章 74: Coronation Day(1)
The prime bells that rang had the whole kingdom of Vlamunda trembling and bustling like never before.
The people of the kingdom didn't dare go to their marketplaces to sell or buy anything as the day was solely for the installation of the new king and Prince Leon had given orders that anyone who broke the rule would be punished on the scaffold.
A carriage arrived in front of the palace with three other carriages and servants following behind it. There were some guards with swords and armour as they followed the carriage with their horses by its sides.
The few guards who were at the gate hurried to welcome the guests who had just arrived while the other one who turned out to be Tynan rushed to the King's quarters to inform the prince about their arrival.
"Let him in," Leon told the few guards standing in front of his quarters.
They immediately made way for Tynan and Leon urged him to relay the news.
Tynan bowed before he started, "King Albert Milan of Savannah has arrived.
He is currently being welcomed by the few guards stationed in front of the palace."
His words slightly surprised Leon who had his brows furrowed in amazement.
He had only invited King Albert a few days ago, how did he manage to arrive just on time?
"Send Carlos and a few other servants to attend to him without fail." his orders were firm and Tynan bowed again before he got up and left the quarters again.
Matthew entered the next moment and Leon urged him, "Speak."
"I have appointed a new Valet for you, Your Highness. He would be here in a few minutes with some maidservants to dress you up for the occasion," Matthew informed him and saw Leon nod slowly at his words.
Then the air suddenly turned nostalgic and he saw Leon smile subtly at him.
"I would miss you dressing me up." his words sounded like jabs of a sword that hit Matthew hard.
While King Lucas had been alive and healthy, he had been Leon's Valet, dressing and attending to any of his needs when the time came even though Leon had always insisted on doing things himself.
But over time and with King Lucas falling ill, Leon had favoured him, pushing him to a higher position other than a valet.
Matthew smiled wistfully before he nodded, remembering those memories that were now long gone and thrown in the mud.
"I should leave. I need to dress up too. I just found out King Albert has arrived." Matthew bowed to see Leon nod before he dismissed himself and went to his quarters.
Leon entered his room as well, going into the bathroom to take the bath that had been prepared for him specifically by Carlos.
Ms. Carlos didn't want any of the maidservants messing things up for her which was why she had come to do the job herself.
The steaming water had scented oils and the smell of jasmine enveloped Leon, reminding him of the redhead and their interaction last night.
After a while, he stepped out of the bathroom, with his hair that he had now been cut short, dripping water to fall on his shoulders.
He dried himself properly before putting on his undergarments with his muscles and chest form still exposed.
He heard a knock and already knowing who it would be, he ordered the person in.
The new valet stepped in and bowed his head deeply at the soon-to-be king.
"Your Highness, if I may bring in the few maidservants to dress you?" he asked for permission and when Leon nodded, he gestured for the two maids to come in.
Leon had been dressed severally by a few maids before so it was no shock to him to be dressed by some today as well. However, when his gaze landed on one of the maids who had accompanied the valet, his eyes widened and his brain stopped working for a moment.
Melina stood with a tray of accessories to be used to adorn the king in her hand.
Her hair was neatly packed in a ponytail and she looked much more arranged compared to the previous night. Her dress looked much more proper and though, it hadn't been sewn yet, she had used pins to hold them in place. The royal seal which Ms Carlos had ordered them to wear was placed on her left chest.
Leon felt like he would just get in the ground now. After their little encounter yesterday where he had done his best to control himself, this witch finally showed up again this morning to dress him!
"Your Highness, I-is there a problem?" the valet asked on seeing his reaction.
"Not at all. Start with the dressing," he ordered and went to stand in front of the dressing mirror. At first, the valet seemed a bit nervous, thinking the King would emanate an intimidating aura like he had heard but with time going on, he seemed to relax seeing how Leon was calm and collected, unlike the other nobles he had once served.
Just as he was about to start dressing Leon up, he heard Leon pause and say, "Your name?"
"Huh?"
The question had caught him off guard as he had never expected a king to ask for his servant's name. All the nobles he had ever worked for didn't even bother to glance his way and this King whom people always had a vile thing to say about despite his acts of kindness was humble enough to ask for his name? It had to be a dream.
"Your Highness, you can call this valet, Callus," the valet didn't dare add 'mister' to the name as he didn't see any reason for the king to call him that.
However, "Mr. Callus, a pleasure to meet you." Leon brought his hand forth to greet the shaking man.
Callus stared at him before looking at the two maids who stood there unmoving.
Was this perhaps some trap to send him to the dungeon prison? Because he refused to believe it was this easy.
Unsteadily, seeing that the king's hands were still out, to not look rude, he stretched his forward and embraced the handshake.
"A pleasure to work for you as well, my King." he bowed and saw Leon nod before gesturing for him to start.
Seeing the prince already wearing his tunics, he told the red-haired girl who didn't dare look up all along, discreetly avoiding Leon's gaze. "Drop his accessories and get the jacket," his words were serene and straightforward.
Melina did as she was told and the man ordered her to wear the jacket for him.
She held her breath for a second before she went to where he was standing with his arms raised out to his sides. She quietly put the sleeves of the luxurious-looking jacket that screamed royalty before she fixed the creases on the back.
"Button them," Callus ordered her and she moved to Leon's front to do as she was told.
With her head still lowered as she remembered their time last night, Melina calmed herself and reached for the buttons.
Leon lowered his gaze to see how her hands shook as she buttoned the dress. Even though he already knew how pretty she was, seeing her features up close almost made him believe she wasn't human.
Her dark hazel eyes were framed by long thick lashes, complimenting her skin and hair. Her nose was endearing, giving him the urge to pinch it and her skin held no single blemish, despite the stories he had heard of how servants were beaten up mercilessly and had so many scars. He could still even smell the exquisite scent of jasmine that wafted from her.
The gods indeed took their precious time in making this beauty.
Just as he was jumbled in his thoughts, Melina's fingers slightly brushed against his lower abdomen as she attempted to button the last one.
His heart skipped a beat and he hissed before he stepped back and glared at her. She jerked from his reaction and immediately asked in a low voice.
"Is all well, Your Highness?" her seductive voice only made the sensation he was feeling at the moment heighten.
Who was this sorceress that was messing with his senses?
"All is fine." he managed to reply without looking at her.
He faced several rounds of torture during his dress-up time from Melina and it took him all his self-control to not try anything stupid.
The bells rang again for the fourth time, indicating to everyone that it was the fourth hour.
Leon hurried to greet King Albert in the special guest room he had given him.
"King Albert," he called and Albert turned to meet him before they embraced each other in a tight hug.
Albert was of similar age to him, just a little bit older and with more refined features.
"Prince Regaleon...or should I call you King now?" he smiled as he pulled away from the hug.
"You have grown into a fine man." Leon complimented, seeing how Albert's features had turned more defined compared to the last time he saw him.
"I could say the same for you. Who knew the dull-looking boy was now a handsome young prince?" he said, staring at Leon, who only smiled at him. "I hope you are still very good at swordsmanship because we must have a duel before I leave," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I would be looking forward to it then," Leon retorted and they laughed.
Leon remembered and said, "I saw your invitation and I am sorry I couldn't make it to your coronation a few months ago. I was caught up with my father's illness which only turned worse," he explained and Albert shook his head.
"It is nothing to worry about. I would love to rest while you all go to the village square for your initiation ceremony. I had a long tiring trip," he said to see Leon nod and reply,
"Suit yourself."
...
In the village square stood thousands if not up to a million of people. Everyone wore their best clothing and tried their best to look as presentable as they could. The altar where Leon would be crowned King had been arranged with the priest sitting and waiting patiently for Prince Leon's arrival.
When the bell rang again for the fifth hour, they heard the sounds of horses' hooting and clattering.
About 10 royal carriages and 12 lone horses approached the village square, with servants following behind.
Leon sat with Matthew in the same carriage while his sisters and mother sat in a different one.
With the hullabaloo that had been caused by the royal family's arrival, they were urged to remain in the carriage while the people from the districts calmed down.
Most of them had never come across an elite before talkless of a royal who was about to be crowned king so it made most of them nervous and excited.
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