The Lost Legacy

Chapter 6: The Killer Change

As the day of the ceremony neared, which was also the day of Sophie's nineteenth birthday, a big task was thrown at her head – choosing her crown. 

It was a Telmarine tradition that the Triumvirate would choose the crown but since Trumpkin and Reepicheep had no interest in this, and Sophie didn't have a Triumvirate of her own, the task was entirely her own. 

Every day, the royal crown maker would show her designs about what her crown could look like. Sophie felt bad for him to work with an uncooperative person like herself. Important decisions like these made her very indecisive, and after seeing all the designs and the sample pictures, she told him the same answer that she had before. 

"All the crowns look good, Alessandro."

"You have to choose one." He was very patient in general, having met countless royal members for designing several crowns and masquerade masks. He knew how even the little decisions were important.

Sophie had already answered his questions about her favourite flowers and how she wanted her crown to look like. She hated that it couldn't be a simple ceremony since the Narnians only wanted her to show up to the ceremony and pledge to serve rightfully and take her oath, which made her thankful to them.

Everyone was making a fuss as the day approached. The entire castle was cleaned, every room was made into a brighter place, every chandelier was polished and carpets were laid down in the ballroom and the throne room.

The royal artist, Master Kadumba was behind both Caspian and herself to get their individual paintings done. Caspian was stuck with him because he could only paint Sophie's portrait once she had decided on the crown.

Alessandro and Master Kadumba were half-Fae. They worked for the crown while two humans worked for the Fae to keep part with the Peace Treaty that was reformed by Caspian after the Telmarines had broken it. 

"You need to have your first dance as well," informed the Professor during one of the meals.

"I can take care of that," said Caspian, smirking playfully at Sophie.

"I know you can," chuckled the Professor, finding it amusing that the Caspian he knew to be playful and pull pranks on people was slowly returning after being succumbed by Miraz all his life. He had Sophie to thank for that. "But Sophie has to be really careful with her royal gown."

"My royal gown?"

"Yes, your royal gown," said the Professor. "Hasn't Claire informed you yet?"

Sophie shook her head. That was another fuss that she was going to have to deal with - the extremely potentially heavy dress. Then, she spent the majority of time at Claire's, who figured out how she wanted Sophie's gown to look like. "Can you please try to make it as simple as possible?" All Sophie could do was sit in one place and stay as still as possible. She didn't want to make things harder for Claire.

"I can try my best but I need all eyes on you."

"And that's exactly what I don't want."

Claire brought out various shade cards and kept them near Sophie's face. "White seems to be the best option now. Considering the weather."

As Sophie left Claire's with Trumpkin by her side, a group of people at the end of the street near the pub seemed to be gawking at her. The five or six people gathered there had been aware of the new ruler being present in town through word of mouth. 

"Who are they?" Sophie asked Trumpkin, who was stuck with chaperoning her for her own safety as she hadn't appointed anyone as her personal guard.

Trumpkin looked at the group of people and cursed silently to himself. He should have known that they would make an appearance after all. "No one you need to know." He tried to pull her away but Sophie, being stubborn, stopped walking.