Crowned Desires

6} The Opening Ceremony

Gray Anderson

The rituals of the palace confused me. Every moment leading up to the blazing trumpets had me clueless about what was happening. I only started to piece things together about the dress code when Celeste walked in looking like a living, breathing, broken rule.

I felt like a foreigner as I watched this ceremony play out, and the more I watched, the more confused I got.

Women, about eighteen to twenty-two, walked up to the queen one at a time. They were dressed like royalty, all in different colors and bearing some sort of gift.

Some gave jewelry, others just precious gems, and some women even brought cattle or horses. They gave the gift to the queen, who would take a moment to examine and access it. Then, she would simply nod or shake her head.

For the most part, the Queen nodded, and the women would curtsey, looking enchanted. I looked like I ate something rotten as I watched the whole ordeal. The whole room was eerily silent. No words were exchanged besides the footmen announcing the women's names as they entered.

I took in a deep breath and leaned down ever so slightly, making sure to keep my eyes directed ahead of me and not on the tantalizing women in front of me.

"What does all this mean? Why are they giving gifts to Queen Cordelia?"

She didn't look over to me either, thankfully aware that talking during this was not a smart choice.

"You don't know what the opening ceremonies are?" She mumbled.

"I do. I'm just asking cause I love hearing the sound of your voice..."

She shrugged, "Only a matter of time before you fell for me. I must say, though, I thought you'd last a little longer than the others."

I felt the usual frown forming on my face she caused, "Just tell me."

For a moment, I thought she would sit there quietly for the rest of this ceremony just to spite me, but after a minute, she spoke up gently.

"The opening ceremonies determine which eligible women in the kingdom will become instilled into society, marry a man with title and power, and join all these people." her finger lifted from her throne and pointed at the crowd of men and women all dressed alike (like there bloomers and corsets were tied entirely too tight.)

I had to bite back a scoff, "And what determines if they can or can't?"

"A lot of things, their clothes, appearance, body..." Her voice dropped into a lower whisper, and I swore I heard the hints of embarrassment on the edge of her words, "But mostly the gifts."

My eyes glanced over to the woman entering just now. The footman announced her as Anna Condrum of Agate Shores. She was immediately different from the girls who had been walking up. Her dress was worlds more modest, just a simple piece of yellow fabric sewn into a beautiful but simple pattern. I felt a startling chill slowly inch up my spine. The dress reminded me of something my mother would've worn– years and years ago. Her hair wasn't stacked atop her head in some fancy updo; instead of holding some expensive gift in her hands out front, they were behind her back.