Uncrowned Queen: The Northern Wilderness

Chapter 3: Coronation

Chapter 3: Coronation

Third Person’s POV

The nine days and nine nights of deep mourning submerged the whole of Regin in a silent gloom of isolation from any sound, but time did not wait for anyone.

 It does not care about the feelings of those that have lost someone dear to them. A month quickly and quietly passed since the death of the king, and the officials of the kingdom are already asking for the royal family for the next ruler of the throne.

They need a new ruler to stabilize the silent panic that runs throughout the lands of Regin.

In the grand hall at the center of the royal palace, a couple of dozens of officials and aristocrats, as well as the important generals of the kingdom are currently convening to discuss the issue of the crown and the planned early coronation of the crown princess.

“Isn’t it a bit ridiculous to give the throne to the crown princess? She is just a 16 year old kid.”

A grumpy-looking viscount said plainly, thought there is a hidden derision on his tone. He is clearly mocking the incredulity of a child being a ruler of 500 year old kingdom.

“What do you mean by that? Are you implying that the throne should be given to someone else? Are you stupid or just a plain i***t?”

The eastern general, Kiros grumbled coldly while glaring at that viscount who is now looking extremely ugly because of the unabashed insults aimed at him.

He can still be considered in a high enough position as a noble, but he had just been insulted right into his face, so he could not help but to only grit his teeth in fury. It’s shameful but he doesn’t have the ability to face the horrifying murderous intent coming from the battle-hardened eastern general.

“You do not have to insult anyone general Kiros, it is just really too early for the crown princess to inherit the crown.”

Duke Lain, a far-off cousin of the late king calmly uttered in the hall, and those officials with good relationship with him nodded in agreement like it is just right.

General Kiros shook his head and sneered in sarcasm. How could he not know the real intention behind those seemingly righteous words of the duke? He must have the ridiculous idea of having his son fight for the right to the throne. There are truly greedy snakes that want to take a bite even if it’s more than they can chew.

“The rules of the Regin kingdom clearly states that only the first born child of the king and queen can inherit the throne, and no one can change that.”

An old official that has been serving the kingdom since the rule of the sixth king muttered in a firm unmovable tone. The rest of the officials and important nobles quieted down. This old official holds a high position in the hearts of all the scholars in the kingdom, because he is the famous tutor of the late king. His knowledge and experience surpasses them in every way.

“We should not debate about the coronation of the crown princess because it will not be changed, and inform the whole kingdom that the coronation will be in three months’ time.”

The old official did not bother with the hateful looks of the other nobles, and just laid down the time of the coronation without even asking them because he has enough authority to do so.

There are many that want to rebuke but they tamped down their inner thoughts, and reluctantly relayed the information to their subordinates to organize the coronation day.

At the queen’s palace, a dozen or so palace maids are attending to the frail and pale-looking queen that is currently bedridden. Losing her beloved man is really a heavy enough blow to weaken her stable mind.

“My queen, the crown princess is outside and she wants to see you.”

A middle-aged palace maid softly whispered to the dazed queen. She has been serving by the side of Queen Aria since they were still teenagers, and she is the most trusted servant of the queen.

Queen Aria lightly nodded her head, restoring the focus on her eyes by hearing that her daughter is just outside her chamber.

A soft creak sounded in the quiet atmosphere in the chamber, and the figure of the beautiful crown princess Nem entered slowly.

Nem’s lost expression is no less than the queen, but she still tried to firm her resolve because she knows that the responsibility of the crown will soon bear its full harsh weight on her slim and fair shoulders.

“Royal mother...”

Nem’s melodious voice and the powerful will behind it put a smile on the queen’s tired face. Her daughter did not disappoint her. She already knows to put aside her personal feelings for the greater good of the citizens.

“Do not falter my child, this is just the beginning of your path, and there are always thorns that will try to block your way.”

The queen’s stern advice reached Nem’s ears, but it is hard for her to understand the kind of thorns that is implied. Nem just nodded to reassure her mother as she stood next to her bedside, and holds her slightly cold hands to warm it up in hers.

The queen lovingly smiled and gently squeezed Nem’s soft hands to somehow encourage her.

“Stand with pride my child…there are no rulers born with crooked shoulders.”

The queen gently caressed Nem’s right cheek, and it is the sign of her expectation and care for her child.

“Do not worry mother…I will…”

Nem’s voice slightly quivered but she immediately resisted the urge to cry.

Three months passed by in the blink of an eye and the day of the coronation gathered the thousands of citizens of the capital and even those from the far-away secondary cities and provinces.

The whole of the capital city is in a very celebratory mood, a huge contrast to the gloom of the past four months since the king died of unknown ailment.

The marbled floor of the central square inside the royal palace is currently sparkling clean, and is filled with hundreds of stone tables and chairs for all the officials, nobles and guest officials from all over the kingdom.

There are also a dozen or so luxurious seats in front of the 100 meter wide blue marbled platform where the coronation will take place. These seats are for the important guests from the different overlords of the origin continent that will come. It is only if they decide to come.

The celebratory designs of the venue is composed of snow worm silk from the northern wilderness, pearls from the southwestern seas and exotic pelts from the endless western prairie.

It could be seen from just the utensils and wares on the hundreds of tables on the 1000 meter wide central square that the treasury of the Regin kingdom runs deeper than the relationships found in the royal palace.

An hour before the coronation, a huge swarm of guests, nobles and commoners alike entered the central square with the organize guidance of the armored royal guards.

The surge of people only resided when there is only a little to ten minutes before the scheduled time of the coronation.

Drum beats sounded in the whole central square that quieted down the buzz of whispers from all over.

A fair good-looking young man in scholar robes ascended the stairs to stand in the blue marbled platform. He is the current royal advisor of the crown, Agiel of Regin.

He cleared his throat and looked at the huge crowd of thousands of people that is looking up to him. The feeling gave him a rush of ecstasy from every fiber of his being.

“With the passing of king Nurim…may his soul rest in peace…the whole of Regin is plunged in chaos with the lack of a ruler, and that is why the higher officials decided for the early coronation of her highness, the crown princess Nem.”

The words that left Agiel’s lips brought for contrasting feelings to the whole crowd.

“Let us all welcome, the crown princess, Nem Asteria of Regin.”

Agiel’s words carried hints of respect as he bowed his head in the direction of the giant door of the royal palace that is slowly being opened by two royal guards.

The stunning figure of Nem flitted past the door and enters the eyes of everyone. They all reflexively kneeled in respect at her direction.

Nem is wearing a golden gown designed meticulously with the embroidered mark of the Regin kingdom, the ethereal mark of the always changing, twisting but undying flame.

The ephemeral beauty of her forest green eyes contrasting with her scarlet blood hair and her pale-white skin seems the descent of a fey from the immortal mountains of the legends.

Her firm and stable steps led her onto the center of the blue marbled platform, and in front of her laid in a simple jade table is the pure-looking white transparent crown for the born queens of Regin made of 1000 year old meteor core.

“Bow to the ancestors…”

“Bow to the people…”

Nem Asteria proceeded with the ritual of the coronation as the people look on with hope in their glimmering eyes.

“I, Nem Asteria of Regin, take the oath of the undying flame…to be the never-ending light of Regin for years to come.”

Solemn words along with her trembling hands, Nem lifted the crown and placed it on her head, along with the weight of the life of the tens of thousands of people that it holds.