Stripped of the Crown (2)

It was the day of the royal assembly, an hour before the commencement. The King had summoned every noble's presence to gather in the great hall of the royal palace.

The sound of the hooves against the cobblestones filled the entire place. Each attendee arrived in their carriages that were draped with the emblem of their houses.

Alongside the clatter, the greetings and exchanges mixed in with the occasional neigh and snort of the horses.

Princess Elucina was watching from the room she occupied on the second floor, the sound of giggles and laughter from outside reaching her ears. She used her fan to swerve the curtains on one side, letting herself have a better look at the scene.

Now that she thought about it, she had never seen such a number of nobles attend the great hall before, ever since her coronation.

How ironic it was now, that she would be meeting them all face-to-face as the King made his announcement of another daughter.

The weighty sound of heels snapped Princess Elucina from her attention, prompting her to whirl around and face the source of the footsteps. She found out it was her mother, Queen Esteria, who was approaching her.

"A lot of people, does it?" she said, walking beside her to place a hand on Elucina's shoulder.

"…Yes," Elucina answered dejectedly.

It was impossible for Queen Esteria not to catch her daughter's emotions regarding today's royal assembly. Sensing Elucina's dull mood, she pulled her into a hug, combing her dark brown hair as she held her close.

"My dearest, it's going to be fine," she mumbled, embracing her daughter tightly in her arms to soothe her. "I will fix this," she promised.

Elucina clung to her mother, melting into her arms as she felt like she was in a protective barrier. It was a familiar sensation she had known her whole life. Her mother had always been showering her with love and attention, even spoiling her impulsive wishes.

As they unwillingly broke apart, Elucina could not shake off her concern, hence, she asked worriedly, "Mom, are you really okay? Don't you feel nauseous?"

"I'm fine," answered Esteria, flashing a reassuring smile, although she could not hide the fatigue persistent under her eyes. "The medicine that the royal doctor prescribed to me is doing its job. Don't worry about me."

Elucina nodded, though her concern lingered for her mother's health. Queen Esteria was stubborn, refusing to rest on the bed for another day and risk missing the royal assembly.

Of course, she would not want to be absent at the King's decree, particularly about his other daughter to Queen Vittoria.

Esteria brought her hand to Elucina's cheek; with a gentle touch, she lifted her daughter's chin, locking eyes with her.

"Elucina–"

Before she could talk, there was a gentle knock on the door. Shortly after, Marquess Heldan revealed himself as he swung the door open.

He stepped in and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty and Your Royal Highness, the assembly is about to start."

Queen Esteria dropped her hand, fixing her attire. She glanced over her shoulder to see Elucina giving her a reassuring nod, to which Esteria returned.

"Excellent," she mumbled.

…

Elucina occupied her throne holding her status as the crowned princess. Next to her was her mother, Queen Esteria, who was sitting beside an empty throne reserved for the King.

Everyone was on the edge.

The audience waited for the King's delayed arrival with nervous anticipation. With every passing second, the tension within the great hall heightened.

And what had begun as a whispered conversation among the gathered nobles soon escalated into a wave of murmurs that rippled through them.

At the same time, Elucina could not help but notice the collective glances she felt upon her. Curious eyes, and possibly laden with judgment too, darted straight in her direction.

Despite this, Elucina kept her emotions in check. She maintained a front of composure even though her hands were clenched onto the fabric of her dress, her sentiments threatening to overpower.

"His Majesty, King Aetheran of Ethara!" a servant called.

He stepped out from the arch beside the throne platform, his striking ivory brown locks caught the radiance from the sunlight pouring in through the clear panes.

As he made his way towards the throne, the audience bowed in respect to their regal monarch.

Elucina, the first person he passed along his path, gathered the fabric of her dress in one hand, pulling an elegant curtsy. She made sure her eyes were fixed on the floor as his majesty walked in front of her.

Following suit, Queen Esteria did the same gesture, holding her pose until King Aetheran, her husband, was seated on his throne.

"The King's statement shall commence!" an announcer shouted before a member of the council came out of the mass.

The person was holding a golden tray in his hand, containing the decree that the King approved.

As the announcer received the scroll with the seal still intact with wax, he held it up for everyone to see. The royal stamp shone in the light, showing off the power behind the impending decree.

After then, he reached for the letter opener from the golden tray, breaking the seal to reveal the news to the eager audience assembled in the great hall.

Unfolding the scroll, the announcer cleared his throat before speaking in a loud voice. "As decreed by His Majesty, King Aetheran, ruler of Ethara, it is declared..."

His words echoed inside the great hall, causing Elucina's heart to race as she waited for her fate.

"In accordance to the laws of succession and the throne's decree," the announcer went on, his eyes visibly growing wider, "the crown bestowed upon Princess Elucina is to be taken away… effective immediately."

A collective gasp emitted from the crowd, followed by murmurs that grew increasingly louder.

"Your Majesty!" Queen Esteria could not hold it in and exclaimed from her seat, glancing over her shoulder towards her husband.

Elucina struggled to maintain herself, feeling the ground shifting beneath her feet. She clenched her fists tightly, holding back the tears from her eyes that were threatening to spill.

'…No! Father!'

She flicked her head towards the King's direction, hoping to see his reaction, but only found the stoic expression on his face. She grabbed the armrest of her throne, her grip so tight that her knuckles turned white.

'This can't be!'

However, the decree was yet to finish.

"But fear not a, as Princess Ethara will still be led by a worthy successor," the announcer declared, his voice faltering a bit. "His Majesty has decreed… t, that the rightful heiress to the throne shall be Princess Vanetta, eldest daughter of King Aetheran a, and the late Queen Vittoria!"

'No!'