I stood before a full length mirror, not quite recognizing myself. It was the first time I was wearing a brocade robe. Savitria and Aunt Royan along with my maids had worked tirelessly to make the dress according to my directions. I still did not fancy elaborate dresses, so they had made a dress that stopped at the knees, with a sash over my right shoulder, secured round my waist. The dress was purple, pleated, with short sleeves, and I wore long gloves reaching to my elbows. I knew Savitria added that to cover my coarse hands.
My hair was unraveled, and it dropped down to my lower back, black as night. Aunt Royan decorated it with a flower crown. I looked somewhat like a fairy.
"Her Highness is really beautiful," Aunt Royan smiled as she stood beside me, looking in the mirror. She was dressed in the uniform-like formal Four Delegates attire on her part.
"Your Highness, we should leave now. Everyone is waiting." she added.
Savitria came in, someone following her. I had seen her at Court the other day, Renee Saarhash Kushad, wife of Elvin Kushad and mother of my cousin Neida.
She bowed. I noticed she held a thin rectangular box in her hands.
"Congratulations to Her Highness on her coronation," she said with a smile.
I told her to rise.
"You are delaying Her Highness," Aunt Royan said stiffly, "be quick about it,"
Renee looked at her with a complicated expression. Turning back towards me, she managed a smile.
"Her Grace granted me this hairpin on my wedding. She had said she had made it for you, to be worn on your coronation. I came to gift it to you so you could wear it today. Then, Her Grace's wish would come true,"
She opened the lid of the box and lifted out a sparkling silver hairpin, in the shape of a bird's wings.
"Grant me the honor to help you put it on--"
Aunt Royan had reached her limit. Snatching the hairpin out of Aunt Renee's hands, she said:
"Her Grace does not lack hairpins to gift Her Highness personally. Do you think, today, when Her Highness must be the epitome of pureness and beauty, she would be wearing an hairpin of several years old??"
"Aunt Royan," I cautioned. But for once, she didn't listen to me.
"Savitria, escort Renee Kushad out,"
Aunt Renee's eyes contracted.
"Elder sister, this has nothing to do with you and I! I'm just--"
"Savitria!"
Aunt Renee shook off Savitria's hands and bowed properly before taking her leave. Aunt Royan turned to me.
"Forgive me for my bit of wilfulness, Your Highness,"
I shook my head, exasperated. Aunt Royan placed the hairpin on the dresser, then came to take my hand.
"The palanquin is waiting,"
I was surprised to find Karn waiting at the entrance of the Royal Court. He was dressed in a formal robe, a sash over his shoulder as well, both hands clasped behind his back.
"Your Highness, your cousin will walk you up the aisle." Aunt Royan said as she helped me down the palanquin. Karn approached, bowing, holding out his right hand.
I took it. We ascended the steps into the Court. After we had walked a while, Aunt Royan and my retainers followed. Everywhere was decorated with wreaths of flowers and strips of purple and red.
"Elder cousin--" Karn murmured.
"Yes?"
"Can we still call you that when you become Empress?"
"Of course," I smiled. He looked straight ahead, smiling as well. After all, not everyone had the honor to call the Empress such.
The doors were wide open. All court officials were on their feet, and bowed as Karn and I went past.
We came to the foot of the dais, and bowed. Karn released my hand and went to stand where his mother and father and sibblings were. Mo' Sen waved at me, and his father snatched his hand, covertly giving him a knock on the head.
I smiled at their family. Their father bowed back, holding his squirming child tightly. Turning my head, I saw that Father rose and came to stand in front of me.
"Neiman," he looked truly happy, "are you prepared to take on this position of Empress of Canolita?"
"Yes, your majesty," I replied loud and clear.
"Geralt Laoren! Begin the rites!" Father called.
An older version of Nildan Laoren came forward, trailing three eunuchs which bore the Crown, Scepter and Seal, on bright red cushions. Father returned to the dais while Geralt Laoren had me face the Court.
"The first attribute of a ruler is humility! Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, bow to the citizens!"
I made a very deep bow.
"The second attribute of a ruler is filial piety! Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, bow to your parents!"
I turned around and bowed deeply towards the dais.
"The third attribute of a ruler is benevolence! Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, receive the Scepter!"
The second eunuch came forward. Geralt Laoren, took the scepter from the cushion. I knelt with my arms outstretched above my head and received it.
"Rise,"
I rose, holding the scepter with my gloved hands.
"The fourth attribute of a ruler is authority! Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, receive the Seal!"
Handing the scepter to an eunuch, I knelt to receive the seal.
"The final attribute of a ruler is rulership! Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, who will crown you?"
Aunt Royan had said I could call anyone from my family besides Father and Mother. I looked to the left, where Aunt Royan, Renee Saarhash Kushad and Uncle Arhost's children stood with their mother. Then I looked to the right, where Iria and Rudolph along with General Zarin and grandmother stood. Smiling at them, I turned to Geralt Laoren.
"I will have Rudolph Hakorhi crown me,"
There was a buzz from the court officials, that died down quickly, seeing that Geralt Laoren didn't object. Calling out, he said:
"Rudolph Hakorhi, come forward and crown this empress!"
Rudolph came forward nervously, receiving the golden crown from Geralt and eyeing me covertly. I knelt before him and he placed the crown into my hair.
Geralt Laoren had him repeat;
"This day, I, Rudolph Hakorhi,"
"This day, I, Rudolph Hakorhi," Rudolph repeated.
"Crown you, Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss,"
"Crown you, Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss,"
"Empress of Canolita,"
"Empress of Canolita,"
"Rise," Geralt Laoren said to me. Turning to the court, he called in a loud voice:
"Neiman Saarhash San de Seuss, eighty-ninth monarch of Canolita! Bow the knee!"
Everyone in the court, including Geralt Laoren and the eunuchs, went on one knee.
"Long live Empress Neiman! Long live Empress Neiman! Long live Empress Neiman!"