The funeral pyre was built outside the palace walls, in the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers alike. Everyone was dressed in black—no jewelry or fancy outfits, just plain black robes.
Women covered their hair, and men covered their bodies completely, wearing gloves and socks. Only their heads were visible.
I was the only exception, leaning on the palace wall and watching from the sidelines like the outsider I was.
Serena approached the funeral pyre, and Selric handed a torch over to her. She walked around it to face the people and began her speech.
"Good evening, everyone. For those who may not know me, I am Serena, daughter of Empress Althea. Thank you all for being here to honor her memory."
Whispers began spreading among the people, and they exchanged glances with one another.
This made me wonder how dumb these people were.
How the hell are they not aware of the identity of those ruling them?
