Wysteria

Chapter 3

Transition /Tran-zish-en/- the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

(We know these are never edited)
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The crowd formed of my staff is loud, though everyone talks in low voices. Red guards line the walls, eyes on all the exits and the crowd at the same time.

Typically, none of the staff would be looked at with suspicions, but it wouldn't be the first time for an attempted assassination on a coronation day. Josiah, off duty but present anyway, makes his way through the crowd to take my arm.

"How are you feeling?" He mumbles into my ear, leading me towards the steps near the main entrance. I squeeze his arm a bit tighter, letting my swirling thoughts come to a stop.

"Determined?" I ask more than say, glancing over the uniform he seems to sleep in. Long, straight cut trousers with a tight red tonic tucked in. Covering his waist is a black belt with weapons, poisons, and gadgets clipped in. Josiah's tonic is decorated with a large black and red emblem on the back, showcasing his duty as the Queen's guard. It is the highest honor any warrior training in the castle can achieve, and Josiah is only on his twenty-seventh year. The uniform is pressed tightly, but also worn and frayed with combat. He wears it proudly today, even when it should be his day off.

"Determined," He echos, helping me climb the stairs that place me above everyone else. I turn and face the crowd, which slowly grows quiet. "I'll believe it when I see it."

I smile gently at him as he takes his place at my side. Vizen grins on the stair below me, holding a clipboard and a pen. She nods to me, and I nod back. Then it begins.

Vizen holds a single hand up and the lingering chatter dies. She stands with her head held to the sky, looking much stronger than I felt. The crowd waits in anticipation of the first speech of the day, which starts in private. After my own private speech, we would travel outside and begin a more public coronation.

"Good morning, and welcome. Today sparks a grand start to a better life, a better kingdom. Today, we welcome Princess Amaris Kamaria Cresenta Wolfe into adulthood. We welcome Princess Amaris into the role as our leader, who shall prosper as did her parents before her. May they Rest In Peace, the late King Zachariah Louis Wolfe, and Queen Maribelle Kamaria Wolfe. As we commence with this wondrous ceremony, I am pleased to announce Amaris Kamaria Cresenta Wolfe, first of her name."

I smile, and raise my own hand in thanks to the applause reverberating around the room. "I'd like to start by saying thank you to my longtime friend, Vizen, for the thoughtful speech. I'd like to take a moment now, to honor my parents. I know in my heart that they'd want to be here, to share this day with me."

I count in my head, in the dead silence, for over a minute. Thinking about the night they were taken from me.

"Thank you. Like Vizen stated, today is a monumental day. Not just for me, but for all of you as well. As some of my lifelong supporters, I couldn't be anymore happy to stand in front of you today and take an oath. The oath that my father took before me, and his father before him, and his mother before that. An oath, a duty, to you, my people. To my morals, to the upstanding ruling of the Wolfe family line. To carry this great weight on my shoulders is an honor. My only regret is that my parents aren't here to see it begin." I look out over the crowd, packed into the great hall with smiles and congratulation. They stand united, hand in hand, heart on sleeve. And no one word that leaves my mouth is untrue. I am proud to serve these people, my people, as they have served me.

"Going forth, be warned but not weary. I will rule with the fierceness and determination in my blood that my parent's have given me. I will cultivate this land and all those in it until the Goddess herself is proud. There will be no crime unpunished, no law unenforceable, no family forgotten. Ruling this land will not be easy, and neither will my first few years as Queen as I find my way. But I am glad to do so with so many strong people by my side. And that is why, Vizen, I will appoint you as my Right Hand. My First confidant, my First advisor once my parent's wonderful team retire. You have proven yourself time and time again, as well as your loyalty to the throne."