The Hathway Kingdom (Book 2)

Seven.

~Seven. ~

The following day was her Uncle's funeral.

She sat in the front most row of the church, her head held high as she listened to the Priest as he performed the service for her Uncle. Upon her head, she wore her mother's circlet which Elissa had woven into her hair before she had pinned it into an elegant bun at the base of her head.

Her dress was a dark navy-blue, almost black in colour with long sleeves, a high neck, and a long, floor-length sweep train. It was made from tulle, which was see-through for the sleeves and some of the top, which was backless until just below her shoulder blades. There it was done up with crossed straps that were done up to her hips. It was embellished with beading, glitter, and rhinestones, making it sparkle in the right lighting.

Romulus was seated beside her, wearing a traditional black suit and tie for this sort of event. He also wore his crown upon his head, making him look like the Emperor that he was. He glanced over at Larissa as the Priest continues before he reached over and gently took her hand in his. She glanced at their hands before she looked up at him for a moment. He gave her a sad smile, which she returned before she looked back at the Priest again, giving Romulus' hand a squeeze as she hid their hands in the folds of her skirt. The Priest eventually stopped speaking, and everyone turned to look at her now as she stood up. She swallowed heavily as she walked over to the podium beside her Uncle's casket, the bruises, and cuts from her duel with Isidore still very evident on her body and on her face. Though, thankfully, the stab wound on her side from his knife had been dealt with and Rosaleen had managed to heal it with the special cream. She took in a deep breath before she cleared her throat and began speaking.

"King Julian was a kind and just ruler. The Hathway Kingdom prospered even more when he accepted the role of King when my mother, Queen Emerald, died. The people loved him, adored him even. He was everything that this Kingdom needed and more," she said, pausing there as she looked over at his casket.

"He was also the most loving and caring father figure that I could ever have hoped for. He took me in as his daughter and raised me as such and into the woman that you see before you. And for that, I will forever be thankful and in his debt. A debt which I will never be able to repay. I only hope that I am able to live up to the expectations that he has left behind," she said, swallowing heavily as she fought back tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. She glanced down at the podium to compose herself, with little success. Tears began to roll down her cheeks now as she walked over to the casket and placed a hand where she hoped his were underneath its lid.

"Goodbye, Uncle. May the afterlife be as beautiful a place as you were. Give my love to my mother," she managed to get out before she stepped back as the casket bearers came forward and lifted it carefully. The Priest then began to sing the traditional funeral song as he led the casket bearers down the aisle and towards the doors where an open carriage waited.

Larissa followed the casket with Tristan and his new unit behind her. She was thankful that they had accepted her proposal and now, she had her own personal guard that she could still do as she needed. After her and her guard, came Romulus and Lizbeth, followed closely by Theodoras and his fellow guards that made up the Imperial guards. After him, came Professor Strickland and then various other members of the Royal court.

By the time they reached the carriage outside, Larissa had stopped crying. She quickly wiped her face before she stepped out the doors of the church and behind the carriage as the casket bearers loaded him onto it. Once it was secured in place, the carriage driver encouraged the horses to start moving and they all set off, going through the streets so that the citizens could say a final goodbye to their beloved King.