Chapter 19

In the throne room, Jett waited near the entrance door, waiting for Bella. He kept adjusting his collar nervously, worried he would somehow mess this up.

Cora entered and nodded to Jett and took her spot near the front of the room. On the throne platform, was the king, royal guards, and members of parliament. All in traditional garments.

"MAKE WAY FOR HER HIGHNESS, ARABELLA! ESCORTED BY MASTER JETT FLYNN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!" A man yelled next to Jett as the trumpeters blew their horns.

The door opened, and Bella stepped in. Everyone gasped at how beautiful she looked, but also at the black dress. It was a beautiful but obvious statement of some sort. Her head raised and a chest full of pride, she stepped into the room. This was her coronation day. A day of change.

Jett was so nervous he thought he would faint. Discreetly, he patted a bead of sweat from his brow. He was never nervous about wrestling. It was her. He couldn't remove his eyes from his queen. Seeing Bella looking so stunning, and knowing she was his, made his heart pound in his chest. At that moment, it became real. He was falling in love. There was not a question in his mind.

Jett stepped out, looking dashing in his tuxedo to greet her. One hand behind his back, he raised his other arm to allow her to place hers over it in a traditional royal manor.

Bella looked over at her escort with a nod. "You're doing fine. Just breathe," she said with a smile.

Jett walked her down the aisle as people whispered how lovely she looked, but none understood why she wore black. They royals reserved black for funerals or black-tie galas. The king stood and smiled at his great-niece. As if on instinct, everyone in the room bowed to King Andrew as Jett and Bella made their way to him.

Once to the font, the King spoke. "The royal house of Mecca Island welcomes Arabella Davis for her royal coronation. On this day you will become Arabella, Princess of Mecca Island. To carry on the royal bloodline to be future queen and leader of Mecca Island."

Jett removed his hand and bowed to the king, then to her. Stepping to the side, he took a deep breath. So far, so good.

"Master Flynn, why do you come?"

"To present the future princess, Arabella. In honor of tradition and royal standing. I present to you, good King of Mecca Island, your future heir to the throne."

"Presented and accepted. I give the coronation to Parliament." The king sat, and the people stood again in the crowd and sat once he was seated, mirroring their king.

"The Archbishop shall administer the Coronation Oath."

"Arabella, Is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?"

Arabella took a deep breath, "I am willing."

The man placed a bible out for her to place her hand upon. The Archbishop seemed confident when he spoke. It was as if he had done this a million times. "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the People of Mecca Island, for greater good and honor?"

"I solemnly promise to do so."

"Will you, in your power, uphold Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed to all of Mecca Island?"

"I will."

"Arabella, we asked you to present a speech to address your people. Are you prepared?"

"I am." Bella turned to face the people, speaking with confidence, "I ask that everyone fully hear me before you respond. I am sure my words may hit some harshly, and I mean no disrespect. I come wearing black today in protest against oppression. I thought long and hard about how to address the people of Mecca Island today. When looking over the oath, I realized we as leaders hold a responsibility to our people, the royal court, and to our country. In the oath, I am asked if I will govern for the greater good of the people. I very much intend to do this to the best of my ability.′

'Back in the US, I was often involved with various charities. As was my grandfather and father; your former royal family. A tradition of kindness that my family lovingly shared. Here the wealthy are forbidden to do so. I believe this is a mindless law from a former queen who let her fear overrule kindness. I learned even my great uncle, your own king, feels many of our laws are outdated. He himself sends out money and food to the homeless outside these walls. He does so in secret. How is this humane? How is kindness to our people wrong? I know many of you do the same.'

'The greater good of Mecca Island only fits the greater good of the wealthy, privileged, and upper classes. I ask our people, is this the legacy the Mecca people seek? Why do we eat the finest food and drink the finest wines, while our less fortunate can't find jobs and struggle to get a simple scrap of food? Are we trapped in the dark ages? I say yes.'

'Women are of less importance. I can not become queen unless I marry another royal. You will force me into an arranged marriage. I ask my people. Do you wish to force your queen and female royals to marry out of rules alone, or will you allow them, love? Should your future queen be forced into the arms of someone who has no regard for her? This is certain to become true. If parliament does not change this rule, I will take no husband at all. Thus allowing Mecca Island to lose the monarchy upon my death. I will bear no children or marry outside of love. You deny our female royals the one thing that our country claims it's built upon. LOVE."

The crowd fell silent as Bella stepped down to grab Cora's hand, raising it to the people. With determination, she continued, "Our own Duchess Cora and royal guard William have had love in hiding. We have ignored their chance of happiness for far too long. They hide in secrecy a family they built together for years. They love in secrecy while all of you turn your head to the hurt of the two people who devote their lives to this country.′

'I am honored on this night to allow one decree on Mecca Island. A rule passed without recourse. In the past, it has been one white-collar criminal released from jail or an upper-class given some special financial privilege. I raise my decree in parallel with my protest tonight. I decree that my gift will be to William and Cora. My first royal decree at Princess of Mecca Island; knighthood of William Ascarat. A loyal and honorable servant of the court to allow the couple's marriage under royal law."

Cora looked shocked as she looked around the room to see if this was real, her hands grasping at her mouth in awe.

"William, please step forward. I ask my uncle, King Andrew, to honor this decree with the official knighthood. Thus allowing the marriage of William and Cora to be legal by Mecca Island law."

The crowd gasped at her outward defiance.

The king stood, taking the royal sword as William bowed before him. Cora was weeping and blew a kiss to Bella. Finally, they could officially marry after twenty years in secret.

"As King of Mecca Island, I dub thee knight. Rise, Sir William, as Royal decree." The King sat back down with an approving grin for his long-time friends.

Bella stepped forward. "On this day of my coronation; I promise to my people love, kindness, charity, and goodwill. I stand to make our country great by removing the repression of the old ways. I promise to escort Mecca into a new future for all the people of this land. This I vow," Bella said as she stood strong.

Jett stood with pride of how brave she was. Reading the laws, he knew the risk she was taking. With the things Bella promised, it could mean Mecca Island could deny her coronation. Jett looked over at the Duke and saw his eyes narrow in anger. The crowd was silent and some older parliament members looked angry. Some seemed hopeful in her words.

Jett stepped next to Bella, taking her hand. He raised his head as if he himself was royal. Bella looked over, seeing his bold expression. His gesture made her see she was standing before her future king. Standing by her side was one powerful force. With his gesture, William and Cora joined him.

The king himself stood, sticking his tongue out at the old nasty duke, and joined them. All against the tradition of the coronation they stood in protest together.

The Duke in all his bubbling anger, yelled to parliament, "Will we allow this dishonor to the law? This American has come to our country trying to change Mecca Islands' way of life. She is to be my queen. Yet she fraternizes with a commoner. Allow me to be the upcoming king, and I will put a stop to the nonsense. Only I can teach this woman to respect the laws. Only a true royal can fix this. Fix her. Her family has done nothing but brought dishonor for years. Starting with her great grandfather. A future king who left his country for common street trash."

Hearing those words went straight to Bella's core. The Ohio girl was no longer the princess. She was the goth rebel about to destroy him. Bella pointed in his face, snarling in anger, "Let me tell you something, you snooty piece of garbage. My great grandmother wasn't trash, and I'll stomp your ugly face in for disrespecting my family."

Jett stepped to pull Bella back. "Bella, not here. Not now."

"No! I'm had enough! My great grandmother was the most caring, loving woman anyone could have ever known. When I came here, I learned the truth about her. She was a nurse in the war. She saved many Mecca Island people from being killed at the hands of the enemy. People of the court and parliament owe their families lives to that woman. Many of the elders here whose family were among them. Without her, many of you would not be here today. She was a martyr to our people. Do you dare dishonor her efforts? She should have been given the right to marry my great grandfather for all she did for our people!"

"SHUT UP WHORE!" The duke yelled, slapping Bella across the face.

Jett instantly threw himself at the man, while Mason and his wrestling brothers ran to stop him. The crew struggled to hold him back. "No one touches my, Bella. I'll fucking kill you!"

"Guards!" The king yelled.

The Queen of Weston, from a nearby island, was in attendance. Rising from her seat in horror, the old woman held up a single hand. Instantly everyone froze in place. Her sheer presence was intimidating, yet poised and traditional. "ENOUGH! Duke of Weston. After much reflection and you striking the princess, you will be detained and removed from this event. I revoke your request to an arranged marriage under the old law."

"Your Highness, no! This girl is a menace. Can't you see what she is doing to our sister country?"

"I can't change Mecca Island law, but I can make choices for those living under my court. You will not marry Arabella for interruption of her coronation, and the dishonor to her and that of the royal family. Her family was nothing but kind. I will not allow such disrespect from my people. Guards! Remove him from the castle at once!"

The queen came over to join them on stage. As both king and queen from both countries stood with Arabella, everyone bowed.

The King spoke, "We shall continue with the coronation with the approval of parliament representatives."

The men quickly agreed, and everyone returned to their places. Slowly Jett relaxed, seeing his goth queen was no longer in danger. Bella turned to him, taking his hand. "It's okay. I'm safe. I've taken harder hits that that wimp," she giggled with a wink.

Jett leaned to whisper in her ear, "I'm sorry. I messed up."

King Andrew nudged him with a chuckle, "Nice body slam, Master Jett."

Seeing the king smiling at him, they both laughed it off while getting back in their places. The king stood by Arabella and took the crown from the pillow the Archbishop was now holding.

"Arabella, as King of Mecca Island I dub the Princess Arabella of Mecca Island." Andrew placed the crown on her head and led her to the front of the stage, allowing the people to see their new princess.

The people clapped as Bella glanced over to Jett with a thankful smile. Bella did it all for him. Knowing she could have lost her title and even jail time. Saying those things before her crowning was worth it. She now could work to make an actual change and maybe find true love.