187 A Kingdom Grieves
Will, Elizabeth, and the children sat in the carriage on their way to the castle.
It was a somber day. The overcast skies made the day seem even more depressing.
As they road, they passed by destroyed homes and businesses, charged bodies, gaunt-looking people, and children so starved their lungs showed.
Many peasants came to the castle to show respect for King Remus Albus Fermion IX.
Yet to Will, this scene looked dystopian. It felt surreal to see it all in the background. Passing these starved humans, in a gaudy carriage and after a largely satisfying breakfast felt like the height of insincerity.
If only this was Gadreel, Will's family would not be confronted with such stark inequality.
While Camille and Edward played games in the carriage, oblivious to their privilege, Elizabeth looked out the window her eyes red from crying too much.
After passing through the castle gates, she cried again. Streams of tears flowed out like a torrent river.
…
Elizabeth grew up hating Yorkshire, how many times had she wished it to burn when she was a kid. Now, Elizabeth felt a false sense of guilt. Her hometown was in shambles, and her uncle was dead.
Uncle Remus, as she called him, had been the steady hand of the family for so many years. He loved his family but didn't suffer foolishness.
Yesterday, she watched as her beloved uncle took his last breath.
However, she didn't cry when her uncle died. Her only thought was for her father and cousin.
She watched her strong father kneel in tears. She watched her stoic father who rarely cried, cry vulnerably.
Yesterday, Crown Prince Roland Godwin sat by the feet of his father crying. His role model was gone. The walls already enclosing around him. The pressure felt overwhelming.
How could he rule without his father's guidance? Since becoming regent, his father's tutelage became his favorite father-son time.
Seeing Roland crying, the vont Whitby's surrounded him in love. Queen Ashley Maria held her son in her arms on the floor. It was a touching sight to see them without the roles and status, but just as mother and son.
Everyone reminisced and shared their favorite time with the old king. The stories were always happy and filled with the old king's wisdom.
Roland shared his best memories of spending time with his mother and father. Or, sitting on his father's lap watching him in the work in the royal office.
Talking helped. Sharing helped. It helped the family cope with the profound sense of loss.
Roland shared stories about his father's mentorship. They spent hours together, he learned so much about what it meant to be king.
Only the vont Whitby's knew how King Remus Albus worked 16-hours a day. Only they knew the strain of being a royal.
They knew being sovereign was a hard job. Too many people wanted that job, without an understanding of its responsibilities. How many nights had King Remus Albus fallen asleep at his desk from working?
…
Today, the entire Royal Family gathered outside the throne room.
Will, Elizabeth, and their children stood unified with the vont Whitby family. The kingdom's most important family surrounded Prince Roland like an impregnable fortress.
The talking died down when Bryson entered and kneeled in front of Crown Prince Roland Godwin.
"My liege are you ready?" Bryson asked outside the hallway door.
"Yes, I'm ready," Prince Roland said resolutely.
Prince Roland and his family walked down the stone twilight shadow corridor to the throne room.
The tears the Royal Family shed yesterday in private were gone. Today, they embodied stoicism in front of their subjects.
Crown Prince Roland in particular decided to exude the strength his father told him a king needed.
"Kings were unmoving and unbending strength. Kings were rocks, the kingdom's foundation was built upon," his father said.
If nothing else, Roland promised himself, he'd be that rock.
His father warned him about bearing emotions in public.
"A good king is stoic and considers reason. Emotions can hinder logic."
The family escorted Roland into the throne room. A white canopy cloth had been replaced with black cloth symbolizing death on the throne.
"Open the windows," Price Roland commanded.
The gold shutters were open, and a brisk spring wind entered the hall. It cleared out the sterile old air.
The family stood with Prince Roland below the throne.
"Rollie, it's time," Queen Ashley whispered, her teary eyes betraying her.
Prince Roland saw his mother's red eyes. She had deep wells under her eyes from lack of sleep.
"It'll be okay mother," Prince Roland said hugging her.
"I know. You'll make a fine king," Queen Ashley Maria said tears streaming down her face with happiness.
Like most mothers, she was proud of her son. To watch her son, develop into the man he was today, how could she not be proud to watch him ascend her husband's throne.
Slowly Roland walked up the platform to the throne. Time seemed to slow down as he climbed, the scene played out in slow steady motion.
When Roland made it atop the platform, he stood in front of the king's throne and looked out to his vassals below. The throne room was filled to the brim with nobles who came to see the new king.
"The king is dead, long live the king!" shouted Duke vont Whitby shouted and then kneeled before King Roland Godwin.
Like a tidal wave, the other nobles kneeled one row after the other until no one remained standing.
When all had kneeled before him, King Roland Godwin Fermion III sat in the room.
When he sat Duke Francis vont Whitby rose and shouted, "Long live the king!"
Then everyone stood and began chanting, "Long live the king!"
From the throne, King Roland Godwin saw his uncle trying to hold back tears. Roland knew that sometimes holding back tears, felt like holding back your breath.
A single tear crawled down his uncle's face. That one tear conveyed more emotion than an entire novel before it was quickly wiped away.
King Roland wanted to hug his uncle, but kings don't hug.
"How can one live like this, with their hearts locked in their chest?" King Roland wondered, he guessed only time could tell.
After the chanting stopped, the first to speak was the Royal Physician, Doctor vont Daniel.
"Your majesty, do you want us to entomb the body or burn it on a pyre?" the Doctor vont Daniel asked.
This would be King Roland Godwin III's first official decision. What to do with father's body.
'Your majesty,' King Roland repeated in his head. That term had only been used to address his father before.
"Cremate the body on a pyre, and entomb the ashes," King Roland commanded.
"A sensible choice your majesty," the doctor bowed.
The crowd agreed. By cremating the king's body on a pyre, it showed respect to families who lost loved ones to the 8-Day Plague. Every plague victim's body was set on fire, to stop the spread of the disease.
"Your majesty, it's time to get dressed for the funeral," Bryson said.
"Lead the way!" King Roland ordered and the Royal Family exited the throne room to head outside, where a pyre was already built.
While King Roland Godwin and Queen Ashley Maria went to change into their funeral attire,
Will, Elizabeth, and their children found their seats outside, behind the castle.
A two-meter tall funeral pyre stood in front of them. Will could smell the oil, several meters away.
Hundreds of nobles made their way outside, where hundreds more nobles awaited. In truth, this was the largest gathering of nobility Will had ever seen.
Thousands of nobles gathered to pay their respects to King Remus Albus Fermion IX and attend the coronation of King Roland Godwin Fermion III.
It wasn't long before a funeral procession arrived before the nobility. Cardinal vont Clermont walked in front. Behind him, King Roland and Queen Dowager Ashley Maria walked together. Following them was Duke and Duchess vont Whitby.
When Elizabeth saw her father's unemotional face and her mother's red eyes, her dried tear ducts welled again.
After the Duke and Duchess, came the old king's body wrapped in white muslin. Six guards hoisted his body respectfully onto the pyre.
Cardinal vont Clermont held a torch in his left hand and a holy book in the other.
"Father Aether, the God that sits above all, he tells us that life is like a setting sun. God Aether proclaimed our work in darkness will be shown for what it is because Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work,'" he read.
"King Remus Albus Fermion IX was the son of a war-mongering father. While he rejected war for much of his life, he was courageous enough to lead the troops into battle. He was a man who led by example.
His reign shall be remembered as a time of peace and stability. When he came to power, the country was insolvent. He worked tirelessly to bring this country to greatness.
Never forget it took a calamity to bring this mighty king home to Elysium.
During the pandemic when others ran, he once again stood on the front lines handing out food, medicine, and supplying care. This was a man who loved his people. Their needs were his needs, and their wants were his own.
When the riots came, he rode out with calvary to regain control over the capital. He didn't flinch when he saw the mob. His old frail body fought alongside the soldiers.
I tell you that was a man, who did not fear death. He welcomed death like an old friend into an embrace and succumbed peacefully.
Why? He knew he prepared his son King Roland Fermion III. He had no worries or regrets. Why? he knew the kingdom was secured in good hands.
After the pestilence left the land, he watched the Regent import food to feed the populace. He saw his son begin reconstruction. His last words were, 'my son shall be a great king,'" Cardinal vont Clermont said looking at King Roland Godwin.
"Now, I consecrate this body to Father Aether. May God the father's angels comfort him with their feathers and carry to Elysium upon their wings. May he find refuge in the hereafter," Cardinal vont Clermont prayed before throwing the torch on the pyre.
In moments, a huge blaze erupted, warming the guests from the chilly spring winds.
Will, Elizabeth, and their children watched as the wind whipped the fire higher into the sky.
It was a bittersweet moment for Will. King Remus Albus Fermion IX always treated him cautiously, but respectfully. Even though he steered Will to marry his niece, and denied some projects, Will never disliked him.
Will knew the king was only watching out for his family and country. Honestly, Will might've done the same in his position.
Will looked at Elizabeth, tears welling up in her eyes. Will gently reached out and held her hand. Will could see blazing pyre reflected in her eyes.
Will could tell, she was praying her final goodbye to her beloved uncle.
