Crowning Ceremony

'Come to think of it, people keep saying I look red.’

Aya hadn't noticed at all. The new powder had given her a smooth, delicate porcelain complexion. Now, though, there were red spots all over her face. It must've been imbued with a latent substance that caused allergic reactions, and it had been hidden well until the last moment. Maruscha was that meticulous.

They could still be wrong, and it wasn't her, but it was true that she'd been fixated on forging a perfect version of herself since she discovered her illusion magic. If she did orchestrate this, then Aya also played a part in it. She’d willingly shown her what she’s capable and incapable of. She’d inadvertently spurred her to exploit her strengths as compensation for her weaknesses.

The result was a fake but ideal copy of herself, and so was this current predicament.

“Please bear with it, Princess. The physician is coming.”

“T-The crowning ceremony…”

“We may have to postpone it, given your condition.”

“No!” Aya cried, taking Romina and Cassian aback. “N-No, please. I can still-”

“Your appearance aside, you are unwell. Proceeding will do more harm than good. Always prioritize your health and safety,” Romina argued.

Cassian agreed, “That’s right. If there happens to be poison mixed in, it is an assassination, and that's enough reason to cancel the event.”

“I-I am fine! I can still move! As for how I look, I… I can probably hide the redness using invisibility!”

“Your Highness, that's…” Romina shook her head. “You are not under house arrest for the time being because of your royal duties, but the ban on that spell has remained, and it is bad for your health.”

“N-Nevermind. It might not work, anyway. Since I'm used to casting it on my whole body, I might mess up and make my entire head disappear.”

Both of her aides winced. She almost felt bad for saying it. They seemed to be imagining it already.

“That is bad.”

“Very bad.”

“If invisibility can hide it, is it also possible to conceive an illusion to cover it?” Shade spoke all of a sudden, surprising Romina and Cassian, who had met him a while ago and were aware of his elusiveness. “Like a mask, if you will.”

This type of magic had certain rules and principles to follow.

One of them was that the illusion had to be in her field of vision. While she could mentally simulate full scenarios with only her memory and imagination, she had to see it the instant her mind doubted its existence. If the mirage were specifically on the face, other mages would likely check in the mirror constantly to ensure it's there. This wouldn't be the case for her, but considering what kind of deception she had to contrive this time, she was conflicted.

“If it's like a mask that I have to wear, then I have to think of myself as a princess…”

However, the image of that ordinary girl in plain-looking clothes was too strong in her mind. 

She’d seen her reflection in the mirror this morning, but she refused to believe it was her. It felt impossible. She believed in mythical creatures more, and her extraordinary memory could do nothing about that. Even before, her perception of herself mattered less than that of others.

She'd always looked at those around her to the point where she'd forgotten to look at herself.

“I can't. I'm sorry.”

“Why?” Shade asked, concerned.

“I can't…imagine myself as a princess…”

Romina frowned in confusion. “But you are a princess.”

“I…am not…”

Everyone fell silent, baffled, then Cassian said to Aya, “This is only what I think, but… Perhaps your emotions can affect your illusions. Imagining it may not be enough after all, or what you feel right now is overpowering that.”

“If you want it or believe it, you can create it. That’s how I see it, at least.” The head maid's saddened expression made her pause. “Do you not want to be a princess, nor do you believe yourself to be one?”

“I… I-I can't accept it no matter what I do...”

“You did well when you made that illusion of yourself. What were you thinking back then?”

“That the illusion was the princess that Lady Maruscha wanted, the princess I read in books.”

“And isn't that you, too?”

“...N-No, I can't be like that.”

Aya was Aya.

The princess was the princess.

To be able to create the perfect illusion, she needed the perfect example, and she was far from perfect.

‘I just had a new name, too, and yet…’

It all felt like for show, and she’s merely going with the flow.

The Aqueous Bestowal was a sacred ritual, yet she dared besmirch its meaning. “Let the changed self be accepted,” was one of the lines in the invocation chant. The gods had acknowledged it, but she couldn’t seem to bring herself to do the same.

“I will not tell you to try at least once, if you are against it this much,” Shade said, looking Aya straight in the eye. “Do you give up, then?”

“I-I don't, and I can't. Everyone is waiting. Everyone worked hard for this.”

“Simply because they say otherwise does not mean you have no choice. I can take you away from here, if you want me to.” Her retainers stiffened at that, well aware they could not defy a divine being unless it brought their charge harm.

“There is…still a way.” Aya turned to Romina, whose face tightened with anguish at the very thought. “This is an emergency.”

“Your Highness…”

“Running away from one's own crowning ceremony is unbecoming of royalty, right, Miss Romina? I can't be spoiled. I kept thinking that none of this should have to do with a commoner like me, but I… I am a princess now. If I can't recognize myself as one, then maybe I can start by acting the part. That's why I'm doing this. I have to go.”

There was a long, deep silence.

Cassian appeared proud for some reason. It must've been her impromptu speech, which she just realized was somewhat embarrassing. Shade grinned from ear to ear, satisfied by her response. Romina looked overwhelmed with emotions. For a second, she's worried she'd still object.

But instead, the head maid smiled.

“As you wish. I pray for your success, Your Highness.”

---

The Grand Hall was shrouded in solemn grandeur, with embellished arches and columns all around, radiant chandeliers above, and well-dressed lords and ladies waiting in decorous anticipation.

Beneath an ornate canopy, the kingdom’s Divine Vessels were seated with their predecessors, and at the backmost, elevated center was the king. A dais protruded from between them and the audience. On that large, round stage, the soon-to-be crowned royalty would perform the Anointing.

“Yet another whim of the higher beings, it seems.”

“I have developed a devout belief in them after four princes of noble ancestry, but alas…”

“A girl of poor pedigree out of nowhere…?”

“It is almost tragic that she should soon be placed among those of distinguished birth.”

The nobility of the Theovaleo Kingdom had long been ambivalent about the deities. They could not challenge their will. They could only question it. Rather than desecrating the gods' names, though, they reserved their contempt for what their divine judgement had wrought.

“Do you feel better now?” Aiden asked Drystan. “She is attracting so much attention that no one remembers your crowning ceremony. You really should forgive her.”

Enzo glanced around. “She’s not even here yet, but many things have already been said about her.”

Gabriel nodded. “She seems to have it worse than you.”

“...That is not my fault.”

“It is not, Drystan. However, if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have done any of that earlier. That must have gotten her upset.”

“W-Why are you blaming me?! You’re the one who hates her, Aiden. She might still be crying now because of that.”

“Drystan, Aiden… Also, Gabriel,” the oldest of the four princes spoke in all seriousness. “Whatever sentiments have been expressed, we are expected to support our newest member. Neither prejudices nor past offenses are consequential beside our obligation. Treat her well."

“Still, respect is something earned.” Aiden stared at the doors of the Grand Hall. “We did it in our own crowning ceremonies. She must do the same.”

Music began to play.

The orchestral arrangement sounded ancient, which seemed incongruous for the procession of a young princess. Everyone looked towards the entrance, scorn and mockery on their deceptively polite expressions. 

However, Aya was nowhere to be found as the doors opened. 

Instead, a black mist blew inside, then all-encompassing darkness swept over the place, obscuring every form of light.

“W-What is happening?!”

The crowd stirred with unrest.

Before panic could spread in the room, soft and shimmering silver-white motes floated upward, creating a mesmerizing sight that hushed the audience. More shining, jewel-like particles arose—gold, emerald, ruby, amber, and amethyst. 

All colors intertwined, spilling and spiraling until visions emerged from the luminous cloud. One by one, the magical display revealed figures that only temple scriptures could best describe.

The six Precedents of the kingdom’s pantheon of deities had descended on the Grand Hall.

“G-Gods above…”

“Are they real?”

“Huge… They’re huge…”

“Goodness gracious.”

As shock and awe rippled through the spectators, the temple head priest announced, “The Anointing of the Divine Vessel of the Goddess of Darkness, Her Divine Majesty Lumaianea, has commenced.”