Chapter Eighty-Three: Take Your Title

The next morning came around earlier than I would have hoped, I opened up my eyes to my bedroom full to the brim of many different maids, all looking down at with me smiles. The second my eyes were open; I was thrown into the shower where a maid joined me helping me wash! Before the clock could even present the time of 5am, I was sat in a chair with around four maids all doing my hair and makeup.

I hadn’t even had the chance to see Max since late last night, he explained how in his Kingdom, the coronation resembles more of a wedding type event. He is not to see me until he walks me down the isle to lead me over to the front of the ceremony, we weren’t even allowed to communicate through mind-link before that point!

This meant I could only sit there silently as even more maids rushed over to help, some even doing my nails to ensure they were perfect. This fact could have overwhelmed me due to the many people in my space, but my mind was too consumed with all I had learnt yesterday. The topic of Julia’s spies and who they may be soon became to fill my head, leaving me to wonder if some of them could be standing in this bedroom helping me get ready. With that in mind, I couldn’t help but discreetly look at each of them to see if I could find the traitor among us.

“Are you okay ma’am.” One of them ask me with a smile, her question causing the others to look over a little worried, with what I knew from yesterday, I knew couldn’t fully tell them why I was feeling so apprehensive but play the act.

“I’m okay thank you, I’m just nervous about this coronation. I do believe I am ready to be Queen and take on any of the responsibilities that come with the title, I just don’t want to appear silly whilst walking down the isle.” I say sort of making it up as I went along but deep down, there were some truths hiding in plain sight.

“Let me tell you, you look absolutely beautiful ma’am, each person that watches you walk down the isle will only be astonished and proud that we are able to have such a great Queen.” Another maid who was fixing something off to the side smiles, her kind words really sinking in and help, causing me to wonder if she was spy, she was great at acting or if she was being genuine, she was very kind.

Before I had time to thank the girl, the door opened, and an older looking maid walks in with her hands in front of her. She informs us all that my dress is being brought up now and considering I was not to come in contact with any male until I meet Max, I would need to wait in the bathroom whilst it was being delivered. Without much thought, I was pulled into the bathroom with that same kind maid stood beside me to keep me company whilst I waited.

After the door was closed behind us, I soon here voices coming from the bedroom, some were from the maids who were already in the room and one of a male, a voice I recognised. After listening closer, I soon realise it was the man Max had introduced me to the night of that important meeting, Guy. The talking was muffled by the walls so I couldn’t quite make out what was being said, but after a moment, the door is opened where the maid tells me it was safe to come out.

With a smile, I exit the bathroom and head back into the bedroom where the most beautiful gown I had ever seen in all of my life was being hung up. It resembled the dress I had worn the day I was announced as Queen in those photos with Max. It was a white, floor length gown, with the reddest of roses beaming through. It had a fitted corset top which I could see was a running theme with the dresses that I wear, the sleeves were sheer which began at my elbows and carried down to the wrist. The skirt was also sheer where the roses from the top cascaded down with a single slit stood so my leg could be seen when I walk. This was something I would picture a princess wearing, my eyes filling with tears as I marvelled at the masterpiece of a dress which was in front of me.

“Why do I get to wear all of these beautiful dresses, what did I do to deserve this?” I ask myself, beginning to take in all the many beautiful details this dress hid, the tears wanting to prick my eyes as I thought of my younger self learning that she would be able to wear this when she grew up.

“Because you are the Queen ma’am, you are already putting yourself on the line and achieving such great things for our kind. You deserve to only look your best.” The same kind maid from before smiled at me, whilst I had to lift my head up to force the tears to stay in my eyes. “Now ma’am, I believe it’s time you get into your new dress.” The maid smiled whilst two others pick up the huge garment and walk over to me, where I just take a deep breath in smiling.

After a couple of minutes of climbing in and holding my breath whilst the back was done up, I stood in front of the mirror staring at myself standing in the most beautiful gown I had ever seen in all of my life. The maids had left but said they would arrive shortly to escort me over to the ballroom, this meant I was left alone with my thoughts.

Before I had time to move a muscle, the secret door which hid beside the bookshelf soon opens and in walks Griffin. I gasp a little turning around to look at the bedroom door in case a maid was to walk in and see Griffin, who should be hiding deep in the woods somewhere was stood in my bedroom.

“Griffin what are you doing, the maids will return soon and may see you?!” I whisper yelled turning back around to look at him, where he only stood by the door with a smile on his face watching me.

“I couldn’t let you leave for your coronation without seeing you first, I know you Rose, better than you know yourself most of them time. So, I know how nervous you’re probably feeling right now.” He said with that same signature smile of his, but in that moment, I felt the barricade I had put up around my feeling begin to fall down dramatically.

“I’ve never been so scared in my life.” I confess finally, able to take a breath and say the feelings I had been forcing away this entire day. Griffin only smiled a little walking over wrapping his arms around me for a hug.

“You are going to be just fine Rose; I promise. Max will be right there to walk you down the isle and when you reach the bottom, all you have to do is knell and say I do a couple times. The crown may be on the heavier side but with the number of things those shoulders of yours has carried these past few years, you’ll handle it. It may sound daunting but it’s simple really, I should know, the entire ceremony was drilled into my head from a young age before my title was taken.” He explains pulling away but keeping his hands on my arms, where as I looked at him, I couldn’t help the same gut-wrenching feelings that filled my mind.

“I still don’t find it fair that your title, which was given to you by birth right has been taken away. It’s yours.” I say feeling those same stupid tears want to form as I looked him in the eyes, but he simply smiled shaking his head at me.

“It’s not and in all honesty, I don’t believe it ever was. Max is such a great King and is able to handle all of the responsibilities effortlessly. I’ve had many years to think about this and by the end, I like to think that I was supposed to take all of the stress that came with being next in line growing up, so Max didn’t have to. He was able to have a childhood before his life was turned on his head and now, he acts as King. I have my entire life to get back those years of stress lost; Max wouldn’t have had that. But because the title was thrust upon him so abruptly, the people around us didn’t have time to drill him about procedures and protocols, he had to take it all on the chin and that’s only made him a better King and person. He is a great King and I know one thing for certain, you my sweet little Rose, are going to be the greatest Queen we have ever seen.” Griffin smiled looking me right in the eyes as he spoke, I had to force the tears to stay away before reaching up to place a kiss on his cheek as a thank you.

“I wish you could be there.” I say with a sigh, but Griffin once again just smiled at me, a smile which had always made me feel so much better.

“I’ll be watching it, I have the TV in my room turned down low and ready to watch you take your title. I wouldn’t allow anything to stop me seeing that. But Rose, don’t worry, you look absolutely beautiful and ready to do this.” He says giving me even more words of encouragement before the sounds of the maids getting closer fill the room, he sends me one last smile before quickly, slipping through the secret door and leaving as the bedroom door opens.

I turn around to face the door where the older maid stood, her hands in front of her and a smile on her face.

“It’s time ma’am.” Was all she said.