Daughter of Death -Chapter 33 (Part 1) (Patreon)

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Hello everyone and welcome to the very last chapter(s) before the Epilogue! Just a warning this chapter was quite lengthy at over 5000 words and initially I was scheduled for only 1 chapter and was going to publish together as the narrative just didn't seem to break up into 2 but decided you deserved two posts to break it up for easier reading so we'll have Part 1 and Part 2. I hope you enjoy this one; we're almost to the end of this tale about the Daughter of Death!

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Her Royal Highness Princess Reina of Bayern was officially crowned Her Majesty Queen Reina the First of Bayern upon the afternoon of her eighteenth birthday.

Before the official ceremony began, Reina appeared before dozens of her subjects to make an announcement, “I, Princess Reina, anointed heir to the Bayernian throne look forward to becoming your queen in short hours from now. But I wish to be transparent with my people; I wish my reign to begin on a solid foundation of trust. 

“As many of you know, my father’s second wife –the former Dowager Queen Edeline—sought to have me assassinated and rob our throne of its rightful heir. I assure you, as I have at the time of the news, that she shall be dealt with at the highest level in accordance with our laws on treason. But I do not wish you all to despair any longer about past sins and tragedies within this kingdom. Let us instead rejoice and celebrate. For by God’s miracle I was not slain and by his miracle I came into the world!

“Now, I wish to give you all tidings of great joy further to the happiness already bestowed upon you by promise of my coronation today. For I too have been blessed with a promise of my own. Lord Ferdinand of Moravia, my long-time companion and confidante betrothed his heart to mine. I, most willing to accept, then took Lord Ferdinand’s hand in marriage,” Reina announced and the crowd let out soft murmurs of surprise and bewilderment.

“The union took place in private mere days ago. I wished for Lord Ferdinand and I to be joined so that upon this occasion of my coronation that he be legally entitled to involvement as my spouse. I can think of no one better to hold Bayern dear neither to hold my own heart; the heart of your sovereign anointed with care and utmost concern. I know that His Lordship, now titled as His Highness, will hold all of Bayern and its people in highest esteem and will do well by me and by the judgement of our people always. May you accept him so lovingly and willingly as I have for I know he shall be a man of his vows to love and protect me now and forever.”

Many courtiers were still in surprise but soon heads began to bow and bodies to curtsy as soft murmurs of ‘God save and protect His Royal Highness’ began to echo throughout the room.

Ferdinand smiled with self-assured airs and gave one single bow of his head to acknowledge the people before Reina moved and placed a coronet upon his head to symbolize his position.

She herself wore a diadem with simple but elegant jewels atop her own head.

“Following my coronation, a proper wedding feast shall be held for my husband and I. For while we wed in private to avoid any further plots to be placed against us it is our desire that we should share our happy union with our people. We shall host another wedding ceremony to officially declare our vows before the most noble subjects and guests from afar who wish to partake that are now here for my coronation. Following, we shall hold a feast traditional to the customs of this land. I much look forward to the revelry and celebration of this wonderful new chapter in our great kingdom of Bayern. I hope to make my mark upon our great history as your sovereign and I hope that my most happy union is prosperous.

“I shall see you this afternoon when you attend to pay homage to the start of my rule as your Queen.”

All being said, she and Ferdinand linked arms and exited as everyone bowed deeply to the royal couple.

Reina felt a rush of excitement and arrogance at the feeling of elation she had when everyone paid her and her new husband utmost respect. Ferdinand had to quash her eagerness and deny that they join themselves together now before the ceremony. “Too many accustomed points and steps leading up to the actual rites of crowning you, and I now too. Following your coronation we shall steal away and make love as sovereigns of this land at last. I shall pay my proper homage to my queen,” he whispered in her ear as she quivered in arousal at the mere thought of it. “But for now, we must abide by the customs of your land so that we may be properly anointed as we so desire.”

Her Royal Highness could not argue with that.

~

The coronation itself was long and arduous; much longer at least than Reina’s wedding.

But she accepted everything with patience for she was intoxicated and enamoured with being so very important and special that she was to be properly crowned and become a Queen and thus unable to be questioned or judged. It was a wonderful and arrogant feeling to know that people would obey her every want and desire from this day forward without her having to ask. And if she had to, well, she would still get what she wanted due to the gift Ferdinand had bestowed upon her.

The two had many years ahead of them to live in utmost pleasure.

Behind the scenes, the officials scrambled to be certain that things would be prepared for Ferdinand’s part in the coronation ceremony. For he had to be crowned also though with what title was up to the sovereign heir to the throne. If she chose to stand and crown him with an imperial royal crown and sceptre, he would be titled her King. Should she crown him with a consort’s crown, Ferdinand would remain as such until Reina might make an official announcement that she had decided otherwise. If Reina stood and spoke to Ferdinand’s good graces, leaving the official royal spouse’s coronet upon his head, Ferdinand would remain in title Reina’s spouse and an archduke.

All thought it unlikely that Reina would leave her beloved in a lower rank and so they made sure to have all options accounted for and headdresses ready for use.

The Coronation Ceremony itself went off without a hitch. Everyone knew their places and their cues and Reina was brought before the nobles within the grand hall trailed by ladies-in-waiting and pages followed by Ferdinand who was also flanked with royal attendants and the two took their places separately on the two smaller thrones that sat to the left and right of the official monarchs’ thrones. Both of the thrones that Reina was to use were seated slightly higher to symbolize her rightful place as the highest ranking person of the kingdom even over her spouse.

Then the rites began, prayers were said and after much ‘pomp and circumstance’ Reina’s coronet was covered by her official new headdress; Reina was crowned Her Royal Majesty Queen Reina the First of the great kingdom of Bayern. She took her place on her throne and sat gazing out over all who had attended. To all, she appeared sombre and reflective. Truly within she was arrogantly gazing at each person knowing they were subject to her and any commands she could or would ever give them. It was an intoxicating feeling this power.

All of them, who had stood to watch her being crowned, now went to their knees and bowed their heads deeply at her –Ferdinand included.

“Rise, fair subjects,” Reina commanded as her first official decree as sovereign.

Following this, Reina turned to her beloved. “I call upon thee, Archduke Ferdinand my beloved husband to stand before me.”

Knowing the proper ceremony, Ferdinand did as he was asked and then went to his knees at her feet to pledge his loyalty and fealty to her and to Bayern.

“We accept your vows, Ferdinand,” Reina declared in practiced measure using the correct royal pronouns to refer to herself now, “In honour of your promise, we hereby declare that you receive a new station. We declare thee now His Royal Majesty King Ferdinand the First of Bayern.”

The attendant who carried the imperial crown of the sovereign’s spouse came forward with his charge and Reina moved to take the crown and hold it above Ferdinand’s head. “May you be a good King; wise council and most excellent support to our own Majesty. May Bayern look upon you and remember you.” She slowly placed the crown onto his head and he smiled back at her with a fire in her eyes.

Though Reina officially had all of the power in Bayern, now Ferdinand would have much more official capacity and authority as a King himself. Legally Reina was above him in stature and always would be by the kingdom’s laws but in their hearts and minds the two were equals ready to take on the lavish life afforded to them with their new titles.

Once the final rites and prayers were concluded, Reina and Ferdinand were met again with their subjects and guests bowing and exclaiming ‘Long Live The Queen! Long Live The King!’ and Reina felt a shiver of excitement and pleasure go through her at the knowledge of her power and influence.

The crowd stood and the two made their way side by side now back down the aisle as their attendants followed and the people of the crowd bowed and curtsied deeply as they went by.

As much as Reina wanted to give into her overwhelming excitement and embrace her husband, now her king, she was bound by decorum to have to wait several more minutes by which time she no longer felt as strongly and instead only let their mouths roam over each other’s. They could join together in other ways much later after The Coronation Feast.

While the new King and Queen of Bayern made their way through the streets surrounding their castle and were celebrated well into the night at the feast, the disgraced former Dowager Queen was shivering in her jail cell in the dungeons of Reina’s castle. Edeline was cold and hungry, yes, but she was also slowly losing hope. With every soft sound she could make out of cheering or celebration her blood went cold for she knew it was no mortal woman on the throne now but a demonic creature that would ruin the lives of many with its sinful and malevolent ways for many years to come if it was not stopped.

And who would stop Reina now? Edeline knew she certainly couldn’t. There was little to nothing that she could do now from here. She would certainly be sentenced to death in a matter of days. The Royal Council only prolonged the time of her trial due to Reina’s coronation. Edeline felt sick with grief over it all.

She was, she found out, not afraid to die. She was only afraid of leaving behind such important unfinished business. Every hour she prayed to God for a solution.

The prisoner woke the next morning with the realization of one such answer to her prayers. Edeline wasn’t quite sure but she seemed to vaguely remember seeing her husband Arnaud in her dreams again. All she knew for certain is that the idea to get word to her brother Baldric was the best chance she had of being certain Reina might be taken care of should Edeline die before this week was out.

It took some careful planning and manipulation but she was finally allowed to send him a letter. She tried to be discreet so that should her letter be read no one would suspect her true intention. But so far as she knew, Baldric had not had his memory altered of the task she had sent him out to do and so Edeline wrote:

My charges of treason against The Crown of Bayern are of the highest offense and severity for attempting the life of the beloved Princess Reina. You and God stand as my witness to the truth dear brother and I admit that I was not able to take care of Reina as I had been sworn to do in my favourable position and she came to unexpected circumstances. After I am gone may you hold steadfast to the knowledge that though your sister failed in her duties she goes forth to God in faith that his work continue to be carried out on earth.

Hoping that this the truth without actually condemning her to be guilty by her own admission to Reina’s attempted murder Edeline could get across to Baldric her desire that he find a way to stop Reina and so she sent her letter praying to God that it was delivered safe into her brother’s hands.

Part 2 continued here