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Chapter 471 - Coronation
Dear Lady Christina,
First of all, allow me to wish you a very happy and delightful birthday. I hope this letter and your birthday gift reach you in time. We, vampires, do not have much of birthday traditions, so I do not know how human customs go, so I will wish you the best for your time ahead and hope joy and happiness fill your future days. Sol and Rosa also wish you a very happy birthday. I also hope you are doing alright.
Apart from that, I have some other news for you. I would like to formally invite you and all your friends to my coronation ceremony. Yes, it absolutely is what it sounds like. I have been selected to be the next King of Titian. Yes, I can not believe it either. Although I always knew at some point I had to take the crown, I still think the decision was made too soon. I wanted to tell you as soon as Rosa declared it, but I could not because of vampire laws. The wizarding world can not know about the new Vampire Monarch before all the other vampire clans in the world have been informed. However, since now I can send invitations, you are the first one to know outside of vampires. The coronation is held on 25th August, I hope you can attend along with your friends. And yes, all of them are invited, not only Lady Luna, Mr. Creevy, and Lady Ginny but also Mr. Potter and your other friends. I eagerly wait for your arrival at Titian again.
Sincerely,
Yours, Prince Oziyat.
P.S. – Sol is very excited to see you again, even though he is trying to hide it, Rosa and me had already seen the number of things he is gathering to gift you all. Especially Lady Luna. He had already asked me three times if I had invited Lady Luna and if she was coming. He was even ready to write out a special invite for Lady Luna, so I hope she comes.
*
And that was how Chris found herself on a train to Romania. Since she couldn't Apparate anymore, all of her friends decided to take the train, even though Chris said that they didn't need to travel like Muggles just for her. Harry, Colin and Hermione said they were used to travelling like that, so there was no problem. Ginny said she still wasn't used to the whole Apparating thing (which Chris knew was a lie), and after that, Ron, Draco and Theodore also decided they should all travel together. Chris had also asked Neville to join them but his Grandma got sick, so he couldn't come. But after that, Theodore approached Chris to ask her if Daphne could go with them. Chris was surprised at first but when Theodore explained the situation, Chris agreed. Though the rest of her friends weren't thrilled about Daphne joining them, especially Ron and Hermione, they all tried to stay civil for the entire train ride. However, Chris made sure that they were staying in different compartments since they needed to travel for more than 38 hours together.
It took them more than a day and they needed to change trains three times but they finally reached their destination. Charlie and Layla, who still worked in Romania, came to pick them up and they reached Titian by sunset. As soon as they grew close to the forest borders, three Guardians stepped out from the forest.
"Welcome back, Lady Christina," the tallest Guardian smiled at Chris.
"Javier!" Chris grinned. "How are you?"
"We are good," Javier gave a small nod of respect. "Let us take you to the castle. Everyone is eagerly waiting for you."
"When is the coronation?" Chris asked as they started walking.
"At midnight," Javier answered.
As they walked through the Vampire colony, a lot of local vampires noticed Chris and greeted her, and then called others to greet her. Chris also happily talked to them as much as she could before moving on. Chris and Javier chatted some more about how other Guardians of the Castle were doing. Javier told her all about it and even showed her where they had put a memoir for the fallen Guardians in the last attack on their land. Soon, Colin and Ginny started talking to Javier and joked about when Ginny, Colin and Luna had first arrived, and how Javier was one of the Guardians who found them.
In the Castle, they all were ushered to guest rooms to freshen up and get changed before the coronation began. Chris felt emotional entering her previous room in the Castle, which looked just like she had left it.
After they all had gotten changed into formal attire, Chris admired how put-together everyone looked. Chris wore the gorgeous ocean blue flowy dress Oziyat had gifted her for her birthday, Harry wore a dark blue suit, Ginny wore a long red dress, Draco wore a black expensive, long blazer suit, Luna wore a silver sparkly dress, Colin wore a plain black suit, Hermione wore a pink dress, Ron wore plain black long robes, Theodore wore a dark green suit, and Daphne wore a green dress. Harry's face lit up as soon as he saw Chris and kissed her cheek.
"You look gorgeous," Harry grinned. "How do you do it?"
"You look handsome too," Chris smiled, giving him a peck on the lips.
Two Guardians escorted them to the Throne room. That entire side of the Castle was swarming with people who had come from many, many different places. But before they could enter the Throne room, a little hurricane came and wrapped itself around Chris's waist.
"Chris!"
"Sol!" Chris happily hugged him back. "My God, you have gotten so much taller."
Hearing the compliment, Sol turned red and then muttered, "I kind of missed you."
"I missed you too, buddy," Chris said automatically, and it took her a moment to realise, Sol didn't stutter. He didn't stop between words. Chris felt so happy knowing that Sol didn't feel that nervous anymore, that he was finally healing.
"Christina," Rosaline swept forward in a big, lacy red gown and smiled warmly at Chris. "I am delighted that all of you could come to witness this occasion."
"I'm so honoured that Oziyat invited me," Chris said gratefully.
"Yes, thank you for inviting us," Colin said, and Rosaline smiled at them and then turned to Sol.
"Darling, did you greet all Lady Christina's friends?"
Sol shook his head, looking sheepish and turned to Chris's friends. So Chris decided to introduce Sol to those who had never met him.
"Sol, this is my friend, Hermione, Ron, Draco, Theodore, Daphne, and this is Harry. Guys, this is the First Princess's son, Sol."
"Hello, everyone," Sol said and started blushing. "Hello, Lady Luna."
"Hello, Sol. You look very sweet today," Luna said, pointing at his gold tunic and black pants, and Sol turned redder than his mother's gown.
"Are you feeling alright?" Rosaline teased Sol and he almost ran away but was saved by Oziyat.
He was already handsome but today he looked out of the world in an embroidered black and red fitted suit and long coat that dragged like a robe behind him. He looked like a King.
"Christina, you came," Oziyat gave Chris a quick hug and smiled softly at Chris, noticing the dress. "The dress suits you, I hope you like it."
"Yes, it's beautiful. I love it. Also, congratulations!" Chris smiled widely. "So happy for you. I know you would make a great King."
"I hope so," Oziyat said quietly before changing the subject. He turned to Chris's friends. "Thank you all for coming. I hope you all are doing alright."
The rest of the royal family noticed Chris and came to greet her. Princess Sylvia was absolutely fascinated by the Wizard stories of Ron and Theodore.
After a while, Oziyat excused himself and walked away, while the rest of them chatted with the vampire royal family. However, Chris felt something was bothering Oziyat, so when Sylvia and Sol led them to enjoy the food and drinks, Chris quickly whispered to Harry that she would be back in a bit and followed Oziyat.
Oziyat didn't stop until he was out in the garden and let out a sigh. The full moon illuminated the surrounding garden and it looked beautiful as always. Chris stopped behind him and waited for him to notice her but when he didn't, she stepped around him.
"Oziyat?"
"Christina?" Oziyat looked startled. "Why are you out here?"
"I followed you," Chris answered. "What's up? You didn't notice me at all. You seem very distracted. Is this about the coronation?"
"Nothing escapes you, does it?" Oziyat smiled sadly as he sat down on a bench. He stared at the trees around him and asked, "Do you remember the days we used to stay here for hours, just talking?"
"How could I forget?" Chris sat down on the other end of the bench. "You told me all about Vampire politics here. That feels like a lifetime ago."
"Does it? To me, it feels like it was just yesterday. Like no time had passed. Yet everything has changed now," Oziyat's eyes turned sad. "I asked Rosa to take Throne, you know. I told her, after the way Mother tried to keep her away from the Throne, it was not right. She deserved to be the Queen of Titian. She would be the best Queen in our family history after Queen Wilma, but she declined."
"She doesn't want to rule?" Chris asked. "What about Prince Volker?"
"Volker left after Mother died. We still don't know where. Rosa says he already knew that he would not be the King and that is why he left but I don't know. And no, Rosa doesn't want to rule herself, she said she would be here in case I needed her help ruling but she just wanted to be a mother now. She said she had lost a lot of time with her son and she needed to rectify her mistakes," Oziyat smiled softly. "How do you argue with that?"
"Rosaline wouldn't have given you the Crown if she wasn't sure you were ready for it," Chris said reassuringly.
"Yeah . . . I trust my sister's judgment. Of course, I do. But I just thought I would have –" Oziyat stopped abruptly looking at Chris.
"What?" Chris asked surprised.
"Nothing," Oziyat smiled but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing you need to worry about. Tell me more about the thing you mentioned in your last letter. That cursed sick girl."
Chris was surprised at Oziyat's sudden subject change but tried not to poke at it too much.
"Yeah, that's Daphne's sister Astoria. She is sick due to a curse in their family line. Daphne is looking for a cure for her sister since her condition has gotten worse but no one in her family has ever found any cure, so when Daphne heard about ancient Vampire powers, she thought maybe you all could have any cure since the monarchs in your family all had been sick before," Chris explained. This was the reason Theodore had requested that Daphne come with them; she wanted to talk to Vampires but she couldn't do it without Chris's help.
"I see," Oziyat looked thoughtful. "Our curse was very different and since returning the Crystal to its place, we could feel our lands have started to heal but before we discovered the reason for the curse, we did a lot of research on cursed sicknesses, so there could be something that might help your friend. But I have to look into it. I would –"
A horn rang throughout the castle, cutting Oziyat mid-sentence.
"Oh, it's time," Oziyat said as he jumped up but then suddenly froze.
"What is it?" Chris asked getting up as well.
Without a word, Oziyat bent down and picked something, then with a smile he held it out to Chris.
"Moonflower," Chris smiled back, recognising the white flower. Chris remembered Oziyat had given it once before.
"It bloomed when you were here," Oziyat said, looking at the flower. "It is yours."
"Thank you," Chris said, feeling a bit hesitant but she took the flower.
After that, Oziyat and Chris walked back to the Throne room, which looked far more crowded than before.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, after bringing back the Crystal, we have rebuilt the Temple," Oziyat said as they entered the Throne room. "If you wish to visit it, I could take you there after the ceremony."
"I don't think you should take so many wizards and a normal human to the Vampire sacred place so soon, considering what happened last time a Wizard visited the Crystal," Chris cautioned. "It's still a fresh wound for your people, we wouldn't want them to mistrust us again."
"Of course," Oziyat smiled then stared at Chris for a long moment with a different expression. His smile was still fixed on his face, but his eyes got sadder.
"Oziyat, are you ok?" Chris asked, concerned.
"Yes," Oziyat nodded. "Thank you, Christina."
And then he turned around and walked away.
[To be continued]
