Ink: Living Life as Serena Gleis

LXI: Perspectives.

Capital, Bluistain.

"With the appointed emperor dead and the princess nowhere to be found, I hereby declare, with the blessing bestowed upon me, Cynfael Dumeire as the new sun of the empire." Duke Clox's voice echoed through the hall, no one dared to clap nor to make noise. Everyone was still as the Duke crowned the new emperor.

The hall was dimly lit, unlike the previous crowning ceremonies, this looked more like a funeral. A death of the Empire. Cheering from the outside from the citizen cannot be heard nor a single congratulations escaped no one's lips.

Cynfael stood proudly, he does not care at all. He don't wish to have a nation who'll support him as he knows he'll rule with an iron fist. He knew that they won't have any choice but to comply and obey all his orders.  Despite all the success and power he holds, there's something inside him that wasn't happy. As he tried to brush those feelings off, the stronger it gets.

His memories from before were all blurry, all he could think of was to succeed the throne and marry Celine. His childhood, memories from his family, everything was all fuzzy. As if someone was blocking his specific memories.

"Congratulations, my love." Celine snaked her arms on Cynfael's neck, infront of the high-ranking nobles and officials, Celine proceeded to give Cynfael a passionate kiss as a concrete proof that she will be the empress of Bluistain. Cynfael wanted to move away but it seems like his body has its own mind. He's been feeling like that for a long time now as if there's something that restricts him from doing what he truly wanted. He don't have a choice but to comply to it.

After a while, Celine has stopped. The banquet also started. No one even dared to get out of their seats not to have simple conversation with each other. The food that was served was left untouched as well.  Even if there is a soft jazz music playing, no one stood up to dance.

It was a silent protest.

"This is boring." Emyr said as he took a sip of his red wine. Caspian hummed in response. The founding families were required to be present in every crowning ceremonies and Duke Gleis just found it amusing to witness how things will unfold moving forward.

"It really is." Esmeralda, the Duchess of Draux agreed. She's wearing a black imperial clothing. Her face were covered by a black-mesh veil "People would've thought you're attending a funeral than a crowning ceremony, Duchess." The Duke of Gleis said with an amused smirk. Esmeralda just looked into him with a blank expression. Esmeralda sat on the vacant seat near the table where the representative of the Gleis Duchy sat. The silence of the hall was deafening, it seems like the jazz music were drowned in silence. 

"It's no difference, Duke. I just witnessed the death of this Empire." The Duchess said, looking in the far distance, deep in thought. Caspian as the youngest in the area was shocked to hear the words from the Duchess. The Duchess of Draux which vowed to serve the Empire has given up, he might be young but he is wise and fully understand the gravity of the situation. He can't help but look up the throne where Cynfael sat, a sinister yet blank expression in his eyes. He felt anger boiling inside him as he remembered all the things he's done with his sister but his eyes soften as he realizes that he is nothing different, he also done some terrible things and make Serena suffer so he he does not have any right to be mad as he's just like him. 

The discomfort and sudden mood change of Caspian did not go unnoticed by Emyr. "Are you okay?" he asked, Caspian just nodded in response. Emyr chose to let it go and continued sipping his red wine. 

"Where is Luca?" Augustus asked, both of the brothers looked around saw nothing of him, not even a shadow. "He's here a while ago, want me to look for him?" Emyr asked, the Duke shook his head and continued discussing some business with a random noble near their table.