Regina’s coronation happened right on schedule, in a large courtyard in the center of the city of Cera that had been cleared for the occasion. It was the best compromise she could come up with for the location. Using Kiara’s throne room felt wrong, she definitely didn’t want to use any of the local gods’ temples, even Alianais, and there was no church from her old world left even if she’d wanted to use one.
Regina still kept another tradition related to that, though. It was common around these parts for the ruler to spend the night before their coronation in seclusion, in prayer. She thought it might actually be based on an older tradition, since she vaguely recalled something like that from her own time. Regina might not consider herself religious and she had no idea if she had been. She had the most knowledge of Catholic Christianity, which made sense given the locations she knew she’d been born and lived. But it was also just as likely that she’d been more-or-less raised in that religion only to leave the Church as an adult, something she also knew was pretty common at the time; or she might have been agnostic or atheist to start with.
So, she didn’t really consider it a big deal, even if she put a cursory effort in. The Delvers would probably appreciate her using her, or an, old religion rather than the current one, if nothing else. They’d cleared a small stone building and she had put up a small cross, leaning it against the stone. Most of the time, she sat cross-legged on a rug in front of it and tried to meditate. She’d mumbled the Lord’s prayer a few times more to have something to say, and to hear, than with any conviction. Trying to get it right in every language she knew was an interesting challenge, at least. She already knew the Latin version along with Global and Standard German but had to make up most of the rest.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Regina was tired enough, and maybe just calm enough, to actually start trying to do this in earnest. She prayed quietly, but wasn’t able to shake off the awkwardness. Instead, she focused on the world she’d left behind and then tried to evaluate her plans for the future. The rest of the night, she spent thinking of nothing in particular, letting the hours slip away as she meditated.
Then she was finally picked up by some of her people, pretty much a cross-section of those who’d be part of the new Empire. They ducked into another building on the way to get her ready and looking her best. Regina appreciated the strong tea made of some plant she was sure had to contain caffeine, while Ira helped get her dressed and ready.
She didn’t particularly like dresses normally, but the one they’d picked out for the occasion was quite nice. It was heavy, embroidered with gold and some small gems, but it was winter, so combined with the equally new coronation mantle of a cloak she would wear over it she should be just warm enough. The deep royal blue color with accents of purple worked nicely, and somehow went well with the hairdo Ira worked on, which also included pearls and small diamonds (artificially created, of course).
Once she and her companions were sufficiently coiffed, they set out again. Regina was riding a horse because she wanted to see her surroundings and it would have felt weird to ride a drone, but Kiara had gifted her an old warhorse who was used to crowds and noise. It also conveyed the proper image as they arrived.
Once there, she dismounted, handed the reins to a drone, and walked up the dais they’d set up. There was a throne prepared at the back just in case, but it would probably not get used; she didn’t want to have a formal enthronement, but formal acclamation. Instead, she focused on the people standing in the center. Galatea was talking to the high priest of Alianais, the same one who’d officiated Kiara’s coronation. As Regina reached them, the sounds from the surrounding crowd quieted, a hush falling over the square. People were pressing in from all sides, and even the sectioned-off parts where officials and envoys were waiting looked quite full. Regina was almost glad her night of contemplation had spared her from the worst of setting all this up.
They only waited for a minute before she nodded at them and they started the actual ceremony. It was pieced together from several traditions and she’d decided to keep it short, but she’d also planned a speech for later, along with the celebrations that were going to last into the night.
After calling everyone to order and a few introductory, ritualistic statements, they started with her swearing her oaths of office. It wasn’t quite that, of course, but that was close enough. It was the part she most wanted to keep as a prototype for any potential future such ceremonies.
“Who are you that comes before the people?” the priest asked, an old and traditional call; a reference to coming before the gods was more common, but she preferred this phrasing.
“Regina Louise Elizabeth Aneta von Woltan of the Starlit Hive, Doctor and Hive Queen,” she answered, giving her full name and titles.
The priest nodded and handed a book to Galatea, who held it out. Regina laid one hand on it and raised the other.
“Regina von Woltan, do you solemnly swear to protect the people of the Empire of Central Europe, keeping them safe from enemies both internal and external and guarding their rights and freedom?”
“I do so swear.”
“Do you solemnly swear to rule wisely and justly to the best of your ability, exercising your best judgment?”
“I do so swear.”
“Do you solemnly swear to judge disputes and trials fairly and execute royal judgment tempered by mercy?”
“I do so swear.”
“Do you also swear to hold the good of the Empire and the well-being of your subjects as the ultimate ideal of all your decisions and to pronounce laws in accordance with this good?”
“I do so swear, from now until the end of my days, so help me God,” she finished.
Galatea lowered the book, smiling at her, and Regina lowered her hand with a feeling of relief. She fully intended to keep all of these oaths, of course, but there was a finality to having this part be over.
She turned a bit to see the crown brought out. It would have probably looked familiar to anyone from her old nation, a large construction of gold studded with gems, with golden plates forming the sides of an octagon. She had left off any images and the cross, of course, but otherwise it was a deliberate allusion to the Imperial crown of the HRE. Which probably still meant very few people got it.
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The assembled officiants and then the people around them started a chant, but Regina was too focused on the insignia to try and make out every word. They were overlapping, several religious groups using their own and several of the Delvers had apparently badgered Galatea into scouring her database for the actual medieval acclamation and were trying that. It was better than sitting through a church service, at least.
They trailed off as the priest stepped forward, carrying an elaborate metal container containing oils that had been blessed in the temple of every major faith represented in the kingdoms. He dipped his fingers in and anointed her on the head, tickling her forehead, then after she bowed her head and turned slightly on her neck, then the base of her shoulders, chanting a prayer all the while. Regina focused on the cold trickling sensation.
Then she straightened up, just in time to have the coronation mantle draped over her by Tim, Kiara and the Nerlian prince Raymond.
Galatea stepped up, holding a golden ring with the eagle sigil she had chosen, and smiled at her as if they weren’t being watched by thousands of people as she continued with the next part of the ritual. “Receive this ring of royal dignity, given to rule and govern.”
The priest of Alianais took a sword with a golden hilt set with gemstones in a gold-plated sheath from Max, turning to present it to her and the onlookers. “Receive now this sword at the hands of us priests and faithful, who though unworthy pray for the grace of all the divine to descend on you and us your people through you. Receive this imperial sword for vindication over evil.”
Regina closed her newly-beringed hand on it as he strapped it to her waist, then drew it out carefully once, noting the sharp steel, and sheathed it again, to scattered cheers from the onlookers.
They stepped up and Galatea lifted the crown from its cushion. “Receive the crown of the Empire …”
Regina felt her place it on her bowed head. The thing was heavy. She straightened up and turned to face her people, feeling the power of the moment.
Then the second part of the chants, the acclamation, started. The priest started, “Hear, o gods, …”
Before quite finishing, it went around the rest of those involved, with the other nobles and onlookers slowly joining in, “Long life and health,”
“Solemnly bless, we ask you,”
“That crowned by the gods, the great king,”
“Let it be done,”
“Empress of the Franks, Germans, Cernlians and Nerlians,”
“Empress of the Romans,”
— Regina was going to talk to Galatea about that later, she did not know she would do that — but if she wanted to give her the title used by the Holy Roman Emperors to make a point she could only appreciate it; it wasn’t like there were actual Romans left or anyone with more claim to use the name than her, Galatea had even technically been born in Rome —
“Life and victory to the armies of the Empire.”
“She conquers, she reigns,”
“Queen of queens,”
Regina closed her eyes for a moment. This is enough to give anyone a god complex, the thought flickered through her mind. She was probably just tired. The diverging voices of the chant converged and she opened her eyes just in time for them to fall silent.
It was done, then.
She probably shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much.
The rest almost passed in a blur, perhaps because of the adrenaline of the moment combining with her sleepless night. She wouldn’t be holding her speech until the evening. For now, she simply departed as part of a procession. At the foot of the dais, Regina paused and ritually swore to protect the people once more; the words had trouble sticking in her consciousness, but she must have done everything correctly, she’d memorized them until she could see the page they’d been written on in her dreams.
They went back to the royal palace, which was only a few hundred meters from this square, where a banquet to celebrate the occasion had been prepared. Regina had to stifle a yawn several times, but she did her best to enjoy the party, and getting some hydration and food seemed to improve her concentration. The palace staff had made delicacies from several countries and Regina gladly tried most of them out, once more thankful that she didn’t have to worry about what she could eat. She also talked to Janis, who was given a seat of honor on her right, Kiara, and the others. The Nerlian king was apparently unable to travel for health reasons — she made a mental note to visit and try to cure him, but it might just be an excuse so she would have to be careful — and had sent Prince Raymond again, who was sat beside Kiara. He seemed to enjoy talking to her, June and Janis about their reforms and technological updates as well as magical progress, which gave Regina some time to eat and reflect when she wanted it.
It also gave her the chance to check in with her hive. A lot of drones, particularly the senior leadership, had gone with her. Regina hadn’t wanted to move the date, but the war against the gnomes was in a slightly delicate situation. It was going well, by and large, but the hive had been pushing deeper into their territory, by now, and they’d reached the real core of the Confederation, not just outlying villages. There were several cities strategically close, one in particular they would pretty much have to take. Of course, the gnomes knew that too, and they’d obviously worked hard on fortifying and defending them.
At least they were no longer a direct threat to the hive itself. The front was too far inside their own territory. Regina was already thinking about expeditions through the Alps. It wouldn’t be easy, considering that was still largely high-level-monster territory, but she had the opportunity now. The gnomes probably knew the best ways through and they’d already found a few tunnels, but even without their cooperation it should certainly be doable.
“You said Rome is gone, right?” Regina asked Galatea, reminded of the ceremony just now.
The old AI was sitting a few places down, but Janis between them had just moved, so they could talk easily. “Yes, as buried as Anberg and all the rest,” she confirmed. “Why, did you want to see the sights?”
“That would have been nice, but I suppose I’ll live,” Regina said drily. She paused, regarded her friend for a moment, then spoke up hesitantly. “Thank you, Galatea.”
Galatea just nodded. “You’re the best person I could imagine as a ruler, but don’t take this for approval of monarchy as a concept. I still prefer democracy.”
Regina laughed. It wasn’t really funny, but she kind of felt like she needed it. “I suppose I do, too. At least in principle.”
“It’s different when it’s you in power, isn’t it?” Galatea asked, raising an eyebrow. Her tone was rather sardonic.
Regina shrugged and smiled lopsidedly. “What would be the less hypocritical answer here? Hey, you could probably set up your own kingdom.”
“As if I’d bother. The smart ones here, like Madris and I, will leave that to suckers like you.”
Regina smiled and glanced around the table. What does it say that like half of my inner circle either is or could be a queen if they wanted? Just trying to imagine what Madris might misuse her power for if she wanted political power was scary. Suddenly, Regina wondered if the dark elves might not actually be glad to have her away from their Eternal Dark. Although the thought was harder to hold on to as she watched her teacher try and then spit out some brew another Delver had offered her, then start play-wrestling with Owin.
On the other hand, nations weren’t held together with personal strength, even in a world with the System. That was why the pageantry and symbolic gestures today had been so important. Regina glanced around again, glad that everyone was having fun, then turned her thoughts to the speech she had prepared. She was going to play it relatively safe, just assure the people of her protection and so on, and talk about her principles and ideals for the Empire.
Then, the final document of the constitution would officially be signed in another small ceremony.