Chereads / The Tongue-tied Empress / Chapter 20 - The Knighting Ceremony

Chapter 20 - The Knighting Ceremony

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The throne room is filled with the presence of imperial court officials, military officials, knight squads, and even the concubines of Emperor Alistair are all here. They have gathered here to conduct the appointment ceremony held by Empress Urduja Croimont.

The Emperor and Empress of the Lucelence Empire are waiting behind the entrance door of the throne room as they wait for the ceremony to get started.

Urduja remains straight-faced, cladding so beautifully in her beige gold dress with silver spiral designs in the hem of her dress and the dangling long sleeves. Her dress is the same as the Georgian traditional wedding dress Urduja sees back in her days as Corrine. Her ladies-in-waiting called the ceremonial dress. She also wears a crown with sapphire gemstones embellished on it. She fixes her posture, chining up as she is feeling nervous. She even straightens her skirt, thinking that there might be wrinkles there.

She glances at Alistair who is beside her. She eyes his ceremonial clothes. Alistair is wearing a black and gold military palace uniform with a shoulder armor cape and a golden crown on his head. It is Urduja's first time seeing Alistair wearing this kind of ceremonial clothes.

Who is she kidding? It is not as if this is her world after all.

Urduja averts her gaze from Alistair the moment the trumpets had been blown. The royal entrance fanfare is the one echoing through the whole room.

"Emperor Alistair and Empress Urduja have arrived!"

The entrance door of the throne room slowly opens. Urduja holds her breath as all of the eyes from the higher rank officials are all gathered here. She manages to gather them despite the sudden ceremony. She has summoned them for immediate action.

She also wants them to know that Empress Urduja Croimont is no longer a weakling as she can establish her personal knight and her elite knights. She is making her own tribute so that no one must not underestimate her anymore.

"Empress."

Urduja snaps back, hearing the icy voice from Alistair. He bestows her a cold, fathomless glare before her eyes lower down seeing his arm offering to her. She nods her head and clings to Alistair's arm.

Together, they step their feet on the aisle, sauntering their way to their throne seats. Urduja held her head high as she kept her eyes straight not minding the judgmental stares from the crowds.

'I'm nervous but I am not nervous from them,' she states in her mind. She only thinks of the ceremony hoping that she can properly orchestrate the knighting. 'I am only watching this from the tv and now, I am going to do it by myself!' She wants to squeal again in glee like what she did before she walked here.

"Long live, Emperor Alistair, Empress Urduja!" All of their subjects have uttered those words and knelt before them the moment they sit in their respective throne seats.

"Rise," Alistair orders them.

Urduja watches them with her stoic expression as they stand up upon the orders of Alistair. But inside, she is already giggling, feeling excited about this event.

The ceremony starts with the subjects singing the empire anthem of the Lucelence Empire.

Urduja glances at Alistair who is leaning on his seat, his right elbow is in the armrest, and his jaw is resting on the balled fist of his right hand.

'Is it just me or he looks bored right now?' Urduja huffs quietly and almost rolls her eyes before she diverts her attention as soon as she is being called to do the knighting ceremony.

Gertrude and the Diamond Moon Knights are already in the front, waiting for them to be called.

"Dame Gertrude Ray from Ray Household, come forth and kneel before the throne," Urduja utters the words with conviction. Gertrude, who is wearing a military knight uniform, comes forward and does as she is told. "Upon this day, wilt thou pledge thy fealty to the Lucelence Empire and present yourself as the Empress's Shield?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Do you acknowledge Urduja Croimont as your only liege?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

"Do thy wish to become the shield for the sake of the empress?"

"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."

An attendant has served Urduja a ceremonial sword. She takes a deep breath before she finally takes the sword and faces everyone. Urduja moves the sword to touch Gertrude's shoulders by gently using its tip.

"I, Empress Urduja Croimont, do hereby dub thee Dame Gertrude Ray, may you be truthful to your words and offer your life, serve and defend me well. You may now rise, Dame Knight."

Urduja sheathes the sword back to the scabbard. She nods her head at Gertrude which Gertrude bows her head. Gertrude turns to the audience. She receives applause from them. She returns to her post before Urduja summons the captain and vice-captain of the Diamond Moon Knights.

"Sir Azarius Henerozo, Captain of the Diamond Moon Knights, Sir Wulfsige Ackerg, Vice-Captain of the Diamond Moon Knights, come forth and kneel before the throne."

Like what she does to Gertrude, she also does the same thing to them. She even does the same knighting process to the members of the Diamond Moon Knights. The round of applause from the audience echoes throughout the whole room.

Alistair silently watches Urduja do everything to finish the ceremony. He is staring at her back, looking straight at the exposed nape of his empress. He doesn't know why but he seems to find it attractive. He castigates himself and focuses his attention back on Urduja who is giving her final speech.

Feeling a little tedious, Alistair raises his glances to the throne room's gallery. He spots a man clad in a black suit but he ignores it and averts his gaze from it. He thinks that someone sneaks in to watch the ceremony so he does not mind it.

Alistair turns his head to Maximus who is standing next to him. Maximus immediately lowers his head when he sees Emperor Alistair look at him.

"Your orders, Your Imperial Majesty?" Maximus lowers his voice.

"I saw a suspicious man in a black suit lurking at the gallery. Catch that person for me, will you?"

Maximus nods as his expression turns solemn. "As you comm—"

His words were cut off when they heard shrieking from the audience. Alistair immediately flinched on his seat when he saw Urduja plummeting down to the floor with an arrow shot at her chest, unconscious. His heart races rapidly, wide-eyed.

"Empress Urduja has been shot!"

One more time, Alistair hears a loud shriek as the audience starts to panic.