant light. For that, I was always given the light to hold onto. Presumably, I was lucky. Deep inside me where all my personal emotions and thoughts are known, everything told that I was born the black sheep of the family.

"My brother wasn't kidn*pped," I spoke out in front of the family meeting, opening the doors without knocking.

My personal tutor, a duchess, scolded me, screwing up her face. "Princess, you should have knocked first before entering. That's one of the-"

I stopped her before Aunt Emily would go any further. Disregarding her presence might be foolish and rude though I must greatly inform my parents of brother's whereabouts... or rather, whyabouts. Is that even a word?

"My brother wasn't kidn*pped. He escaped from his princely duties, not wanting to be the crown prince." The floors carried my weight as I proudly stood tall in confidence of what I was telling them.

Mom gazed at Dad. He gazed back. Scanning their expressions, there was a deeper meaning behind Ro's desire of not to be the future king. Grandma Jules reassured my thoughts as if she had been reading my mind.

"Is it about Allison?"

Allison was the daughter of a marquess. Although she has some standards of being a perfect lady, a perfect wife for Ro, Dad simply did not allow their marriage to happen. From what I overheard in most gossips, my father and All's father were enemies although both reigned in the same empire. That was just a baseless rumor and another story I wouldn't want to get my hands on. They said it wasn't a nice tale like most books I read. But perhaps Ro ran away with her then?

"I surely hope it isn't. That boy is nineteen but he knows nothing of the world. He still has a lot to learn," said Mom while she constantly evaded everyone's eyes.

I could smirk at the thought that she possible may be guilty about it. Mom was the Queen but she had always been a true rebel at heart. She'd often teach us how to be free from the chains that bind us and how to soar in the sky like birds out of their cages.

"Search for the prince in the capital," Dad commanded a knight to tell the others their tasks to be done.

I wasn't always a princess, like my mother, I was a rebel and rebels get themselves into some troubles. This one was not in my expectation. Being my reckless and loyal-to-brother self, I found myself in a deep worry to deal with.

"What makes you think Ro wants to be found? You do know he isn't one to be easily captured and caught, do you? Dad?"

"That is why until Crown Violets is found, you will be the heir to the throne. I'm not sure if he will be willing to go back or he wants to disappear for good, yet the seat cannot be empty or else the empire will fall and magic will fail to survive in this world."

That statement of his was certainly not in my expectations. I never asked for the spotlight to brighten up.

"Pardon?"

"Chiara Violets," began my father, "from now on, you shall be the crown princess until your brother is found."

I refused to become Queen and shine the spotlight with more excessive luminosity.

Damn you, Ro! Why did you have to leave for love? How blinded are you?

If there's a time that I will see you again, be sure to carry a shield wherever you go. Because rest assured, I am going to knock you out, bring you back to the castle and make you king whether you like it or not.