Chapter 74 - Royal (Part 2)

  he entrance, a group of knights stood at attention, their armleaming in the soft light. Despite their stoic expressions, they too couldn't help but specute in hushed tones.

  "Stand straight," hissed a senior knight to his younger rade. "Whatever's happening, we o be ready."

  "Yes, sir," the younger knight replied, adjusting his posture. "But... do you have any idea what's going on?"

  The senior knight's eyes narrowed. "I've heard rumors. Some say it's about the traitor, others think it's about war. All I know is, something big is ing."

  A holy knight, his white armor adorned with religious symbols, leaned in. "Whatever it is, may the gods guide us through it."

  As the versations tio swirl throughout the hall, the tension in the air grew thicker. Nobles debated politid succession, oners worried about their daily lives, clergy prayed for diviervention, servants gossiped about secrets overheard, and knights prepared for whatever challenge might arise. The grand ation Hall, usually a pce of ceremony and tradition, had bee a cauldron of specution and ay, all waiting for the moment wherue purpose of this extraordinary gathering would be revealed.

  As the first light of dawhrough the windows of the Royal ation Hall, a hush fell over the crowd as the royal family members were escorted in. Their appearance was a stark trast to their ret impriso, each adorned in finery befitting their status, though their faces betrayed a mix of fusion and apprehension.

  Lady Aeliana Emberheart entered first, her emerald gown shimmering as she walked. Behind her came Prince Baelor, his young face set in a determined frown. Princesses Arabel, Seraphina, and Astrid followed, their matg silk dresses rustling softly as they moved.

  Princess Lilith De Lyria Von Draken Mistglen De Zorathian strode i, her regal bearing at odds with the uainty in her eyes. Her sons, Princes Fenris, Eamon, and Idris, fnked her, their ornate doublets gleaming in the early m light.

  Queen Daleyza Limonizer De a Domiered with her children, Princess Isabel and Priarian. The queen's golden gown seemed to catch every ray of light, while her children's attire plemented her own in shades of amber and bronze.

  Lady Zephyra Skywhisper glided in, her silver-blue gown flowing like water. Her sons, Princes Galen, Arid Lu, followed closely, their matg azure tunics a testament to their mother's house.

  Lastly, Lady Lily Furia entered alone, her crimson dress a stark trast to the others, her childless status apparent in her solitary entrance.

  As they were led to their designated pces, whispers of fusion rippled through the royal group. Prince Baelor leaowards his mother, his voice barely audible. "Mother, what is happening? Why have we been brought here after our impriso?"

  Lady Aeliana shook her head slightly, her eyes darting around the hall. "I know not, my son. We must remain vigint."

  Princess Lilith's eldest, Prince Fenris, ched his fists at his sides. "This must be some sort of trick. We should demand answers!"

  His mother pced a calming hand on his arm. "Patience, Fenris. We are surrounded by knights. We must not act rashly."

  Ihe royal family was closely guarded by a ti of knights, their armleaming and their expressions stoic. These warriors had been given explicit orders to prevent any outbursts or attempts to flee.

  Queen Daleyza whispered to her children, "Isabel, Tarian, stay close. Something momentous is about to occur, though I know not what."

  Lady Zephyra's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the hall. "My sons," she murmured, "be prepared for anything. This gathering is most unusual."

  As the royal family settled into their positions, the tension in the air alpable. They stood, resple in their finery yet clearly ill at ease, a stark reminder of the precarious nature of power and the swiftness with which fortunes ge. The knights remained vigint, their presence a clear warning against any rash as, as the assembled crowd waited with bated breath for the a this unfolding drama.

  The grand ation Hall fell into an expet hush as the herald, ceremonial robes of deep crimson and gold, stepped forward onto the raised ptform. His voice rang out with practiced authority, eg through the cavernous space.

  "Presenting Her Highness, Princess Luxana Zen Inara De a Mera Domino, the Twelfth Princess of Domino!"

  The massive double doors at the far end of the hall groaned open with deliberate grandeur, revealing Luxana standing at the threshold. The crowd collectively inhaled as her figure came into view, a vision of anding elegand regal power.

  Luxana began her walk down the aisle with unshakable fidence. Her gown was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, woven from fabrics that seemed to defy reality. The base was a deep bck, shimmering with an almost liquid sheen that caught the light like obsidian under a full moon. Crimson ats ran like veins of molten va along the bodid skirt, creating an intricate design of fmes that licked upward toward her shoulders. The nee was dari sophisticated, plunging slightly to reveal a silver pendant shaped like a phoenix rising from ashes. The sleeves were fitted at the top but fred dramatically at the wrists, trailing behind her like smoke in her wake.

  The skirt flowed to the floor in yers of casg silk a, each step revealing glimpses of an inner lining embroidered with fiery red and gold threads. A subtle slit on one side allowed her movements to remain fluid and graceful while hinting at strength beh her poise. Her train stretched several feet behind her, carried by two young attendants dressed in simple white robes, their heads bowed in reverence.

  Her hair, once bright e like a bzing fme, now gleamed like obsidian stone uhe soft glow of the deliers. It was styled in an intricate updo adorned with delicate bd ruby hairpins shaped like falling embers. Her eyes burned with iy—ruby red, so pierg it seemed to see through every soul in the room.

  As she moved forward, the crowd parted before her like waves yielding to a ship's prow. Nobles bowed their heads slightly; oners stared in awe; clergy members murmured prayers uheir breath. The knights statiohroughout the hall stood straighter, their armor king softly as they adjusted their stao attention.

  The raised ptform where Luxana approached was draped in crimso embroidered with silver fmes—a motif repeated throughout the hall as a symbol of reneower. The Pope from earlier stood at its ter, his expression carefully ral but his posture betraying a hint of unease. Behind him loomed ay space where a throne should have stood—a gring absehat did not escape anyone's notice.

  Luxana asded the steps leading to the ptform with measured grace. Each step she took seemed to echo louder than it should have, as though eveones beh her feet aowledged her presence. She stopped before the Pope and ined her head ever so slightly—not in defere as an aowledgment of his role in what was about to unfold.

  The hall remained silent except for the faint rustling of fabrid the occasional k of armor as everyone awaited what would e . Luxana’s presence filled every er of the room, anding attention without uttering a single word.

  The ation Hall was silent, save for the faint rustle of fabrid the soft k of polished armor. All eyes were fixed on the raised ptform at the far end of the hall, where the Pope stood, his hands csped tightly before him. The absence of a throne behind him loomed rge in everyone’s minds, a gring anomaly in a ceremony so steeped in tradition. The tension in the air alpable, thiough to weigh on every chest.

  The herald stepped forward once more, his voice ringing out with ceremonial precision. "Let it be known to all present that we now proceed to Luxana Zen Inara De a Mera Domino, Twelfth Princess of Domino, as 106th Queen of this realm."

  The crowd stirred slightly, murmurs rippling through the gathered nobles, clergy, and oners alike. But as the words settled over them, a reverent hush returned.

  The Pope raised his hand, signaling for the sacred rites to begin. Two holy knights stepped forward, carrying a golden basin filled with shimmering holy water and an ornate vial taining secrated oil. The chan to sing softly in the background—a hymn that spoke of divine favor aernal snty.

  Luxana stood at the base of the ptform, her head held high and her presenanding. Her gown seemed to e alive uhe light of the deliers—bck silk glimmering like starlit midnight, with crimson fmes embroidered along its edges that flickered as if truly afme. The long train trailed behind her like molten va, carried by her two attendants who moved with practiced grace.

  She asded the steps slowly but deliberately, her every movement exuding fidend purpose. When she reached the top, she turo face the Pope, her zir blue eyes log onto his with an iy that made him falter for just a moment.

  The Pope cleared his throat aured for Luxana to kneel before him. She did so gracefully, l herself onto a crimso cushio the ter of the ptform. The choir’s voices swelled as one of the holy knights hahe golden vial to the Pope.

  "This oil," he intoned solemnly, "is a symbol of divine blessing aernal wisdom. With it, we anoint you as ruler of this nd."

  He dipped his fingers into the oil and touched them lightly to Luxana’s forehead, her hands, and finally her heart. The crowd watched in rapt silence as this a rite unfolded before them.

  came the holy water. The sed knight stepped forward with the basin, holding it carefully as the Pope dipped a ceremonial branto its shimmerihs. He sprinkled droplets over Luxana’s head and shoulders while reg an invocation for prote and guidance.

  As he finished, atendant approached with a velvet cushion upon which rested a magnifit —crafted from gold and adorned with rubies that gleamed like captured fire. The Pope lifted it carefully and held it aloft for all to see.

  "By divine will," he procimed, his voice carrying through every er of the hall, "I thee Luxana Zen Inara De a Mera Domino—Queen of Domino!"

  With deliberate precision, he pced the upon Luxana’s head. At that moment, her hair—which had already darkened frht e to obsidian bck earlier—seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly sheen. Her zir blue eyes shifted once more into deep ruby red as if mirr the ’s jewels.

  The room erupted into appuse and cheers as trumpets bred triumphantly from every er of the hall. Nobles cpped politely but fervently; oners cheered with urained joy; clergy members bowed their heads in prayerful aowledgment.

  Luxana rose slowly from her kneeling position, now ed and radiating authority. She turoward the crowd below her and raised her slightly—a silent but powerful aowledgment of their accim.

  "As the celestial orb of day embraces the argent mistress of night, and she in turn caresses the verdant sphere we call home, I bid all those gathered in my preseo hearken. I, Luxana Zen Inara De a Mera Domino, do solemnly avow that the mantle of tyranny shall not rest upon my shoulders. Upon the sanctity of my appeltion, I pledge this sacred oath.

  My reign shall not mirror the oppressive shadow cast by former sns. For too long have our predecessors bequeathed naught but anguish, animosity, and invidious rivalry. On this most auspicious day, as I asd to the throne, we withe de of their legad the genesis of a new epoch.

  Let it be known that His former Majesty, Hades Limonizer Vernoke Domino, has departed this mortal coil. So too has Lady Vespera Thoraken leave of this earthly realm. May the divine prant them clemen the hereafter.

  As your newly anointed Queen, I vow to usher in an era of unpreted prosperity and harmony. The I bear shall be a bea of hope, not an instrument of subjugation. Together, we shall fe a kingdom where justid passin supreme, where every subject, from the peer to the humblest oner, shall find their voice heard and their worth aowledged.

  Let this ation stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of Domino and the dawn of a resple future that awaits us all."

  As Luxana cluded her speech, the hall erupted into a wave of emotion. The crowd—nobles, oners, clergy, and knights alike—responded with a collective roar of approval. The sound was deafening, eg off the grand marble walls and s up to the painted heavens of the vaulted ceiling. It was as though the very stones of the ation Hall reverberated with the energy of their cheers.

  The nobles, who had initially maintaiheir de, now cpped fervently, their jeweled hands ing together in a rhythm that spoke of cautious optimism. Whispers of admiration rippled through their ranks.

  "She speaks with such crity and strength," murmured one nobleman to his panion, his golden brooch catg the light as he leaned closer. "Perhaps she truly will be different from those who came before."

  "Indeed," replied another noblewoman, her sapphire earrings swaying as she nodded. "A bea of hope iurbulent times."

  The oners, however, were far less restraihey cheered and shouted Luxana's h unbridled enthusiasm, their voices rising in a cacophony of joy and relief. A farmer in simple linen clothes raised his calloused hands high above his head.

  "Long live Queen Luxana!" he bellowed, his voice crag with emotion. "May she bring justice to us all!"

  A mert in a modest tunic grasped his neighbor's arm tightly. "Did you hear her?" he excimed. "No more tyranny! She swore it on her name!"

  The clergy members stood in solemn aowledgment, their white robes glowing softly uhe light of the deliers. A priest csped his hands together in prayer.

  "May the gods guide her steps," he intoned quietly. "Her words carry both wisdom and vi."

  Even the knights statiohroughout the hall could not help but feel stirred by her decration. Though they remai attention, their expressiorayed a glimmer of pride and hope.

  "She has the bearing of a true ruler," one knight whispered to his rade, his gaued haing lightly on the hilt of his sword. "Perhaps this is the dawn we've been waiting for."

  To be tinued...