In the hushed moments before my coronation, the weight of anticipation hung heavy in the air. My pregnant belly pulsated with nervous energy. Despite the culmination of my revenge and the imminent crown on my head, a persistent unease lingered, hovering like unattended loose threads threatening my hard-fought triumph.
As the clock chimed noon, a light sound broke through my reverie. The doors to the royal court pulled themselves slowly apart, like a clearing to my new path. My long, embroidered white train trailed behind me. Like a moth to the flame, I felt its hypnotic pull, its power and glory. The onlookers, a mix of admiration and resentment, greeted me with bowed heads. But not all gazes conveyed joy; I sensed dissent among those who dared not conceal it.
"As we are gathered here on this auspicious evening to crown the daughter of the beloved Princess Isis Amenirdis Constantine and the Warrior King Elmar Ursag, we hope for the Most High and the guidance of the Twelve Kingdoms to see you through a prosperous and long reign. I hereby crown you the 96th monarch of Crestal and the Golden Kingdom of Azume: on the 25th day of the sun, the year of dragons." The crowning ceremony unfolded as the diamond-studded crown settled atop my head, symbolizing not just regality but an unwavering responsibility.
As the crown bearer placed the scepter in my hand, a cold and sticky substance splashed on my face, marring the moment and staining my pristine gown. The crown bearer fell with a thud, and all hell broke loose.
TWO YEARS AGO
Life hadn't been so sweet for me; I lost everything in a night: my birthright, my home, and everything I held dear. I was trailing down a footpath in a dense forest, my nightgown so tattered that it left much to the male gaze, blood and smoke haunting my senses. Clutching the sapphire necklace, a vestige of my legacy, I drifted toward unconsciousness, a desperate plea for survival echoing in the silent forest.
I awoke in the care of a mysterious woman, memories of a brutal massacre replaying in my mind. The Zulka warrior revealed my lineage and the dire need to reclaim my throne. My initial numbness transformed into seething anger, propelling me toward a quest for vengeance against Arthur Athanasios, the architect of my despair. I contemplated my past, questioning whether meeting Arthur had altered my fate. As the door creaked open, the woman, whose name remained elusive, presented me with a choice.
"I propose you two options: leave and never come back, or stay, fight, and take your throne back. Spill the winter men's blood. The Zulka warrior trains no weakling." The specter of revenge loomed, and I demanded to learn the art of summoning wolves, a skill that could tip the scales in my favor. Uncertainty clouded her features.
"You know what you're asking for? You could die if done wrongly. I might not have much love for you, but I'll never endanger a royal. We Zulka warriors live for the royal family of Azume." Unveiling her true identity as Delphine, my father's estranged half-sister, she divulged the intricate web of alliances, unrequited love, and the burden of protecting our bloodline. Her revelation ignited a newfound determination within me. Despite her frosty demeanor, Delphine became an unexpected ally in my pursuit of justice.
The gaping emptiness inside me only made me feel colder. And there, I decided I wanted my revenge; I would do anything, sacrifice anyone, to get it.
Two months had passed since I lost my kingdom and humanity; two months had passed since I subjected myself to brutal and animalistic training. The Zulka warriors were fierce and capable, their fighting skills and battle formations something I had never seen or heard before. They were well-trained and seasoned soldiers who showed little mercy during training. No one went easy on me when Delphine introduced me as the daughter of their former king; some even made me earn their respect.
I still had so much to learn, so many things to do. Every day, Delphine tried hard to teach me the howl of wolves, how to call and connect with them by taking me to their pack cave. Each time, I either got severely hurt or nearly died as the wolves felt threatened by my presence. It was as if I had no wolf's blood in me. The hostility of the wolves should have scared me, but I was more determined to connect with them.
"Aye! The princess decides to spy on us, eh?" Storm, the strongest and cockiest warrior among the Zulkans, called out. I jumped down from the tree, dusting off the debris from my thick strands.
"Nothing I've not seen. It wasn't even worth my time. You see, you compete with a flea, and you still lost at the game." His face turned a slight shade of red, going unnoticed by others but not by me.
"I could change your mind, princess. All you have to do is give me the order, and I shall obey." The Zulkans hooted louder, some whistled and laughed. Sweet talker, excessively charming and all muscles with veins, Storm was every bit a wolf warrior. His almost white hair and blue eyes earned him the name Storm. He was the first warrior to challenge me to a duel, which barely ended in a draw. Ever since, he hadn't stopped with the side glances and flirting. My bloodline did nothing to intimidate him; it only made his advances fiercer. Had my heart been warm, I might have found his advances intriguing, but Storm would never have my love—not that I had any to give. The only thing I had left to offer the Zulkans was loyalty and respect.
"Pondering it? I could make you feel good… my queen."
He's got guts; he stands in his rippled glory, staring back with those stormy eyes. I smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Careful with the way you speak, Storm. I'm still your queen. I could make you bleed out and die, but I won't, because I'm not a mad queen. On the battlefield and training ground, we're equals. Outside that arena, I'm your queen, and when I speak, you bow."
He dropped to one knee and gave a bow, the warriors following suit. "I tolerated the snide remarks because I wanted you to treat me like a fellow warrior and ally in the arenas. After that, I am your queen. I didn't demand your respect; I earned it with my blood, scars, and sweat. If you disrespect me one more time, I'll be sure to pull out your tongue as a warning."
The moment I turned around, Delphine nodded her head in approval and screamed, "TO THE ARENA. NOW!!!!"
The warriors all remained on their knees, probably waiting for me to tell them to rise.
"Rise, Zulkans. To the fall of Delphinus!" I shouted, my voice resonating within the arena walls.
"To the fall of Delphinus!"