Chapter 30: Golden Renaissance

Faint unsettling feeling lurks the day of the golden coronation, which is a day supposed to be filled with divine and joy. Yet whenever one could experience glory, there will be tenfold of misfortunes in exchange. Why? Because i know this crap pretty well.

Somehow, in some time, i've come to notice how the world progresses. To give you one good thing in life, and feed you ten bad things after. And trust me, its in an endless cycle.

*

Soft knocks called for Jian Li's attention, he glanced on the big doors of his chambers as a woman's voice informed him from the outside of his room; "Your Highness, it is time for your preparation for the ceremony. The servants here asks permission to enter the room to assist you with the silk and the robes."

Jian Li exhaled the tense air inside his lungs and brushed his wet hair with his fingers, preparing himself mentally. "Come in." Accepting ten servants inside the big and warm chamber, the Prince cocked his head up and stood from his chair, looking around for someone within the crowd of servants.

He sighs in disappointment. "Has anyone had word with Aren?" The question made the temporary head attendant sweat, her words stuck inside her mouth.

After a short silence, she softly says, "... Please forgive us Your Highness, we could not find the head servant—"

Jian Li sighed, interrupting the servant's words. Then he walked across the room and smiled, "It is alright. All of you can begin." Gracefully, he brought his arms in midair on both his sides, a gesture to allow the servants start changing him to his ceremonial clothes.

"Yes! Your Highness!" The white veiled attendants started placing down their brought garments for the Crown Prince. Boxes thudded and the layered robes' lustrous diamonds chimed and jingled when it was being fitted on the Prince's thin body.

The Crown Prince's preparation for the ceremony began early in the morning, and from the looks of how many robes and apparels the servants brought, the dressing will be as expected, long till done.

The bottle of a well polished oval glass that contained the perfume was opened by the servant, its oil was then poured to a fabric and then rubbed on the Prince's wrists, chest, and temples, depicting the fragrance of sweet olive, aloe, cane, and the aroma of sweet cinnamon in reminder of the bringing of a Prince to King.

For about a while, Jian Li untiringly stood on his spot in the middle of his chambers, while the servants busily clattered around the room handing over robe to robe, to royal footwear and the clinking of accessories. While waiting for them to be done, he only stared in the mirror infront of him, in dazed with the day waiting ahead of him.

'Just a bit longer, i will seek for you.'

He closed his eyes and exhaled, taking a seat in front of the mirror to rest his body that was carrying heavy robes. This time, a servant brushed his dark wet hair and dried it with care. From a servant's place, seeing and even touching the Crown Prince's face was the world's best occupation to do, and the servant that was already doing so and applying the cosmetics on to His Highness' face was most satisfying activity ever.

Once the Prince was beautified from the powder that was applied on his face, his hand lingered on the snack resting on the bowl from the desk, his lips devoured the fruity taste of red strawberries that tainted his lips to an even more vibrant plump rose color, and seeing this left the maidens behind the veils undoubtedly falling unto the charm of the actions of the Prince.

Resting on the chair, a tall servant sat in front of him and touched the soles of his feet. The male servant held a pair of white socks and held his head low. "Let me, Your Highness." The Prince hummed in reply, and the servant resumed to take care of the socks and boots of Jian Li.

After the preparation was finally complete, the Prince began to head for the venue outside the palace by the carriage with the three elite knights (Abercon, the leader is exempted) to guard his carriage to the venue on the royal capital.

Jian Li reminisced the past while looking outside the window. Thinking of how much it hasn't changed for years.

From the ragged wooden carriage that carried barrels of the Jian miracle waters that him and his long lost friend rode to the royal capital, to how fancy the golden carriage he rides now to go to the capital. He chuckles as he thinks of how his friend would tease him to go in the capital in a flashy, sparkling carriage and they'd busy themselves with endless chatter and bickerings the whole day.

The sudden brightness of the eyes of the veiled Crown Prince freaked out the two servants riding along inside his carriage, the two women had goosebumps and they stuck with each other closer, unable to know what to do with the weird atmosphere left in the carriage without the head assistant Aren to chat with the Prince.

Aside from the travelling Crown Prince, the place of the ceremonial coronation was filled with hundreds to thousands of citizens of Jian, there are also adventurers from other kingdoms visiting the Jian's bestowal of the crown to appoint their next king.

The folks' hearts were thumping with excitement and upbeat songs were played while waiting for the royals to arrive in the venue. Hours before, parades and shows were conducted early in the morning in honor of the crowning of the new king. The streets were full of happy crowd and food stalls were installed in line just like in a festival, except this was a grand event one should never miss.

The King, Hongwu exhaled sharply and looked up to the sky, watching the clouds. "The time has finally come, right Deverus?" He tapped the arm of his chair, watching the people from afar with the royal adviser on his right.

The black crowned man smiled darkly. "Yes, Your Excellency. It's finally the day."

"How I've long wanted to see this day." Said the King which made the adviser glance at him and just agreed to the king's remark.

A servant went on the King's left and bowed, reporting the news. "Your Excellency, the Crown Prince has arrived." The King stood from his seat and his red royal mantle flapped, swinging left and right when he walked towards Jian Li.

He greets his son with a gentle tap on the back. "It's time." Jian Li notices the gigantic presence beside him and nodded, admiringly looking at his father's figure.

A long red royal mantle was being fastened around Jian Li's shoulders.

The King pointed on the crown that he was wearing with a wide smile. "The kingdom will be in your hands."

Jian Li smiled and nodded, giving his deep courtesy to his father. "Yes father, rest assured." The present king stood beside him and looked ahead, ready to face his people.

The boy couldn't stop himself not to be nervous, because just beyond the curtains that was keeping the royals hidden was an ocean of people that has been waiting to see their new King's face. He was anxious about the fact that he still couldn't find Aren on the group of the servants. He frowns behind the veil that was keeping his nose and mouth hidden.

"Hear ye! hear ye!" The messenger soldier shouted in top of his lungs just beside the curtains, getting the attention of everyone on the venue.

He adjusted his throat and inhaled air, "People! The event will now commence its opening!" His loud staff were slammed on the wooden floor, it ignited anticipation on everyone that was present, claps and cheers reached Jian Li's ears.

"Finally! They're here!" A woman cheered and squealed along with other townsfolk, sticking their eyes on the red curtains.

A little girl tiptoed along the crowd, eager to see what's happening. "Papa? Will i see the King?" Her pout made her father chuckle, he nodded and sat down, patting his shoulders. "Yes, climb up, dear." With excitement, they watched along the sea of people.

The soldier slammed his staff down again, everyone became silent. The drums were played in a steady rhythm, and everytime the heavy sticks were slammed down to the skin of the drums, everyone's hearts would also leap from its loudness.

"The King, Your Royal Majesty, Jian Hongwu!" The soldier shouted on top of his lungs as the highest figure passed him with a heavy presence of a king. Almost stuttering, he continued. "The second Prince, Your Royal Highness, Jian Morfran!" Two royal figures with a background as if black feathers were eerily floating around them walked across the long red-carpeted path, they both wear velvet-red royal mantles along with their tall crowns that everyone looked at. Something that made all nobles or commoners froze just by being able to feel their immense grand aura. With Morfran having his veil taken off and his face shown in public the people noticed that the two share both faces with the only exception from the height; how they walked were also close to being identical. Their heels thumped on the carpet as they both side to side, now the aisle looked like a runway pathway as the two modeled a killer walk towards the two golden thrones that was prepared ahead of them.

The atmosphere were so cold and no one dared to make any noises until the two took their seats. Morfran, the second Prince leisurely took his seat a throne away from the King and leaned his jaw on the back of his hand, quietly looking down on the people with a dangerous glare.

A drum blasted with its loud boom; the soldier's neck showed its vein as he loudly shouted. "Kneel before the crowns!"

The people felt the need to do so, the commoners knelt down in one knee and felt their hearts drawn to the waves of vibrations the drums had spoken. Almost all emotions overcame their minds just seeing the two royalties walk across their sight, the fear, the joy, the pleasure, and the honor, everything came surging inside all of them. Seeing their King smile warmly melted their tense hearts, and so, the sea of people sighed and started clapping and cheering for the royals.

The King stood up from his gigantic golden throne and walked on the podium facing the people. Inhaling huge amount of air, he speaks in a loud, kingly voice. "In this grandest day, we gather our people in the capital. Let a new king be crowned in front of the temples of the four gods!"

The crowd bellowed their cheers loudly, whistles, claps and the drums boomed loudly as they prepare to introduce the newest king of the Jian Kingdom.

The soldier who kept talking loudly gulped first after receiving the word to already introduce the Crown Prince and that he was ready to go out, beads of sweat rolled down his back in pressure but still, he inhaled and yelled away:

"Behold, your Crown Prince, His Royal Highness, Jian Li."

All eyes were at the red curtains, not only hundred pairs of eyes were searching for Jian Li to come out but there were thousands of them. All the posts around the venue were lit with fire and hundreds of them lighted the Crown Prince's entrance.

A veiled figure walked out of the curtains, he dragged the long and heavy red royal mantle as he walked, its jewels and pearls that was sewed on the trimmings made the mantle even heavier to drag, even so, he walked effortlessly.

He proudly wore a golden robe that depicted the Jian emblem and an upper coat that was filled with patterns of high-class gold thread work. His expensive and lavish clothing clearly indicated his high status above all with fabrics that was made with the kingdom's finest silks and fur. The sword that hung at his waist commonly just for decorative purposes glittered when he walked, symbolically representing his power to all. And beside the sword, he wore a black corset above his tunic that thinned his waist even smaller. Sparkling ornaments were pinned on his chest while the royal ruby treasure stayed clamping around his neck, in exception that this will be the last time he will wear the necklace of a Crown Prince.

The crowed hung their jaws open, the nobles along the crowd also could not utter a word nor make a single noise. Under the red mantle, he wore a thick cloak with the emblem of Jian and he also wore the ruby necklace that clearly identifies him as the Prince of the realm. In the middle of the open aisle, two people carried his long mantle from behind while the whole knights organization and their elite superiors sharpened their senses harder from possible violators and assassins. They gripped their swords hung around their waists as when the prince would reach the climax of his first walk. And as it passed, the Crown Prince arrived safely infront of the water god's altar and stopped by the podium.

In front of the podium stood the important people around the kingdom, members of the council, the members of the kingdom's parliament. Upper ranking temple officials also gets to have the best seat to witness the coronation. The three main contributors of the kingdom also attended, the noble family's head and their representatives were present at the coronation. Those three contributors were of the highest of all noble roofs, they were feared and respected deeply. Noble members of the society are always reminded not to mess with the Niad mansion, the Dragos, and most especially the highest contributor of the year, the Svarozichs.

Aside from the sea of Jian citizens, dignitaries from commonwealth/neighboring kingdoms paid their visit in peace and was just silently observing in a distance.

The archbishop greeted the Crown Prince followed by three other assistant bishops which are wearing silver mantles around their shoulders when Morfran boringly grunted in his seat and muttered;

"Can we skip all these over and get the ceremony done?"

The King's temples sweated and he chuckled lowly, which caught the awkward attention of the people on the podium. "Archbishop, let's begin the ceremony." Ordered King Hongwu as the drums quietened and was replaced by the soft orchestra of instruments by the side.

Jian Li's blue eyes looked on the sides of the podium, looking if Aren has attended. But in sadness, he wasn't there. Why isn't he by his master's side on the biggest day of his life? Where is he?

He frowned under the veil and set his mind to continue the ceremony. He took a nice breath and looked at the King's face unsurely, then he knelt down both his knees on a soft pillow prepared in the center of the podium.

"The sovereign will now take his coronation oath." The archbishop said, being handed a book by one of the assistant bishops.

The archbishop first asks Jian Li. "Is the first son, Your Highness the Crown Prince willing to take the Oath?"

"I am." The Prince answered with a clear voice. The crowd seems to be listening well to his cold voice.

The archbishop looks at the book and loudly asks; "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the Kingdom of Jian and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining according to their respective laws and customs?"

The Prince answers: "I solemnly promise so to do."

The latter asks again: "Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?"

"I will." Replied him.

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the peace and equity of people and religion, respect each of their temple laws and their godly beliefs?" The archbishop closes the book.

"All this I promise to do."

The archbishop nodded and handed the Prince a sharp glass dagger. Jian Li took it to his hand and pressed the blade of the dagger deep unto his skin, and quickly pricked his left thumb to not feel the slow pain. The blood dripped on the book's page and he wiped his initials on the book's page.

When the Prince had completed his subscription to the Oath and finished declaring his authority to rule the people, the archbishop will proceed to anoint Jian Li, where it is the central and most scared act of the ceremony where the Prince will reflect personally of his duties as King.

The two bishops came infront of the candidate of the crown and the two helped Jian Li be disrobed of his royal mantle, the rings and his bracelets was removed from his wrists and was collected by the third bishop, leaving Jian Li to remain kneeling down at the center of the podium clothed in his golden robes.

The four Elite Knights joined the ceremony as they held the golden canopy above and around Jian Li, this canopy was held in four poles and would simply look like a grander version of that curtains above the royal bed.

With the preparations done, the archbishop was handed the anointing oil.

The archbishop wearing a golden coat stood in front of Jian Li and poured the oil on the palms of his hand. The people turned and bowed their head down as to respect the privacy of the ceremony. Jian Li stripped down his upper clothes and revealed his chest to the archbishop, the blessed oil was rubbed on his chest in silence now he smelled like cinnamon, oranges, and roses.

Jian Li dressed himself again, and the archbishop completed the anointing ceremony by forming a cross on the crown of his head.

As he did so, the archbishop whispered these words: "Be thy head anointed with holy oil: as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed. And as Hongwu was anointed king by the late archbishop, so be you anointed, blessed and consecrated King over the Peoples, whom the four Gods hath given you to rule and govern."

The choir motioned the people to raise their heads as they sung a mellow song of praise. The knights also bid their appearances goodbye and left with the golden canopy.

The appointing blue Sword was now carried before him by the archbishop, it was unsheathed and raised to the air, Jian Li kept his eyes closed as he received the taps of blades upon both his shoulders. Now he opened his eyes to see his father looking at him, King Hongwu nodded before him.

Jian Li would pass his thoughts by his eyes to his father. 'The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep for the inhabitants of the Kingdom, rest assured, your kingdom will be in capable hands father.' The King would curve his lips up in understanding of his son's determined eyes.

After the holy sword's act, it was put away and the second bishop brought the royal regalia meant for the next King. The three bishops knelt and offered him the two scepters and one holy orb, both regalia covered in gold. Two staffs were on his left hand and the spherical orb in his right. His heart was terribly pounding in excitement both in fear and thrill. Now he heard the dean's footsteps back on the aisle and as he could've never guessed it wrong, the dean was now standing beside the archbishop, offering the archbishop the golden crown that was resting on the red matte pillow.

The crowd never took their eyes off the shiny crown that everyone desires until it was raised on the air by the archbishop and was bestowed upon the head of the new King.

Jian Li shivered on the weight of the crown on his head. It was a perfect fit that most probably wont leave his head like a parasite and he, be serving as its host. Now he had felt the burden of the position the second it rested upon his head. A crown that signifies the difficulties of his duties, yet he is unfazed. With Aren and the support of his people by his side, he is determined to be strong for the throne.

He sharply inhaled through his nose and moved his right foot, lifting his body up from kneeling, now he stood eye to eye with the archbishop.

His blue eyes was met with the archbishop's, it almost gave the poor man a scare and a pair of shivers on both his arms.

The silence was evident and everyone gulped, now he wore pure golden clothing, his royal mantle were also changed to gold and he wore a golden belt and the king's ring.

Jian Li swept his robes to face the crowd, holding the scepter and orb tightly in his grip. The crowd trembled as he turned around as their new King.

The archbishop and the three assisting bishops paid their homage to their new King and bowed deeply, returning to their original positions.

Everybody knelt down with a hand on their chest greeting the new ruler of the kingdom of Jian. The choir quietened as the people chanted the traditional afterword altogether, their chorused voices joined from the front podium to the far streets of the capital saying;

"Great King of glory, come with the favor crown."

"Here may your ears attend, our interceding cries."

"Here may our unborn sons and daughters sound thy praise."

"This kingdom as thy home, this people as thy own;"

"And grateful praise ascend, your name all fragrant to the skies."

"Shine like polished stones, through long succeeding reigns,"

"Till all who humbly seek thy face."

"Raise your heads." The King, Jian Li ordered them which was satisfyingly obeyed.

He inhaled air and spoke at the top of his lungs to be heard even on the end of the crowd. "I am a proud descendant of the elite bloodline, I am the son of Jian Hongwu, taking pride and honor to ascend the throne of King. This day and so-forth, my name shall spread from shore to shore and be known as the King of Jian Kingdom."

"Years ago from this very same day I was blessed with the name of Li, a name of discipline and authority, the very moment i sit on the throne will be the time i will govern all over my people, and i will make this kingdom rise into its greatest heights." The King gave the two scepters and orb to the bishop along with his gloves being taken away.

Jian Li reached for the back of his head and looked as if untying something that raised excitement for the people. He gripped the fabric and rid of the white veil, revealing his face.

His voice thundered. "My name is Jian Li, your King."

All of them gasped at the beautiful appearance of their King who would be the only one to be deserving of the title of being the epitome of beauty standing on this very earth. The crowd bellowed in their loudest cheers and claps, whistles and celebratory jumps.

"Lord Jian Li!!"

"Our King!"

"Wow!!"

"How wonderful he looks!"

"How utterly handsome!!"

"Congratulations!"

"He looks better than you—"

"King Jian Li!!"

By the aisle, knights wearing the uniform of military and temple type gathered in line and prepared their silver swords, the sound of unsheathing of their blades ringed everyone's ears while the new King, walked under the roof of swords, walking nearer to the throne with the crown and his golden mantle flapping behind him.

The knights shouted, "Hail His Majesty the King!" The crowd repeated their hallelujahs to praise the new King again and again, their voices must've sounded the whole Jian Kingdom. The drums played loudly and colorful flowers were thrown in the air, everyone was in their highest joys.

Jian Li reached the throne beside the former King and the second Prince. He turned his heels and faced the crowd as he sat down slowly on the huge throne, crossing his legs, he stares down on his smiling people.

Now, Jian Li had become associated with the divine.