Josie and Neena followed me down the aisle of the church, holding my cape so it didn’t drag across the floor. As I walked, I looked at the signet ring on my finger, the Illéan crest gleaming in the center. Dad already trusted me in this role. He was already delighted with the way I was handling it. This was just making everything official.
I caught the eyes of as many people as I could, hoping to convey my gratitude. At the head of the church, I knelt on the little resting stool, feeling the weight of my dress fanned out behind me. The bishop took the ceremonial crown and held it above my head.
“Are you, Eadlyn Schreave, willing to take this oath?”
“I am willing.”
“Do you vow to uphold the laws and honor of Illéa all the days of your life, governing your people according to their traditions and customs?”
“I do.”
“And do you vow to protect the interests of Illéa, both at home and abroad?”
“I do.”
“And do you vow to use your power and placement to bring mercy and justice for all Illéa’s people?”
“I do.”
It felt appropriate that vows to a country required four affirmations, whereas vows to another person only required one. With my final words spoken, the bishop set the crown on my head. I rose and turned to face my people, my cape looking rather beautiful curled up around my feet like a cat. The bishop placed the scepter in my left hand and the orb in my right.
There was a loud knock of a staff on the floor, and the people around me shouted, “God save the queen.”
And I felt a thrill in my chest to know those words were meant for me.
CHAPTER 21
“OSTEN, FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE, STAND up,” Mom ordered.
“But it’s so hot,” he complained as we began what would be a marathon photo session.
Dad stepped around me. “You can pull it together for five minutes of pictures, son.”
Ahren laughed. “Oh, I’ve missed you all.”
I swatted him. “I’m so glad no one’s actually filming this.”
“Okay, okay. We’re all ready,” Dad called to the photographer. He and Mom posed behind me, their arms on the back of my chair. Osten and Ahren knelt on either side of me, while Kaden stood with one hand behind his back, almost challenging me for the most regal-looking family member of the day.
The photographer snapped shot after shot until he was satisfied. “And who’s next?”
We all stayed where we were, pulling Camille into the picture. Then, so we would have a picture of the whole family, each of the Elite boys was rotated through the portrait.
Then it was a picture of me with the Legers, then one with each member of the advisory board, including Lady Brice, who bypassed the traditionally stiff pose and hugged me tightly instead. “I’m so proud!” she kept saying. “Just so, so proud!” Then, of course, we had to get a shot with the entire Woodwork family.
Josie walked up as fast as she could, placing herself so she was practically front and center. I shook my head as Miss Marlee gave me a big hug.
“I’m so happy for you, honey. You’ve grown up so fast.”
I laughed. “Thank you, Miss Marlee. I’m glad you could all be here today.”
Mr. Woodwork smiled. “As if we’d miss it. Congratulations.”
Miss Marlee still held my hands. “These past few months, seeing you ascend, and watching you and Kile become so close, have been wonderful.”
I smiled. “Honestly, it’s hard to imagine us not being friends now. I can’t believe it took us this long to actually get to know each other.”
“It’s funny how that works,” Miss Marlee replied. “It seems like a shame you and Josie have hardly gotten to spend any time together.”
“What?” Josie said, able to hear her name if it was so much as tapped out in Morse code on a different continent.
“It might be good for you to do more together.” Miss Marlee looked between the two of us, glowing with joy.
“Yeah! We totally should!” Josie squealed.
“And I’d love to,” I lied. “But now that I’m queen, I’m afraid my free time will be very limited.”
Mom smiled knowingly behind her friend. I could tell she realized exactly what I was trying to do.
Miss Marlee frowned. “True. Oh, I know! Why don’t you have Josie shadow you for a few days? She’s always had a deep interest in the life of a princess. Now she can study a queen!”
“That. Would be. Amazing!” Josie grabbed my hand, and to my credit, I didn’t jerk it away.
With everyone waiting for me to speak and my mother’s eyes warning me that, queen or not, I’d better not disappoint her closest friend, I didn’t have a choice.