Chapter 86

Isadora POV.

With that, the elder declared, "I now pronounce you king and queen of the South." The crowd erupted into a heavy wave of cheers and celebration.

The chief guard and Rodrigo stepped forward, both holding golden crowns customized with the finest blend of gemstones that glittered even in the dark.

The elder received the crowns one after the other and placed them on our heads, and then he took my palm and pulled out the ring the Queen put on my finger the day she crowned me as first lady of the South, With that, he proceeded to insert new set of rings all belonging to the late Queen Golem's mother into my finger,  with that he declared, "May your reigns be long, and may the peace between the dragons and the South extend for all eternity."

Just as I was about to respond, I felt uncomfortable. As I tried to control myself, I suddenly vomited, to my surprise and the surprise of everyone else, who stood still like something outwardly just happened.

One of the old ladies who performed the ritual on me declared out of nowhere, "The Queen is expecting a baby." And the crowd immediately erupted into another wave of celebration.

Golem looked at me excitedly with love and admiration, squeezing me into a tight hug and lifting me off my feet. He screamed excitedly like a little child, "Isadora, my queen, we are going to be parents! This is the best news I've ever heard, there could be no greater present than this. This is the best gift I've ever received from life."

I pulled out from his grip and wiped the vomit from my lips, my mind spinning around like a tornado as a bunch of thoughts kept rolling around in my head, wondering if it could be true. "As much as I would love for it to be true, don't raise your hopes, my love. Anyone could easily vomit due to allergies. Besides, I've been put through a list of things that I'm definitely sure my body could easily react to."

Golem looked into my eyes speculatively, his facial expression showing deep thought as if processing some calculations. Finally, he whispered, the joyful expression remaining fixed on his face, "Isa, the first time we did it was a few weeks ago, so technically, it's possible that you could be preg ...."

I knew exactly what he was insinuating, trying to backdate the first time we made love. I was a little too shy and uncomfortable to discuss such a personal and sensitive topic in front of an old lady, let alone the entire South. I tried to stop him from completing his statement, saying, "Not here, my love."

But it was already too late the crowd already picked up the Whispers, it was a little easy, tonight was the full moon and everyone's senses were a little heightened. I was a bit sluggish with the words, and he had already completed the statement. I slammed my palm into my face, covering it in embarrassment as the crowd went silent, obviously taken aback by the revelation.

Golem immediately understood my point. He held my hand and stayed silent. The old lady enthusiastically tried to speak up again, reigniting the fire that just managed to go off, but just before she could say a word, I intercepted her in time, saying, "Shut it." She immediately understood the assignment nodded her head and kept her mouth shut. I turned to the elder and gestured with my hands, saying, "Please proceed."

The elder bowed his head in reverence and replied, "My queen, we are at the final stage of the ceremony. This is the point where the King and yourself give a statement of address to the people if there's anything you'd like to say."

I looked at Golem, who held my hand and smiled confidently, gesturing for me to step forward. I took the center stage.

The crowd erupted into another chorus of cheers as they echoed in unison, "Long live the Queen! May your reign be long. Long live the Queen! May your reign be long."

I raised my arm, and the crowd instantly went silent. I won't lie; it felt good for a moment. For the first time, I think I actually understood the reason why people like my stepdad and Eamon went the extra mile seeking power. It was an intoxicating feeling.

As the crowd went silent, I instinctively searched around, trying to pinpoint Lisa's exact location. Following her scent, we had spent way too long together, and I could easily perceive her energy even with my eyes closed.

Finally, my eyes found her, and a smile crept across my face as she stood beside Rodrigo, holding arms and smiling. Her eyes were fixed on me. I was glad she was equally getting a happy ending, just like mine.

I stretched my arms out toward her direction, and she walked towards me. Once she arrived, I took her arm and raised it up, declaring, "By the power bestowed upon me as the fourth queen of the South, I now pronounce Lisa my prime minister and second first lady of the South."

Lisa's jaws dropped in amazement as she pulled out of my grip, covered her mouth in disbelief, and went on her knees before me. I looked at her, chuckled, lifted her up from the ground, and pulled her into a hug, saying, "Don't be surprised, my love. You deserve it. You've been the sister I never had." With that, I pulled her into a heartfelt hug, closing my eyes.

Just as I opened my eyes, they landed on a familiar set of eyes, that instantly replayed all my bad memories of my life, like a tape at the back of my head, ones that caused me so much pain in the past, and I had prayed never to set eyes upon again.

I pulled out of the embrace with Lisa, and the smile on my face immediately disappeared from my lips. "What are you doing here? I don't remember sending you an invitation," I demanded.

"Isadora, please forgive me. Give me another chance to make things right with you. I've learned my lesson, and I learned it the hard way," he responded, going on his knees.