Even thought the king had explained it to many people many times, Astoria would never truly understand why the king was relinquishing his throne. Stories of hundreds of years ago consisted of the rise and fall of once great nations and rulers. Lineages were tracked carefully to ensure that the "correct" person for the throne was crowned. Many people schemed to prevent unwanted rulers from ascending, even if it was their right.
From the other side of the room, Astoria could see Milo watching her. She was wrapped up in Joseph's arms as if what had occurred yesterday was all a terrible nightmare, but the two of them knew better. His eyes were asking the question he couldn't say aloud; hers gave the only answer she could. I'm fine.
She was in pain, she was tired, but the weight of a queen's crown was going to be pressing on her head in a matter of hours, and who really knew what would happen after that?
She stood silently and turned her attention to the window, observing the people who were filing into the castle. Those of lower status joyously filled the streets, banners waving in their hands, music slipping through the closed windows.
The last of those present in the room excused themselves, leaving the future king and queen alone. She silently untangled herself from him and muttered something about getting dressed. He watched her with interest as she went about retrieving her gown from its perch and spread it out on the bed.
Any other time she would have her ladies in waiting to assist her; however, up until then she had wanted to keep what had happened the previous night between her, Milo, and Alan. So it was a spur of the moment idea for her to simply get dressed in the middle of the room. She wanted to gauge his reaction to the marks on her body, the marks he'd caused, so she removed the pale gold robe from her body and let it slide to the floor.
Cool fingers gently pressed into the bruise that had blossomed on her lower back before she could reach for the gown. They traced the shape before running up her spine, stopping at each mark. One kiss was pressed to the back of her neck before she heard the door open and slam shut.
He never said a word.
*
While it should have been Joseph who had retrieved her from her room after he vanished, it was Mike who had shown up and brought her right to the large doors, leaving her alone for a few moments. Then Joseph was there, with the whispers of apologies on his lips, apologies that she'd been force to swallow as he softly kissed her. She'd silenced them with words of her own, but something Taylor had once said echoed in her mind: "You forgive, you forget, but you never let it go."
So Astoria had forgiven him, she forgotten it, but for the rest of her life she'd never be able to let what happened truly go.
It was as if a million little stars were perfectly aligning themselves. She glided along the floor as if she was floating on air, her arm wound around her escort's.
The crowd of people had parted as they descended the stairs, and as the couple continued to walk the crowd continued to watch in awe.
She kept her expression pleasant yet determined. Those who didn't know would write it off as nerves. Those who did. . . . They were already waiting.
Each step took her closer to what she wanted. Each step was took her closer to who she was destined to be.
The Archbishop was before them, standing at the same alter the two had exchanged wedding vows at. Once the people had been settled the Archbishop began.
"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this Kingdom, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the laws and customs of the same?"
Joseph had taken her hand at some point and squeezed it as he and Astoria both replied. "I solemnly promise so to do."
"Will you to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?"
"I will."
"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel and the Protestant reformed religion established by law, and will you preserve unto the bishops and clergy of this Realm, and to the churches committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of them?"
"All this I promise to do."
The book of laws was brought before them, and after placing their right hands upon the book, Astoria and Joseph said, "The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep."
"The crowns," the Archbishop said, and gestured for the book to be removed and the crowns to be brought forward.
Joseph was crowned first, an elaborate headpiece Astoria had never seen before, made the man seem even more so of the man he acted to be rather than the boy she'd once seen him as. Then it was her turn, and she couldn't back out. The weight was far more extraordinary than she expected it to be.
"By the power given to me from that of the Royal House of Armstrong, I present to this great nation His Royal Majesty King Joseph Armstrong and his wife Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria Armstrong."
The room exploded into applause, but Astoria couldn't hear it. She could see the smiles, the tears, the expressions of joy. But the sound had been cut off in her mind, or maybe it was just her screaming.
There was so much noise that no one really heard the gunshot. And no one really noticed that the bodies crumpling to the floor. Not at first. It was Astoria who was standing there, with the dead body of her husband beside her. It was Astoria who put the pieces together just as another shot rang out. It was Astoria who screamed, hurtling the world back into reality.
