King Roland Godwin the III

"Ahem, everyone please make your way inside for a small repast. The coronation shall begin in two hours," Bryson said.

Only the Royal Guards stayed behind to watch over the pyre.

Bryson led the nobles to the grand ballroom. The grand ball could easily accommodate the hundreds of nobles in attendance.

The room was filled with tables had various charcuterie, amuse bouche, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a range of desserts.

The nobles mingled cheerfully. Many commented on the nice funeral or Cardinal vont Clermont's sermon.

Oblivious of how a thousand nobles stuffing themselves may look to the poor outside. Inside was filled with mirth. Will wondered by the king would choose to hold such a lavish party.

And then it dawned on Will. There had been too much death lately. Cities, towns, villages had been forever scarred. There were vast ghost towns, that only the dead inhabited.

This party was a needed holiday from the misery many suffered.

"We greet Viscount vont Ballard," bowed Earl Timothy vont Alms, the Guidon City Lord, Dwight vont Wright, Vincent vont Wright, and Earnest vont Washington.

Will had not seen these men together since they tried to bribe him to cripple Mark.

"Greetings!" Will said returning the bow.

"It has been a while since I've seen you, gentlemen. Hello Vincent, good to see you again," Will said.

Will had a feeling why these men were here. According to the economic report the king sent him. The plague and starvation had reshaped population boundaries.

The biggest winner were cities that prioritized public health and safety, like, Viscount vont Claybaugh, and Earl vont Hanover.

The biggest losers were ones that did not, like Guidon. These three men were a part of the losing coalition, and their positions were most likely in jeopardy.

Four years ago, Bradley's father told him not to believe the plague rumors. Timothy vont Alms thought the entire rumor to be fabricated. Now, the damage to Guidon was catastrophic.

Once the plague was inside his wall, it was too late to take measures. City Lord vont Alms's reactionary approach almost caused the city to fall.

"How are things in Gadreel? My reports say your mortality rate was less than 5%, well done you," said Timothy vont Alms sarcastically.

"How large is your population now?" Earnest vont Washington asked.

"Somewhere around 1.5 million. How is Guidon? Have things settled down?" Will asked curiously.

"Everything is settled. Things would have been better if those Albanian dogs didn't flee to our country.

Those cursed barbarians entered our kingdom, and gifted us that damn plague," Timothy vont Alms said through clenched teeth.

According to Bradley, when the plague was inside Guidon, his father barricaded the Central and Northern Districts from the rest of the city.

He left the poor and middle to die and fend more themselves. When the riots began, Timothy vont Alms gladly killed rioters, the remaining peasants deserted. With no peasants to work the nearby farms, he realized his grave error.

To make up for the loss, his soldiers formed raiding parties and captured peasants forcing them into slavery.

"Dealing with that many refugees were troublesome," Will tried hard to find something not critical to say.

"We've heard the king is considering rearranging fiefs due to the death of several nobles. We've come to call in our favor. Recommend to his majesty to leave our fiefs in place. If he does, we'll compensate you. How does 100 gold apiece sound?" Dwight vont Wright asked dismissively.

"You men are fools if you think the king listens to me. Good day," Will turned to leave.

"You owe us! Without us, your businesses would have failed!" Timothy vont Alms said loudly catching the attention of others around them.

"Your bigger fools than I thought to convince yourself of such a lie," Will replied curtly.

"Will please help my family?" Vincent pleaded.

"Do you all not remember what Cardinal vont Clermont said, "The Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each of us.

Vincent, the sins of the father are not the son's. When you're ready to leave your rotten father, come visit," Will left to find Elizabeth.

Will knew the king had a full agenda, his first 60 days would be tremendously important.

As King, Roland would have to start by assessing the new population boundaries, distributing food, rebuilding infrastructure, and burying the deceased.

…

In Fermion, once a monarch dies, a new monarch immediately ascends the throne.

Therefore, when King Remus fell into a coma, preparation for King Roland's coronation began at once.

The Cardinal of Aether had the duty of preparing the order of service, officiating, and crowning the new kings and the queens.

During the party, King Roland was privately bathed in milk and dressed in his new royal regalia for his investiture ceremony.

King Roland looked in the mirror. He wore a plain tunic to stand for his humility to the gods. He wore a robe made from griffin hide to show his divine right over man.

…

When the 14th bell chimed, nobles filed into the castle's chapel, which was as large as the grand ballroom.

When the ceremony began when King Roland walked alone down the aisle. As he passes the nobles in pews would kneel in respect. At the same time, a choir sang hymns about the divine right of kings.

At the end of the aisle was a small ornate altar. King Roland stood before the altar.

"I present to you the next sovereign of Fermion, and the rightful ruler of Albania," Cardinal vont Clermont said to nobles in attendance. The entire court applauded happily, before sitting down on the pews.

"King Roland Godwin Fermion III, due you solemnly swear to govern faithfully with justice and mercy, to uphold the Gospels of the Primordial Gods," Cardinal vont Clermont asked.

"I do!" replied the king.

"Then kneel before the gods!" Cardinal vont Clermont commanded.

Then King Roland Godwin's robe was removed, and he kneeled on a small stool facing the altar.

Then Cardinal vont Clermont anointed King Roland Godwin's head with holy oil. The anointing symbolized his divine blessing.

After having his head anointed, his robe was returned to him, and the king stood up once again.

On the cardinal's signal, a special coronation wingback chair was brought out.

When King Roland Godwin sat on the throne, the audience cheered, "Hail, Hail, Hail!"

Then Bryson kneeled before the king handing him the Royal Scepter and Sword. The Royal Scepter symbolized his regal power in one hand and the Sword symbolized his role as chief justice and executioner. In the other words, the scepter and sword stood for his absolutism in Fermion.

Finally, Cardinal vont Clermont removed Roland's princely crown, and replaced it with the Sovereign Crown, his father wore before the coma.

After the crown was placed on his head, a loud trumpet announced with fanfares the end of the ceremony.

"I now present King Roland Godwin, third of his name, king of Fermion, and rightful king of Albania, long may he serve," said Cardinal vont Clermont

"Long Live the King!" Bryson shouted.

"Long Live the King," echoed the audience.

"Long may he reign," Bryson shouted again.

"Long may he reign," the crowd repeated.

King Roland Godwin Fermion III stood from his throne and walked to the window, where it seemed all of Yorkshire had turned out for his arrival. King Roland raised his hands to the adorning crowd who only cheered louder.

After 20 minutes he returned to the chapel, and the commoners were given the free meal they were promised.

When he entered the audience bowed or curtsied.

King Roland Godwin Fermion III stood proudly in his Regalia.

"Please rise," King Roland commanded.

"This crowning ceremony comes at a difficult time. Our country is ravaged by the plague and famine. Civil unrest grows across our king.

Never has this country seen so many catastrophes happen at once. I've spoken to my advisers.

For my first order I appoint my steward Bryson, as Lord Stewart, and my father's Royal Stewart as his adviser," the king said. This was an expected move. As the earlier kings made the same first announcements.

Second, I decree the local lords must take a census and report the count within three months. Any lord in violation may lose their land grant rights.

Third, I appoint Marshall vont Smith, Duke vont Whitby, Viscount vont Ballard, Trevor vont Lawrence to temporarily join my Privy Council tomorrow," the king finished.

Will knew the king had a full agenda, his first 60 days would be tremendously important. King Roland had to complete a census, feed his people, rebuild infrastructure, bury the deceased, and fix a shattered economy.

"Court is over, everyone may leave, except those asked to remain," Byron, Lord Stewart.

"Excuse me are you perhaps Viscount vont Ballard?" asked a tall portly old man with a gray beard and gray hair. He was dressed in a style that was not common to Albania or Fermion.

"I am and who do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

"I am Earl Christoph von Mueller, envoy of the Great Eastern Empire, where I serve at the pleasure of his Imperial Majesty Kaiser von Wilhelm II. I came at your kingdom's request for an imperial envoy to see the ceremony.

His Imperial Majesty has heard about you and would like to meet with you. He is intrigued by you, especially your airship and fireworks. If you allow, I'd like to purchase an airship. This is an imperial decree, of course, I'm sure his majesty would agree to such a request.

I'm willing to pay you 200,000 Imperial gold. Let me tell you one Imperial gold equals 10 Fermion gold. That's 2 million Fermion gold. What do you think, are we in agreement?" He asked.

"Greetings Envoy von Mueller," Will bowed.

"I shall speak with my king first before I give you an answer. But I look forward to our future relationship. It was a pleasure meeting with you, but I must excuse myself as I cannot be late to his majesty's meeting," Will bowed again.

"Very well, but I look forward to our next meeting," Envoy Christoph von Mueller replied.

When Will walked into the king's study, he saw King Roland staring at the table.