GLIMMER AND DECAY [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 4

THE SERVANTS AND CITIZENS of the kingdom were all busy as they completed all the preparation they needed for today's wonderful feast. The time had come for the new ruler to be crowned and all of Corona felt nothing but joyous.

Well, all except for the royal family.

"I am sure she's ready to rule the kingdom, my love," the king assured his queen as he kissed the back of her hand. The queen looked at him, the softest gaze she could ever show only to him and gave his forehead a kiss.

"Let's depart a day after the coronation," the queen stated. It wasn't her eldest daughter's ability to rule that she was worried about. Rather, it was the trauma imprinted in her heart of what her eldest did twenty years ago.

Although truthfully, the crown princess, who was soon to be Queen Arianna, had changed throughout the years of her adulthood. She had now learned a valuable lesson in life, and had now become wiser than her younger self.

"All hail the new king and queen!" The crowd cheered as Arianna and Frederic made their appearance. They donned the most expensive clothing fitted for their crowning and second wedding ceremony.

It wasn't a great distance from the royal carriage to the entrance of the chapel, but Arianna felt like it was the longest path she took ever since her ceremony preparation had started.

Frederic squeezed his wife's hand when he felt her nervousness pooling on her hand. It was an assurance for her that he will be there whatever happens. And for Arianna, it was enough to calm her raging emotions.

"I now pronounce Crown Princess Arianna as the new queen of the Corona Kingdom. And her highness' spouse, Frederic, the king consort and our new king," the priest declared.

Claps and cheers erupted from the humble citizens of Corona. And no joyful event could match how happy Queen Arianna felt. They had done the first and official ceremony a few days ago, but she still felt like the luckiest woman alive when the second ceremony was completed.

How could her former, devastated self know that any of these things would happen in the future? If it wasn't for her will to search for herself outside of their homeland, she wouldn't have found Frederic, the very person who accepted all of her. She wouldn't have felt this happiness filling the void that was left in her heart.

After the official crowning ceremony, the feast for the coronation began. Visitors from different lands, countries, and kingdoms attended the celebration. There were drinks and food offered for everyone. Everything appeared to be as organized as Queen Arianna had planned. Or almost everything.

Except that she had felt the same ominous feeling her heart feels every time she'll have a nightmare again. Because of the joyful event today, Arianna had almost forgotten about her nightmares.

Queen Arianna was in the midst of conversing with their foreign visitors when a familiar figure caught her attention. The woman in a black dress smiled at her with familiarity. Despite her different coloured hair and eyes, Arianna was sure that she knew who she was.