One in a million (Prequel to 'Bad Blood')

Chapter 2: All hail the Queen

Cassandra's POV

I was seated on my bed, watching Piers pace up and down. He didn't say anything, he babbled something under his breath and moved his arms around. It almost looked like he was discussing something on his own.

"Piers?"

He shook his head as he continued pacing. I wondered if he had heard me or if he was still discussing with someone in his head.

"Piers?"

He groaned but kept pacing.

"Come on, Piers," I sighed, and finally he stopped. "I know this is not what you wanted - "

"You took my life away from me," He came closer to me, standing in front of me. "You took what belongs to me."

"I didn't take anything, Piers," I got up to stand in front of him, to be on his eye level. "Father has given it to me, he wanted me to be his successor."

"Why you though?" He looked down, I could see this really hurt him. "I'm his son, his only son," He sighed, looking down. "Why did he forget about me, Cas?" He then looked up at me again, tears were forming in his eyes.

I gulped, I felt so bad then. Maybe I shouldn't have accepted this position... "He didn't, he - "

"He always did!" Piers backed off, pacing around my room again. "He never cared! He only cared about his firstborn, about his precious daughter."

I sighed. "Piers, you know that's not true."

He stopped and looked at me. "Not true?" He walked closer to me. "When it was your birthday, what did you get?"

"A cake, a day out with him, new clothes."

He nodded. "And when it was my birthday, what did I get?"

I frowned then, I couldn't remember... "A cake too?"

"You would expect that, wouldn't you?" He looked down then, shaking his head. "I didn't. I got a simple 'happy birthday'."

I blinked a few times then. Was this really true? If so, why did I never see that? "And what about our national holiday?"

He huffed. "Nothing."

I gulped then, suddenly I realized father had been favoring me.

"Mom cared about me, she treated us fairly," He smiled a bit, though it seemed like a sad smile. "I would get a cake and a gift and a day out with her," He looked down then. "Until it was taken from me."

I sighed.

"Everything was taken from me," He looked at me. "I was meant to be king, everyone knows it. But father favored you and so I can't have it? How is that fair?"

I wanted to agree with him. And partly, I did. It was unfair. He didn't deserve the unfair treatment he had been given by father. But I wouldn't take the blame for that. I knew that I would have to honor father's dying wish.

"Tell me, how is that fair?" He repeated, as if I hadn't heard him the first time.

"I know it's not fair, Piers," I placed my hand onto his shoulder. "And I don't want you to feel less. So I'll make you my advisor."

He raised his eyebrows.

I smiled. "I wouldn't want anyone else to have that job."

"I should be king!" He yelled.

I remained calm. "I know you wanted this, but it's not the case. I am going to be your queen, and I expect you to treat me like that."

He frowned but remained quiet.

___________________________

Later that evening, the Crown had arranged my coronation. It was a public event, though people would have to watch from a distance.

I had read about the procedure, I knew what to expect, I knew what to say and what to do. Though, I couldn't help but be nervous.

The Crown was giving a speech first, to the people. They talked about father, about his reign, and about his new successor.

After their speech, I was signalized to move closer. I walked to the throne at the front of the room. I've always thought this room to be a waste of space, and this throne to be a waste too. It was literally a room for coronations or public events. Rulers would never sit on that throne besides those occasions.

When I reached the throne, I slowly sat down on it and, suddenly, I was aware of the fact I would become a queen. I would become the queen of these people, of this kingdom. And I wondered... Was I ready for it? Was I ready to pass it down to my children later? Did I want to pass it on? Did I want to do this?

"Princess Cassandra," The Crown bowed for me. "We are honored and pleased that you accept your father's last wish."

I simply nodded.

Lord Gregory stepped forward. "Princess Cassandra," He took the crown, which is only used for coronations, off a pillow. "I, Lord Gregory, crown you: Queen Cassandra, third of her name, Queen of the Southern Kingdom." He then placed the crown onto my head.

As soon as that had happened, the people cheered. And I smiled. I smiled as I saw the people were happy, my people were happy. This was a good start.

Lord Gregory nodded at me to which I got up, standing in front of my people. And, as if on cue, everyone bowed for me. The Crown, the people and Piers.

I looked at Piers, as I still felt bad for him. I noticed he wasn't pleased, he was clearly angry. But I knew we would work this out.

"Thank you all," I said to which everyone got up again. "I am honored to be your queen and I'll do everything in my power to protect our beautiful kingdom."

The crowd cheered, and the Crown nodded pleasingly. I'm pretty sure they didn't think I'd know the protocol.

"Hereby I'd like to announce my advisor," I said and already saw some of the lords prepare themselves, as if I'd ask them. "Prince Piers."

Piers looked at me, it seemed as if he was debating on something, but eventually came to me. He didn't say anything, which would be protocol, instead, he bowed again.

When he arose, he looked me in the eyes and I knew, at that moment, I had created an enemy...