Page 14 of Of Storm and Emerald
Lost in the serenity and ethereal feeling of the space, he hadn’t realized that everyone else had taken their seats until Aiden cleared his throat and gestured to the empty space in the third row next to the aisle.
The ceremony commenced shortly after they took their seats as one by one people of importance filed into the ceremony space. The priestess performing the ceremony came first, shrouded in a white linen robe that trailed along the floor and a simple, silver circlet across her brow that was embellished with an emerald at its center.
Prince Xander was next, and had he belonged to almost any other house in Ixora, he would have been named next in line. But since the Court of Emerald was a matriarchal line, he instead headed the war council and served an advisor to the reigning queen.
Queen Adelina followed shortly after her son and looked resplendent in her deep emerald gown. The bodice was corseted and embroidered with a beautiful pattern in gold, wide straps draped off her shoulders with long, flowing gossamer sleeves while the full skirt was a simple satin in the same shade of emerald. Her hair was darker than Xander’s, more of a chestnut brown in comparison to his sandy blond, and if it weren’t for the few streaks of gray that framed her face, one might assume she was the princess. Which had him wondering, if their mother looked that beautiful at whatever age she was, what must the princess look like?
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long.
Somewhere in the sanctuary were musicians, their music filtering through to the ceremony space as a woman with midnight black hair proceeded down the aisle. She wore the color of the court, but the fabric darkened from a pale green that reminded him of the foam on the sea, into a deep forest green that could have easily been mistaken for black. It twisted around her torso, then draped down to the floor in waves. Once she made it to the steps of the altar, she didn’t go up, instead opting to stand next to Xander.
If that’s not the princess, then who…
Before he could finish his thought, the melody changed to something soft and romantic as a soft breeze filtered through the space. Petals from the wisteria tree floated through the air and fell delicately like a mist of rain. Daemon kept his eyes forward as the princess from Emerald finally made her entrance. He didn’t look in her direction until she reached the bench where he stood, but by the time he glanced her way, he could no longer see her face–but what he could see, he liked.
Her hair was lighter than her brother's, more of a honey-blonde and had been swept up into an array of different braids, twists, and curls which were secured at the nape of her neck. Her dress was emerald green and corseted like her mother’s, though a shade or two lighter, and it accentuated the narrowness of her waist.
The bodice was flesh-toned mesh with strategically placed green and gold embroidery, and where her mother had a full skirt, the princess had chosen to have layers of fabric that brought a softness to the structure of the gown.
On her shoulders she wore what looked like golden armored plates connected by golden chains in varying lengths across her shoulder blades, while a long coordinating green gossamer cape trailed behind her. She also wore gold bands with chains that mimicked the ones draping across her back around each of her biceps.
When she arrived at the altar, she curtsied low to ground out of respect to her mother then ascended the steps. Standing in front of the throne, she turned, keeping her head bowed and her eyes downcast as the priestess began the ceremony.
Throughout the whole coronation, Daemon continued to try and get a better look at the princess. From the front, he could see that her dress pushed her breasts up to an inviting display while still being somewhat modest, and the chains that draped along her back also hung across her chest in delicate swoops.
She looked beautiful, even as she maintained a stoic expression through the entire ordeal, not once lifting her head to look out at the people gathered. When it was finally time for her to be introduced to the gathered witnesses, and the crown of the Heir Apparent was on her head, only then did she straighten and lift her eyes to the crowd.
Daemon froze. He would recognize those slate-colored eyes anywhere, even after just one night.
It can’t be.
“Princess Auraelia Rose, you have been crowned Heir Apparent to the throne of the Court of Emerald. Do you accept this role, swear to uphold the integrity of your court, and defend your people until your last breath?” The priestess asked loud enough for all the guests present to hear.
Auraelia locked eyes with him and smirked, her gaze intense and mischievous.
“I swear it,” she answered, her eyes never leaving his as she made her vow.
“Then with the blessing of the Goddess Rhayne, and the witnesses gathered here this day, I now pronounce you Crown Princess Auraelia Rose Morwen, rightful heir to the Court of Emerald and future queen of Lyndaria. May the Goddess shine her love and wisdom upon you, and may the ancestors guide you.”
When the priestess finished her announcement, every guest stood and dipped into a bow or curtsy as a gentle breeze blew through the hall, once again sending flower petals to rain down in a flurry.
Once everyone straightened, applause and cheers erupted through the sanctuary as Auraelia descended from the altar and out of the space. Only then did she break eye contact with him, and even though he kept his gaze fixated on her, she kept hers trained forward–never once glancing his way.
As guests started filing out of the ceremony space, Daemon stared through the archway that the princess and her party had exited through.
“It’s her.” His words were barely more than a whisper.
“Who’s her?” Aiden asked with a confused, and slightly concerned, look on his face.
“Princess Auraelia.”
“D, you’re gonna have to give me more than that, man. What’s going on? What about the princess?”
Daemon turned toward his friend and something on his face must have made the pieces fall into place, because Aiden’s eyes grew wide, and he ran both hands down his face.
“Fuck, D. Seriously? Shit. Of course, your ass would be the one to find the fucking princess during a mother fuckingmasquerade ball. You’re an ass, you know that…”
Aiden continued rambling and spewing curses, but Daemon wasn’t paying attention anymore. Just beyond his friend, he caught a glimpse of movement. He saw her, bathed in sunlight, as she spoke to the midnight-haired woman from her processional.
