Everyone had gone to the coronation. Bella sat in her room waiting for Duchess Carolyn to take her to the throne room. She was nervous about her dress. She sent her stylist away. Bella didn't want anyone to see her dress. As she put it on she knew she would shock the people. She had made some changes since the King protested her seeing Hunter. It just reminded her of the oppression of the people of Genovia and the rules that were set on her. The door opened and Carolyn gasp at the sight of Bella.
"Arabella, your dress! What...What did you do?!" Carolyn looked shocked and covered her mouth. Her hair was down in deep finger waves and very elegant. Beautiful royal diamond jewels that matched her tiara they would place on her head later in the night. Bella had snuck into the seamstress room and took black dye from the room. The night she was told by the king her and Hunter were not to see each other. What was once a red and gold sparkly dress was now very different. She dyed her modern couture gown. It was now a stunning strapless black ball gown that shimmered from the glitter from top to bottom. The dress much more lovely than before. "You look...beautiful." The woman cried. Bella ran to her.
"You're not mad? I know you think I look like a goth in all black with my black hair."
"Oh, Arabella. It's lovely. But, Why? No queen has ever worn black for a coronation. Parlement, the royals, the king. They may not like this. But...my girl...you look so...I have no words."
"In protest. I wear black in protest for the poor treatment of the lower class, the repression of women in our country, and the oppressive rules upon the women in the royal court. You always told me to fight for our country. You told me to fight for love. I'm going to do that. It starts tonight. Let's go." Bella expected to hear Carolyn lecture her.
Carolyn stood up tall, "I am with you, your highness. For love." They hugged and headed to the throne room.
In the throne room, Hunter waited near the entrance door of the throne room for Bella.
Carolyn entered and nodded to Hunter and took her spot near the front of the room. On the throne was the king, beside him royal guards, and members of parliament. All in traditional garments.
"MAKE WAY FOR HER HIGHNESS, ARABELLA ESCORTED BY MASTER HUNTER HELMSLEY OF THE UNITED STATES!" a herald yelled next to Hunter and the trumpets blew their horns. The door opened and Bella stepped in. Everyone gasp at how beautiful she looked but also the black dress. It was beautiful but, obvious statement of some sort.
Hunter was nervous. He was never nervous wrestling. It was her. Seeing her looking so stunning and knowing she was his. At that moment it became real. He was in love.
Hunter stepped out in his tuxedo one hand behind his back and raised his other arm and hand to allow her to place hers over his in a traditional royal manor. She looked over and smiled at him. Hunter walked her down the aisle as people whispered how lovely she looked and how they didn't understand why she wore black. Black was reserved for funerals. The King stood and smiled. Everyone in the room bowed to the King as Hunter and Bella made their way to him. Once to the font, the King spoke.
"The royal house of Genovia welcome Arabella for her royal coronation. On this day you will become Arabella Princess of Genovia. To carry on the royal bloodline and be the future queen and leader of Genovia." Hunter removed his hand and bowed to the King then to her stepping to the side. So far so good. "Master Helmsley, why do you come?"
"To present the future princess, Arabella. In honor of tradition and royal standing. I present to you, good King of Genovia, your future heir to the throne."
"Presented and accepted. I give the coronation to Parlament." The king sat and the people raised up in the crowd. "The Archbishop shall administer the Coronation Oath."
"Arabella, Is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?"
Arabella took a deep breath, "I am willing."
He placed a bible out for her to place her hand on.
The Archbishop seemed confident when he spoke, "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the People of Genovia, for greater good and honor?"
"I solemnly promise to do so."
"Will, you to your power uphold Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed to all of Genovia?
"I will."
"Arabella, you were asked to present a speech to address your people. Are you prepared?"
"I am." Bella turned to face the people taking a deep breath. "I ask that everyone here fully hear me before you respond. I am sure my words may hit some very harshly and I mean no disrespect. I come wearing black today in protest of oppression. I thought long and hard how to address the people of Genovia today. When looking over the oath I realized we as leaders hold a responsibility to our people, the royal court, and our country. In the oath, I was asked if I will govern for the greater good for the people. That I do very much intend to do. You see, back in the US, I was very involved with charity as was my grandfather and father. A tradition of kindness. Royals themselves were mingling with poor to feed and clothe those less fortunate. But here were are forbidden to do so. A mindless law from a former queen who let fear overrule kindness. Being here in the time I have, I have learned even my Uncle the King feels many of our laws are dated and heartless to the people. He himself sneaks to send out money and food to the homeless outside these walls. In secret. I know many of you do the same. The greater good of Genovia law only fits the greater good of the wealthy, privileged and, upper classes. Women and the poor of our country is forced to oppression. Why should our people go hungry when we do nothing to help them.
Homeless in our country cannot get respect or even charity from the upper class. I ask our people, is this the legacy we Genovan people seek? Why we eat the finest food and drink the finest wines, our less fortunate can't find jobs and struggle to get a simple scrap of food.
Women are seen of less importance as well. I myself can not become queen unless I marry another royal. I recently found that regardless of the love I find beyond royal blood, I cannot marry and bear children. I will be forced into an arranged marriage. I ask my people. Do you wish to force your Queen and female royals to marry out of rules alone or, will you allow them, love? In this time in history, we are the only country in Europe that still holds this law. Should your future queen be forced out of love into the arms of someone who has no regard for her? This is certain to become true. Or I may I take no husband at all. Allowing Genovia to lose the monarchy upon my death. I will bear no children outside of love. I refuse to marry with no love. Are we not a country based on God? God is love. But, you deny our female royals the thing that our country is built. LOVE."
She stepped down to grab Carolyn's hand. "Our own Duchess Carolyn and Royal Guard Joseph have had love in hiding and lost their chance of happiness, love and, a family together for years. They love in secrecy why all of us see the hurt of the two people who devote their love to each other. As the princess, I am honored on this night to allow one decree on a Genovian person to be passed without recourse. In the past, it has been one criminal released from jail or an upper class gave some special financial privilege. A gift to the people in honor of my protest tonight. I decree that gift to Joseph and Carolyn. My first royal decree is knighthood to Joseph. A loyal and honorable service to the court." Carolyn looked shocked.
"Joseph please step forward. I ask my Uncle the King to honor this decree with the official Knighthood. Thus allowing the marriage of Joseph and Carolyn to be legal by Genovian law." The crowd gasps. A security guard had never been Knighted. The king stood to take the royal sword. Joseph bowed why Carolyn was weeping, she was so happy. Finally, they could marry after 20 years.
"As King of Genovia, I dub thee knight, rise Sir Joseph by Royal decree." The King sat back down.
Bella stepped forward. "On this day of my coronation, I promise to my people love, kindness, charity, and goodwill. To make our country great by removing the repression of the old ways and, escort us into the future for the people. This I vow." Bella stood strong.
Hunter was in awe how brave she was. Reading the laws he knew the risk she was taking. With the things she promised could mean Genovia deny her coronation. Hunter looked over at the Duke and saw his eyes anger. The crowd silent, why some older parliament member looked angry, some hopeful in her words. Hunter stepped next to her and took her hand. He raised his head as if he himself was royal. Bella looked over as if her King was standing by her side. Joseph and Carolyn joined him. The King stood and joined them. All against the tradition of the coronation.
The Duke spoke up, "WIll we allow this dishonor to the law!? This American comes to our country and changes the Genovian way of life. She is to be my queen. Yet she fraternizes with a commoner. Allow me to be the upcoming King and I will put a stop the nonsense and teach this woman to respect the laws. Only a true royal can fix this. Her family has done nothing but brought dishonor for years. Starting with her Grandfather. A future king who left his country for a common street trash."
Bella got mad and got in his face. Pointing in his face. "My grandmother was not trash. She was the most caring loving woman I ever knew. When I came here I learned the truth about her. She was a nurse in the war. She saved many Genovians from being killed at the hands of the enemy. People of the court and Parliament. Many of the elders here whose family were among them. Without her many of you would not be here today. It is written in our history. She was a martyr to our people. You, sir, dishonor her efforts. She should have been given the right to marry my grandfather the prince for all she did for our people!"
"SHUT UP WHORE!" The Duke yelled.
The Queen of Windsor rose from her seat in horror. The old woman was still very poised and traditional. "ENOUGH! Duke of Windsor. After much reflection, I revoke your honor of request to an arranged marriage under the old law! I can't change Genovian law but I can make choices for my own court. You will not marry Arabella for interruption of her coronation and dishonor of the royal family. Her Grandfather was a great man and I will not allow such disrespect. Windsor Guards! Remove him from the castle at once!" The queen came over to join them. As both King and Queen from both countries stood with Arabella everyone bowed.
The King spoke, "We shall continue with the coronation with the approval of parliament representatives." The men agreed. Everyone returned to their places. The King stood by Arabella and took the crown from the pillow the Archbishop was now holding. "Arabella, as King of Genovia I dub the Princess Arabella of Genovia." He placed the crown on her head and, lead her to allow the people to see their new princess. The people clapped and Bella looked at Hunter smiling. She did it for him. Knowing she could have lost her title and, even jail time saying those things before her crowning. She did it for him. She now could work to make a change.