"Presenting, his Majesty the King, Ivan Ulrich and your future Queen, Eliana Fairbain!" the squire announced. My heart raced as the doors opened and we stepped forward.
The crowd burst to life with cheers. The majority of the people looked happy, but I could see those who looked sad or worried.
"People of Elluveria, many of you may know my future bride as our strongest warrior in the kingdom. Our beacon of hope. I know her as something other than that. As children, we were inseparable, but fate had other plans. But now we have once again come together. We stand before you as your King, and Future Queen!" Ivan bellowed.
The crowd cheered on, but I could still see people filled with worry. "May I?" I whispered. Ivan nodded in response.
My nerves heightened as I stepped forward. "Many of you have lived here all of your lives. You know me either personally, or through my work in service of the crown and all of you. While I love the king, my love for all of you is just as strong. I may not be royalty by blood, but you are still my people. This is how I know that at three am, the Chow family takes their first batch of warm bread from their bakery to feed the families who are struggling. This is how I know that little Juiliana and Eric have started to show their powers," I smiled at the young twins in the crowd. "This is how I know that Miss Ellington, though she would never admit it, enjoys my company."
"I never said such a thing!" The elderly woman jeered from the crowd playfully.
"But it is not only your happiness that I see, it is also your pain. Each and every day this war takes its toll on our people. Children are missing, families broken apart, and all of you are doing your best to hold yourselves together to fight for a better future. In becoming your Queen, I am not just a woman marrying the man she has loved all of her life, but I am also the woman who has fought along side you, for you, coming into a position where I can better serve you. I will not stop fighting for your peace until the day I die," I called out with passion and conviction.
The crowd roared with excitement, the worried faces faded into smiles. "Long live the King, long live the Future Queen!" The crowd chanted.
We turned and stepped back inside. My heart was in my throat and I was gasping for breath as adrenaline coursed through me. The doors closed behind us once more.
"That was amazing," Ivan cheered, crashing his lips to mine. "Our people have never been filled with such hope and joy, you inspire people, my love."
I smiled nervously. I'd fought thousands of battles, but nothing had ever tired me out the way that today had. "I'm not sure where that came from," I mumbled.
"Right here," he spoke, resting his hand over my heart.
YOU ARE READING
The Sovereign's Sacrifice ☆ EDITING ☆
FantasyMature audiences only. 18+ Eliana was a small girl when her parents were killed in the raid of her small village in the kingdom of Elluveria. As an orphan, she was brought into the city to be taught at the academy. Ivan was the future king. He took...
