Chapter 36 #2
Father stood at the table and waited while Spencer and I turned and knelt to offer our respects.
Father bowed his head and started whispering his prayer.
We wouldn’t be allowed to know what he said, but it’s meant to be a prayer to ask for Mother’s blessing from the beyond.
Once he was done, his head rose, and I could see tears threatening to spill.
We made eye contact, and smiled, realizing we both shared the wish that she was here with us.
One tear dropped from his eye and landed on what was about to be my crown.
When that tear landed, a small light flashed for a moment, a glow.
Mother’s blessing, I knew instinctively.
Then Father moved around the table to hand the items to us.
The crowns were placed on us first. My crown, then Spencer’s, to show that I was the one that inherited the throne by birth, while Spencer was the one to stand by my side and support me.
These crowns were the heaviest and most intricate in the royal treasury, crafted to complement one another.
Both were lined with rich blue velvet, their weighty golden filigree wrapping around the head in delicate, ornate patterns.
Gems in every color of the rainbow adorned the filigree, catching the light with each movement.
My crown was delicate, its design reminiscent of rose petals poised to bloom.
Spencer’s, more angular and square, reflected masculine strength but was no less dazzling, with gems intricately encrusted throughout.
Father carefully carried my crown over and held it over my head.
“By the grace of the gods and the will of the people, I hereby crown you, Lyla, Queen of Elthas, to rule with wisdom, strength, and compassion. May your reign bring peace and prosperity to this land, and may you always uphold the dignity and honor of the crown. With this coronation, you are not only our sovereign, but the heart of our kingdom. Long may you reign. ”
He nearly shouted the last sentence, and the crowd behind us shouted it back to us. Father and I shared a smile as he placed it on my head.
He returned to the table, took Spencer’s crown, and repeated the statement for him, “By the grace of the gods and the will of the people, I hereby crown you, Spencer, King Consort of Elthas, to rule with wisdom, strength, and compassion. May your reign bring peace and prosperity to this land, and may you always uphold the dignity and honor of the crown. With this coronation, you are not only our sovereign, but the heart of our kingdom. Long may you reign.”
The crowd echoed his statement once more.
Father turned and grabbed the scepter and sword.
He handed them to us without fanfare. We stood as we accepted them, then turned to face the crowd, the newly crowned queen and king of these people.
We held our hands, while Spencer held his sword in his outside hand, and I held the scepter.
I made the speech to formally accept the role.
“May we forever serve you with the dignity and honor befitting the trust you bestow upon us. May we reflect the grace and wisdom you bestow upon us as your representatives. May Elthas endure through the ages, remembered for an era of prosperity, peace, and humility. I vow to be the queen you deserve, and that Spencer shall be the king this kingdom requires. Together, we shall lead with strength and compassion, for the future of our land.”
The crowd erupted in another set of thunderous applause and cheers.
Once quieted down, I called Father to us.
He expertly moved around Spencer and knelt on the stairs before us.
I thanked him for the decades of service that he provided our kingdom and wished him a long and happy retirement.
I then blessed him with my scepter while naming him King Emeritus and Lord Regent.
The crowd once again cheered for him, as he bowed and accepted his new titles.
Amyra and Ethan moved to join us, to walk behind us as we walked down the aisle and out of the temple.
Once outside the temple, we met the crowd of people who couldn’t be inside.
They cheered thunderously when they saw us in our crowns.
Spencer had sheathed the sword, but the scepter had no convenient way to carry it.
I met Amyra’s eyes, quietly beckoning her to my side, even though I couldn’t take her hand.
We reached the top of the stairs leading to the square where people were gathered.
I noticed the uniformed guards sprinkled through the crowd and along the fringes.
They were the only ones not openly cheering, but I could still sense their excitement, even if they couldn’t display it while in uniform.
I hoped I could be the ruler these people needed me to be.
A formal announcement declared Spencer and I crowned, and our marriage union to include Spencer, Amyra, and me.
The crowd cheered as if that was completely expected.
We all grinned, waving to the crowd. After a few moments, a royal guard instructed us to step back from the steps and guided to the underground tunnels to return to the castle.
We had only barely enough time to get back to the castle and get ready for the reception later today.