Ariana pov
I peel the blankets off my body, shuddering when I get hit by the cold morning air as I climb out of bed to get dressed for the coronation.
I look out the window, frowning at the rising sun. I was supposed to have woken up an hour earlier to prepare for the coronation, but I hadn't since no one had come to give me my morning call.
I huff in frustration while getting my morning bath ready, the water slightly cold.
My movements halt at hearing a loud knock resonating through my chambers. I look up, my eyebrows scrunched, wondering who it could be.
Shoving the doors open, seeing two maids staring towards me as they nervously shuffle on their feet, eyes looking downwards in a sign of respect, with a rack of color full of dresses standing behind them.
My heart sank at seeing their nervousness. The shorter one of the two seemed to have been trembling.
"Hello, is there something I can help you with?" I ask, my voice gentle and airy, trying to help them with their nerves.
The oldest of the two, who had blonde hair lined with white, looked up, surprise written across her face as she regarded me with wary eyes before giving me a friendly smile and saying, "My lady, The King asked us to help prepare you for the coronation."
"Prepare...me?" I asked, baffled, not understanding, as Will hadn't told me anything about the coronation or my role in it.
"Yes, my lady, the King told us to prepare you for it. We even bought the dresses the King had requested you to wear, " the older maid says as I lead them inside.
The two work together, helping me bathe, messaging my skin with the warm water, a small sigh leaving my lips as they get rid of the knotted muscles across my shoulder blades, as I sink further into the bath.
I usually hated being bathed by maids as they would laugh and snicker at my emaciated figure, sometimes even verbally calling out my flaws to see my cheeks redden with shame and my eyes swell with tears. But this was different. Not once did I hear a rude comment from them or see them give each other pointed eye contact to highlight my faults.
If I could, I would say that they were probably the kindest maids that I have ever met. I would stay here forever with the water just right and my muscles loose and relaxed. It was serene, reminding me to thank the maids for their work and kindness.
After washing the soap off my body, Ada, the oldest of the two helped me into a silken chemise before applying small amounts of fragranced oils and powders onto my face and body.
I look at them with confusion when I notice them moving away from the vanity table to the rack of dresses. Looking into the mirror, I can't help but belittle myself at what I see. They hadn't put nearly enough powders on my face as the other maids usually did.
"Ada, Harmony, are you sure this is enough powder?" I ask, looking at the two.
They both look at me and then at each other, causing me to hold my breath as I await their rude remark, but it never comes. Instead, I get something that almost leaves me speechless.
"M'lady, what are you talking about? More powder will only tarnish your beauty. I want to remove it, seeing that you look more beautiful without it than with it." Harmony, the younger maid says.
"What?" I ask baffled, "Surely you must be joking,"
"No, my lady, we couldn't possibly muse after you. It will go against our duty. If it makes m'lady happy, we will gladly apply more powder on her," Ada says, her eyes kind as she approaches me near the vanity table again. I look at her and then at Harmony with weary eyes before deciding to get dressed instead.
"No it's fine, let's get dressed," I say, getting up and walking towards the dresses. My hands find their way toward the bright-colored dresses, the fabrics distinctly different from one another, as I prod at them with my fingers to see their golden patterns illuminate in the morning sun.
From a distant memory, I recall learning that the new monarch was supposed to wear red at the coronation, the color of love and death, causing me to pull out the same colored dress from the rack. It was beautiful, its chiffon material soft and perfect with its gold embroidery as I pointed it at the maids to help me put it on.
They look at each other as though conflicted with something. Before looking back at me, Ada opens her mouth to speak, her discomfort obvious in her tone " M'lady, do you think it would be appropriate to wear the royal colors to the coronation?"
I look at them, understanding their concern, no one was ever allowed to wear the royal colors unless they wanted death to be at their doorstep. I ,however didn't think the case was the same for me, seeing that Will was the one who even put the colour on the dress rack.
"yes," I reply with a smile on my face.
"What?!" Harmony screeches out with wide frantic eyes, not believing my response, "Surely you must know the consequences of that."
My eyes narrow down on her commanding voice my wolf not liking her tone as I feel my skin bristle with anger, my wolf almost showing before I can compose myself. It didn't take me long to realize that Harmony had also noticed my wolf presence coming to the front as she had her head downcast her chest heaving up and down as if I was about to hurt her.
"The dress wouldn't be on the rack if the King didn't want me to wear it," I state the obvious, as I calmly walk towards Harmony, taking her hand in mine to soothe her, "I don't think the King would be upset, quite the opposite actually," I say with a small smile making her look at me dumbfounded.
"But....but....why?" Harmony asks, her voice trembling slightly.
"You'll know by the end of the day," I say as Ada helps me put the corset on.
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I walk down the palace courtyard towards the Moon Goddess temple, a building older than time itself, where the first king was crowned by the Moon Goddess herself.
It was big and majestic, full of never-ending power. The Moon Goddesses' aura still felt even millenniums later. The dark, mysterious stone pillars hinged with ancient carvings illustrate the power of the Moon Goddess and her ancestors. As breathtakingly beautiful they were, they also made one's stomach knot up with fear at seeing their portrayal of the past.
My hands trembled at my sides, noticing the strange glances I was getting. Hopefully, wearing red wouldn't get me into trouble before the coronation even began.
I walk inside the temple before anyone can stop me, the red carpeted floor shaking slightly, as I walk in, the courtiers inside look at me with astonished eyes, loud whispers being heard from every corner of the room, which I try to ignore as I walk down the aisle to my seat beside my house.
But the whispers still get to me, my ears overwhelmed with their crude words.
"Who is she...?"
"Eeww....She is so thin and sickly...."
"Stupid hag wearing the Royal colors.."
"She is beautiful.... must have a warm pussy.. maybe I'll be lucky enough to have some..." whispers a man a few seats away from my row, his eyes a vibrant violet as they study me from afar, disgust rolls up my spine as he gives me a devilish smile while making flowers appear out of thin air, he was a wizard. It was obvious in the way he looked at me.
I almost want to hide under my seat when I see Nathaniel approaching the man from the corner of my eye, he sits next to him, his posture calm as they start talking to each other.
It takes a bit of straining, but I can make out what they are saying.
"You're a wizard?" Nathanial says with a smile to which the man nods in acknowledgment.
"Yes, so, " the man says, his voice slightly gruff and spiteful of Nate.
"Well, if I were you I'd be careful about what I say about people, especially my sister," Nathaniel says, his eyes locking with mine, " the King may end up staining his hands with blood..we wouldn't want that, especially on the coronation."
"What do you..." The man tries asking but is unable to do so as Nathaniel gets up and heads towards me, sitting on the empty seat beside me. I look at him a small giggle escaping me as he slams down with a loud huff, " Thank you, but you didn't have to be so cruel to him."
"He asked for it. He should be greatfull that he is even sitting right now." Nathanial replies, his arms crossed against his chest while he stares the man down in a staring contest.
The man is the first to look away, his eyes briefly landing on mine, causing Nathaniel to growl out loud, his anger evident as the people around us let out loud gasps of surprise.
He is about to get up, to stomp toward the man when I place my hand on his, halting his movement. He looks at me, his eyes narrowed as he regards me, causing him to pull his hands away in anger with a loud huff of annoyance, making me roll my eyes at his childish behavior.
My eyes quickly skim over the crowd, seeing new faces emerge from the entrance of the temple, not all of them being wolves, some were witches, wizards, Faeries, Elves, and even dragons, who were rarely ever spotted after their defeat with Will.
Nathanial and I wait together in silence for Andria and our parents to arrive, their absence causing my gut to spasm in anxiety as I take glances at the entrance. It is only when I spot them in the far north of the hall does my anxiety lessens and I slum back in my seat.
"You okay?" Nathanial asks, his eyes filled with concern as they find mine. My heart warms with an emotion almost unfamiliar to me, his kind loving eyes bringing a small smile to my lips.
I feel my arms ache with the need to hug him, but I don't, he's too precious to hug, he's too perfect to love. It makes me worry that if I did hug him, I would break him like I broke my sister. So I just, squeezed his hand three times, letting him know I was alright.
He slowly nods in understanding, the creases on his forehead disappearing as we watch Papa, mama, and Andria come towards us. They greet us in a silent gesture before taking their seats beside us, the room falling into silence as the remaining guests arrive.
I spot the archangel from the corner of my eye, his white and golden ropes standing out in the crowd as he walks down the aisle. He was wise and the last of his kind. The only person other than the king who could lift the crown of heavenly fire without burning. It was only him who could crown Will for no one else held a power so great as his.
He had no irises, his eyes a fog of nothingness with skin so pale that I wondered if he was a ghost. He was freakish, to say the least.
I felt the prickles of his power sink into my skin as he descended the aisle, numbing my brain of all coherent thoughts. Only one simple thought of my mate remaining behind.
I felt sick, the contents of my stomach rising at the intrusive force of his powers.
He reaches the steps to the throne and turns slowly, his face holding a ghostly smile.
His eyes landed on mine.
My heart stops. My forehead breaks into a sweat as my body fights against his brain-numbing control. My throat closes up on itself as my hands begin to tremble at my sides, it is only when the blaring of horns is heard and he turns away that I am given space to breathe.
In walks Will, his head held high. His steps are slow and calculated. His power, a beautiful black abyss sending people trembling. He felt dangerous, something my wolf loved.
His robes of gold and red glowing in the light as though he were an angel.
His ocean eyes lock with mine for a brief moment as he walks down the aisle, a smile gracing his lips, my lips following suit.
At that moment I knew wearing red wasn't a mistake.
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