The Crown's Entrapment

Xenia stood proud as she held her head up high. She had just declared her allegiance to Cordon in all but name, and the adoration of her new subjects almost made her want to smile bright with happiness and acceptance. However, the ceremony wasn't over, which meant that she still had to put up appearances.

'How long do I have to hold this pose?' she thought with a quiet sigh. 'This feels so awkward!' Despite the awkwardness, she couldn't stop herself from inwardly smiling. She was so blissful thinking of how everything she had been through was worth it, especially when she turned to the man beside her.

The newly-coronated Queen stared at all who were present for her coronation. From family members to close friends, they all stood at attention to her presence, all of them paying their respects as they bowed their heads lightly in deference. It made her feel as proud as she was awkward. It was a weird mix of emotions, and she really didn't know how long she could resist keeping a straight face with all of her loved ones looking at her like they were beneath her.

"All Hail Queen Xenia!"

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait for long. With the sound of her name's declaration, the entire throne room exploded in cheers, and Xenia could only smile as she finally let her mask slip away from her impassive face. Behind her, Darius chuckled as he walked up to her side, his hand subtly holding onto hers for support as he stood beside her in solidarity.

"As of today, Cordon has a Queen to further strengthen our Kingdom!" an announcer proudly declared. "Long may she reign!"

"Long may she reign!"

Xenia almost caught herself wanting to chant out the lines with the rest of her subjects, only to quickly stop herself when she realized just how stupid it would look for her to cheer for her own successful reign.

"And with that, the coronation of Cordon's new Queen is officially over," Darius declared out to the guests with them in the throne room. "But that doesn't mean that the celebration is over. Far from it. We will now be holding a royal parade to announce to all that we now have a new Queen!"

Another round of cheers echoed across the room. Everyone was paying their respects to her, cheering for her newfound station as they waited for them to move. As the royal couple, they had to be the first to leave after all. At least, that was what she remembered from the pointers Darius hastily read out to her.

[So we have to start the procession, right?] Xenia couldn't help but ask Darius, her face still holding her smile as she looked at the crowd in front of them.

[That, indeed. Also, there's a bit more decorum that we have to follow,] Darius hummed as he reminded her. [We'll have to be in sync with our steps. Neither of us should be in front of the other. You can let me take the lead for the first few steps, but you have to quickly match me before I make it to the door.]

[Got it.]

With their mental chat still open, Xenia let Darius walk ahead of her, letting a few seconds pass before coming up to his side and matching his steps. With her expressions still schooled into her perpetual smile, she nodded and waved at all of the attendees. Most notably, her gaze lingered on her family and parents. They all had a look of pride and joy on their faces, and Xenia couldn't be happier to see them be this accepting of her current standing in life.

[I guess it all worked out in the end,] she couldn't help but tell Darius as they neared the door to the throne room. [I'm your Queen, and everyone seems to be accepting of me.]

[Xen, I'm sure that all of our subjects are accepting of your rule,] Darius reassured her, having detected the hint of doubt in her tone. [You have seen and heard their reception of you when you won. Surely you don't think that they'll turn on you now.]

Xenia hummed before she nodded. [Well, I'll see it out there, won't I?]

[Exactly,] Darius chuckled. [But for now, let's focus on decorum. We have a schedule to keep, and we still have to go across the capital for the parade.]

Simply giving him a knowing glance, Xenia held her posture all the way up to the point where they boarded the open carriage. With Darius standing beside her, Xenia held an arm onto him for support before they headed off to the capital itself. Leaving the castle, her cheeks were starting to hurt by the time they reached the general populace. She couldn't stop smiling, and the added cheers from her new subjects didn't help with the growing pain on her face.

"Queen Xenia!"

"Long may she reign!"

With Pluto pulling their open carriage, Xenia was sure that both herself and Darius were cutting a rather majestic figure to the general populace, and she couldn't help but grin as her newest subjects behaved as such. They all bowed to her as they passed, some cheering as soon as they put a bit of distance away from them for them to stop bowing. And sure enough, all of her irrational fears were put to rest as they all called for her benevolent rule.

"The Warrior Queen!"

"Cordon's Nephelim!"

Of course, that didn't mean she was prepared for the newfound fame she earned for herself with all of the stunts she just pulled. Some of them were calling her their Nephelim Queen, and some even called her their Shining Angel!

[I kind of didn't expect this,] Xenia awkwardly chatted with Darius even as she smiled and waved at the populace. [They're giving me new names by the second.]

Instead of comforting her, Darius chuckled as he pointed out, [You should've expected this the moment you showed off in both the trials and in the arena. Of course, you'll make a name for yourself after everything that you've done.]

Chuckling, Xenia returned her focus to the parade itself. Behind them, she could tell that everyone else was tailing behind them in a grand procession, paying them their respects as they themselves headed the parade. Still, she couldn't help but think that she should be by the back to let everyone else lead for her. After all, she couldn't have done this without their help, and they deserved the recognition as well.

"You know what? To hell with decorum!"

"Xen?"

Without even thinking it, Xenia turned to address the procession tailing behind them. With a bright smile on her face, she sincerely announced, "To everyone hearing the sound of my voice! I give you all my heartfelt thanks! I couldn't have done this without you, and I'm saying this now so that all of you can get the recognition you all deserve for helping me!"