Forever Changing (On Hiatus)

Chapter 8- A Crown and Celebration

I stepped into the large foyer, the people on each side of the walkway. The tone walls were tall, and almost seemed endless. I took step after step, making sure to give enough time in between each step. The music being played was the rhythm that kept me from messing up and making a fool of myself.

I made sure to smile widely, but not too much that it was weird. My smile was nothing compared to the ones that were being given to me from the side. On the sides were family members, people from this kingdom and others. After awhile, I reached the podium-like item in the other side of the room. My mom sat still on one side, grinning at me. I could still see the sorrow in her eyes from the "incident".

The "incident" was what everyone was calling the murder.

I just refuse to speak of it.

Most of the process of the crowning was a blur.

The moderator spoke slowly, each word long and elaborated. It was quite boring honestly, if I had to make a comment. But I don't make a comment, I'm not supposed to. It would just lead to me to seem as a rude, interrupting person.

A king cannot be like that. It would ruin my image too much, and well, I don't really want anybody murdering me either. I stand there, focused on listening to the deep tone of the moderator. When he is done, I mentally sigh in relief, glad he is done. He quickly leaves the stage and my mother comes to the podium.

"Today is a day of happiness," she starts. "We will praise my son, and not focus on the bad times." Everybody could tell she was talking about the death of my father.

"I am proud of my son, even if shouldn't have to face certain circumstances, he has the full right to this," she smiles, one of the few smiles in days. She looks at me. "Come up here son."

I climb up one step, and kneel down. I hear the rippling of her dress as she reaches for the crown. I stare at her shoes as I feel a slight weight upon my head. I can't help but smile.

"Stand, my son," she says. "For you are now King Isanic."

~~~~~~

After the crowning, all the guests and castle members gathered in the ballroom, waiting for the first dance. My mother found me in the crowd and brought me to the center of the room.

I placed my hand on her waist and danced her around to the music. Huh, all those ballroom dance classes were actually helpful.

~~~~~~

Following the reception full of food, dance, and celebration, it was six o'clock in the evening. The whole coronation and after-reception was like ten hours.

But now it is later, and the light is giving away to the dark.

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I know I should be packing my stuff so I can move into the bigger bedroom, but even as a king, I'm lazy. My crown is still on my head, digging into my head and the mattress beneath me.

I stand up, and walk over to the mirror.

Staring at myself in the mirror,

"You look the same, and do you feel the same? The only difference is the crown on your head."

That's what my mother told me as the celebration had winded down. But do I feel the same? No, not exactly. I feel stronger, but my head feels like my brain is crumpling in. Or maybe that's because of the crown...

I have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss how to find the killer. The best I could do now was sleep... but it was only six o'clock.

~~~~~~

I walked down the servants' hallway and rapped my knuckles on Ashley and Michelle's door. I heard a shuffle inside before the oak door opened.

Ashley opened the door, and I see Michelle sitting a chair across their fireplace. The luxury of not being an ordinary servant, but assisting the royal family.

"Hello," Ashley said, smiling.

"Can I come in?" I ask. When she nods and steps aside, I take a step inside.

Michelle looks up from the book in her hands and smiles when she sees me. Setting aside the book, she walks up to greet me with a hug. Arms still around my neck, she asks, "How are you, Mr. King?"

"I'm doing fine," I respond as she pulls away. "I was bored and lonely up in my room. So I came here."

"Well you're always welcome here," Ashley says from the side. "I'll be going now. I must help your mother go to bed."

"Bye," I say as Michelle says, "Bye, mom."

Ashley exits the door, and Michelle leads me over to where the beds are. We sit down, me leaning against the headboard, her leaning against me.

"So how's life?" I ask casually.

"Pretty good," she answers. "My best friend just became a king today."

"Sounds great, Elle."

I can hear her choke back laughter before bursting out, uncontainable.

"'Elle?' Where did that come from?" she asks. "I mean, sure there've been nickname stages. Remember when you used to call me Shell?"

"Yeah, I remember," I answer. "But your name is too long."

"Don't blame me," she says. "After all your mother helped my mother choose a name."

"Eh."

~~~~~~

After a good half an hour later of talking. I leave Elle, and make way back to my room. The clock says eight o'clock. The sky is dark outside through the sliver I see through the window, specks of light coming through some stars.

I move closer to the window, and push back the curtains a little bit more. I can see a few lightning bugs. It brings me back to the days when I was younger, and my mother and I used to try to catch them. We always left at the darkest, so my father wouldn't yell at us to come inside.

Fun nights, those days.

~~~~~~

Yes, a long awaited chapter has returned!

I am dedicating this chapter to holoitsmichi who told me to update. And made her promise to update within a week.

So I'm keeping with it, here yah go.

This chapter is shorter than the other ones. The others average 1,200-1,700 words while this one is only about 1,000.

Oh well.

Bye y'all.