"Bana." The Queen accepts his hand and walks to the door where everyone is already standing in position. [1]
Father nods his head once to Sir Arman who then knocks on the door to send a signal to the herald outside the room that everything is all ready.
"His Royal Majesty, King Adrian Benedictus Gracia y Lazuli, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Licentia Andromeda Magnus y Galatea von Lazuli!" The herald announces using the universal language of Doroveya Continent as the big oak double doors of the room connected to the Banquet Hall opens and Father and the Queen walk forward.
Every attendee stilled as they faced the balcony and simultaneously genuflected as the two stopped for a brief moment before descending the stairs hand in hand. Everyone paid their respects; no one dared to lift their heads to look at the pureblooded monarch.
"The Princess, Princess Iris Cylian Maoridom y Lazuli and Her Royal Consort Luna Elicid Alanys y Maoridom vhon Lazuli!"
Unlike their attitude when Father and the Queen were announced, there are people who deliberately craned their necks just to see a glimpse of me, despite the fact that they should be genuflecting and paying their respects. Father did not reprimand any of them. Especially since most of the curious ones are the dignitaries from other countries.
When Mother reaches a step below where the two are seated, she hands me to Father who willingly accepts me into his arms, and proceeds to the chair designated for her – one step below the Queen's. Father personally brings me to my seat between him and Hara Licentia, the train of my long dress almost touching the floor.
After every member of the Royal Family is announced and everyone is seated, Father gives a long speech about the kingdom's future and how it is a blessing to finally have a woman born in nobility, ending with telling everyone to continue the celebration and to not mind formalities for the day.
In the middle of the festivity, they hauled me out of my chair and into a private drawing-room. Nanny, together with other attendants, fed and washed me. They put me in another white dress adorned with an enormous bow at the back and walked back to the Banquet Hall. As soon as I got back, however, I saw a middle-aged man and a young man walking towards the foot of the dais.
"Good evening, Your Royal Majesty. This humble man's name is Krisantimo Abothier," the old man introduces himself. "Alongside me is Prince Twelve Ashburnham Fergus representing King Kong Fergus of Aryela Kingdom."
How could a retenue speak without being acknowledged first? And the prince didn't even reprimand him or show any signs of irritation. How odd.
"Good evening, Your Royal Majesty. May the benison of Kismet be bestowed upon you," the Prince greeted, bowing his head respectfully while his closed fist was on his chest. Such perfect manners.
"Evening to you, too, Prince Twelve," Father greets back, tension evident in his voice. "How have you been faring?"
"I have been faring well, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern," the Prince answers.
The older man who has soulless brown eyes with short, straight, deep brunette with a couple of gray locks combed over chimed in without being addressed and said, "On behalf of His Royal Majesty, King Kong I would like to present Princess Iris a gift to commemorate her first birthday."
Father does not like the attitude of the Duke, it is clear that what the latter did insulted him. He did not do anything, however, to show his discomfort since he and King Kong were friends and the Duke was a delegate from Aryela.
Without waiting for an answer, the Duke presents a rectangular box enclosed by golden laces and colorful gems. He opens the box. A pendant made of emerald crystal as big as a squash ball encased in sterling silver sits atop a velvet cushion. "This pendant was passed down to our kingdom's crown princesses for generations and was once the most treasured jewel of the late Queen Reinery as it was gifted to her by our fourth king, King Grigio on their wedding day," he said.
What the!
They are literally proposing a marriage between the Prince and me using that pendant as a token! Although it is only a pendant, the King gave it to his wife on their wedding day; it signified the marriage life of the two Royals, so the gift has a deeper meaning behind it.
'How bold of them,' I thought. 'There's no way Father will approve of this!'
I couldn't help but utter a grunt of dissatisfaction that caught the delegates' attention.
The two people on the step of the dais widened their eyes. The Duke was clearly taken aback. The Prince was either amused or humiliated.
"It seems that my daughter is getting tired because she has been seated for a long time now," Father says, knowing full well what I am feeling, but dares not announce it.
Duke Abothier laughs awkwardly. "As I see, Your Majesty." He seems to realize that I could understand what the underlying message behind the gift he presented is. He clearly isn't pleased.
Aryela Kingdom is the third most powerful kingdom next to Agreveda Kingdom. Both kingdoms, unlike ours which is pureblooded, are one of many kingdoms whose ancestors were not born royals and only rose to the throne by either usurping it or committing treason. All three kingdoms are partners in innovations, the former being on our east and the latter on our southwest. Aryela Kingdom is known for its crystals and jewelry thanks to their countless mines. Father and King Kong's friendship goes way back; together with Agreveda's Crown Prince, the three were known to be the three musketeers of their generations. Not in a correct sense that they are musketeers, no. They're just insuperable, always seen together with their swords and sometimes fighting in the middle of the streets with no regard for the bypassers.
—
[1] Bana = Damari term used to address someone's lover.