Hold On
Chapter 1: The Ceremony
Author's Note: I don't own Seiken Densetsu 3 or any of its characters - Square soft does. I'm just a fan.
Princess Angela!
Angela took a deep breath. Looking in the mirror once again, she was uncertain of everything that was approaching. She gripped her necklace, a famous jewel named the Spectral Diamond. It shimmered with the light from the sun, as if sending rays of hope into her mind. It was silver with a single prismatic diamond hanging from its thin chain. Her mother gave her this jewel the night before she was murdered. She wore it constantly, never letting it out of her sight.
She turned her head to see the small finches out the window, hopping and chirping joyfully. How they reminded her of the past, when she used to chase them off the balcony, laughing, while Jose watched from behind. It was always Jose, the elderly magic teacher, watching her. The ice was glowing with the reflection of the sun. It looked like a pool of gold. How she wished she could be there again. How she wished she could just go back in time, how she wished she could change the past.
She couldn't stop thinking about her mother. They didn't have many memories together, and most of the ones they did have were tragic and best forgotten. To her, it was unfair. Just when her mother started loving her, she had to die. Angela hoped that after the Mana Tree had been restored, everything would be better. And it was, but only for a short period of time.
Her father was an unknown being. She had never met him and hoped to never meet him. He left her mother, saying he had to battle a fierce dragon, but he never returned. Instead, after the battle, he scurried off to his own country, for he felt he would lose his honor serving Altena. Now, Angela would never get to experience that love that all children receive from their parents. It all happened too soon.
Princess! The Crowning Ceremony is about to start! Please hurry!"
Still, Angela paid no attention to the plea. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her loose, white robe was long enough to cover her hands. It was supposedly a symbol of wisdom and reason, the two things her mother was known for best. After all, she wasn't being crowned for her beauty. She lowered her head, ignoring the sound of footsteps running up the stone stairs.
"I know it's hard to take in and to live on like this, but please, we all need you now", Victor said, placing his hand on her shoulder. He could feel her shaking. Maybe she was shaking of fright or cold, or maybe she was trying to hold back her tears.
Without a word spoken from her mouth, Angela slowly walked towards the bridge connecting the castle and town. Her shoes could be clearly heard over the silence of the castle. Everyone and everything was quiet. Some people were crying, but she knew they didn't feel the pain she did. Their time of mourning was about to end.
Finally, she reached the bridge, Victor close behind her. There, was an old friend, the High Priest of Wendel, holding the crown and royal scepter. He placed the crown upon her head, gave her the scepter and a blessing. She thought she was not worthy of accepting these instruments of her mother, but she had to. She could not back down now. As the old priest drew closer, she swallowed her breath.
"Due to Queen Valda's death, I now pronounce you, Princess Angela, by your royal blood, Queen of Altena." the old priest announced.
As she walked up the bridge leading to the throne room, she could hear the villagers cheering for their new queen. It was strange how they can adjust to a new ruler so quickly. It would surely take longer for her to adapt to this change. She refused to party with all the nobles. Instead, she sat on her throne, feeling her magic power slowly draining away, being used to heat the castle town.
As the stars began to appear, Angela proceeded through the many hallways and doors leading to her bedroom. The walls were covered with posters and banners of the new fashion in town. As for the rest of the room, it was just bookcases filled with spell books, a Mana Goddess Statue near the window, and a soft comfortable bed. She took off her crown and placed it on the window sill, hoping it would fall with all her responsibilities. She plopped down onto the navy satin sheets of her bed. Although her bed was comfortable beyond belief, she couldn't fall asleep. She gazed out the window, but didn't see the pool of gold. It was too dark to see anything at all.