She felt something sharp pierce her skin. The pain penetrated her, but she was conscious of where she was. Her smile never faded, as she looked down on the heavy snow deposit. The height of this snow on the road would hide her bloody feet, so she gritted her teeth and continued on. As she took another step, she felt something else penetrate her leg. The pain was horrible, but she could not scream.
Many thought the new queen was taking her time with that last step, but they did not know she was in pain, as Amie's soft smile never left her face.
Amie looked round at where the nobles stood to watch her walk and could see the undisguised mockery in the eyes of a few nobles. She did not have time to think through who they really were, as the crowd was still watching her. Her smile remained in place as she straightened her back, braced herself for the next pain and took the next step.
She understood that they wished that she failed. And by the look of some of the nobles, news of this plan had reached quite a few ears. She could not let them win she only glanced at them one more time, to note the faces of those she thought knew at this moment. Some frowned, others smirked, but they knew nevertheless.
Amie started walking ahead now, her pace medium and natural, and her smile soft and back straight. Many in the crowd cheered as they threw flowers in her path. At this moment, some nobles were confused. Some had heard of someone paying the servants preparing the ceremony to line the stone path to the palace with tiny short pins. Their shine would have been visible under the bright sky, but the snow on this day was heavier than other days. The path for the queen to move through was being cleared ahead, but before the queen could walk on it, snow quickly filled it.
Shouldn't she be screaming in pain right now? They wanted to see a woman in history who could be the wife of the king but not the queen. Only those two empires and the countries surrounding them had multiple wives and concubines. Even the religion turns a blind eye to them in particular. But Juhntt was not so. If she failed to become the queen today, she would be the first in history.
But this queen's back was too straight. Her movements seemed natural. Her smile bloomed without withering. Were they wrong? Was it possible those who wished to interrupt her procession had failed?
Amie made her way towards a dark metal bowl. She did not need to think too hard to know this was the fire she was to light. Beside the bowls sat a jar that was supposed to be filled with oil, and a touch flaring with the soft wind. Though her dress was heavy, she refused to pause. She made her way towards it and grabbed onto the jar of oil and was so shocked she almost dropped it. If she was not prepared for the mishap, she may have thrown away this jar immediately as it was filled with hot oil.
Anger filled her as she held onto the jar and continued her motion despite the burn. She was careful to not be too quick. Instead, her movement remained medium and graceful. She could feel her eyes water despite her still soft smile, and she quickly blinked it away with all her might. She filled the oil and lit it with the torch. Not daring to expose her burnt palm, she hid it under her sleeves and kept moving.
The palace gates opened when she arrived. The snow had been cleared for her. The soldiers saluted and gave way for their new queen to walk up the palace steps. She entered the palace doors and they shut behind her, blocking the cheering outside. Before her, rows of maids knelt.
"Your Majesty," they greeted. Amie walked right between them towards the man standing ahead. On reaching him, she gritted her teeth and curtsied, "Your Majesty,"
As she got up, King Adrian saw her steel eyes and paused. He held out his right hand to her and she took it, hiding the more burnt hand in her sleeves.
They made their way up a staircase by the corner, only then did someone notice the trail of blood the queen was leaving.
"Her Majesty is bleeding!" someone exclaimed and King Adrian paused and looked down. Only then did her pale face register in his brain. Amie couldn't care less about this. She continued moving despite the fact that King Adrian had stopped. He frowned at her straight back and followed. She did not say anything and he did not know what to say.
They made their way to a balcony and he held out his left hand and she took it and came into the view of the cheering crowd and waved. King Adrian felt her hands and frowned. He turned it slightly to see why it felt so odd, to meet the sight of a fresh burn. His eyes darted to the smiling Amie. She may be smiling, but he could not. Was this not an insult to him? They dared to do such a thing because they thought nothing of Amie, but didn't this also mean they thought nothing of him?
Amie smiled at the crowd without care for her pain.
This pain, she will remember it. This disrespect, she will remember it. Those who dare do evil must expect evil to be done to them.