Even After Death

Chapter9

“This purple dress complements your beauty, My Princess!” Agnes told Katarina with excitement in her voice.

It was the day of the Royal Coronation of the new monarchs of the Kingdom of Etherion.

She silently gazed at her reflection in the mirror as her attendants put pieces of jewelry on her head.

Once again, she failed to escape that fate. She was fidgeting her fingers out of anxiety while thinking if it was really her fate to die as the Queen of the nation.

Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was how she was publicly executed in front of the crowd.

How she saw Henri standing there while watching her with a rope twisted around her neck, all while he held the hand of Sophia as if they were watching some sort of entertainment.

Then suddenly, Katarina heard a voice inside her head.

“It is such a shame that you became a casualty in the games of power. This would not have happened had you declined to be the Queen. Now, rest in eternity, Your Majesty.”

“No!” Katarina abruptly screamed, hearing that remark from the Chief Minister before she was hanged to death.

On the other hand, the attendants fixing her hair and dress were taken aback by her sudden scream. Agnes hugged her as she asked, “What happened, My Princess? Are you all right?”

Katarina bit her shaking lip, trying to resist the tears from gushing. “I- I am all right,” she lied. She did not want to complicate the matter anymore, for she knew she could never escape the coronation.

Henri was too cruel that he would kill her servants if she tried anything against him. She would never risk that chance.

“Your Highness, shall we continue now?” One attendant asked her.

She gazed at them through the mirror and replied, “Yes, you may. My apologies for the sudden outburst.”

“It does not matter, Your Highness.”

***

The sun was not even there to witness the union bound to happen that day. Massive clouds covered the sky, and it seemed like the rain was not far away and ready to fall at any time.

But that gloomy weather did not stop the people of Etherion from celebrating. For them, the Royal Coronation was the beginning of new hope and fortune.

However, that sentiment was not shared by the new Queen herself — Katarina Frances. To her, that enthronement was the start of dreadful experiences. She had lived it before and would live it again.

Katarina died and existed again, but she felt like dying again of an excruciating death.

She was standing by the stairs at the edge of the vast central platform of the palace when she heard the palace messenger’s declaration.

“Let’s welcome Her Royal Highness, Princess Katarina Frances!”

And that was her signal to ascend the stairs and stroll to the center where the High Priest was waiting.

The High Priest was the church’s highest figure, covering the entire continent. He was the one who facilitated the coronations and marriages of royal monarchs.

The messenger declared as Katarina strolled the long path to the center.

“Let us welcome His Royal Highness, Prince Henri Amaris!”

The moment Henri ascended the stairs and started walking to the center, the crowd’s cheering got louder.

“The heavens have blessed us with a new promising King!” They shouted in delight.

Katarina gazed at Prince Henri, walking on the opposite side of her strolling path.

The Prince wore a purple suit that matched her dress. He was like a daydream given a human form. He was so beautiful and striking, just like Katarina remembered him in her previous life.

Katarina could not take her eyes off him. Realizing how she got drowned again, she let out a bitter smile. It was so unfair that she still had feelings for him despite everything he had done.

When both reached the High Priest standing at the center, Prince Henri stared at her with cold-blooded eyes. It was the same look he had given her on their coronation in Katarina’s preceding life.

And she could vividly remember that she smiled at him, but at that time, she just gave him dead stares.

Seeing that both were already there, the High Priest started the ceremony.

“By the power given to me by the heavens, I present to you the new King and Queen of the Great Kingdom of Etherion — King Henri Amaris and Queen Katarina Frances-Amaris. From now on, they will be addressed as Their Royal Majesties, the King and the Queen.”

After the High Priest’s proclamation, two servants approached Katarina and Henri and then gave them one cup of wine each.

“The church blessed these two cups for the consumption of two people who should be together in this lifetime, harmoniously ruling the Kingdom.” the High Priest added.

Henri then glanced at Katarina and extended his arm to her. She reached for it as they intertwined and drank the wine.

As soon as they finished the cup, the crowd roared with bliss. It was a new dynasty, and they were hopeful for more blessings.

Katarina and Henri stood at the center while the people cheered for them. It was like how Katarina recalled the coronation in her previous life — but the feeling was completely different.

Before, she was excited and hopeful. Despite Henri’s cold treatment, she believed that one day, he would be ready to welcome her into his world.

But presently, she could do nothing but smirk, remembering how naïve and foolish she was for believing that.

It was apparent from the very start that Henri would never love her in a million years, and she could not believe how blind she was not to see that before.

Katarina glanced at Henri again and saw him staring in another direction. When she followed the focus of his sight, she smirked.

The King was looking at his damsel-in-distress, Sophia. She was standing among the crowd and staring at Henri. Her eyes were sad despite smiling so sweetly. To make the matter more interesting, she wore a purple dress, yet simpler than hers. Nevertheless, still beautiful and innocent-looking.

Katarina shook her head as she smiled and whispered, “This cunning woman has started.”