Forgotten

-Chapter 43-

VOTE & COMMENT ❤️

It's coronation day. The past week was like a flashback to wedding preparations. I begged Leo to rehire Selena as event planner and of course he listened because that's what a good (and smart) husband does. She was crazy and over the top, but she did a beautiful job, as always.

I currently stood in the throne room. I entire place had been decorated in Gaiden and Facia's colors. Yellow and red. Blue and black. In any normal place, those colors would clash horribly, but Selena managed to capture both Kingdom's essence perfectly. She also made me beautiful dress with all four colors. It was the poofiest dress I've ever worn in my life and the skirt is so stiff with layers I'm afraid I'll knock people down as I walk by.

I thankfully didn't have to get ready for a few more hours, so I decided to take some alone time before I was bombarded by all the duties of becoming queen. I glanced all around me, taking in the emptiness before the place was filled from people all over the world. So much has brought me to this point. Destruction, loss, heartbreak, hurt, death, love. And all in the span of five months. It was weird to think about it and when I started to think about it too much, I had to stop myself from digging a hole I wouldn't be able to return from. I took a seat in one of the chairs to take a breath

I heard the door close behind me and I turned to see Aries walking up to me. She sat next to me. "Are you nervous?" She asked slowly. I nodded, pushing tears away that threatened to leak from my eyes. At the end of the day, I was just an eighteen-year-old girl. And this was a lot of pressure.

Aries leaned her head on my shoulder and held my hand tightly. I rested my head on hers, and let the tears silently fall. We stayed like this for a few more minutes until my eyes finally dried. I pulled away and Aries lifted her head. "Thank you. For everything." I whispered at my little friend. She smiled up at me, "Thank you, for being the big sister I've never had." My heart clenched at her words, and I wrapped her small body in my arms. My heart broke for this little one who was even younger than I am and endured just as much. My heart was full of so much love for this girl.  Another tear fell from my eyes. But this time, from happiness. 

...

It was only an hour until the coronation started and the prep team was in full swing. Workers ran around like chickens with their heads cut off as Selena barked orders at them. I was sitting in a chair watching the chaos unfold as a hairdresser yanked on my hair. "Ouch." I hissed when the impatient person behind me yanked another lock. "Sorry, Princess. It's got to be tight." With that, they yanked again, my head jerking back.

After my hair and makeup was finally completed, Selena got ready to shove me into the dress. It was a complete hassle, and I struggled to shimmy into the corset-like top. I swear my ribs cracked as the dresser woman yanked the ties on the corset, sinching my waist so small you put a necklace around it. They then made me put on white gloves made of silk that reached up to my elbow. I struggled to breath and walk as I was also carrying twenty pounds of fabric that swished at my legs. I stopped in the hallway that entered into the room where Leo was awaiting me to take a breath and was interrupted by my mother's tall figure. 

She glowered down at me, of course, and I noticed her features weren't as striking as usual. Her eyes sagged, her dull eyes even duller. Her hair even started to gray. I instantly knew why and my heart stung in betrayal. I hated my father more than anyone, but adultery is a punishable crime and I could never excuse it. "I have brought you something of importance." She spoke, monotone and emotionless.

"What's that?" I asked, wanting this conversation over before it even begun.

"The royal sash of Facia. Leo will be wearing his for Gaiden, so I wanted you to represent Facia as well." 

She then held up a beautiful handmade sash. I recognized it quite well, remembering a picture I saw once of my grandmother wearing it. It was a solid royal blue color, with black crystals embroidered across the material. Embroidered in silver thread read "Facia". It was beautiful. I took the historical object tenderly into my hands. "May I?" My mother asked. At first, I was confused, but then I realized she wanted to put it on me. I nodded in surprise. But nothing surprised me more than her next words. 

"I'm sorry, Athena."

My heart stopped and I gulped, "For what?"

"For being a horrible mother."

She then draped the sash over my shoulders and brushed a curled piece of hair off my face. "I wish I was a better mother for you. But it's not how I operate. Same goes with your father." My eyes teared up as she cupped my chin gently, "You always deserved so much more, my daughter." Then she walked away, leaving me to tend to my broken heart.

In a way, I had closure I didn't even know a needed. I felt I could finally put the hatred for my mother behind me and move on to a mutual respect. Granted, I didn't love the woman. But I no longer despised her. I wiped away a singular tear and then walked into the conference room where I am to meet Leo before we walk into the throne room together.

When I opened the door, he turned to face me, and my stomach fluttered upon laying my eyes on his. He worse a suit that perfectly complimented my dress, both adorned in all four colors of our kingdoms. He wore the Gaiden sash. It was similar to mine but made with the colors of Gaiden and instead of crystals, the fabric was a striped pattern. "Hello, wife." He smirked and I blushed. Curse being in love with this man. He walked up to me, and I threaded my arm through his. "Ready to claim our kingdoms?" I asked. He nodded sternly, "Born ready."

As we walked up to the doors that led into the throne room, I could feel my heart thudding in my chest. This was the most important day of my life. "Are you nervous, tesoro?" Leo asked and I glanced over at him to already find him staring at me. "Very." I whispered. "Don't be, I'm right here."

As if on cue, the doors swung open, and the anthem of Gaiden started playing. Its soft melody rang through the room as we started our descent down the aisle. Waiting at the end was my father, who was going to coronate us since Leo's father had passed. I avoided his burning stare as best as I could. As if you sense my disease, Leo squeezed my arm softly.

We walked slowly and I could feel a million eyes on us. The melody ended and as we reached the end of the aisle, Facia's anthem started. Leo and I turned to face the crowd; our arms still linked. We stood like that, serious and all-powerful until the anthem ended. My father cleared his throat from behind us and that was our cue to turn and face him. He stood there, brooding and proud as he stared down at us. He then looked up, past our heads, and into the eyes of the crowd.

"We gather here today," he boomed, "to coronate the new King and Queen of both Gaiden, and Facia." I took a deep, shaky breath as my father continued. "I am now going to ask you both to swear to honor, care for, and devote your lives to these kingdoms." Leo and I both nodded. My father angled himself more towards Leo. "Prince Leo Dominic Romano, do you swear to honor these kingdoms, care for it and its people, and devote your life for as long as you shall role to the kingdoms of Gaiden and Facia?" Leo nodded firmly, "I do."

My father than reached to his right, where the king's crown was lain on top a plush, velvet pillow atop a pedestal. He then held it high in the air above Leo's perfectly groomed head. "I now declare you, King Leo Dominic Romano of Gaiden and Facia." The crowd and I watched, amazed, as my father lowered the lavish crown atop Leo's head. Leo then bowed his head in respect before looking back up. My father than turned towards me. "Princess Athena Rose Chappel, do you swear to honor these kingdoms, care for it and its people, and devote your life for as long as you shall role to the kingdoms of Gaiden and Facia?" I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded. Opening my eyes, I stared deep into my father's soul. "I do." 

He then reached to his left, where the queen's jewels were held. He lifted the tiara high, "I know declare you, Queen Athena Rose Chappel of Gaiden and Facia." Then he lowered it down stop my head. The heavy tiara fit snug and smiled smugly before looking back into the cold, dead eyes of my father. I had finally beat him. I had finally won.