The Blood Maiden

Chapter 43 | King of Dreams

Elaire's POV

In front of the ceremonial hall, every vampire that's a part of the king's procession was busy preparing and a few, retouching. Pinalibutan ako ng organisadong gulo, if that even makes sense— everyone was doing their own thing but not really being chaotic about it. Mahinahon lang ang aming paghahanda, maliban sa unahan ng prusisyon kung saan nagmumula ang bangayan nina Prince Inouen at Lord Haste na sila ring pinakamalapit sa nakabukas na mga pinto ng hall.

I continued to stare afar while a servant carefully draped a ceremonial cape over my shoulders, used exclusively by the king's guard. Kulay pula ito at malaking nakaburda sa likuran ang coat of arms ng hari. Sobrang haba din nito, na kinailangan pang paatrasin ng mga katulong ang admirals na nasa aking likod upang walang makaapak nito. The cape was originally white but they magically turned it into red, to compliment my new uniform.

With a gentle tug, the servant adjusted the cape, ensuring it fell just right. Another servant approached us, upang ayusin ang buhok kong tinali nila sa hugis ng isang korona.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, bahagya akong napalingon nang mahagip ko ang bango ng hari. Kararating lang niya sa hulihan ng prusisyon. It took me a lot to not look back at the other end of the hallway, out of curiosity of what he looks like in his ceremonial garb. Standing straight, I looked ahead of me, at the Lords of Irvina. Napansin kong may iba sa kanila na nagbubulong-bulungan habang panay ang pagsulyap sa'kin. May iba ring nginitian ako kaya't sandali kong ibinaba ang aking ulo sa kanila.

There was a sense of anticipation in the air. And after everyone has been set on their right places, instrumental music blasted from the ceremonial hall, and the procession started— leading the procession and the ceremony, the previous Lord Chancellor, Lord Lucius, accompanied by the previous King's Guard, Admiral Bane. Sinundan sila ng may dala ng mga royal regalia— Lord Haste, who carried the royal scepter, Prince Inouen who carried the ceremonial book and royal sword, and the Grand Duke, Lord Cassien, who carried the coronation crown. It was Gideon who carried the royal orb, as he led the Court of Lords into the ceremonial hall.

Papasok sa hall, napahinto ako nang maramdamang may gumalaw sa suot kong kapa. Lumingon ako at nakita si Admiral Sienna na inayos pala ang natuping dulo nito at nang matapos, sinenyasan niya akong magpatuloy. As the King's Guard, it was my duty to lead the admirals of the royal army to the throne. Ako ang nanguna sa kanila sa pagpasok sa napakalaking ceremonial hall. I calmly walked along the length of the red carpet decorated with swirling patterns of gold.

It was suffocating to bear the weight of everyone's stares and before I drown in the sea of expectant faces, binaling ko ang aking atensyon sa katingkaran ng aking kapaligiran. The large windows let the sun shine down upon us. Large banners hung along the ceilings. Sa pagkakatanda ko, mga simbolo ito ng noble families ng Irvina. Everything was grand. Everyone, dressed in their best ceremonial attires, like stars sparkling in the middle of the day. Huminto ako nang yumuko sa beywang sina Gideon at ang Court of Lords sa harap ng bakanteng trono. Nang umakyat si Gideon sa platform na kinaroroonan nito upang tabihan si Lord Lucius, lumiko ang Lords pakanan, sa kanilang mga upuan.

At saka ako nagpatuloy.

I don't know why but each step I took towards the throne felt like a journey through time. Pakiramdam ko pa nga'y nakahubog sa trono ang aking buong buhay at tadhana. Nang huminto ako sa harap nito, ilang segundo pa bago ako yumuko kasabay ang admirals, pasan ang bigat na hindi ko alam kung saan galing basta't lumitaw lang ito ngayong nakarating na ako sa dulo.

Nasa dulo na nga ba ako? Tinuwid ko ang aking tindig. O mag-uumpisa pa lang?

I climbed up to the other side of the platform and stood beside Admiral Bane, while the admirals marched to their seats, across the Court of Lords. Kasunod na huminto sa tapat ng trono ang dalawang prinsesa ng kaharian. Princess Nefertir wore an elegant emerald green grown. On her head, a silver crown. Princess Feyren, meanwhile, wore a diamond tiara and a beautiful storm gray dress, the same color as her lace gloves. Both princesses stood side by side as they curtsied, low and then lower, their skirts creating a puddle around them.