"We all know why we're here, and for those who don't, which means you're not invited, we're here for the bestowal of the crown to the 16th king of the Moonrise kingdom, King Agni Artemis Achilles Oregon Ares of Moonrise." The priest said, shushing the temple with how loud the crowd speaks, everyone wanting to give their opinion.
"Why does the king have a lot of names?" someone shouted from the crowd.
"Because you aren't royalty, there's no need to explain," the priest said, glaring at the crowd, for he didn't know who would ask such a question.
"Why isn't the king here yet? He can't be late to his coronation," another said.
The priest bangs his hands on the table, seeming done with the crowd, he looks towards the oracles, who sit silently without uttering a word while trying to hide their smiles. The temple went quiet with how loud he hit the table.
Meanwhile, the king-to-be ✨✨✨
"Oh come on, Barbara, I can't wear that; the cap looks like the priest's mouth," Agni said, turning his mouth to imitate the priest.
"Stop being a child, Ares, the cap is not that bad."
"Sure it is, I'll look like the cook with that."
Barbara gasped, holding a hand to her chest. "Are you trying to insult me, young man? I am the cook in this palace."
"Oh my sweet Bar, and you're the best cook I've ever known," he said, giving her a side hug.
"Really my child,"
"Yes, my lady," Agni said, bowing.
"What is going on here?" a sharp voice pierced through the room, and they both fell silent.
Barbara quickly bowed, "Greetings, your highness.
"She huffed, passing beside her, reaching where her son was looking at the mirror, Agni turned to his mom, looking at Barbara apologetically.
"Mum, I seriously need a valet, all Barbara knows to do is cook. We should leave her to her post, please," he said, blinking his eyes multiple times, acting cute.His mom shakes her head at his childish behavior; she stares at Barbara before going to his closet, mouthing a "whatever."
Barbara walks towards the door and mouths a "thank you" to the prince before she leaves. She placed a hand on her chest, releasing a breath she never knew she was holding when the queen walked in.
"You're old enough to dress yourself; I see no reason why you let the old lady dress you," the queen said, rummaging through his closet.
Agni stayed quiet without uttering a word; it hurt him when his mum talked about his nanny that way. She cared for him more than the way she does for him, she knows what he likes and what he doesn't, she reads him like an open book, while his mum was always busy with her queenly duty. He gets a bit of her attention before his dad passed away, and when the king died, everything changed for the bad, not the better, though she stops seeing him until necessary; she doesn't know if he sleeps well or not, she mostly forgot she had a bit of her attention before his dad passed away, and when the king died, everything changes for the bad not the better thou, she stops seeing him until necessary, she don't know if he sleeps well or not, she mostly forgot she had a son.
"Where are the cloaks, for goodness sake?" the queen said, placing her hand to her forehead frustratedly.
"Only the old lady knows." Agni answered nonchalantly.
"What's her name again?"
"Mum, come on, she's been taking care of your son since he was five, and now, Mum, at least show some kindness, even if you aren't grateful, you don't bother to know her name." Agni answered, looking annoyingly at his mom.His mom walks to the desk close to his master bed, she picks up the phone and presses a button, ignoring all his ranting.
"This is the kitchen. What do you need, my prince?" a voice answered from the other end of the phone.
"Send the nanny to the prince's room now," she said, placing the phone down before the other end answered.
"Mom, please stop talking to them that way." Agni said whining.
"You mean the palace maids? Then you should be the one to stop talking to me that way. You're way too rude. What has that old lady been teaching you all this while?" she asked, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever, Mum, all I know is she's good and kindhearted." He said, seeming done with her attitude.
A sudden knock at the door startle the prince, his mum shakes her head before answering, "Come in."
A guard opens up, bowing, when he sights the queen, "Your Highness."
"What's it, Nyx?"
"I'm sorry, my queen, but the coronation has started; they're just waiting for the prince to be at the temple."
"Just ten more minutes; he'll be there in a jiffy."
The guards bow and exit the room; another knock startles the prince again; his mum looks at him, raising her eyebrows.
"A little knock scares you that easily; how can you be a great king like the rest of the kings if a mere sound affects you this much?"
Another knock at the door made the prince answer; Barbara walks in, bowing to the queen, her eyes cast downward.
"He should be ready in ten, and the blue cloak symbolizes royalty," the queen said, walking to the door. "And do something about that hair; the cap should fit perfectly," she said, closing the door a little loudly.
"I almost had a stroke when she walked in. How do you cope with that, Ares?" she said, going to his closet where his cloaks are hung neatly in rows.
"I just muster up courage, Bar; she affects me just as much," he said, taking the comb from the mirror stand.
"Does what she said mean you have to wear a blue cloak? But there's a lot of blues in here: there's royal blue, sea blue, ocean blue, turquoise blue, deep blue, blue-black blue, and...."
"Bar," Agni called, inching closer to the closet, "I don't know all those blues you mentioned; just use...', he was cut short by Barbara, "and blue."
Agni hit his forehead, shaking his head; he knows exactly who his caretaker is; she won't keep shut till she's done.
"Let's just use the blueee blueee; that's what the queen said anyway," he said, stressing the blue part."And she gave you ten minutes, remember," he said, smiling cockily.
Barbara gasped, rushing back to the mirror with a blue cloak; she looks pale, like someone who's deprived of air. Agni chuckled lowly, covering his mouth, not wanting her to hear.
"That bad of you, Ares, it is not fair, ten minutes won't be enough to dress a handsome man like you," she said, smiling softly, palming his face gently. Agni hugs her tightly, blinking back tears. She's the only type of care he ever knew of; she cares for him like his real mom. When his biological mother doesn't care, he wishes he hadn't been born into royalty; he'd have lived a carefree life and done what he wanted and loved.
"Come on, we don't have all day," she said, tapping his back. He released her slowly, hiding his face so she could not see his tears.
"I know you too well, Achilles," a name she called him whenever he was emotional. She said he looked exactly like his grandfather when he was young, he was always emotional. He once cried because a baby was crying so loud while her mom was in the toilet. Like, who cries for that petty reason? Well, his grandfather, of course.
He smiled softly, sitting in the dressing mirror chair facing the mirror.
"Now shoo those tears, don't smush your makeup. I have a hard time making the liner look perfect," she said, smiling softly.
"We can't leave the cap out right," he said, handing her the comb."No, we can't, and if we did, your mom's going to kill me with a heart attack." She said both of them bursting out laughing.