Chapter 3- Crown and Blood

Priest Overmiere glances over to Crown Prince Rutherglen. He doesn't wish to proceed with the procession from what he saw in his visions yesterday evening. He resumes striding when unexpectedly he heard a slight hiss just meters away, which is usually absurd to hear from all the attendees' murmurs in the receiving hall. Still, he did listen to it out of all the sounds around. He shuttered as his eyes widen from just the idea. This is all familiar yet new to him. It is such a familiar feeling. His skin began to tighten as his lips shivered; he unconsciously peeks back to see a frightening figure behind all the nobles and guards stationed in the hall.

As Viscount Boutemaize nonchalantly gazes at the priest walking to the soon-to-be King, he saw as the latter halts and faces them. Being the one in front, he first thought that it was him the priest is gazing at, but after discerning the priest's expression, he is in shock. Fear. For the first time, he saw the priest who is known to have a strong mindset make such a face. Then, discovering that he is peering behind them, he felt his shoulders tingle; fright comes into him as he abruptly looks back as well. This made the other people around him also peek back to see nothing.

There is a trifle, but he is sure, quite sure, that there is something in there, and it is staring back at him. When was the last time that he felt this way? Then, his eyes glimpses ahead to see an image of a snake, his eyebrows curled up as he squints his eyes to see the image correctly. This snake looks so familiar, but it disappeared like it was never there; it was gone. He dismisses these incidents' rarity and looks at the priest who is still statured on his feet.

"What happened to the priest?" He heard someone inquire. He turns to the person who talked to see Marques Norsysia.

"He keeps on looking behind us, but nothing's there." He replies to him. They stare at each other before minding their businesses.

"Will he continue the ceremony or stay there like an idiot." A woman harshly mumbled, she is Duchess Mouryn, a relative of the late King. She is one of many that bluntly opposes the priest and Artheiaya's religion.

Laughter soon exploded on the hall after what she said, and she seemed to take it as a compliment as she smiles even sweeter than ever.

Viscount Boutemaize avoids the other nobles. They have always been this way, acting like uneducated people without morals. Viscount Boutemaize is just one of the few that are left from the original nobility. He was part of the Ministry back then, but his rank lowered after the new royal family ascended the throne. He was lucky not to be killed, but in exchange, he has to live his life in guilt as he watches his brothers and comrades be murdered during the rebellion. This is the reason why no nobles wanted to talk to him. Up until now, the royal family "looks after" him. The new nobles are just commoners before but have an excellent relationship with the new family, so they got a faster non-tradition way of being a noble.

He ignores everyone, just like how they treat him. After this, he will go home and have a good lunch with his family. Looking at the priest, he thought about just what he is thinking; Crown Prince Rutherglen already looks annoyed as he waits for him.

Soon, Commander Cheistian walks over to Priest Overmiere, asking, "what seems to be the trouble, Priest Overmiere?" But when the priest continues looking into nonentity, he forcefully yanks his arms to guide him to Prince Rutherglen. This shatters the blackout of Priest Overmiere as he peeks over Commander Cheistian. "I am sorry for my rudeness, Priest, but if you continue looking so dazed, I am afraid that the Crown Prince Rutherglen would certainly kill you any moment from now."

This made Priest Overmiere examine the Crown Prince. It is true. Prince Rutherglen's face is now distorted as his eyes glare at him as if wanting to strangle him.

"Priest Overmiere, you seem so out of yourself lately. Didn't you know that this is a crucial ceremony?" Rutherglen hums as he menacingly glares at him. "I could forgive you a while ago, but if you continue acting foolish, I am afraid that I might demolish your place, which would certainly make the people much happier. If not with the thought of preserving a little culture, did you think, I will not slay you?" He threatens him as he shoves the priest in front to start the ceremony.

Priest Overmiere, still looking a little confused, silently looks over the spot he just stared at for minutes, completely ignoring the unpleasant words Rutherglen just let out to him. He put forward his hands up while gazing at the open space and started speaking the traditional language of Artheiaya, only taught to priests of the kingdom.

"Saguiha shinguisa…" He started the ritual by speaking in a language that no one else could understand as he asks for forgiveness. Please forgive us, almighty Glyvecarius. Your people have turned against you and anger you. Forgive us, mortals. Show mercy on us. He continues without any choices, proceeding to the crowning ceremony. "By the power vested by Glyvecarius and the Almighty Sovereign God of all, the Kingdom of Artheiaya now will start a new path for our better future. Crown Prince Rutherglen, as the King of Artheiaya, the blood that runs within you shall symbolize our faith in God. A drop as a sacrifice, a drop for a new future, you will lead the Kingdom blessed by the Gods and shall accompany the Kingdom till the end of your line." As the ritual says, the trainee priests got the serpent cup, which has been dropped by all previous Kings' blood, and a knife that lived with the serpents of Artheiaya. They got the crown first from the priest's hands before giving him the cup and knife.

Rutherglen grabs the knife and slashes a little on his palm before letting a drop drips on the cup. Priest Overmiere looks at his scar on his palm, which will be wounded for the third time. For some reason, it hurts that usual as he sliced his skin, a drop of blood seems hurtful to drip.

The trainee priest came over again, carrying the crown, and handed it over to Priest Overmiere. "I shall pronounce the new King of the kingdom of Artheiaya, King Rutherglen!" He then places the crown on top of his head.

King Rutherglen walks to the front and raises both of his hands, seemingly happy as claps resounded the area. The Mother queen smiles as shining as the sun. But Priest Overmiere still ignores the celebration and looks over the corner to see it moving towards them. He unconsciously steps back before stumbling on his feet and falling to the ground as he shouted, "ahh!"

King Rutherglen turns around to see the priest looking so scared as he stares in front, so he looks back just to be faced with a big slap of wind. His body flies meters away, and everyone screamed. The four commanders run towards the King, checking his condition. The Mother Queen also runs towards her son.

"What happened? How did the King got hurt?" She frantically asks them.

"We don't know_," Commander Alexander answers when King Rutherglen suddenly shouted.

He shouted like he is being tortured then they saw his head suddenly bleeding.

"Rutherglen!" The Mother Queen cries as she kneels beside him.

The third commander tries checking under his head, but when he tries removing the crown, it didn't move.

"I cannot remove the crown." He said.

Commander Cheistian also tries removing it when he saw the unusual grip of the crown. "Not good, the crown seemed to be gripping King Rutherglen's head tightly. It'll crush in no time if this continues." A gasp comes from the Mother Queen as she heard what the Commander said.

They tried removing it, but nothing worked. When Commander Alexander suddenly grabs his sword and raises. "Wait, Alexander, what are you_."

He didn't listen to them; instead, he keeps on swinging his sword as he tries to control his force, making sure that he will not inflict the King; still, the crown didn't shatter.

Desperation filled his eyes as he realizes the consequences of not being able to break the crown when he saw how King Rutherglen's head seemed to bleed so much, and the skin is turning violet from the crown's tight clutch.

"Stop! Stop it! You will kill my son!" The mother queen exclaims, but he didn't stop.

"Commander Alexander, if you don't control your strength, not only the crown will break but also the Kings_!"

"I know what I am doing!" He shouted back, making the people around them turned silent, then he proceeded to swing his sword.

"If you kill my son, Alexander, I will you myself!" The Mother Queen shouted.

Then, after so many tries, the crown break but the King fainted already and drops of blood flowing on the floor, but Commander Alexander have not wounded him. He has successfully done an impossible thing.