The two stringent laws of Coronation in Thalor following the death of the king are as follows;
Once a king dies, the crown prince—or any other eligible candidate according to the first schedule of this law must be crowned in his place within twenty four hours so as not to leave any space for civil unrest
A king must be crowned alongside his queen. Failure to do so will render the coronation defective.
**The King is Dead—J.T Peterson**
"Healer Zak said your nightmares still persist," said the crown princess as they prepared to disembark from the ship, "are the medicines not helping?"
Ember smiled, concealing her unease. "It's nothing. I am sure they will soon stop."
That only earned a frown from the woman. "If it's a sickness of the mind as I suspect and tied to trauma from your coven's destruction, I may be forced to bring in a more qualified healer. Though considering the implications, I would rather not."
Ember shook her head vigorously. Of course she knew how much trouble that would bring. The real Elara Thorne would not have the same nightmares she had. Especially when the subject of her nightmares was beyond her coven's massacre—it was more about the strange man that she repeatedly kept seeing in them.
Such a vivid nightmare of someone she had never met in her life was quite startling, and that only made Ember curious of who exactly he was. She might not know much, but she was sure he wasn't exactly a mere figment of her imaginations.
He was far realer than that. But none of it mattered when they alighted the ship and the sight of white clothes tied to every pole and post in sight greeted them—a mourning sign.
"The king is already dead," the crown princess murmured in a deathly tone while she exchanged glances with Knight Asborne. Ember watched for her reaction though. Being the first time in ten years she was returning to Thalor, it was quite clear that she hadn't missed the place.
Probably because the kingdom whom she was the crown princess of held no fond memories for her.
Almost immediately, four terrifying looking guards approached them. Each of them were clad in white and gold knight regalia that was different from Knight Asborne's red and gold regalia.
The man leading them wore a tall-feathered helm, and his shoulder armor was made differently. On it was engraved a panther that clearly depicted he was of a far different and more important rank than the three that trailed behind him.
"Who are you?" He demanded, voice gruff, eyes narrowed.
The crown princess merely eyed the knight, hands folded neatly over her abdomen while Knight Asborne stepped forward.
"Captain of the Kingsguard," he said coolly, "It's understandable that you're not able to recognize the crown princess Serpentine Andal Thorne, but pretending to not recognize the Serpent of the Seas is a dereliction of duty on your side."
The Captain of the Kingsguard quickly turned to appraise the ship they had alighted from, then his eyes roamed back to the crown princess who easily stood unwavering. He then dropped to his knees, and the three behind him followed suit.
"Greetings…your royal highness," they said, hesitant and awkward. Ember frowned, sensing their reluctance. The crown princess seemed to notice same, but she didn't comment on that.
Instead, in the iciest yet most authoritative voice Ember had ever heard, the woman asked. "What are the Knights of the Kingsguard doing here at the port of Thalor instead of the palace of Thorns?"
The men exchanged uneasy looks. "Your royal highness, we apologize. We weren't expecting you…."
The crown princess levelled them a cold glare that instantly shut the captain up. "I asked a question, Captain….?"
"It's Captain Knowelles of the Twelfth Order of the Kingsguards, your highness." He said quickly, "To answer your question, his royal majesty King Devony Thorne just passed away this morning. Per protocol, all orders of the Kingsguard have been dispatched to quell every and any civil unrest that might purport to arise at this time."
The crown princess gave a tight, unamused smile. "Then I suppose the coronation of the new king is underway, or perhaps already being held at this very time. It seems I'm just right on time, after all there can't possibly be any coronation without the rightful crown princess."
Just then, Syria, who had been earlier sent out to prepare carriages for them returned, clutching the crown princesses royal token in her fingers. "The carriage is ready, your highness," she said with a bow, "we better hurry up," she added meaningfully, glaring at the knights as if to accuse them of the crime of attempting to usurp the throne of the future Queen in her absence.
They followed her without another word. Moments later, with Knight Asborne leading at full speed, the carriage tore through the city. Ember sat between Syria and the crown princess, her thoughts spinning.
The carriage was exquisite, but no amount of comfort could still her nerves. Her mind reeled with the truths she'd learned. Chief among them: the man she would soon have to call father.
Crown Prince Giovanny Aldrek Thorne. The first of three sons. According to Syria, he was more politician than warrior.
When he first became crown prince, stuck in the bubbling pressure from his father, and his siblings that eyed his position, his first strategic act was impregnating the unfavoured daughter of a duke—an act that was against his fathers wishes, but one that he aimed to play a long drawn political game.
His father, the late king, of course did not accept the marriage. Hence, the unfavoured daughter who was now Elara's step mother could only be a crown companion.
The late king and the crown princess's father then arranged an 'official' marriage between their son and daughter. But there was a twist—the crown princess never knew that the man she was about to marry already had a consort and two children—a son and daughter.
Nothing said political dispute more than a woman who was not a Queen but bore a son for the King. And that was of course the case for the unfavoured daughter, and the current crown princess.
Especially when this unfavoured daughter's original family now wanted to align with her and fight for the throne seeing as the daughter they once rejected seemed to be set for high places. Naturally, the crown princess became a sore in their eyes. More so when she became pregnant.
So of course, when she gave birth to a girl, it was expected that sighs of relief would be exchanged. Yet, Elara had ended up lethally poisoned a few weeks after her birth. And the perpetrator remained a mystery.
"Are you clear on how you're to act once we get to the palace?" The crown princess asked, her voice clear and without any sign of nervousness.
Ember smiled, "Yes mother. Although I am worried."
"About what?"
"What if… I mean, what if the crown companion has been crowned Queen. What would we do then?"
The crown princess turned to Syria, her eyes gleaming with menace. "She asks a wonderful question, Syria. It's afternoon already and it's been since morning since the king passed away. Thalara Thorne could have very well been crowned Queen in my absence since the laws of coronation must be absolutely followed. In that case, what do you think will be my fate?"
Syria turned her stern eyes to Ember. "It's true that the laws of coronation must be absolutely followed. However I am curious, Princess Elara. Following all that you've understood from what I've taught, what do you think would happen should another be crowned Queen when there exists a crown princess? This is after all a peculiar situation. There has never been a time in history when a crown princess was away from the seat of power."
Of course their case was different. The only reason the crown princess was not present was because of Elara's poisoning.
Ember drew in a shaky breath as she was suddenly the center of attention. Squaring her shoulders, she answered,
"If another has been crowned Queen, then the person would have to be uncrowned."
The crown princess chuckled, sapphire blue eyes curious. "Why do you say that?"
Ember swallowed. "The incident with Rashel and the fallen ones will have all three species on the edge. Alliances are very important at this time, more so the alliance between the Seamen and the Huntsmen.
"It is one thing if you didn't return months or even days after the king died. But we are returning on the same day of his death so there's no excuse to not crown you. Not even if another has been crowned in your place. You still remain the princess of the Seamen so you're not exactly without power of your own."
The crown prince smiled while the carriage jostled to a stop. What? Had they already reached?
"Your answer is quite apt, but that is not enough treason for me to be crowned even when another has been crowned."
Ahh?
Ember bowed, "Educate me, mother."
The crown princess drew the window of the carriage open, exposing a mass of towering towers that spiraled together to form an absolutely breathtaking dark castle.
"There's another reason for my marriage to the crown prince save for the reason of opening up additional trade routes in the Andals for the Huntsmen. In fact, this reason is the most important one responsible for the crown prince's willingness to marry me despite his first love."
"What… what reason?"
The crown princess turned to her, her stare rooting her in place. "Within these castle walls is a seer man you should fear." She said in a haunting voice, her lips curved into a smile, "
"Thirty years ago when I hadn't been born, he prophesied to the late king that a marriage alliance with me would make the Huntsmen rise to heights that would make even the Vampires accord them staggering respect."
"Wh… what?"
"Funny isn't it?" She said, "How this blind man foresaw my birth before even my mother knew she carried me. That is why you must tread carefully, Elara. Fear the people behind these cursed castle walls."
Ember swallowed hard.
And then, they stepped out.
PS: Check new auxiliary chapter "Velmoria" for a more detailed information on world building that will be updated occasionally.