The Exiled Prince Domination

Chapter 106: The Ceremony

Cogsworth opened the heavy oak door with a soft creak and stepped inside. There he found the king perched on the edge of his bed, fingers raking through unkempt hair as if trying to comb away every weight resting on his shoulders.

"Your Majesty, the clothes that you are going to be wearing are here," Cogsworth’s voice was steady but gentle as he approached, laying out the ceremonial attire across the velvet settle: a tunic of deep royal blue, stitched all over with silver threads that shimmered like starlight woven through storm clouds; the golden rose circlet, its petals polished thin and sharp; and a heavy cloak lined with thick silver wolf fur.

"Right, I meant to ask yesterday. How exactly will the coronation proceed?" Lucian asked, looking toward Cogsworth.

Cogsworth folded his hands before him and began to explain, "The ceremony follows the Oldest Rites, Your Majesty. First comes the Procession: The bells will ring to mark your coming and call the hall to orde. You will walk the Great Hall from the Royal Chambers to the Throne, flanked by the remaining Royal Knights. At the dais, you will stand before the Heart Altar and recite the Oath of Remembrance"

Cogsworth promptly drew a folded sheet of parchment from his pocket and held it out. Lucian took it, and found the words of the oath written clearly upon it.

"Then the Imperial Wizard will place the crown upon your head. The surviving nobles and invited guests will stand along the sides of the throne room to witness it all." Cogsworth continued "Breakfast is served in the West Dining Hall whenever you are ready, Sire."

At that, Lucian looked up, brow furrowing. "Wait... where did you get food?" He glanced toward the window. "When I looked around the capital, there is nothing growing that can be eaten. No crops, fruits, and livestock."

Cogsworth’s gears whirred softly, a flicker of gratitude crossing his face. "Miss Astrid and your companions shared their own rations so we might prepare this meal for everyone at the castle, Your Majesty. But you speak true... scarcity is the greatest wound this kingdom bear."

"I see..." Lucian said. "Let’s talk about these things after the ceremony."

Cogsworth turned to leave, but Lucian called out before he could step through the door. "Cogsworth, where is the bathroom?"

______

An hour slipped by. Lucian stood before the tall gilded mirror in his chambers, fingers working to straighten the high collar of his tunic. He’d faced a bit of a scuffle down the hall: the maids who’d appeared from behind the curtains had insisted on scrubbing, dressing, and tending to every inch of him, as was custom for royalty. But he’d stood firm, shaking his head politely. He was not so helpless, nor so idle, that he could not wash and care for himself.

Afterward he’d changed back into simple clothes and went to the dining hall. The table was quiet; Lumiere had popped in briefly to explain everyone else was already seeing to their stations, lining the halls, checking the crystal relays, and making certain nothing would go wrong when the whole kingdom looked on. He ate quickly then returned to his room to don the ceremonial wear.

He drew back his shoulders, watching the blue and silver settle over him like second skin. His hair had grown far longer than he’d ever meant to let it; he knotted it back tight at the nape, resolving to trim it once the day was over.

After looking at the mirror and seeing that he now look prim and proper, he put on the wolf fur cloak and finally stepped out of the room.

______

Outside, the streets of Lumièrea hummed with a restless tide of people. They pressed as close to the castle gates as guards would allow, some bright with hope and murmuring prayers, others grumbling and clutching empty bellies. Many eyed the stone walls with weariness, as if wondering whether this new king could really change something for there kingdom.

Inside the town’s largest inn, Markus, Diaval, and Jeno sat at a corner table over mugs of dark coffee. The owner of the inn had positioned a large crystal orb atop the mantel, already glowing faintly so all who could not enter the castle might still witness the day.

They stayed here and didn’t get near the castle because, based on what they gathered, the coronation would happen privately inside the castle and only a few important people of the kingdom were invited inside. So other commoners and them couldn’t go, but since it would be broadcast, they could still see this historical moment.

Jeno was already fixing and cleaning his Monamera and was getting ready, waiting for the ceremony to happen as he would record every single bit, while Markus sipped his coffee and then finally set it down.

"What do you think will happen to this kingdom, Sir Diaval?" Markus asked as he looked at Diaval, who was also drinking his coffee.

"What do you mean by that?" Diaval said as he put down his coffee.

"Well, as you already see, this kingdom is in a dire state," Markus said as he looked around at everyone, while some clutched their stomachs and looked at the orb desperately. "The inn doesn’t have food, most people don’t have anything to eat, the market stalls are bare, and this happened because this place was cursed. I even heard some farmers complaining at the city hall that their farm animals were now gone."

Diaval sighed, his gaze drifting toward the window and the distant spires. "There are only two roads open now. Lumièrea will either prosper or decline. Which depends entirely on who sits that throne, and what he is willing to give to mend it."

Just then the orb atop the mantel flared bright, cutting through the hum of voices. A collective gasp rippled through the room, then silence, as the mist within cleared and the polished walls of the throne room appeared before them.