The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 182: First part

Chapter 182: First part

When Dorothy found out she was going to share the carriage with Miss Magdalene she was angry. She had deliberately let a few people notice her relationship with the prince. She even had him prepare a carriage for her. She never expected Miss Magdalene would dare come and join her.

She wanted to complain to the crown prince but Edward was not stupid.

Although he cared about her a lot and wanted to make her his official mistress, he also understood that he could not take that step now.

If the king was still alive after he returned to royal city, he would have dared to take her in as a mistress but with the king dying suddenly he could not give others something to use against him. So, he did not dare interact with her privately on the road back to the royal city.

Moreover, he had already shield her once, the soilders was mad up of men and not many of them were faithful to their wives. No one could point at him for having a mistress too early. Even if they did, he could say he had laid with her after getting drunk on the night of the victory celebration but if he favors a mistress over a wife, he would face opposition.

Those greedy men would say that he was muddy headed because of a woman. So for the next few months, he planned to stay away from Dorothy. He wanted to convince everyone that he did not deliberately protect Dorothy but only allowed Anastasia to take the risk because of the plan.

They were matching in large group, so the journey that should take ten days on a fast horse lasted for eighteen days .

The return of the royal army was marked by great fanfare. As they approached the royal city, the gates were thrown wide, and crowds lined the roads, waving flags bearing the royal crest and throwing garlands of late-spring blossoms at the feet of the soldiers. Children clambered onto rooftops, cheering and calling out the prince’s name. The air was filled with jubilation, yet beneath the revelry was a collective sigh of relief—the war was over, and peace had returned.

Prince Edward rode at the front, his silver armor polished to a mirror shine, a dark crimson cloak trailing behind him. The royal banner fluttered high above his head, its golden thread catching the sunlight. He sat tall in the saddle, his expression solemn but composed, a man changed by war yet unbroken.

Behind him followed the surviving officers and soldiers, their uniforms weathered and torn, but their posture proud. At the rear came the carriages: one for the wounded, another for provisions, and then the carriage carrying Anastasia. Though the curtains were drawn, the people still cheered for the princess, the woman who had, according to rumor, faced death for the sake of the kingdom.

Trumpets sounded from the palace walls as the procession passed through the city gates. The streets were swept clean and decorated with hanging silks and wreaths. At every corner, nobles and commoners alike bowed their heads in reverence.

Three days after their return, the coronation was held.

Prince Edward stood before the altar, beside him Anastasia stood elegant, resolute, and robed in a gown of ivory and blue, her head held high. She would receive her crown beside her husband, as his queen.

The High priest, robed in ceremonial gold, lifted the crown of kings and placed it upon Edward’s head.

"Prince Edward knelt before the altar. A hush fell over the cathedral as the sacred words were spoken.

"Do you swear to uphold the laws of this kingdom, to protect your people, and to honor the God above all?" the priest asked.

"I swear it," Edward replied, his voice clear.

The High priest dipped his fingers into anointing oil and drew the mark of the upon Edward’s forehead. A golden crown, was lowered onto his head. "With this crown, you are no longer prince, but king—protector of Nixel and guardian of its people."

The choir burst into song, and the bells of the city rang out in joyous harmony.

"Long live King Edward!" the crowd roared.

Then the priest turned to Anastasia. Another crown, slender and gleaming with pearls, was brought forth.

"And with this diadem, you are crowned Queen of Nixel; first among ladies, strength of the royal house, and symbol of grace to the realm."

Anastasia bowed her head as the crown was gently placed. She could feel the weight of it not just the metal, but everything it meant. Everything it demanded.

Side by side, the new king and queen turned to face the court. Trumpets blared. Nobles and officials bowed in unison. The people erupted in cheers.

"Long live the King! Long live the Queen!"

And as they stood together at the pinnacle of power, Anastasia looked at the crowd, she had never dreamed of sitting in such place of authority. Since heaven had favoured her, she planned to fulfill her duties as a queen and protect herself, she would never allow the fate of her nightmare to befall her.

Not everyone was happy to witness this ceremony, Elizabeth stood by the side, her eyes red with envy. It was only less than two months Anastasia married into the royal family, now she had become the queen with such good reputation.

She could not accept that she would now have to bow to the sister she once looked down upon.

Duchess Anita also felt a mix feeling watching this scene. She had thought that Anastasia would have to rely on their family to become queen in the future, she did not expect everything to happen so quickly. Duke Thompson on the other hand was filled with joy.

The most awkward person to witness this scene was Dorothy. She did not know what happened to the prince but since the journey he had paid no attention to her. After arriving, although she still stayed in the prince Quarter he did not even look at her

With the coronation today, the husband and wife would move to the central palace, Anastasia was worried that she had fallen out of favor so soon. Her eyes were red with envy. What annoyed her the most was that, although she and Anastasia were both the prince women, she could only watch the scene with other servants from the royal palace.