Mystic - EN version

Chapter 49 : Ending

Clave's heart was racing. She was standing at the top of the stairs, facing the hall, the crown in her hands. She was wearing a long lavender dress with a long train, several layers of fabric and decorations on the collar and sleeves. It was all rather heavy and made her feel hot, making her even more anxious than she already was. She, the princess with no memories, was now going to become queen, taking over from her sister.

Through the wide open door, the young girl could see figures whose faces she could not make out. They were all representatives of the regent families of Sirine, who had once stood by Arthur. They had simply turned their backs once he had been defeated.

"I don't want to talk to them. They're nothing but hypocrites ready to get down on their knees in front of a teenage girl like me to touch some semblance of power with their fingertips."

As she stepped out into the courtyard, she looked around. The sky was blue and the weather mild. Summer was coming to an end, and with it Clave's quest.

She walked cautiously along the paved courtyard of the castle, where she had defeated Arthur just a little while before.

Then Clave looked around for Noah. She quickly found him, next to Béatrice, Corentin and Naos. As she joined them, she looked at her boyfriend with a tender smile. He had been smiling again for a few days. He seemed to have finally clarified his feelings. He wanted to make amends for his father's mistakes. Clave was reassured, but there was still a lot to be done to change everything Arthur had left behind, starting with the tensions with neighbouring countries.

Noah turned gently to the young girl and took her hand.

– Now I'm third wheeling even more, Beatrice grumbled.

– Sorry, whispered her twin brother, looking embarrassed.

Then he and Corentin walked away, because Corentin didn't like crowded places. Then Griselda approached the blonde, a serious look on her face. Despite this, her scarlet eyes remained gentle and kind.

– It's time, Clave. Come with me, we're getting on the platform.

Reluctantly, the young girl let go of Noah's hand, gently touching his fingers. She followed Griselda to the raised floor, then handed her the crown. It was the ambassador who would take care of it, being the person Clave trusted most among the high aristocracy. Normally, it was the previous owner of the throne who crowned the new one, but in this situation, that was not possible. So it was Griselda who, having temporarily inherited the role of duchess, had to do it, as she was the highest-ranking person after Clave.

Then the young girl got down on one knee. The crowd of nobles in the castle courtyard gathered in front of the podium and fell silent. Nobody spoke any more, which only added to Clave's stress.

Griselda began her speech. The young girl wasn't listening to a word of it. Her eyes were fixed on the wooden floor of the platform. She just wanted everything to be over as quickly as possible. Finally, the ambassador announced:

– Long live the new Queen Mystic of Sirine.

Griselda delicately placed the Crown of Radiance on Clave's head. Slowly, the young girl stood up straight, looking at the walls of the castle courtyard in front of her. Then she saw the smiling, reassuring faces of Noah, Catherine and her friends, and that in turn made her smile.

She had become queen at last. Arthur was gone. She had done her duty. It was the end, but her new mission was just beginning.