The Road to Coronation

Coronation

Chapter 21:

(Sofia POV)

The days were moving by quickly as we came closer to the Coronation. It was a whirl of preparations, dress fittings and meetings but, then we reached it. The night before the coronation. I laid in bed looking up at the ceiling unable to sleep when I heard Hugo roll towards me, "Can you sleep?" I shook my head and we both sat up. "What is keeping you awake?" Hugo said looking at me, "I'm nervous." I admitted. He nodded, "Me too." 

"Is it weird that I am waiting for something bad to happen, that things are going to get worse the moment they begin to look better again," I said looking at him. He shook his head, "No, we have been through a lot recently. I'm waiting for something bad to happen as well. But that is life bad things are going to happen, hopefully not as extreme as how things have been recently." I laughed at that and he smirked. I then asked him, "What about you what is keeping you awake?" 

He shifted a little and then said, "I-I've been thinking about Clara." Oh, I put my hand on top of his, "Do you want to talk about it?" He sighed, "I just never got the chance to be excited about us having a kid. I found out when you two were gone and then when I found you she was gone. I just wish we had the chance to do it right, where we could both be excited and happy about having a kid." I hadn't thought about that. I knew what I had to do. I looked over at him and smiled, "The next one we will." With that we were both able to go to sleep and get ready for the next day. By the end of that day we would be coronated, we would be King and Queen.

(Hugo POV)

I woke up before Sofia the next morning and shook her awake, "It's Coronation Day." She opened her eyes and tilted her head back. I leaned down and gave her a small kiss, "We have to get up." She looked over at me, "Alright, I am all for the coronation but do we have to go to it after." I knew what she was talking about, "Yes Sofia we need to go to the Coronation Ball." 

She groaned, "But, nothing good ever happens at Balls." I rolled my eyes and leaned forward, "This is the Ball that we change that." She still shook her head, "Fine, but when something bad happens I get to say 'I told you so'" She said leaning closer to me, she closed the distance between us and said, "Let's get ready." She rolled out of bed and left me alone. "You are cruel," I shouted as she walked into her closet, "You are the one who wanted me to get up."

I got dressed and then saw Sofia come out in her gown, "You look amazing." I said and she went down into a curtsey, "Thank you, Crowned Prince Hugo." I laughed at that and she did too, "That is the last time you are going to be able to call me that." She nodded, "I know it is sad. I will have to get used to calling you King Hugo." I shook my head, "No, you won't to you I will always be Hugo." She shook her head, "Whatever you say Future King Hugo." She ran out of the room laughing, leaving me behind.

Time passed quickly and I hadn't seen much of Sofia. We had eaten breakfast together but, then my Dad needed me to go over preparations for the coronation and Aunt Violet was taking care of Sofia. Everything was ready and guests were starting to arrive and line up in the throne room. I was waiting in a separate room for the procession to begin. I heard the door begin to open and saw Sofia walk in. 

"Sofia, where have you been?" I asked. She was supposed to meet me here a while ago. She rolled her eyes and looked over at me keeping one hand behind her back. "What are you hiding?" "Nothing," she said keeping her hand out of sight. I began chasing after her until I grabbed the hand she had behind her back and saw a small gift in her hand. "Sofia, you shouldn't have," I said. I opened the box and saw some cufflinks in the shapes of roses. I then saw the paint on them, "So you can have a part of her with you tonight, some clararoses." She said, helping me put on the cufflinks. 

"I didn't get you anything," I said looking down. She placed a hand on my arm, "You've already given me everything." She pulled me into a kiss, "Happy Birthday Hugo," and suddenly all the nerves that came with the day and stress I had been feeling were gone. We separated as we heard a knock on the door. "You ready?" She asked. "Are you going to be there?" She nodded, "Then I'm ready for anything." She took my hand and we walked out together and got ready for the next part of our lives.

(Sofia POV)

We walked out together and got in line for the procession standing behind a bunch of important people in the kingdom, several were people who were on the advisory board. Hugo and I walked in side by side past all our friends, family, foreign dignitaries and important people of our kingdom and stood before King Garrick. I don't remember what anyone said or really what had happened it was such a blur of nerves and excitement but I soon saw Hugo kneeling down and his father crowning him. 

I couldn't help but smile as I saw Hugo turn to face us all, "Long live King Hugo" the crowd and I spoke. I then stepped forward and kneeled down as Hugo removed my tiara and placed the Queen's crown on my head. He helped me stand up and we turned to face everyone. "Long live Queen Sofia." I turned to him and smiled as we walked to our thrones and took a seat. I looked out at everyone as they bowed toward us. This was really happening. We were officially King and Queen.

We waited as everyone filtered out of the room and prepared for the Ball until it was only Hugo and I. I stood up walked over to him and went down into a curtsey, "It is lovely to meet you King Hugo Gabriel Albridge the first." He cleared his throat and stood up and went down into a bow, "The pleasure is all mine Queen Sofia Albridge the first." We both laughed and he took my arm, "Are you ready for tonight?" I shook my head, "Is the Ball absolutely necessary?" He let out a chuckle, "You are the only Princess I have ever me who doesn't like Balls." I stopped him, "I believe you mean Queen." I gestured up to my new crown and he laughed, "My apologies." I then looked over at him, "All is forgiven but, before the dreaded Ball do you think we can sneak away to the gazebo." He nodded and we walked down together.

I looked around at the emptiness of the garden that contrasted how filled the throne room was. I felt Hugo tap my shoulder, "May I have this dance?" I nodded and we began to sway in the privacy of the gazebo. Our first dance as King and Queen would be all our own and that was how it needed to be. "Hugo?" I began to ask. He gazed down at me, "Is this real? Are we really here?" He nodded, "Yeah Sofia, this is real." I leaned into his chest and pulled him closer, "Can we stay like this for a little longer?" "For as long as you like." We stayed in the gazebo for a little longer before returning to the castle. It was almost time for the Ball and I wasn't going to leave Hugo's side until it was over. I wasn't going to leave Hugo's side ever again.