The Crown's Seduction
Chapter 334: The Coronation

Chapter 334: The Coronation

The time for Ezekiel’s coronation to be the new king of Ebodia has finally come, and yet Mineah couldn’t help but feel apprehensive despite the joyous occasion. This day should’ve been filled with happiness and celebration as yet another one of her siblings rose up to the throne, and yet she couldn’t help but feel dread with what was about to happen in the future.

There was just no other way to think about things. After all, she knew for a fact that in the next few days, Nikolai and Ezekiel would infiltrate Helion Castle to get the magical books and end the Demon King once and for all. Her brother Ezekiel was so determined to finish Devon off and her husband wanted to help him.

"Your hands are cold," Nikolai told her as he wrapped her hands around his. "Is there something wrong?"

Mineah shook her head despite the fact that she knew she’d be lying. "It’s nothing, Lai," she reassured him. "It’s just a bit of nerves from the big event, I guess."

"Nervous for your brother then?" he questioned with a raised brow. "Well, he is becoming king today. He has big shoes to fill, doesn’t he."

She simply nodded. While her husband was almost correct in his assumption, she wouldn’t bother correcting him for now. Either way, she wasn’t even lying if she said yes to any of his questions. She was just keeping a few things from him.

"That, he does," Mineah hummed in agreement. "Father was a good king, and while I know that Brother would be the best man to replace him, I still can’t help but feel nervous for him."

"He is your brother, after all," he chuckled. "It’s only normal to be afraid for him."

Nodding along, Mineah almost wanted to leave even as the trumpets began sounding off. It would seem that the coronation was now in full swing, which meant that there was no walking back from all of this.

"Citizens of Ebodia! Bear witness to the coronation of your new king!"

At the announcer’s bellow, all of them stood up at attention. Mineah did so as well, and she couldn’t help but look around as she absently took in all that was currently in attendance. Sure enough, her sister Xenia was there along with King Darius. Her stomach was swelling too, so she must be pregnant at the moment.

’I should go and talk to her later,’ Mineah thought to herself.

Blinking away the stray thought, she then turned her attention back to the ceremony itself. By the throne, her brother Ezekiel was currently kneeling down before their father, King Stephan. With the crown in the older man’s hands, her brother waited for it to descend onto his head all while they all watched in awe at the historic scene.

"From then until now, the crown of Ebodia has been passed down from one king to the next, signifying absolute power for those that would need it to secure the kingdom’s sovereignty," the announcer began. "The crown is the symbol of power, and yet it is also a symbol of peace. For it is those who wear it that would safeguard Ebodia from those who wish to destroy it."

Another trumpet erupted from the sidelines, and Mineah knew to sit back down as the rest of the audience did the same.

"From now and forever, the crown will sit upon its next bearer, for it is in its passing that growth would be achieved."

She absently hummed in agreement with those words, especially since it was her father King Stephan who was now speaking them.

"Those who would wear the crown would know of a kingdom’s burden. Those who would wear it would know what would be sacrificed for the greater good."

Mineah watched as the ceremony slowly came to a head. Her father was about to crown her brother Ezekiel. All that was left now was to see it happen.

"Ezekiel, do you solemnly swear to uphold Ebodia’s rightful place in the world?" King Stephan began. "To allow it to grow and flourish as its steward?"

"This, I solemnly swear," Ezekiel swore back, still kneeling to present himself for judgment.

"Do you solemnly swear to defend the kingdom through thick and thin? To be prepared to do what is needed, should the situation call for it?" her father continued. "Are you prepared to exact the ultimate sacrifice, should your life be required for Ebodia to continue?"

Ezekiel solemnly nodded. "I do," he swore. "This, I solemnly swear."

Another trumpet erupted from the sidelines, the third and final one for the ceremony as Mineah watched with bated breath. Slowly but surely, her father finally let the crown descend from its height, eventually placing it on top of Ezekiel’s head.

"Rise, My King," her father firmly stated. "Rise and claim what is rightfully yours."

A steady silence followed as the entire audience watched Ezekiel rise from where he last knelt. With his gaze held high and his crown heavy on his head, he strode forward with confidence, eventually making his way to the throne. He then stared at it for a few seconds before turning around and staring at all who had bore witness to his crowning.

"For now and ever more, so long as I shall live, I, King Ezekiel, vow to uphold Ebodia’s laws and customs. To defend Her sovereignty and people, and to prevent its destruction through any means necessary."

Mineah held her breath as her brother then did what was expected of all monarchs who rose to Ebodia’s throne. With his hand on the crown, he bowed down to all in attendance, showing his eagerness to do right to his would-be subjects. It was a tradition that was always seen as adding weakness to the monarchy, but Ebodia refused to get rid of it. In truth, it was only further enforced, ensuring that each ruler would remain humble for the remainder of their rule.

She couldn’t help but nod in approval as she saw her brother bow his head to them for a full minute, as was customary to all that would be crowned king. To her surprise, however, his bow continued for another full minute, and it would seem that those in the crowd who knew of the tradition couldn’t help but gawk in awe at the lengths that her brother wanted to show his humility.

"On this, I solemnly swear," Ezekiel swore once more as he raised his head to finally greet them. "As King, I will do right by our people."

To Mineah’s surprise, even she couldn’t help but open her mouth slightly at what she just witnessed. And as she watched her brother finally take his seat on the throne, the tension in the room only seemed to grow as everybody in attendance all waited for the next step of the coronation... A coronation that was already finished once Ezekiel took his seat.

For a few seconds, silence reigned as the crowd all sat in awe at what they just witnessed. Even Mineah herself didn’t know what to do. She knew that the ceremony was over and that they should all be cheering for Ezekiel right now, but it almost felt off to do so. That a pause was almost needed just for everyone in attendance to know the gravity of what they just witnessed.

Eventually, however, the tension finally popped as it all finally sank in.

"Long live King Ezekiel! Long live Ebodia!"

A cheer echoed across the throne room, one coming from the many peasants who were granted an audience to the coronation.

"Long live King Ezekiel! Long live Ebodia!"

Then came another. This time, from one of the many nobles that were supposed to be there in the first place.

"Long live King Ezekiel!"

"Long live Ebodia!"

Two became five. Then five became dozens. Eventually, even some of the foreign delegates began joining in on the chants. Mineah herself couldn’t help but cheer alongside them as her pride for her former home outshone even her love for her new home if only for a brief moment. She didn’t even fight it as she clapped along with the rest of the crowd in attendance, and she could only give her husband an awkward smile as she stood up along with the crowd, cheering loudly at her own brother for such a rousing speech.

"Well, I suppose your love for your old home still shines," Nikolai chuckled even as he remained seated, simply clapping for the new monarch as was fitting for his station.

"I can’t help it," Mineah awkwardly laughed. "It was just... It was an amazing declaration of love for one’s home."

Even now, she couldn’t help but clap and cheer, joining the rest of her fellow Ebodians as they all celebrated the new monarch. Truly, it almost felt as if this was the start of a new era. An era where Ebodia would stand on its own, its head held high with confidence in its own power and people.