The journey finally draws to a close with the last chapter! :D

This is where I make the confession that I wrote the entire story just so I could write this chapter! Lol~ I love it~

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Chapter 19

Brita was on her way to her bedroom when someone called out to her. Turning around in surprise, she saw that it was April. For some reason, the other woman seemed to be in a good mood and she didn't like it one bit. April had never liked her, for obvious reasons. Whatever she might think, the final decision had been November's to make and there was nothing his secretary could do about it.

"What is it?" she asked, not hiding her displeasure. "I'm in a hurry."

"The king has summoned you. He wants to see you in the throne room."

"The throne room? What's going on?"

April shrugged her shoulders and sauntered off as her job was done. If she didn't want to listen, then that was her problem. Even so, she didn't think Brita would refuse. After all, it was a huge deal if the king was personally summoning her. To ignore a royal summons was a capital offense, one that even the queen was not above.

Frowning in response, Brita muttered a few choice profanities under her breath before changing course, heading to the throne room instead. What could the king possibly want with her now? She was busy. She wasn't in the mood to see what he wanted as she was positive it related to his missing daughter in some way, shape or form.

*****

"That's far enough," November stated when Brita made it halfway towards the throne.

"November?"

"You may kneel."

Glancing around in surprise, Brita slowly lowered to her knees, wondering what the hell was going on. Why in the world would he summon the royal guards? Of all places to call her to, why the throne room? She had no clue what was going on, but one thing for sure, she knew that she didn't like it one bit.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" November demanded, his voice cold and his expression harsh.

"About what?"

"Princess Misaki, my daughter."

"Misaki? I have nothing to say," she answered slowly.

"Lies! You were the one to bring harm to her! A vicious snake right underneath my very nose!"

"N - November... How could you possibly say such a thing?"

He glared at her, waving his hand in front of him. One of the royal guards entered from the side, bringing in a man in cuffs. Much to her shock, it was none other than Gai in human form... Her gaze was fierce for just a moment before she realized that she was in front of the king. How in the world did he become human? How did they even find out about him? The mirror was still in her room just that morning.

"Speak."

"I am Gai, former confidante to the queen," he said in a loud, clear voice. "She personally admitted to me that she wished harm to befall the princess. I have heard her words and repeat them to you now..."

"Gai!" Brita hissed. "How dare you! After everything I did for you! How could you betray me like this?!"

"Silence!" November roared. "To everyone here, her words affirm her guilt."

"No! How did you become human?!"

November waved his hand a second time and another person entered the room. Brita glared at the long-haired woman until her eyes widened in surprise. How had things turned out this way...?

"You!"

"I am Amber," she spoke, interrupting Brita. "The witch of the east. Before you stands the man I had once cursed. He has been freed from his curse due to the petition of the king."

"Finally! It's not my fault you're flat-chested," Gai retorted. "Besides, how was I supposed to know that you were a witch. I wouldn't have said anything if I knew... Trapping me in the mirror; forcing me to suffer when you sold me off as a magic mirror..."

"I'm still a witch. Don't make me transform you again. This time, even the king can't help you..."

Gai blanched and quickly shut his mouth. Even though he had done his part to convict the queen, he still had not received his promised reward of a kiss from the princess. In fact, he still hadn't seen her even though Prince Hei had promised that she was alive. He had finally gained his freedom as a human again; it wouldn't do to lose it once more.

November waved his hand a third time, this time signalling a flurry of activity. Brita watched in despair as people continued to file into the throne room. Even a cat joined in the mess... She had never been so humiliated in her life. The last straw was when she saw the princess walk in on the arm of Prince Hei.

"What the hell?!" she screeched. "You are supposed to be dead!"

"I'm quite fine, thank you."

"You...!" she shouted, pointing her finger at Amber. "You told me it would kill her! Why the hell is she still standing here, tormenting me?!"

To her surprise, and everyone else's, Amber began to laugh. She laughed so hard she had to clutch at her stomach and wipe tears from her eyes. When she was finally finished with her outburst, she turned to see that everyone was watching her and waiting for her to respond.

"Who told you to be such an idiot and actually believe me? Like I would help the likes of you. You disgust me. I lied."

"You're just jealous because she's well-endowed and you're not," Gai muttered.

"I heard that! Whose fault do you think it is that I have a complex regarding that issue?"

"But she seemed like she was dead," Carmine stated, hoping she didn't speak out of turn. "We even checked her pulse."

"She appeared dead, because that was what the potion was supposed to do. For three days, she would appear as if she were dead. It was only a mild potion that would work its way out of her system."

"And there you have it," November stated, cutting into all the idle chit-chat. "I've had enough of you and your devious tricks. I hereby revoke the status of queen from Brita. You are banished from my kingdom. On top of that, I declare that you are a slave to Gai - the man you tortured with your wild seduction. He may do to you as he sees fit. As for Gai, you are bound to your slave. I will hear no more of your lewd advances on women, or else..."

Brita blanched at the thought that she was to be a slave to Gai. The man had a one-track mind... On the other hand, Gai grinned as he could think of many things to do to her or more accurately, with her. He glanced at the former queen before turning to the witch who had cursed him to begin with. When she lifted an eyebrow in his direction, he quickly wiped the grin off his face and meekly nodded his head.

"Before that... I believe the prince has promised me something," Gai stated.

"Ah, yes... Of course... If you don't mind."

Misaki smiled and shook her head as she had heard about the story from Hei after he had come to get them. All of them had made their way to the castle in secret as the others were witness to the troubles she had gone through. Not to mention, they were deserving of rewards for the assistance they had given her.

"Thank you very much for you help, Gai," Misaki murmured before she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

Unexpectedly, his eyes started to glaze over as he gave the princess a goofy grin, all before he passed out in the throne room. Amber only shook her head in disbelief, but was glad to be rid of one more fool from this world. November waved his hand for the royal guards to take the two of them away.

"Now that that is finished... I believe I owe the rest of you my deepest gratitude," he said. "Tell me what it is that you would like to have and I shall grant your wish."

Carmine, Wei, Kiko, Mayu, Yin, July and Mao lined up in front of the king, pleased to see that the princess was back where she belonged. It wasn't that they didn't like her, but a forest cottage didn't suit her. Besides, it was clear to see that she was in love with the handsome Prince Hei as she stood by his side, clutching his arm.

"I'm sure that's easy for Kiko and Mayu," Misaki said with a gentle smile. "Just find them a couple handsome young men and I'm sure they'd be fine..."

"Reall..."

"No!" Kiko exclaimed, interrupting Mayu's reply.

"Eh?"

"I want to see Princess Misaki and Prince Hei kiss!!"

"Whaaat?" Mayu exclaimed.

"They haven't kissed yet! Besides, it's the perfect ending to the manga we were doing! Everyone is going to love it. We need to have something to work with as an example."

Misaki turned to Hei with a blush on her cheeks as she couldn't believe that they would ask for such an embarrassing thing in such a public location. When she glanced at her father, he frowned and glanced away. Even so, he couldn't say anything as he was the one who promised them anything they liked.

Turning so that he was facing her, Hei slowly lowered his lips to hers and gave her a gentle kiss. When they pulled apart seconds later, Misaki blushed even harder and buried her face in his chest. She couldn't believe she just did something like that! It did not help matters that Kiko and Mayu were cheering wildly in the background...

"Ahem," November said, clearing his throat. "And the others?"

"I don't know," Carmine replied as she hadn't thought that far ahead.

"I suppose it was rather sudden... Give it some thought and we can speak more regarding this matter at a later time."

*****

Misaki and Hei waved with a smile as they watched Carmine leaving the castle with Yin, July and Mao in tow. At the end of the day, Carmine had decided that she enjoyed living in their forest cottage. Her request was to obtain a maid as the housework was the only part that she did not enjoy. Yin and July had decided to stay with her, to keep her company, as had Mao.

Wei had taken to the idea of becoming a royal hunter, especially since he loved being outdoors. Saitou had been relieved to know that there was someone to take his place as his reward was to retire from that business. He and his parents had moved out of the small house to a nicer location, giving it up for Wei to use.

Mayu and Kiko had asked for their own place since they wanted to stay near the palace and try their hand at selling their work in the capital. They had easily adapted to the city life as there were plenty of men for them to enjoy watching. Also, Misaki had requested that the two of them be bridesmaids at her future wedding to Prince Hei.

All in all, they knew that they were always welcome to come back for visits any time they felt like it. Misaki was going to miss them and the little cottage she had stayed in. At the same time, she was pleased that she could pay them back as they had been amazing in the way they had taken care of her.

Brita and Gai were kicked out of the country as their citizenships had been revoked along with Brita's title of queen. Prince Hei had done the same for his country as he wrote a long, detailed letter to his father regarding the latest events. No one knew where they would go, but neither did they care - as long as Gai honoured the demands the king had made.

As for Amber, she had disappeared just as easily as she had appeared. No one knew where she went either as she had her own ideas and own plans of what she wanted to do. Despite Gai's punishment, she still had not forgiven him for his insult and she had left with a parting promise that she would inform November if he acted out of place. A cloud of smoke had enveloped her and then she was gone.

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A/N: And that's a wrap! Ahaha~ Who expected Amber to show up? XD I thought it was clever, but maybe that's just me liking to compliment myself. (Boastful much? ... )

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I hope it has been a fun read! ^^