Today was coronation day; a few days after Princess Anastasia revealed herself as the Crown Princess of the kingdom to Duke Aruburn, her coronation was held. Nobles were invited to attend her coronation and a festival was prepared to celebrate her ascension to the throne. When she revealed herself, Duke Aruburn and Marquis Petrova sighed a relief because a legitimate successor of the late king had been found and it would make taking care of the rebels and anyone who tried to claim the throne easier.
Lucas was preparing himself in his room, he and the others wear their Imperial Guard's dress uniform for the coronation. Lucas had finished dressing up when a knock on his door was heard and a familiar sound called him.
He went to the door and opened it, he saw Bianca and the others outside his room. “Are you done?” asked Bianca.
“Yes, I guess all of you too are done.”
“Yes, Captain obvious. Let’s go.”
They walked to the throne room where the coronation will be held. A lot of people were gathered in the room already, since the coronation was held just a few days after the revelation of Princess Anastasia, not a lot of nobles and families were in the Capital. Duke Aruburn told him there will be a banquet held tonight for the small gathering of nobles here and 6 months after the coronation another banquet for the coronation will be held with all the nobles and their families.
People inside the room looked at Lucas and the others with curious looks. Clothing with fine fabrics, tidy sewing and great materials, caught their attention. Not only that, but the nobles also heard the clothing they wore was part of a military uniform. They had the same reaction as Duke Aruburn when he learned about it; fascination and awe.
“Lord Lucas and everyone, I finally found all of you.” Duke Aruburn greeted them.
“Hello, Duke,” Lucas answered and followed with the others.
“I still can’t believe such fine clothing is given to the military.”
“Our country is different, Duke. Anyway, does the Duchess and Lady Mary not make it in time?”
“No, they don’t. Ah, talking about Mary, did you receive her letter?”
“I did, your servant gave it to me. But, I apologise to you, Duke. I don’t have the time to reply to her letter.”
“I understand. I told her in my letter about you being busy because of the disappearance of the Crown Prince, but she was so stubborn and persistent.”
“I get your feeling, Your Grace.”
Duke Aruburn placed his hand on Lucas’ shoulder. “Anyway, replied to her when you are able, alright?”
“I will, Your Grace.”
“Thank you. Then, I will greet other nobles.”
Duke Aruburn left them and went to greet other nobles he knew. Duke Aruburn was a respected noble among his peers.
“Hooo… so you’re having an affair with a Lady?” Bianca said with a snark.
“Affair? As if!” retorted Lucas.
“Then, what’s the content of the letter?”
“Hmmm… Do you remember the letter you wrote for a certain Captain in the Lorien Navy?” Lucas said with a smirk.
Bianca blushed, she remembered something embarrassing. “Wh-why do you still remember that?! It was years ago!”
“Ah you do remember, then it's just like what you wrote.”
“Fine, I won’t ask more.” Bianca sounded defeated.
After a while, the ceremony began. The crowd was split in two with a path in the middle, from the door to the throne, the path was laid with red carpet. Royal Guards stood at attention, sword in hand, alongside the path on each side. Near the throne were clergymen; a bishop and priests. The Bishop would anoint the Princess and place the crown on her. This was the first time Lucas ever saw members of the church–religion–in this world. He meant to visit them in the cathedral built in the Royal Capital but had no time to do it.
A shout and sound of the trumpet announced the arrival of Princess Anastasia to the room. She went inside the room and walked down the carpet to the throne. She wore a dress with a regal robe; a purple velvet robe decorated with crown embroideries with gold threads. Her hair was beautifully styled, there was no jewellery decorating her hair. She walked gracefully through the crowds, behind Anastasia was her ladies-in-waiting. Anastasia wore emotionless expressions like always.
Everyone in the room bowed down to her as she walked past them. Lucas and the others bowed down to her as well. Anastasia sat down on the throne, she looked at everyone attending her coronation.
The bishop walked in front of her and stood there, a priest had a bowl of oil in his hand accompanying the Bishop. “By the grace of God, I bless you, Princess Anastasia, as the future Queen of Romanovia.” The Bishop anointed Anastasia with the oil.
The bishop then walked to the back of the throne, another priest came forward bringing a crown. The bishop picked up the Crown and held it just on top of Anastasia’s head. “By the will of God, I, Bishop Cicero, named you, Princess Anastasia Romanovia, daughter of King Peter Romanovia and Queen Mira,”–the Bishop placed the crown on her head–“as the Queen of Romanovia.”
Then a chorus sang a song glorifying her:
Glory to the Queen
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Our nobles and rightful Queen
Our graceful Queen, chosen to reign
We will honour your throne, your crown
Long may your reign
Glory to the Queen
As the chorus sang, the bishop then moved back to the front and gave Anastasia a regal orb and regal sceptre. After she received the regalia, she stood up. Everyone was in awe looking at her graceful figure.
After, the chorus finished singing. Anastasia spoke, “I am, Anastasia Romanovia, your Queen, Queen of Romanovia. I shall bring prosperity to this kingdom and protect this kingdom from any threat that comes this way. I am the first Queen to lead this Kingdom, Fear not, because I shall rule with wisdom and righteousness. I will not only be your Queen, but I will be your servant, to protect and serve the kingdom. Nobles and people of the Kingdom, lend me your hands, your eyes, your ears, your feet to me. Let’s bring our kingdom to the golden age.”
The nobles answered her call with shouts and cries of loyalty and glory to Anastasia.
“Glory to the Queen!”
“Long live the Queen!”
“Our Noble Queen!”
A little smile was seen on her emotionless face. She gave the regal sceptre and regal orb back to the priest. She raised her hand as if to tell the crowd to be silent. Soon after, the crowd went silent.
“My ascension to the throne was not without trouble. Traitors murdered the late Kings and tried to kill the Queen Mother and me, the heir. Fortunately, due to the loyalty of the nobles, namely Duke Aruburn and Marquis Petrova, me and Queen Mother Mira are safe. This insolence and traitorous behaviour and action done by the Aristocratic Faction shall be punished. My first decree as the Queen is to revoke all the traitorous nobles’ possession and titles and to execute the nobles and everyone involved in the rebellion. The noble’s family members who don't involve themselves in the rebellion shall be spared from execution. However, they will be exiled from this kingdom and stripped of their nobility. Duke Aruburn, come forward.”
Duke Aruburn came forward and bowed to her. “What do you need from your humble servant, Your Majesty”
“Duke Aruburn, I command you to execute those orders. You have the crown’s full authority to track and punish all the traitors.”
“I will not let you down, Your Majesty.”
Anastasia looked at the crowd. “In my rule, loyalty will be rewarded and traitors will be punished accordingly. Fret not, I won’t be a tyrant like Kings before me. Serve the kingdom and its people, that’s all I ask of all of you.”
All the nobles bowed down, acknowledging her command.
“I have been made aware of a group of foreigners who were helping Duke Aruburn on his battle on liberating the Royal Capital and on eradicating the disease plaguing the Royal Capital, as well as, saving the Queen Mother from her death. Please come forward, I shall reward all of you for your contribution.”
Lucas, Bianca, Ariana, Max and Sarah came forward, they bowed down to her before her.
“First of all, I thank all of you for your contribution and for saving my mother.”
Anastasia paused to wait for an answer from them, Bianca waited for Lucas to answer on their behalf, but there was none. Bianca took a glance at Lucas that was standing next to her. Lucas gave a sign to her telling her to answer. Bianca was bewildered, why would she be the one who should answer? Usually, the highest-ranking person in the group of foreign dignitaries would answer the question and the others would answer when asked directly. Lucas, a Commodore and the second-in-line for Duchy of Lorien was the highest out of all of them. Bianca thought he probably told her to answer the question because of Lucas' quarrel with Anastasia.
“It’s nothing to mention, Your Majesty. It was only by coincidence that we were there and were able to help.”
“I heard your predicament and shared your sentiment; No way back home and stranded in a foreign place, all of you must have felt sorrow, longing for your home. As the Queen of Romanovia, I welcome all of you to my Kingdom.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
“Now, I shall reward you for your deeds. Ariana Parmis, Max Brawn and Sarah Roseman, your contribution to the war against the rebels and disease eradication effort, I reward all of you with the title of Baron and Baroness. Alongside the title, I will give you monetary rewards as well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” the three of them answer.
“Now, Lady Bianca Lorien, your contribution to both the war effort and disease eradication was great. You saved my mother from her illness, there is nothing I can give you more than you gave to me. But, your talent and knowledge would be a waste if left unused. What do you say about serving under me?”
Bianca thought serving Anastasia would make reaching their goal easier. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Then, Lady Bianca, I gave you the territory and title of Duchy of Novgorod. You shall be known as Duchess Bianca Lorien of Novgorod, your descendants shall inherit the land and the title, and rule with compassion and wisdom."
Bianca was surprised with her decision, she thought Anastasia would give her a court position–like a Royal Doctor or something. Bianca was hesitant to accept the reward, however, when she took a glance at Lucas, he gave her a sign to go ahead and accept it.
“I-i’m most grateful for the rewards, Your Majesty. I promise to you, the House of Lorien will serve this kingdom faithfully as we have with our country.”
Duchy of Novgorod, located in the east of the Romanovia Kingdom. It was the seat of the leader of the Aristocratic Faction, Duke Jean Novgorod. He was slain in the battle outside the Royal Capital, leaving his family alone in Petersburg, the capital of the Duchy of Novgorod. Petersburg was a coastal city, located in the east of the Duchy.
With Anastasia’s order to revoke the title of all the nobles who rebelled, someone had to fill the vacancy and Anastasia trusted Bianca to lead the Duchy of Novgorod. Some nobles in the room were whispering their disapproval because of it. They questioned why the Queen would give a Duchy to a foreigner.
“My decision is final and I won’t take any complaints for it. Lady Bianca is more than capable to lead the Duchy, even this Kingdom.” As if she was able to hear the whispering, she spouted those words and in an instant, the whispers were gone.
Anastasia looked at Lucas, disgust was seen on her face. “Lord Lucas, I’ve heard of your exploits and excellent leadership in the war. I commend your achievement. However, your disgusting behaviour and insolence toward my mother shall not go unpunished. I was thinking of executing you… but, considering your achievement and your relation to Lady Bianca, I will lighten your punishment. Lucas Lorien, you are to be banished from the Royal Capital.”
Bianca, in shock, said, “Your Maj–”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Lucas cut off Bianca. “I apologise for what happened that day, but I understand your feeling. I will gladly accept your say and thank you for your compassion.”
“Go now. Guard, escort the man to leave the city, but before that, let him get his belongings first.” Anastasia ordered guards to escort him out. A couple of guards went ahead and walked toward Lucas to escort him.
Ariana, Max and Sarah's expression was in shock. Bianca and Lucas had not told them of what happened with Anastasia and Mira.
“W-what did you do?” asked Ariana.
“Bianca will explain it to you. Later guys.” Lucas walked past them and outside the room with the guards.
Bianca's face turned sour. “Ugh..”
Shortly after the coronation ended. Everyone went o the banquet hall and celebrate the Coronation. Lucas, on the other hand, was being escorted to the gates of the city.