Servants entered the room, the number increasing with each passing minute. Stressed officials followed, then the attendants. Suddenly the room became chaotic as everyone tried to divide roles and hurry through the process as fast as possible.

Last-minute schedules he hadn’t known existed appeared out of nowhere, documents that required to be signed, delegations requesting confirmations, and ceremonial advisors wanting final consultations.

Everything before him looked like a mess.

Atheline rapidly discovered that becoming king involved significantly more paperwork than anticipated. At one point, three separate people attempted to explain different ceremonial procedures simultaneously. How he remained patient for so long? He couldn’t remember

Eventually, he considered escaping through the balcony. Unfortunately, Lilith noticed and prevented it. She was also in the same position as him.

Several hours of this mess passed.

Breakfast arrived and passed. Neither had time to properly eat it. The palace transformed around them. The corridors were filled with activity, foreign dignitaries arrived continuously and nobles from every territory in the kingdom gathered.

Outside, military commanders took positions and royal guards prepared security formations. The kingdom moved like a giant machine, every piece sliding into place.

Everyone was determined to make sure the ceremony ended without a hitch.

By midmorning, Atheline finally found himself briefly alone as he waited for his clothes. It felt like a rare miracle.

He stood inside the preparation chamber overlooking the coronation grounds. The ceremony platform could be seen from there. It was in front of the main temple, where his name and Lilith’s were engraved after their marriage had been approved.

Thousands of seats were arranged in front of it and around the different levels of the Court. Since they were almost at the bottom of the levels, they would be seen by almost everyone.

Rows of banners were held by the ocean of people who had already gathered and mostly taken their seats.

Atheline stared quietly. Very soon, he would be standing before all of them. He could already feel the anticipation brewing in the air.

A knock came, before he could answer, the door was pushed open and his brother entered. The High Elf looked considerably more amused than concerned which was a terrible sign.

Atheline narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

Helther smiled.

"Nothing."

"That’s a lie."

"Probably."

Atheline groaned. His brother approached the window, looking toward the crowd below.

"Big day, huh."

"Don’t even remind me."

His brother laughed. For a moment neither spoke then the elf looked at him seriously, a rare expression. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"You’ll be fine, and you know it."

Atheline blinked. He had been told that twice today which felt concerning. Was it his face?

Helther continued.

"You’ve already learnt most of the job. Actually, you learnt the royal etiquette of two kingdoms, you should be proud and more confident in yourself. "

Atheline considered that. Unfortunately, his brother had a point. The coronation wasn’t creating a king, it was acknowledging one.

The realization settled strangely inside him. Before he could respond, another official appeared, followed by another. His brief moment of peace ended immediately.

Atheline sighed. Helther looked delighted.

"Enjoy."

"I hate you for this.."

"No you don’t."

The older high elf left. But the officials remained to finish the last-minute checks and preparation.

After the official left, his dressing attendants entered with the final coronation gown. The fight to make sure it never got one wrinkle while he wore it began. It didn’t take that long.

Atheline stood before a massive mirror in the preparation chamber. The ceremonial attire was far more comfortable than he expected.

It was heavy and expensive probably worth more than entire noble estates but surprisingly comfortable.

Silver and black intertwined throughout the design. Dark elven symbols were embroidered into the fabric alongside high elven motifs, representing the union that had changed relations between the two races.

Atheline adjusted the sleeve slightly then immediately stopped. Three attendants rushed forward.

"Your Highness, please don’t."

He sighed.

"Right."

Today apparently belonged to the attendants not him. A knock came from the door and the attendants stepped aside.

Lilith entered. The room immediately became silent, she always had that effect on people. Her coronation attire was simpler than expected. It made her look both elegant and regal but also terrifying.

He had long since accepted that she could somehow make standing still look threatening.

She studied him while he waited for her final judgment. Instead, she continued studying him without input; eventually, he raised an eyebrow.

"Well?"

"You look acceptable."

Atheline laughed.

"Acceptable?"

"It means you look good."

Several attendants nearly fainted.

Atheline grinned.

"That sounded painful didn’t it? You should have just said it from the start."

"Don’t get started."

Lilith looked away.

The attendants suddenly found their work extremely interesting.

Suddenly, a horn echoed through the palace. The ceremony was beginning.

Atheline felt his stomach tighten and Lilith noticed immediately.

"You are nervous."

"No."

She nodded. Then, reached out and adjusted his collar, something she always does almost every day whenever they dress together.

Yet somehow it settled him more effectively than all the speeches and reassurances he’d received throughout the week.

Lilith stepped back.

"There."

He smiled.

"Thank you."

She looked away again.

Moments later, officials arrived to escort them. The time had come.

They walked down a flight of stairs, going deeper into the palace before coming to a stop in front of a massive door Atheline had never seen.

The palace doors opened.

A roar greeted them before they could even step out. It was thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Atheline had expected a large crowd but he had not expected this.

The massive ceremonial avenue stretching from the lower palace door to the coronation platform was completely packed.

Every stretch of land within the four mountains was filled with people. And since it was almost in a concave-like shape, it felt as though the crowd might just fall on them but he knew that was impossible.

Atheline felt small all of a sudden while Lilith looked entirely unaffected. Still, this felt more different than when he had first arrived.