The Dragon's Gift [Rewriting]

Chapter 21

I slept well. Still, the luxury of a bed and sheets made me feel warm, and I began to wonder why I couldn't sleep before. Maybe Maegrythe was right, and I was dying. Or maybe she was wrong… But why would she lie?

I woke up before sunrise to fit in a few rehearsals of the coordination before the actual thing.

I kneeled down as a golden tiara was placed upon my head by Akire, one of Calysta's helpers whom I didn't remember. … For the third time. The third rehearsal. Akire was high in power, so he was going to be the one to officially name me princess.

I took a deep breath in, taking in ny surroundings. The event took place in the throne room of the castle. The room was decorated with flowers and jewels. Standing next to me was Naji, looking as prideful and flaunting as possible.

I sent him a smile as I rose to my feet again. Akira put out his hand, and I took it.

“Good luck.” He said to me.

“Thank you.” I acknowledged, growing more nervous with each passing moment. I wasn’t ready! I would probably end up tripping, or forgetting my lines.

I was so lost in thought, I jumped when I felt Calysta’s warm hand on my shoulder.

“You’ll do fine.” Calysta assured me, her honey brown eyes lighting up with a smile.

I sent her back a smile.

“But what if I don’t?” I asked her, “What if everyone in the Kingdom thinks I’m an idiot for screwing everything up?”

“Then they’ll think you’re an idiot.” Calysta said. “Believe me, the people of this kingdom hated me for years before they finally decided to accept it. And now look. They love me.”

I felt that was an exaggeration. I don’t think anyone really loved the person who told them what to do and barely ever took their opinions.

I blinked in surprise of myself. Why do I keep thinking these… bitter thoughts?

“So, don’t worry.” Calysta said. “And they won’t hate you. I promise.” And then with that, she walked away.

I stood there, still trying to process what was happening. Maybe I should have stayed in the forest, after all…

━━━━━ • ஜ • ❈ • ஜ • ━━━━━

I could hear them talking from outside the throne room. A crowd of almost all the Kingdom, all lined up in the castle waiting for my to walk by them. Waiting for that golden crown to be placed upon my head. My young, anxious head.

“Princess.” A man said, I looked over to see Calden. “Are you ready?”

Calden, as the captain of the guard, was to be the one to escort me through the halls. But once the walk was over, I would see Naji, waiting for me at the throne. Calysta would already be on her throne, conspicuously saying she still held the most power.

Still, though, Calden’s father was sick. I had never met him, and by the looks of it, I wouldn’t.

“Yeah…” I lied. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Calden nodded. “After you.” He said, gesturing for me to walk.

Trying to stall as much as possible, I walked slowly. Two guards opened the door for me, and the room suddenly fell silent. I walked silently, my emerald dress gliding across the cold, marble floors.

The son of the captain of the guard marched behind me, in between the two other guards who opened the door.

I looked at everyone’s faces. Pride. Happiness. Jealousy. Hope… and sadness. Was there something I didn’t know?

I let out a soft laugh.

There’s always something I don’t know.

Queen Calysta sat on her throne, her eyes, like everyone else in the Kingdom, were fixed on me.

I took a deep breath in, stumbling over a crease in the velvet carpet.

Silence.

“Are you okay?” I heard Calden ask.

With a nod, I continued walking as if nothing had happened. That is what we had rehearsed. I almost fell…

So easily, something so important could be ruined. It worried me.

Graciously, I stepped next to Naji, who was looking as enchanting as ever.

Akire stood on my right, while Naji and Calden stood to my left. I kneeled down onto my one knee, then closed my eyes.

“Ayla Nesrin,” Akire said, “Do you swear to uphold all the Laws of Terria and make your kingdom the best it can be?”

“I do.” I promised.

“Do you swear to protect your kingdom and put your people’s needs in front of your own?” He continued.

“I do.” I repeated.

More statements were read, and I replied to everyone with the same words: I do.

“From this day forward,” Akira said, grabbing a golden tiara off of a velvety pillow. “You will be known as Princess Ayla Nesrin of Terria.”

I felt Akira place the crown on my head. I smiled, feeling a sense of pride flow through my body.

But then my eyes caught something in the crowd. Lavender scales in the crowd. WIngs spread out, but no one seemed to notice the dragoness there.

Maerythe’s face was of fear and anger.

“You should have left when you had the chance.” Maegrythe’s face was still as stone, but I heard her words echoing in my head.

Something was terribly wrong.