Chapter 131: Chapter 131 - Mad Princess (Part 6)
The bells of Tricus sounded during seven successive days.
Not as a festival.
Not as a funeral.
Just as the symbol that marked the end of long-term war between Seraiya and Tricus.
The sound resonated through mountains, valleys, villages announcing the same thing to all who heard it.
It was all over.
Days went by.
Banners of Seraiya and Tricus flew side by side above governmental buildings while temporary royal administration was being set up in order to keep peace and protect civilians while future was being decided.
Lilia refused to take down old flag at once.
"This land has its own history," said she to her ministers.
"And it deserves respect."
Her first royal decree astonished all.
But no need to confiscate any homes.
No need to seize any farms.
And no families should lose anything due to the war.
Royal granaries of Seraiya were open for the people who had lost their sons, fathers and relatives to the war.
Food caravans marched along western roads every morning.
Royal healers created free clinics for soldiers in every big town.
Engineers repaired bridges before starting to rebuild military fortresses for Tricus.
Arthur watched the endless lines of workers.
"Our first priority is not castles."
"It’s people."
Lilia agreed.
"A kingdom is not a stone hut."
"It’s those who live in it."
The people of Tricus had severe punishments.
Royal Knights who had destroyed their buildings and houses.
And they were seen repairing wells instead.
Royal Mages were restoring damaged water channels.
Wyverns were transporting timber to isolated mountain villages where roads had fallen.
Children who had died had their tombs.
In Seraiya, one little girl pointed at the sky.
"The dragons..."
Her grandfather smiled.
"They help."
"No..."
"They protect."
High above, hundreds of wyverns silently flew across clouds, guarding caravans and travelers equally.
Queen Celestine’s condition was gradually improving.
Despite the grief she kept in her heart, she took satisfaction in the sight of her daughter returning safely.
Arthur returned to his duties as Royal Hand.
Lucas organized Royal Knights, welcoming volunteers from other kingdoms who wanted to protect civilians together.
Old rivalries disappeared quickly.
But first steps were made.
Meanwhile...
Tales about Lilia circulated much quicker than any messenger.
Each merchant told another version.
Each bard sang another song.
Each village remembered another queen.
In a coastal tavern, an old sailor lifted his mug.
"They say she controls hundreds of wyverns with just one word."
His friend laughed.
"I heard that they kneel before her."
A merchant who passed by smiled.
"I have seen it myself."
"They obeyed her since they trusted her."
In far north, an old scholar wrote new entries to Royal Chronicle.
He dipped his pen into black ink.
Then stopped.
"What shall we call her in history?"
His apprentice shrugged his shoulders.
"The people already have."
The scholar smiled.
"Too many names."
Among the knights of Seraiya, she became known as...
The Queen of Wyverns.
Not because she had control over the skies.
But because even creatures born free chose to fight next to her.
Among the Royal Mages...
She was called...
The Golden Queen.
Since whenever her Legendary Divine Mark sparkled, valour filled hearts around her.
Among the people whom she had saved...
She became...
The Silent Queen.
She never celebrated.
Never boasted.
Never announced herself to be a conqueror.
She just restored what had been damaged.
But not all tales were sweet.
Across distant kingdoms, rumours became more dark with each retelling.
Some of them suggested that she had become ruthless after having lost her father and brother.
Others told that she had stopped smiling.
That her golden eyes could chill any room with just one glance.
Merchants spread those rumours farther than truth could ever spread.
Soon another nickname began to appear.
Spoken with fear.
Others – with misunderstanding.
Others – with admiration.
The Mad Princess.
Arthur heard the rumours one evening while strolling through marketplace.
A traveller whispered,
"They say she gave her heart away."
Arthur smiled sad.
"No."
"She keeps it every day."
"That’s why the burden is so heavy."
" She has massacred the entire kingdom. How can she be sane? "
Lilia herself never knew most of the tales.
Even if she knew...
She never paid any attention to them.
Names didn’t matter to her.
They couldn’t bring back King Aldric.
They couldn’t erase Adrian’s laughter from her memory.
Nor could they fill the hollow feeling she still felt when looking at the sunset.
One evening, she stood alone on the high balcony of royal palace.
As usual...
A servant carried two cups of tea.
Lilia looked at them.
"...Why..."
She silently wondered.
"...does it always feel wrong when there are two?"
She couldn’t remember.
The altered timeline had erased those memories.
But somewhere deep inside...
The kindness of white-haired maid lingered like smell of flowers carried by the wind of the evening.
She smiled faintly without knowing why.
Far away, beyond mountains and forests, Jennie continued her way with Snow and Roxy, completely unaware of the fact that princess whom she had once served now was one of the most powerful rulers of the continent.
Their ways diverged.
One went along the path of the sword.
The other carried the burden of the crown.
Neither of them knew that destiny was leading them back together.
And when history would someday tell of Queen Lilia KingHeart, it would never agree on one nickname.
Some would remember the Queen of Wyverns.
Some would remember the Silent Queen.
Some would remember the Golden Queen.
And some, not able to understand sacrifices which she had made, would whisper the name which resounded in taverns and royal courts...
The Mad Princess.
Autumn came to the Kingdom of Seraiya.
The golden leaves which covered Royal Avenue were floating through the morning air, decorating the capital of the country with shades of amber and gold. The citizens were assembling before the first light of sun, filling all streets leading to the Royal Palace. Nobles were standing beside merchants. Farmers were standing beside scholars. Royal Knights were maintaining order in the crowd, and white banners with the crest of House KingHeart were proudly waving over the city.
However, there were no festive feelings in the atmosphere of such event.
It was solemn.
Everyone understood why they were called here.
Inside the Grand Hall of the Royal Palace, Queen Celestine KingHeart was standing in front of Royal Council. Although she was wearing the magnificent white gown of Seraiya’s queen, illness which followed the tragedy in the family left its mark on her. Her face was paler than usual, and she was leaning upon the ivory cane.
Arthur, Royal Hand, was standing beside her.
Lucas, Commander of Royal Knights, was standing on the opposite side.
High Priest, Archmage Magnus, ministers, generals, and the representatives of each and every province were watching her in the silence.
Queen Celestine looked around the hall.
"My beloved people..."
Her tender voice resonated under the vaulting of the roof.
"I have ruled only to keep the kingdom which was left to me by my husband."
She took a pause.
"But the ruler should understand when another person is more capable to carry this burden."
Nobody said anything.
"The years became too heavy."
"My strength is not enough to serve Seraiya."
She smiled.
"And I don’t want to stay in power while my daughter is ready to defend this kingdom."
Soft murmur filled the hall.
Many nobles were lowering their heads.
Some were quietly wiping tears off their faces.
Arthur was closing his eyes.
He was waiting for this day.
Nevertheless, it was hurting to hear her words.
Queen Celestine raised the Royal Seal.
"Before the witnesses of this kingdom..."
"I hereby abdicate the Throne of Seraiya."
"The crown shall pass to my daughter..."
"Lilia KingHeart."
Complete silence was falling in the hall.
The doors were opening.
Princess Lilia was entering alone.
Instead of the magnificent royal dress, she was wearing the ceremonial armor of white and gold. At her waist, there was the royal sword, which belonged to King Aldric. On the back of her right hand, there was the Legendary Divine Mark, shining faintly under the white glove.
She was walking towards the throne.
Each step of hers was echoing on the marble.
There was no music, no fanfare in the hall.
Only the silence was following the future queen.
When she came to her mother, Lilia was kneeling on one knee.
Queen Celestine was gently touching the head of her daughter with her trembling hand.
"I wish your father could see this day."
Lilia was lowering her eyes.
"So do I."
They were keeping the silence for a long time.
Then Celestine was raising the Crown of Seraiya.
It was made of the white gold and decorated with twelve stones, representing the ancient provinces of the kingdom. It was placed on the heads of the rulers for centuries.
She was putting the crown on the head of Lilia.
The very moment when the crown touched her, Legendary Divine Mark was awaking.
Golden light was spreading over the hall.
The ancient runes were appearing under the throne.
The Royal Mages were gasping.
"The throne has accepted her..."
Magnus whispered.
"The first queens are recognizing their successor."
Hundreds of wyverns which were circling over the capital were making loud cry.
People were looking at the sky in astonishment.
"They know..."
"The Queen has been crowned."
Inside the hall, Arthur was slowly kneeling.
Then Lucas.
Then the ministers.
Then each and every knight and noble present in this place.
In one voice they were declaring:
"Long live Her Majesty..."
"Queen Lilia KingHeart."
Lilia was looking at the people gathered in front of her.
She was remembering her father.
His kindness.
Her mother.
Her warmth.
The weight of each and every promise she had ever made.
She was rising from the throne slowly.
She was looking at the people with the calm golden eyes.
"I accept this crown."
"Not as the reward."
"But as the responsibility."
"My duty is not to be above my people."
"It is to be with them."
"I cannot promise you the easy future."
"I cannot promise you that sadness will not come to our kingdom."
"But I swear..."
"So long as I breathe..."
"I will never leave the ones who trust me."
Her words were simple.
Honest.
There was no triumph in them.
Only the resolve.
Respectful applause was rising from the crowd.
Some people were cheering.
Some were crying.
Some just were bowing their heads.
Arthur was smiling through the tears.
"His Majesty..."
"She has become the ruler which you always believed she could be."
Lucas was touching his heart with his hand.
"The kingdom is safe now."
After the ceremony ended, Queen Celestine was leaving the throne.
For the first time after many months, the weight upon her shoulders was becoming lighter.
She was looking at her daughter with the proud smile.
Lilia was sitting on the ancient throne.
Crown was on her head.
Legendary Divine Mark was shining under her glove.
However, she was not smiling.
The joy of being a queen was long ago overpassed by the price she paid to become one.
The people were going to remember this day as the beginning of the new reign.
But those who were the closest to her remembered something else.
Young princess entered this hall.
Queen left it.
Although she was wearing the crown of Seraiya with the incomparable dignity...
There was still an empty space in her heart which nothing could fill.
