198 The Coronation
Everard and the others who were with him during the parade arrived at the Great Hall just in time. There was only five minutes left until the coronation ceremony began.
Thus, as soon as the carriages reached in front of the main door of the Great Hall, a squad of soldiers who were just below the rank of the royal guards spread out around the area to protect Everard from any unnecessary attempts at interaction from the citizens.
When the perimeter was secured, the royal guards then marched inside the hall while creating a passage for the King to reach the altar.
Even though the hall was filled with thousands of people, not a single one of them were uttering a single word. Instead of the chattering sounds that were floating in the hall just a few minutes ago, the hall was now filled with soft music from several instruments.
Everard stood at the foot of the steps of the Great Hall and looked at the huge door.
“Don’t tell me you are getting cold feet now,” Alexander stood behind his friend and said in a whisper.
Everard was pumped up by all the cheering he received on the way to the hall. His confidence had been filled to the brim. Thus, he smirked and replied to his friend, “Oh, I am ready, Alex. I was just admiring my last few seconds as the Crown Prince of this Kingdom.”
Alexander was happy at to see the confidence of his friend. His upright posture and the tone of his voice proved that he was saying the truth. “Okay then.” He glanced at Jerome, who was standing a few feet away from him and then said to Everard, “I guess I am entering the hall through the back door. So, all the best, Eve.”
“Thank you! I will see you up there,” Everard replied to his friend. Without turning behind, Everard climbed up the stairs like a true King.
.....
When the guards at the door saw Everard heading towards the door, one of them shouted at the top of their lungs, “Attention! The Crown Prince of Xanmar, Everard Crestfire, the firstborn son of the late King Alfred Crestfire is entering the hall.”
All the royal guards who were making a path for Everard saluted the moment the announcement was made.
The commoners eagerly craned their necks and looked towards the door to get a glimpse of their new ruler. They were going to proudly tell the story of this historic day to their family and their children. And catching a glimpse of their new King was a must to make their visit worthwhile.
Everard looked around the hall with his eager-looking eyes. Thousands of eyes were on him. He could feel that they were looking at him as a hope for the same, if not a better future than they already had. He could feel his shoulders getting heavy with each step he took toward the altar.
‘So, this is how it feels to be the King...’ he thought to himself, his eyes now fixated on the altar at the center of the grand hall.
He saw Alexander and Jerome climbing the altar with haste. He also saw the alphas of all the clans already standing there and looking at him. Some of them, like Romulus, looked happy; some had no expression at all; while some were almost glaring at him as if they were warning him that they had their eyes on him.
Everard didn’t give much attention to the alphas. He averted his gaze from them and looked at the tall and glorious figure of the Moon Goddess that stood right behind the altar.
She was depicted as a beautiful woman with floating hair, a soft gaze, and a mysterious smile. The index finger of her left hand was pointing up at the sky; a small broken chain was hanging down from that finger. Her right palm was resting in front of her stomach; this palm was holding a full moon.
Everard now understood each and every message the Moon Goddess’ sculpture was trying to send.
‘For all this time, everything was right in front of my eyes!’ he thought.
The High Priest gestured for Everard to kneel down in front of the Moon Goddess.
Everard did as he was asked.
The High Priest then addressed the crowd, “Today, at this auspicious time, we are going to crown a new King. He is the one and only heir of our late King. And I can attest to the fact that he possesses all the skills and knowledge required to rule this Kingdom, and ultimately, keep on maintaining the peace and prosperity that our late King has given us. Now, you all shall witness the coronation of our new King.”
While the priest began performing the necessary ceremony, Everard looked up at the Moon Goddess and prayed silently, ‘I am grateful towards you for bestowing me with this great power. Thank you for seeing me as someone worthy of this power. Please keep on looking after me even in the future. I will be in your care.’
Everard closed his eyes when the High Priest stood in front of him and chanted something while placing his hand on Everard’s head.
After the incantations were complete, the High Priest gestured for his apprentice to bring forth the crown. He then gestured at Jerome to step forward and do the honors.
Jerome came forward and took the crown in his hand, the same crown that his late alpha used to wear. He took a deep breath and put a smile on his face. He shifted his gaze from the crown to Everard. He saw the image of his late King in Everard, and he hoped that Everard would do justice to the crown.
Jerome put the crown on Everard’s head.
The moment the cold crown touched his head, Everard felt this overwhelming emotion. However, unlike how he had been paranoid for these past weeks, this time, he felt a great sense of pleasure upon bearing the weight of the crown.
“I hope that you will carry your father’s legacy forward, my King,” Jerome whispered to the new King, to the person he was going to follow from now on.
Everard got up on his feet and gave a wide smile to Jerome. “I will try to do justice to my father’s name,” he replied.
“I’m sure you will.” Jerome smiled back at the King. He then looked at the crowd and announced at the top of his lungs, “All hail the King!”
The silent crowd suddenly erupted in celebration of the new King.
Everard had never thought that he would witness so many people cheering for him. He proudly smiled and waved at the crowd that came to witness his coronation from far and wide.
After a while, he turned to look at his friend.
Alexander looked happier than Everard himself. He gave a low bow to his friend, the new King of Xanmar.
Everard also turned his gaze at the alphas.
They all gave a low bow to him.
Everard proudly smiled at them and turned back to wave at the crowd that was still cheering for him.
“I thank you all for coming all the way here to show your support. Let the new era begin,” he shouted at the crowd, making them cheer even louder.
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