Fransesca smiled, her fingers making one last adjustment to the regal golden mantle resting on Garius's shoulders. She leaned in and whispered softly.
"Do you want me or the others to present the crown, dear? Or perhaps you'd like our sons to do it?"
Garius smiled, glancing at Alf as the butler set a polished ceremonial box on the table and deftly unlocked it. Alf simply smiled and gave a silent nod.
Turning back to Fransesca, Garius whispered, "I want you to do it. You're my first wife, the first queen of this nation. And I'm sure Alf wants you to have the honor as well."
"If you say so, dear." Fransesca's eyes sparkled as she turned to Alf.
Alf gave a respectful bow and lifted the new Armand crown, its gold and gems glimmering atop a royal velvet cushion. The crown itself was an intricate masterpiece: pure gold, set with the rarest gems, its base rimmed with a thin band of adamantite and white ore for strength and purity.
