I am Chisa Tshilela Nishida, 18 years old. I am biracial, born of a Badilite prince and a Japanese Namitess princess.
Despite carrying both the royal patrilineal and matrilineal lineages of Badila and Nami—my father tracing his paternal ancestry directly to King Benda of the Kingdom of Badila, and my mother tracing her maternal ancestry directly to Queen Kimba, King Benda's wife—I was cast aside by both the Badilites and the Namites.
Neither side wanted anything to do with me. I was a burden to my parents and a disgrace to their families.
But why?
It all began when my father, Kabula Badila, younger brother of Patriarch Kanda, traveled to Japan in the late 2000s...
He was to attend an important meeting between the House of Badila and the Imperial House of Japan, representing the Badilites.
My mother, Princess Honoka, also attended the meeting—alongside her twin sister, Princess Hitomi, mother of Princess Ame. The meeting was held in Japanese.
"Where is Patriarch Kanda?" Empress Kasumi asked Kabula. "Does he deem the Namites so unimportant that he sends his little brother to engage with us? This level of disrespect is beyond measure..."
"My sincerest apologies, Empress," Kabula replied, looking at Empress Kasumi, who wore Queen Kimba's distinctive reddish scrunchie in her hair. Queen Kimba had been the wife of King Benda of the Kingdom of Badila.
That reddish scrunchie—also known as the Queen's Crown or Kimba's Crown—was a sacred heirloom. Queen Kimba had decreed that the woman who wore it, from among her female descendants, must be respected and obeyed by all Badilites, regardless of her background or social standing.
The wearer of Kimba's Crown was considered Queen Kimba's vicegerent on Earth, second only to the Patriarch and his spouse. After the fall of the Badila Kingdom, the monarchy became symbolic. The throne was passed symbolically to the firstborn sons, while the Crown was to be passed symbolically to their wives.
But Queen Kimba had died before Patriarch Beleshayi married. So instead, she passed the Crown to her eldest daughter, Empress Akela, who took it with her to Japan. From there, it remained within the Namidame Clan, eventually becoming a treasure of the Royal Namidai House—hence why Empress Kasumi now wore it.
"Well?" Empress Kasumi pressed. "What do you Badilites wish to discuss with us?"
"That which you're wearing on your hair..." Kabula sighed. "It was not meant to end up with the Empress of the Imperial House of Japan. It belongs to the Matriarch of the House of Badila."
"Hah!" Empress Kasumi laughed. "Are you serious? We received this from Queen Kimba herself. She gave it to our mother, Akela."
"But that was before Patriarch Beleshayi got married," he replied. "And Queen Kimba didn't know that Princess Akela would branch off from the House of Badila. Had she known, we don't believe she would have given her the Crown."
"Whatever you people think is irrelevant. The fact remains: Queen Kimba passed her Crown to the Imperial House of Japan. She instructed Mother Akela to pass it down to her eldest daughter, generation after generation, forever. An unbroken chain of matrilineal descent and matriarchal authority. How dare you try to take that from us?"
"Well..." Kabula grew more nervous.
"The fact that we are in possession of the Queen's Crown—Kimba's Crown—is proof that we are the legitimate Badilites and true successors of the ancient Kingdom of Badila."
"Your Highness, you know that we Badilites reject that claim. The throne is patrilineal. The Queen's Crown should belong to the wife of the Patriarch. Even so, we still respect the Imperial House of Japan for being direct matrilineal descendants of Queen Kimba, and for preserving the Queen's Crown."
"The Queen's Crown belongs to the Matriarch of the House of Badila, you say?" Empress Kasumi scoffed. "What utter nonsense!" She stormed out of the hall, furious.
Princess Hitomi stood up and followed her mother, leaving Kabula alone in the hall with Princess Honoka and a group of Namites.
"Dammit," he muttered, standing up to leave. Princess Honoka quickly followed him.
"Why do you Badilites think we would ever willingly hand over the Queen's Crown?" Honoka asked, astonished. "It's literally our family emblem—and proof of our descent from Queen Kimba herself."
"I understand all of that. But Big Brother Kanda and the old geezers in the House of Badila refuse to acknowledge it."
"Heh..." she chuckled. "How peculiar that you seem to be different, though."
"Maybe it's because I'm in love with you."
"What?!" Honoka acted surprised. "I didn't know you were in love with me—Princess Hitomi!"
"Not this silly game again..." Kabula sighed. "You've been trying to trap me ever since we were little. I'll never mistake you for Hitomi."
"But everyone else does—except for my parents and grandparents," she laughed. "How come you don't?"
"You already know the answer."
"But I want you to say it."
"I already said it."
"But I want you to keep saying it."
"Why? So the Namites in this building can overhear and behead me?"
"They wouldn't go that far..." she pouted.
Prince Kabula of the Badilites and Princess Honoka of the Namites were in love—secretly. A relationship neither family would ever approve of.
Kabula gave Honoka a quick peck on the lips. She blushed, caught off guard.
"What are you doing?!" she said, flustered. "You idiot! What if someone saw that?"
"Then stop acting so cute, dammit."
"I can't! I was born cute!"
"Where's the exit?" he sighed. "I want a smoke."
"Your Japanese accent is funny," she giggled.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"You shouldn't smoke. It's bad for you."
"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do," he said. "You're not my wife."
"That's because you're too anxious to follow your heart."
They stood outside, near the building where the meeting had taken place.
Kabula reached for a cigarette, but Honoka swiftly took it from him. "Don't do that, please."
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could get married?" he asked. "It would unite the House of Badila and the House of Nami. The throne and crown of the Badilites would be reunited. It would start a new era for all Badilites worldwide."
"I want to marry you—and turn that vision into reality."
"You're naive, Honoka-chan," he chuckled. "Our families would never allow it. We'd never receive their blessings."
"Have you even tried talking to them?" she asked. "Maybe you're just being your usual overly pessimistic self."
"It's futile," he said. "They caused a huge uproar when Luzadi wanted to marry the Dutch Princess Esmee—even though she'll bear him a child who'll inherit the Dutch throne. A Badilite ruling a kingdom again after more than 100 years! Yet the old geezers almost sabotaged it. If they had trouble with that union, I can't imagine them accepting ours."
"You never know until you try."
Kabula laughed softly. "Esmee brings a kingdom. What will you offer them? The Empire of Japan? Will you even succeed Empress Kasumi?"
"Well," Honoka said, "between Hitomi and me, it was never documented who was born first. Normally, the eldest daughter would inherit the throne—but this time, since it's unclear, my mother split the inheritance. Hitomi will become Empress because she's diplomatic, strategic, assertive—more of a leader than me. Plus, she has the Badilite silver eyes. I have ordinary brown Japanese eyes..."
She paused. "I didn't want to reveal this to you in case your love wasn't sincere. But... my mother has decided I will inherit Kimba's Crown."
Kabula was stunned.
"So," she continued, "I can return Kimba's Crown to the House of Badila—reuniting the throne and the crown in a single household."
"Whether or not you inherit Kimba's Crown doesn't change the fact that I love you," Kabula said. "That's why I want to marry you."
"I know. That's why I revealed it—after all these years. You've proven the sincerity of your love."
"I'll talk to my family," he said.
"Really?" she asked, surprised.
"Yes," he nodded. "I can't leave things like this. Since I've proven my love, I may as well fight to marry you."
"Right," she smiled. "I'll talk to my family, too. Let's hope for the best."
"Yes..."