Chapter 44
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The Asmoria throne room was huge, to say the least. It was nothing like Ralphine had seen and she had worked with the Koslov alpha once in a while. This hall looked like it could hold the entirety of the Asmoria Lycans, and if they didn’t all have Lycan hearing, Ralph was sure that they would have needed to find a different way to communicate with everyone in the room. However, that was thankfully a nonissue at the moment,
Are they really here for me? Ralph asked herself as she watched the mass of people in there.
A part of her wondered if she was the real reason they had githered here, or if they had come just to be in Asmoria’s good graces. It was difficult to tell, especially with what was at stake for their kingdoms. Granted it wasn’t what Ralphine was sure of, but she was glad that at least for the first time in her life. People had gathered around her, and it wasn’t because they wanted to see her fall apart like a series of dominoes. Maybe all the had to do this time was to try and live in the moment, right?
“Don’t worry, Ralph. None of them will get to you, ever. No one will ever hurt you on my watch again,” King M lav had promised her when she had come from Koslov.
Drescher had screwed her up a little and while she refused to let at show, it was just a matter of time before her cracks showed on the surface. But with the mad Lycan king. Ralphine felt safe. She felt like he would give up everything just to see her happy and that was the only reason she was brave enough to make the first step into a room full of people who had come to witness her glory.
Please don’t let me fall, Ralphine prayed silently with every step she made into the throne room. She was nervous, very nervous especially with all the eyes on her. However, she chose to focus on the main reason she was here, or even better, the man who had gotten her to this point, the man who had held her peace of mind so closely in his heart.
She chose to focus on the Lycan king, a man dressed in a long dark robe that screamed death, and a crown of thorns on his head, while his smile was reserved just for her. He looked at her fondly like she was the best thing that could have happened to him, but then it wasn’t news to anyone that she had saved him from the darkness and shone a light in his life. They had saved each other and frankly, they made sanity seem like the best thing that ever happened.
“As she walked into the throne room, Ralphine hoped that she would be well within the expectations of the crown she would be taking on. She knew that Miroslav had been protecting her from the horrors that Asmoria was. He had protected her from the truth of the madness that everyone knew of, the beasts that had never been bested and the beasts that were more beasts than man. She thought that taking the position would make her the queen of the madness, but that didn’t matter now. because even with all that she didn’t know and all that was pending with her future, Ralphine was eager to learn.
“You look so beautiful, my askim,” the Lycan king said when his wife made it to where he was standing. Unlike all the other times when people walked in and Miroslav stared with a bored look on his face, today he was standing. He was bowing for her, encouraging her to keep coming to him, silently promising her a better life with their bond.
King Miroslav knew he was a little too excited and that she would probably reject him and feel nothing, but as she headed towards him, as she reached him, he knew that he had made the best choice of his life. He may have found her bruised, but he would make sure that she wouldn’t get another scar on her body. He loved her, and would do whatever it took to see her smiling.
“This is all so..” Ralphine said, trailing off, and her eyes never left the king’s purple ones. Those eyes were her safe space and even though people were cheering for her, loving their interactions, Ralph only cared about what the king wanted for her. He always knew his way into her heart and her wishes were always granted, but today, she only wished for one thing – the king’s happiness,
“Perfect: You make everything better, Ralph. I am so lucky to have you by my side,” King Miroslav said as he kissed her forehead, making people aww at them. They loved what they were seeing and their hearts were soft for the beautiful sight The king was happy, genuinely happy and as much as they wanted to pretend that this was not going to last, they knew that Ralph was good for the king.
“Take a seat everyone, and let’s focus on the coronation of the queen, Viktor announced and the hall went dead silent as they sat down. It was like they had been in some dream that had turned into reality and now they didn’t know what they
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Chapter 44
needed to do. Perhaps a seat would make it easier for them, right?
“Good morning, Asmoria and everyone who came to witness the great coronation of Asmoria’s first queen in over three hundred years!” Heion greeted them and they all cheered and clapped
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It was a beautiful morning, with their leaders looking as beautiful as the sins that were hidden in the midst of them all. under the cloak of the leaders who had made it here. Ralphine may have been worried for a moment about her security, bur with how important this ceremony was, it was easy to conclude that no one would try shit today. Besides the entire Lycan kingdom was alert and if anyone tried anything they would be dead before they breathed their last words.
“Let’s hold back the cheers for the end. My brother is getting a queen and he might be nervous as hell. So, let’s try not to make it harder for him, or he might blush, alright?” Heion teased and everyone let out laughs. They themselves were nervous of what would become of them in this hall.
“How are you feeling, love?” the king asked as he looked at his erasthai.
“I have you, that is all that matters,” Ralphine said and Viktor smiled in awe at them.
“Dear Miroslav and Ralphine, let us begin the ceremony,” Viktor said, his voice changing to one of an officiator’s. In the books there were people who could have been officiators of the king and the queen’s coronation and while most of the time they were female. This time it was different. Polina was meant to be the one standing where Viktor was, but then with the chaos, there was nothing they could do now.
King Miroslav held his Erasthai’s hands as they turned to look at Viktor who was watching them with a smile on his face. The couple looked so damn beautiful and like they relied on each other, of course they did, who were they kidding. The both of them had never been to an official ceremony so this had to be something for them
The both of you have brought to the attention of Asmoria, that you are each other’s Erasthais. Is there any truth to that?” Viktor asked as everyone held their breaths. He knew that this was nothing to be worried about, but given how explosive Miroslav Ibrahimovich was, they all had everything to worry about. This man couldn’t be trusted to keep himself sane most of the time, so this was a long gamble and the most dangerous one.
“Yes, the Kin- Ralphine began but Viktor shook his head as if to tell her that here before everyone, they were just plain old Miroslav and Ralphine, it was a ceremony of the hearts and they didn’t need to bring titles to it. At least not in this first part of the ceremony anyway.
“Yes. Miroslav and I are Erasthais,” Ralphine said, affirming the statement and Viktor turned to the king as if to ask the same thing and his response was near similar to hers.
“She is mine. No matter what the fates decide. I made a choice and she is my choice. Good or bad, she is mine,” the king said with conviction and Viktor stared warmly. He had never thought there would come a day when his best friend would be this open with the dynamics of a bond he was so new to. It was like seeing a different version of Miroslav and frankly, he loved it. Everyone loved it judging by the sweet little murmurs in the crowd.
“Well, that was intense, but it pretty much answers the question, Viktor teased before continuing
“Ralphine Belyaeva, born of the Koslov crown, raised in the Kosov quarries, rejected in the Koslov lands, and foved in the Asmoria kingdom. The bond you are about to get yourself into an intense one. While the same applies to the king, he knows what it is like on the highest and the most powerful seat ja the realm. Sitting on that seat beside him means you will be equals in every way and there will be decisions that you will have to make, sacrifices that will be made for the sake of the Lycan kingdom.
“You will need to shed blood, sweat, and tears for the safety of the Lycans and protect them with your life regardless of what happens and how long your life lasts. The commitment you are about to get into will not be as simple, as you will not be as protected from the horrors as you were when the king was giving you time to adjust.
There are things that you will do, alongside the king, things that may get your heart darker than his currently is. This is a petition to the dead and once you step into it, you will have to deal with everyone, including some of the leaders here, who will want and make unreasonable demands. The seat is full of so much pain and frustrations. It is a seat that comes with power and extreme losses. You will lose, you will win, and you will fight regardless. Is that a life you want for yourself?”
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Chapter 44
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The silence in the throne room was deafening. The more Viktor spoke the more it seemed like the crown of Asmoria was filled with nothing but cruelty. It was like the crown sucked the life out of the leaders and left them emotionless vessels that needed to get things done instead of saving themselves. It was a challenge being there and Ralphine felt herself falter.
It was like they were redirected at her, little jabs that were meant to be harmless but at the same time they were the jabs that broke her heart more than she would ever admit. It wasn’t easy, it never was, but she hadn’t expected that Viktor would be this honest. Was this something that Ralph really wanted? With the way the beta had spoken, it was like there was nothing more that could be done for Ralph, if she went through with this. Granted, Ralph was desperate for this to be a lie, but even she was even better. There was nothing that the beta had lied about and that made her wonder if this was worth it.
“What?” Ralphine mouthed as she processed everything that had been said. Miroslav looked at his queen, and he knew that whatever choice she would make, would support her. It didn’t matter if she didn’t want the crown anymore or even humiliated him here. He could bear it all just to see her happy all the time. Her happiness was his sanity, and maybe that would be his downfall, but would it?
“With all you have heard me say, are you still going to sit on the harshest crown in the kingdom?” Viktor as Lycans held their breaths, hoping that it wouldn’t be as bad, but what if?
“Miroslav-
