“You brute!” Madame Allaire’s nose flared as she wacked Lieutenant Evander’s head with all her might. She wore a bright red embezzled dress, and her hair, which had yet to be done, flowed to her shoulders. She looked distressed, while Jonathan looked confused at her sudden violence. “I warned you to be careful with the tiara! Look! You almost dropped it!” Jonathan looked at the intricately carved wooden box in his hands and felt deeply wrong; it wasn’t his fault he slipped on his way to the lady’s entourage. Madame Allaire huffed and snatched the box from his hands before storming off, leaving the Lieutenant feeling sorry for himself. His men snickered as they watched his sorry face. He stiffly walked back to his tent to change out of his now-muddied armour. Today was the procession into the capital; they would be going straight to the cathedral for the ordination and marriage, and then they would proceed to the castle for the Lady to take the throne. The camp bustled with activity as the King and his fiance prepared themselves to be crowned.

Lilian undid the twists in Anne's hair she had put in the night before; Anne had insisted on marrying with her natural brown hair into the royal family rather than the red extensions she had to wear in Celestia. Lilian was worried she would be slighted for her birth status, but Anne insisted. Her hair was tied up in an intricate multi-braid bun; her hair was unadorned as tradition dictated, but her dress, on the other hand, was beautifully decorated. She saw herself in the copper mirror and felt oddly sad. If her mother were still alive, she would love to see her only child get married. "I look beautiful." Her voice was small, but Lilian smiled as she attached a light, translucent veil to the silver chain hanging from her shoulders.

“It’s time!” Madame Allaire ran in quickly with the tiara, the symbol of her status in Celestia. Lilian placed the tiara on her head and gave Anne her hand as she stood. Lilian was dressed in the same black silver armour, her hair tied in a tight bun with a bang framing her face. A green cape dangled from her armour as she escorted her lady out of the tent.  From today on, she would be the Queen of Veinna, so she no longer had to hide her face from the soldiers that would serve her.

She held her head high as she walked towards her carriage, where Aiden was already waiting for her. He stared, transfixed. Her skin had been decorated with what looked like gold oil; the sun hid behind the clouds today, and yet her skin looked like it was bathed in goat milk and made from gold. Her bare neck and hair struck his heart as she looked at that moment, powerful. He raised his hand, reaching out to her; her beautifully manicured fingers softly landed in his palm, warm and a bit shaky from nerves. He squeezed her hand softly as he led her to mount their carriage first before he got in after her. As they settled into the carriage, he couldn't help but admire how gracefully she carried herself. The anticipation of their journey together filled the air, making him even more determined to make this day unforgettable for both of them.

"What's going through your mind?" Her voice startled him, making him blush. He couldn't bear to tell her, so he made a flimsy excuse.

"I just feel a bit shocked. I didn't think I was the type to marry for love, but to marry someone I basically just met, it feels strange."

His words were not what she wanted to hear; her hands, which were clasped together, squeezed each other as she felt her heart ache.

"Do you regret asking for my hand?"

"No! Of course not!" he replied quickly, unwilling for her to misunderstand him. He desperately tried to convince her of his sincerity. She felt her muscles relax, and she took a deep breath.

She shared his feelings to an extent; she didn't know much about him, but she bet her life on his future. He continued to talk. "I know you could have escaped if you wanted to; you didn't have to marry me to live a good life, so why did you? Am I that attractive?"

'You're handsome.' was the first thing she wanted to say, but she knew that wouldn't be enough to convey the depth of her emotions. Instead, she chose her words carefully: "I see something in you that goes beyond appearances. I believe in your potential and the person you can become."

"My potential?"

She nodded; she knew he wasn't in love, and neither was she. There's something they both wanted, but it helped greatly that they were attracted to each other. "I want to help you; be a great king."

He looked at her with a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his eyes. "Why me? Why do you believe in me?" he asked, searching for answers within her gaze. She smiled softly, her voice filled with sincerity as she replied, "When we first met, do you remember what you said to me? When I asked if you were fine with marrying me, you said, 'I'm not against it'. "

He looked at her, confused. She chuckled before carrying on. "You, in front of a woman you have never met, who you were being pressured to marry after hearing the rumours, said you didn't mind. If I were in your shoes, I would never agree to this marriage, so I was curious."

Her eyes landed on her beautifully painted nails, and she carried on with a small smile. "I wanted to know, if I helped you, could you avoid your fate?"

He paused, her words not settling with him. "What do you mean, my fate?"

She looked up into his blue-green eyes. "You are destined to die, aren't you?" He felt a chill run down his spine as her words sank in. The weight of her question hung heavily in the air, causing him to question his own mortality. The room fell silent, and he struggled to find the right words to respond.

"You knew all along?"

Her smile softened. "You'd rather I didn't know?"

He felt embarrassed. "I was going to tell you," he said, his hands clenched into a frustrated fist. "I was going to tell you before the alter, to prove my sincerity and to give you a chance to back out."

"If you really wanted to give me a chance to back out, you would have told me in Celestia; instead, you want to tell me at the alter, hoping I'd stay, right?"

He didn't reply; she was right. The reason he didn't stop the marriage was because he knew he could never marry by normal means; no kingdom sane enough would sacrifice their daughter to a dying king. He knew it was selfish to not tell her, but he wanted a fair chance. His eyes were focused on his shoes; he did not dare look up at her; she should be angry.

"If you knew, why didn't you run away?"

"Look at me."

She reached out and gently lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her eyes were firm, and all of a sudden, he felt relieved, like he had placed his feet on solid rock. "I want to see the kind of king you become," she whispered softly. She let go of him, leaning back into her chair. "Besides, you're really attractive."

"Eh?"

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The capital city burst into jubilation, adorned with an array of vibrant colours and fluttering banners that proclaimed the arrival of their new queen. The air hummed with excitement as eager citizens lined the streets, their faces beaming with anticipation. The regal procession, led by a resplendent gold carriage, made its way through the cheering crowds. The rhythmic clip-clop of horse hooves and the melodious strains of trumpets accompanied their journey towards the towering cathedral. The cityscape echoed with cheers and applause, blending seamlessly with the harmonious melodies played by the royal musicians. As the golden carriage approached the cathedral, the joyous celebration reached a crescendo, marking the auspicious moment when the new queen would ascend to her rightful place, embraced by the warmth of the adoring realm.

The carriage stopped in front of the cathedral, and guards rushed, forming a barrier between the royal family and the people. King Aiden stepped out of the carriage to the cheers of everyone around him, and a delicately decorated hand with cold nail guards took his hands. Anne held her breath, unsure of the reception she would receive. She hesitated to step out into the open, but Aiden squeezed her hand gently, drawing her attention to his gentle smile. She took a deep breath and stepped out. As soon as the citizens saw their queen, they erupted in deafening cheers.

Anne took her place by his side, her hand resting comfortably in his. Which was raised according to etiquette. The crowd's adoration for their new queen was palpable, and Anne couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. As they made their way through the cheering crowd, Anne's worries began to fade away, replaced by a sense of pride and excitement. Their steps were slow and intentional, and as they claimed the many marble steps of the cathedral unit, they were met with the nobles standing on each side of the pew. A series of brass instruments played by the military band accompanied her ascension to the alter, where the Archbishop awaited her arrival. The grandeur of the cathedral took Anne's breath away, its towering stained glass windows casting a kaleidoscope of colours onto the ornate interior. The Archbishop's voice resonated through the sacred space as he began the coronation ceremony, and Anne felt a deep sense of reverence settle over her. She stood before the alter as the multicoloured lights from the stained glass washed over her. They both kneeled in front of the archbishop, hand in hand. Aiden couldn't help but admire her at that moment. He was captivated by her grace and poise, as she exuded a regal aura that seemed to command the attention of everyone present. As the ceremony proceeded, he was handed the crown to place on her head. He stood up, took the heavy metal headpiece, and lowered it onto her brown hair. From that moment on, Veinna had a new queen, Queen Anne I.