The Coronation Ceremony
1278 Words
Today. . . was Alvina’s coronation.
Inside her room, Alvina was getting dressed for the ceremony.
Her lady-in-waiting laced up the corset before putting on the dress.
“Your majesty, you look gorgeous in this dress!” Charlotte said excitedly. At the age of 16, Charlotte was assigned to be Alvina’s lady-in-waiting, and they have developed a good relationship since then.
Since they spent more time together, she was even closer to Alvina than Beatrice.
“Thank you.” Alvina took a deep breath, trying to suppress the uncomfortable feeling of the tight corset against her upper body.
There was a knock at the door and Butler Cherron entered, “Your highness, the coronation is starting very soon.”
Alvina nodded her head. After today, she won’t be “your highness” anymore.
A few minutes later, she stepped outside into the broad daylight and entered a carriage, which was supposed to take her around the outside of the palace, where the people were watching.
The royal military marched in front and behind of the carriage, which was led by two white horses.
It seemed to take forever as Alvina continued to smile and wave her hands out to the people watching. To her relief, no one caused a commotion here today, and the carriage ride went by smoothly.
They stopped in front of the castle, and Alvina stepped out of the carriage with the help of the chief military officer.
With Beatrice and Laura following behind her, she walked up to the large balcony at the top of the castle, where the Archbishop, Prime Minister, and several other important figures were waiting.
In front of all the people, the Archbishop began the The Coronation Oath:
“Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?”
Alvina lifted her head up slightly, “I am willing.”
The oath only took a few minutes.
“The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.”
The Archbishop held the book out in front of Alvina, “Then the Queen shall kiss the Book and sign the Oath.”
Alvina gently kissed the cover of the Book and signed the oath.
“The Queen having thus taken her Oath shall return again to her Chair, and the Bible shall be delivered to the Dean of Westminster.”
Alvina walked to the grand throne at the center of the balcony and stood in front of it, facing the people.
A heavy crown was placed onto her head before she sat down.
The people broke into applause, which lasted for a long time.
---
At night, fireworks lit up the dark night sky, and many people in the empire stayed up to celebrate the accession of a new “king”.
The Prime Minister did a good job in handling the protests that were going on, as nothing out of hand happened today during the coronation.
From inside her new room, Alvina stared at the fireworks, which sounded like strikes of thunder as they shot up into the sky.
Before the show ended, she walked away from the window and sat down in front of her new desk.
The late King and Queen’s room was kept as it was as she had commanded, and it would be thoroughly cleaned once a month.
Her old princess’s room was empty now, but no one was going to move into it.
This new room was at least twice as big as her old one, and it exhibited the power she had now as the female monarch.
Alvina began reading the documents on her desk, which she had received from Prime Minister Edward early this morning.
After an hour, she finally stood up and walked over to her bed, laying down.
The lights were closed and darkness overcame her.
--- One Month Later
In the Audience Room, all of the ministers were gathered for the early morning meeting with the Queen.
“The meeting shall be adjourned.” Queen Alvina stood up from her throne, and all of the ministers stood up right after her.
As she was about to leave, Prime Minister Edward suddenly spoke up.
“Your majesty!”
Alvina turned back around, “Yes?”
She could guess what it was going to be already. For the past month, the ministers, with the Prime Minister in the lead, had been searching for males around her age to arrange a marriage.
She had gone on “dates” with at least ten males by now already.
And here comes another one. . .
“It has been a month since your majesty’s accession already.” The Prime Minister said politely.
Alvina raised one eyebrow. Well, this opening line wasn’t what she expected.
“After careful consideration, the other ministers and I have witnessed what your majesty has done for the empire and your majesty’s skill.”
Alvina folded her hands together as she walked back to the throne and sat down.
There were several seconds of silence before the Prime Minister spoke again.
“Under the consensus among all the ministers, we have come to an agreement for your majesty to permanently be the emperor, even if a marriage were to take place.”
Alvina’s mouth opened slightly. She had to agree that she indeed did do a lot for the empire during this time. However, she didn’t think it would be so easy for the ministers to agree.
With a smile, she stood up and began walking out of the room.
“Great! I didn’t plan on my rule being temporary anyway.”
The ministers all stood up and bowed down as Alvina walked out of the Audience Room.
---
Alvina walked down the palace hallways, passing by several maids carrying plates to the dining room.
She turned a corner, bumping into a hurried person.
The person gasped as she fell back slightly from the collision.
Alvina looked up to see her sister, “Beatrice? Where are you going so hurriedly?”
Beatrice opened and closed her mouth several times before smiling, “Nothing! I was just going to look for. . . look for my mom!”
Alvina frowned, “Concubine Laura’s room is that way.”
Beatrice nodded, “I didn’t see her in her room, so. . . Anyways, goodbye Alvina! I have to go!”
She curtsied quickly before hurriedly walking away.
Alvina knit her eyebrows together before walking over to Concubine Laura’s room. She knocked once before opening the door, expecting to not see anyone inside.
However, the first thing she saw was Concubine Laura sitting on her bed, reading a book.
“Your majesty.” Concubine Laura stood up and curtsied slightly.
“You -” Alvina blinked a few times, “I just came to let you know that it is almost time for lunch.”
Concubine Laura frowned slightly. The maids usually did that, “Thank you, your majesty.”
Alvina nodded before closing the door and slowly walking back to her room.
Where was Beatrice going?
--- Inside the Audience Room
The ministers were just about to leave when the door suddenly opened and someone ran in.
The Prime Minister, who was right in front of the door jumped back in surprise, “Your highness?”
Princess Beatrice took a deep breath, “Prime Minister Edward, I apologize for the disturbance, but I have a recommendation for my sister, Queen Alvina’s, husband!”
- Writer
