The Philippines and Russia are banned from joining the Queen of the Universe pageant for three years as a penalty. Meanwhile, Elle gets to retire and quietly enjoy what remains of her camp. Guinevere and Deborah left the country for good without a letter or word of apology. For her part, Cleo has decided to immerse herself in the projects and activities of local government. She feels that she needs to understand what’s happening right here before she can go on to achieve whatever might be waiting for her.
The problem with the system is that some people in high positions have never been in the trenches, so how can they serve anyone but themselves?
And yes, Cleo’s getting all kinds of glares and strange looks from people, but that no longer matters to her. What is important to her is that she’s actually doing something meaningful and authentic. Apologizing to her countrymen was a small start, but slowly, she’s being welcomed again and not as Cleo from the TV shows. Not the Cleo who’s passive. Not the Cleo who was led around by Elle. But the Cleo who’s living an ordinary life for now.
Cleo might have fallen from the ranks, but she still has Dom, Aira, Erik, Chezka, and even Nadia and Julia. And her family? They’re proud of her. The world has come to know her as the Queenslayer—the woman who abdicated her crown and exposed herself and the rotten icing on the cake. She’s both the hero and the villain in the story, and she’s made quite a name for herself, as she’s all over the tabloids, news, radio, and TV. But she hasn’t given a single interview. She needs that break.
After a year, Cleo received a letter of invitation to Erik’s art photography studio. She’s happy he’s doing what he loves. As for Dom, he has pursued his dream of designing for a branded fashion line. He even gave some of his pieces to Anne, who happily accepted them. So, Erik’s invitation to them—extended to Chezka, Nadia, and Julia, too—is a grand reunion for all of them.
Cleo’s fallen in love with Erik’s beautiful iridescent photos—images he’s captured of the places he has been.
“Does he sell this?” Chezka asks.
Dom looks around and says, “Probably. Would you buy it?”
Chezka and Dom’s conversation evaporates into thin air when Cleo spots Erik in a black and white suit. This isn’t his usual attire, so she can’t help but laugh at him on the rare occasions he dresses up.
Erik gestures for Cleo to follow him, and in the middle of all the photos is a large one of a beautiful woman. It’s the only black and white photo out of all the other pieces in the studio. Written below the frame is:
The Dark Knight of the Soul.
Through light and darkness, I have loved her.
“Now, this is juicy,” Nadia remarks, glancing at Cleo.
Flushing, Cleo laughs in surprise and delight. It’s a picture of her practicing her smile at the camp, and she looks happy and contented. She has never felt so appreciated in her entire life. His words and photo of her have tugged at her heartstrings.
“Do you like it?”
Cleo smiles at Erik. “I love it.”
And then they all look again: at the corner of Cleo’s photograph is a girl in her late teens, looking up at the picture and copying Cleo’s sweet smile with a pen between her lips.