The King's Coronation

It has been raining for nearly a week, that the sun has become unfamiliar in the kingdom of Nirvana. However, the sun has decided to grace the kingdom with its presence as today is the day the new king takes his place on the throne. Many people in the kingdom say it is a good sign when it rains days before the coronation. The village people tend to say that the rain represents a fruitful and successful reign for the new king and that he will bring new opportunities for the kingdom and its people.

The king's coronation is a grand celebration of the new king, as the royal family is known for going above and beyond with their events. The king's coronation is not only about the new king but a way for the royal family to exhibit their wealth and power to all their guests and rivals. The coronation is only a tiny portion of this full-day event, where invited guests of significance flaunt their own wealth to those they deem lesser. Mothers were there to present their young noble daughters to the new king, hoping he would consider taking their hand in marriage. While the men were there to sell their devious schemes to whoever was oblivious enough to buy into it. Their enemies were only there to find anything they could use against the royal family, so they would do their bidding.

While the royal staff is responsible for the preparation of the coronation on the castle grounds and the ceremonial church, the village people take it upon themselves to decorate the villages. The village folks aren't allowed to participate in the coronation ceremonies, but that doesn't stop them from preparing for the celebrations. The midwives clean the villages and prepare the food. At the same time, the younger folks put together strings of flowers and triangular flags to hang over the streets while the children paint the roads. The farmers tend to offer the best of their harvest for the coronation. Still, they are denied by the royal family, but the maids and chefs secretly accept their produce. The villagers seem not to care much about not being able to participate in the royal festivities as they celebrate among themselves, which is relatively more entertaining.

Meanwhile, back in the royal castle, the royal staff have been bustling around the castle corridors for the past week, making preparations for today's coronation. The staff was under immense pressure from the royal family, for if the king's coronation attire to the placement of the cutlery was not to their liking in the slightest, they were likely to get repercussions.

With the coronation just a few hours away, the castle's halls have become louder as the maids, butlers, and chefs shout to each other. Everyone did not welcome their fast communication solution to speed up time as screaming could be heard from one of the chambers. The staff had no reaction to the random outburst as it was a regular occurrence, but none were willing to check out the problem this time.

A few of the younger maids stood near the chamber where the yelling came from as they chatted among themselves. The head housemaid approached the young ladies as she cleared her throat, bringing their conversation to an end.

"Can someone please explain to me why we are all standing outside your majesty's chambers chattering?" the head housekeeper Mrs.Flowers asked. None of them could answer her as they just looked at each other scared as Mrs.Flowers sighed.

"The coronation is in a couple of hours, and there is still a fair amount of work that needs to be done before the ceremony," she stated. "Now let us all stop standing here and looking at each other and make sure everything is more than perfect before the festivities begin," Mrs.Flowers advised them.

The maids nodded before turning to return back to their respective tasks.

"Charlotte, come here for a moment please?" Mrs.Flowers asked, signaling for the young maid to make her way back to her.

"Yes, Mrs.Flowers," Charlotte answered as she made her way back to the head housemaid.

"I would like for you to check out the situation inside of there," Mrs.Flowers said, gesturing to the chambers where the screaming had been coming from all morning.

"Is there not another member of staff who is more willing to do such a thing?" Charlotte inquired as the screech from behind the door made her shriek.

"Sadly no one seems to be available, and even if they were they have busied themselves with a new task," she replied as she rubbed her forehead as the screeching continued. "No one wants to deal with the drama queen, and I need this problem solved right now," she concluded.

Mrs.Flowers flowers grab Charlotte's arm dragging her to the chamber's doors.

"What about Rupert? I think he is the more preferred person for this situation", Charlotte suggested, trying to get her arm free from Mrs. Flowers' strong hold.

"Unfortunately, he is at the church helping with preparations; hence you are to solve this on your own," Mrs.Flowers concluded, pushing Charlotte inside the chambers and closing the door behind her.

Charlotte cried for Mrs.Flowers to reconsider her decision, but her protests were met on deaf ears. She then turned around slowly to see that the grand bedroom was empty. Charlotte sighed a breath of relief as it seemed her help was not needed after all. Before Charlotte was able to make her escape, she heard footsteps coming out of the bathroom. All the fear that had left her body reentered quickly as the footsteps finally entered the bedroom.

"Finally, one of you decided to answer one of my numerous calls," a voice spoke. "Have you people forgotten that it is your job to tend to our every need, so when I call for one of you, I expect you to already be here in the blink of an eye. And today is too much of an important day for this staff to be doing their usual slacking." he ranted.

Charlotte felt stuck to the floor as she was petrified as she was just yelled at, but at the same time, she was mesmerized by his physique. He stood a few feet in front of her with only a towel covering his lower half; though he had his back turned to her, she could already imagine what the front looked like based on how toned his back was. Charlotte had heard the stories from the other maids who had the honour of being in the presence of a 'handsome godlike physique' as the other maids would describe it, but those weren't the only stories she heard about this scoundrel.

"Do you think that this shirt is appropriate for such an event? Answer me!" he shouted, bringing Charlotte back to reality. He turned to face her with the shirt in his hands with a clenched jaw as tiny droplets fell from his wet, disheveled hair.

Though the fine-looking scoundrel continued to go on a tangent about his attire Charlotte couldn't help but imagine herself in one of those stories where the innocent maid finds herself alone with the alluring crowned prince soon to be king of Nirvana Cassian Constantin. The sunlight gives his olive skin a glow. At the same time, his newly shaven face outlines his jaw perfectly as he looks at the innocent maid with his piercing green eyes as he utters a few words to her.

"When will my new shirt be coming?" Cassian asked, trying his best to be calm as he could see the startled look on Charlotte's face as she had just come back to reality again.

"P-pardon me, your highness," Charlotte stuttered.

"I'm sorry that you aren't able to understand the basic English language. Would you like me to say it in a way you can understand, like baby words?" Cassian snapped, leaving Charlotte on the verge of tears.

"That is enough!" a powerful voice interrupted. Charlotte and Cassian turn their attention towards the door where queen Anastasia, Cassian's mother, stands with her arms folded and a stern look on her face. She had heard everything that her son had said to poor Charlotte. Queen Anastasia was not surprised as Cassian has a long history of insulting staff members to their faces. It's one of the things she detested about her son, as his behavior reminded her of the king himself. It disgusted her as she saw how broken the staff became after receiving such harsh words.

"Charlotte darling, could you kindly join the rest of the maids, I believe I last saw them in the gardens," Anastasia said as she gave her a smile as she escorted Charlotte to the door. Queen Anastasia waited for Charlotte to leave before turning back to Cassian with a deadly glare.

"What was the meaning of your behavior?" she snapped.

"I do not know what you speak of," Cassian muttered as he dried his hair with another towel.

"Do not act like you did not just insult Charlotte to her face just a minute ago," Anastasia exclaimed.

Cassian refused to pay attention to his mother as he continued to dry his body. Anastasia took sight of what her son was doing and stormed over to grab the towel out of his hands, throwing it onto the bed. Cassian watched his mother with a clenched jaw breathing heavily as he glared at his mother, who remained unfazed by his anger.

"You are to be king in a few hours and the attitude you are displaying at this moment is not one of a leader but a hot headed fool who doesn't understand the power and influence he has," she scolded him.

"I do not want to be king!" Cassian growled, baring his teeth.

"And what is it that you want to be cassian? A prince with no responsibility who is able to live the luxurious life of a royal and use your status and money to get under any lady's dress that you want. While also going out to parties and drinking your life away. Is that what you want, my dearest son?" Anastasia questioned.

"I am not ready to be king," Cassian muttered as he headed towards the bed to pick up his towel.

"That is what you said the first time, remember, we then delayed your coronation for three years," she stated." You were set to be king when you were twenty one, not twenty four but me and your father decided to give you more time to get comfortable with the thought of being king. We faced scrutiny from noble members in society for our decision while you were enjoying your freedom "Anastasia recalled as Cassian resumed freshening up.

"No one is ever ready to take on such a grand role, and if they say that they do, then they are lying because you do not know what to expect when you sit on that throne. Your father had no idea what he was doing when he first became king. Still, with proper guidance and support, he was able to figure it out. You will too," Anastasia told Cassian, hoping it would comfort him.

"Everyone is expecting me to fail as king, and I am starting to believe that they are right," Cassian choked, looking down at the towel in his eyes.

"The stress of today's coronation is starting to make you think like a madman," she uttered. "Now get dressed, for it's almost time," she stated.

"I'm awaiting Jeffords to return with my attire, but he is taking his sweet time," he complained, looking out the window, trying to spot Jeffords, the royal tailor.

"Well it seems you are incapable of opening your wardrobe for if you had done so you would've seen your coronation attire that Jeffords delivered early this morning while you were still having your beauty sleep," she exclaimed, walking towards the wardrobe and opening it to display Cassian's coronation attire.

Cassian strolls towards the wardrobe, slightly embarrassed.

"Well no one thought it best to share that information with me," he defended. "Now if you excuse me I must get dressed and I don't feel comfortable being naked in front of my mother," he insisted as he looked down to see that he only had a towel on.

"I shall leave you but first i want you to know, son that i am proud of you and even though you don't believe it i know you are going to be an exceptional king" Anastasia smiled before leaving her son to get dressed.

Cassian started getting dressed into his attire, usually, the maids or butlers dress him, but today he did not want to be bothered. His mother's words rattled through his head of him being an exceptional king. She was probably the only one who believed that, as his father had not shown any sign that he had faith in him.

Surprisingly he was able to dress himself quickly without needing to call for help. Cassian stared at the mirror blankly, unable to process what was about to happen in a few hours; he was to be king of Nirvana. He gazed down at his coronation robe, which was the color of the royal family which consisted of white, gold, and a few diamonds and rubies. It was supposed to be filled with diamonds and rubies, but Jeffords advised against it as it would be very uncomfortable. Cassian stared back at the mirror as he tried his best to swallow his nerves as he watched himself in such an unfamiliar attire.

"Your carriage is ready, your highness," Mrs.Flowers entered the room to announce.

"Thank you, Mrs.Flowers. I shall be there shortly," Cassian expressed.

Cassian looked out the window where his carriage awaited him to escort him to the church. He looked back to Mrs.Flowers, who gave him a supportive smile which he responded to with a nervous smile. He looked out the window once more to where everyone was waiting, for only one thing was on his mind.

He was not ready to be king.

The carriage ride to the church was not long, but it was not short either. Cassian shared a carriage with his father, king Richard Constantin. They both remained silent for the first half of the journey as they focused on waving to the people who stood along the path to the church. Cassian was hesitant to ask his father for advice on what it takes to feel ready to be king as he thought his father would see it as a sign of weakness.

"Father, do you think I can ask you something?" he asked.

"I suppose so as I am getting rather tired of smiling and waving to these people," King Richard replied as he moved his attention away from the cheering crowd.

"Did you ever feel that you were not ready to be king?" he asked.

"No," King Richard answered without taking a moment to ponder. "Why do you ask me such? Do you think you are not ready to be king" he questioned as he started growing suspicious of Cassian's question.

"No of course not sir just trying to make conversation as it is a while until we reach the church," Cassian assured his father, giving him a half-hearted smile.

"Well, if we are to engage in conversation, it seems best to talk about the events of today. You, my son, are to replace me as king," king Richard stated, patting his son on the knee. "Being king is not an easy task, but it is rewarding once you do it right. This is a job which involves a lot of hard work, sacrifice and devotion but before you make any moves you must first make the most important move of all which is making your oath to serve your country. It would be best for us to go over what you are to do today". King Richard started to explain.

King Richard started breaking the entire coronation day down to Cassian, instructing him on what to do and not do. Cassian had heard this speech many times before that. He knew exactly what his father was going to say next. Most days, he thought nothing of his father's speech, but today he didn't want a lesson from the king but more a conversation with his father. He wanted nothing more in this moment than his doubtful thoughts comforted by his father, but the king sees such discussions as weak and woman-like.

It seemed like hours they sat in the carriage as king Richard gave Cassian a lesson on what makes a worthy leader. Finally, the carriage came to a halt at the steps of the church as Cassian sighed a breath of relief for his father, who had now stopped lecturing him.

The doors of the carriage reveal all the noble families awaiting Cassian to step out of his carriage. Before Cassian makes his way out of the carriage, king Richard touches his shoulder, making Cassian turn to face his father.

"son… do not make a mockery of yourself or this family, as the last thing we need is you ruining this occasion once again," he whispered before being escorted out of the carriage by one of the royal guards.

Cassian sat there in astonishment but also disappointment as he thought that his father would finally show some encouragement, but he should know by now that emotions are not something the king likes to show as he also believes that is a sign of weakness.

There was no time to ponder his feelings as the guards were awaiting to escort him out of the carriage. He knew he could no longer run as it was time to face the crown.

Now out of the carriage, he stood next to his father, King Richard, who stood beside his father, Callum Constantin, who stood by his father, the first king of nirvana Landon Constantin. The first three generations of nirvana kings walked into the church as Cassian waited for his name to be announced as the guests made their way inside.

"All rise as the future king makes his way inside. I now present to you, Your Majesty Cassian Avarii Constantin," the royal announcer announced, signaling Cassian to make his way into the church.

As he made his way down the aisle, Cassian remembered his father's instructions on how to walk. When he makes his way towards the altar, he should walk with confidence meaning shoulders back, chin up, and a blank expression. It is essential to not show weakness in your walk, as your walk is the first step of asserting dominance.

Now that he stood at the altar, it was time for the coronation to commence. The time did not pass quickly as the choir sang many songs, and the priest started his lengthy sermon. Cassian grew anxious with every passing moment as he was soon to be crowned king. He was able to mask his anxiety with an expressionless face that he had practiced with his father for months.

He tried to focus his attention elsewhere to distract himself. He looked to the crowd, who mainly were watching him as a few talked amongst themselves, the children fast asleep, while some of the maidens sent mixed messages with their fans. Nothing was helping him to ease his nerves.

Distractions would not help now as it was time to play his role in the ceremony as the archbishop signaled for him to stand. The archbishop walked towards Cassian, presenting him with the orb and scepter studded in gold and jewels. His hands trembled as he reached out to grab the orb and scepter. Once he held them both, his heartbeat quickened, yet he showed no signs of anxiousness as the archbishop started.

"Cassian Avarii Constantin, as you stand here before God, you are taking an oath to the kingdom of Nirvana that you shall govern the land and its people by the power of God. You understand the responsibilities and sacrifices that a king is to take for his kingdom. You are to be loyal to your kingdom and be firm in the name of law and justice. All these things and more by the grace of God." the archbishop proclaimed.

"I solemnly swear by the grace of god to accept the role of a king," Cassian accepted.

As he prayed, the archbishop took his anointing oil and placed it upon Cassian's head and chest.

"Bless him lord, guide him on his new journey as king, and allow him to be the king of the people. As he now stands in your presence promising to govern his people and land with passion. Bless the new king from now till the end of his reign," he prayed.

"I now call upon king Richard for the passing of his crown and reign to the new king," he stated as king Richard made his way to the front as he bowed his head before the archbishop, who removed his crown, symbolizing the end of his reign.

After retrieving the crown, the archbishop moves back to Cassian, who lowers his head to allow the archbishop to crown him as the new king.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you your new king, King Cassian Avarii Constantin of Nirvana," he exclaimed as guests rose to their feet to applaud the new king, who plastered a smile on his face.

"Now the new king shall make his way to the throne," the archbishop spoke as Cassian made his way down to the throne room as the guests followed not too far behind.

With everyone now in the throne room, Cassian stood in front of the throne where he was to make his official oath to the people. The one he and his father practiced time and time again.

"I stand now before you all as I take this oath. I solemnly swear and promise to govern the people of Nirvana with valor and passion. I will use my power for the greater good of this land with law and justice. I shall show loyalty with all judgements that execute as it is my duty to see Nirvana thrive and its people happy. With the blessings of God we shall serve him and respect him and his house as he has allowed me to stand here and serve you. The role I shall play as king is not something I shall take a mockery of as I understand my responsibilities not only to the crown but the people I swear to protect. I promise to be a fair king but also one who is firm to let our enemies know that the kingdom of Nirvana is not a land of weak people but people who can hold their own just like their king. I promise this and more and shall see to act and keep them. So help me God." Cassian recited the words his father drilled into his head.

The archbishop removed the orb and scepter from Cassian's hands, allowing him to sit on the throne as the crowd applauded him again.

"All hail the king!" the crowd chanted continuously.

Cassian watched them all as they cheered him on.

It was now all over.

He was now king of Nirvana.

But what is to happen now.