Bride of the Vampire Prince

CHAPTER: 16

Thunderous applause erupted as the prince strode toward the crowd, his cape sailing behind him. He was followed by a regal-looking couple who could only have been the king and queen. The king was tall, his broad shoulders and athletic build were impressive beneath his tight-fitting leather shield. He had the same dark hair as his son and a trim gray beard. The queen was just as tall as her husband, and she also exuded strength and good health as she waved to the candidates, a broad smile visible on her face. Vienna had to catch her breath as she came forward. She was stunning, her lightly tanned skin glowing in the midday sun, her raven hair in thick braids beneath a crown. A real lady. Vienna could now understand what the tall girl had meant. The queen's satin, emerald-colored gown clung to her muscles and curves. It was clear where Prince Damien had received his good looks from.

Walking into the crowd, the guards spread out in front of the platform, flags waving, sword handles glittering at their waists. The prince entered the square first, and the crowd went wild, clapping and cheering in excitement. When the king and queen entered, their clapping and cheers turned roaring again. The royals bowed to the villagers, then the king walked up the stairs, followed by the queen and then the prince.

A silence fell over the crowd as the queen stepped forward to speak. "Citizens of the kingdom, thank you for joining us today for this sacred event. The ceremony incorporates all the best elements of our nation. Our ability to work together for the common good, the alliance between the crown and the people, and our continued commitment of flourishing and maintaining our way of life." She then raised her gaze as she motioned to the candidates on the platform. "The candidates you see before you are our nation's stars. Their commitment and courage are unique. They are an asset to the kingdom."

Once again the crowd went wild. The girl next to Vienna put her hands on her hips and raised her nose even higher into the air as if the crowd was cheering especially for her.

The queen was waiting for the applause to die down. "We know that this tradition is borne from hardship. Every year, we gather to remember the famine." 

Most of the villagers bowed their heads.

"We gather to remember the time when there were no harvests and when the drought cost us our crops and our livestock. We remember those we lost." The queen then bowed her head as well. After a couple of minutes, she continued. "And to honor them, we honor the inter-dependency relationship between the royal family and the loyal citizens of the kingdom."

Interdependency relationship... Vienna put the words of the queen in her mind to reflect on it later. 

The queen raised her eyes again. "Every spring, at the time of rebirth, one of our young maidens during the ceremony, gives her life to the royal family. She leaves the old ways behind and is born afresh. Her new life begins and ends with my family, and we promise to hold her in honor and celebrate her sacrifice."

Vienna waited for the queen to be more explicit about what exactly happened to the chosen girl, but the queen did not elaborate.

The queen continued. "In return, we bequeath upon the kingdom the gifts of grain and crops, enough to enhance what you have worked so hard to build, enough to bring new life forth to nurture our nation." The queen then clasped her hands together. "The gods have been particularly generous with us this year. Therefore, your prize is plentiful."

She signaled behind her, and guards began wheeling out large wagons laden with sacks of grain and seed. Row after row of the offerings was displayed for the villagers, who made ooh and aah noises, every time the guards brought out something else.

"We have been blessed with an abundance of livestock, too, this year. Truly the gods also favor our union," the queen said. 

The guards then brought out pairs of animals like goats, cows, horses, and pigs. The villagers kept on cheering and clapping as the animals were paraded through the square and led out through the other side.

The queen raised her chin, watching as the villagers listened, transfixed. "My family has another gift for you, the gift of jewels." She then continued, "These riches will keep you and protect you and other generations for years to come. Bring them out," she ordered the guards.

Two guards carried a table outside, while the other one arranged several large decorative boxes on top. He opened them and held up the largest rubies, emeralds, and sapphires that Vienna had ever seen. They were the size of small stones and glinted in the sunlight. 

Left really stunned, the villagers clasped their hands together, as if in silent prayer. Someone in the crowd started weeping.

Vienna leaned in closer to the tall girl standing next to her. "Is this a particularly generous year?"

The girl's eyes shone. "The royals are always good to us, but yes, this is the largest offering so far. They have never given us jewels before, at least not that I have heard of."

The girl paused for a moment thinking it through. "The gods show us a favor. Things have changed. Perhaps it means that... It could not." Brow furrowed she looked quickly at the other girls. "Could it...?"

"Could it what?"  Vienna questioned her.

The girl looked up at the sky. "Perhaps the prince is ready to be married." She turned to Vienna, two spots of color developing on her cheeks. "Perhaps to one of us," the girl shared. 

"Now, hold on," Vienna said to the girl. "Ready to get married? But I am barely eighteen!"

"I would not worry about that if I were you." The girl looked Vienna up and down, a couple of times. "You do not have the right attitude, and if you ask me, that dress is a bit desperate looking." She then promptly turned away and began chattering excitedly to the girl on the other side.

A/N: To be continued...