Too late to wonder about it now, she told herself bitterly. She had surely used up her last chance with Luka. Her resolution to stay away from him stayed strong until the moment she set eyes on him.
The coronation ceremony was held in the great hall of the royal palace, which had been decorated with sumptuous fabrics, golden candelabras, and intricate tapestries.
The queen-to-be was dressed in a traditional gown of shimmering silk, embroidered with gold thread, and studded with precious jewels. Her long, blonde hair was braided and adorned with pearls, and she wore a crown of gold, encrusted with glittering diamonds and other precious stones.
As Crown Princess Annika entered the hall, a hush fell over the crowd, and the sound of trumpets and drums filled the air. She was accompanied by a retinue of attendants, each dressed in their finest clothes, and preceded by a procession of knights, resplendent in their armor and regalia. Maya’s heart jumped as her gaze automatically went to Luka, walking among them with his head held high, looking very handsome in his ceremonial uniform.
The ceremony began with a solemn invocation to the gods, and Maya’s attention began to drift. Luka was standing stiffly at attention along with the other soldiers. Was his foot hurting him? How long had he been marching? Did he have to practice long? What was he thinking as he watched Princess Annika take the crown?
Maya jumped as the crowd around her erupted in cheers and applause, and a choir of singers began to fill the hall with a stirring hymn of praise. The new Tsarina smiled at them all, her new crown sitting pretty on her head.
After the ceremony, the new queen was escorted to her throne.
“Thank you,” Tsarina Annika said, amid smatterings of applause. When the polite clapping had died down, she turned to the court.
“It is not the done thing to make a royal decree the same day as a coronation, but I think there is no more perfect time than this.”
“Lord Erlan and Lord Ogumi Ryu have informed me of the Twilight Throne’s proposal to help us develop trade routes along the Ellem Isles. We were once trading partners. It is my hope that we can be partners with the Elves again.”
The gathered courtiers began murmuring excitedly at the announcement, but their whispers died down again when Lord Erlan stepped forward. Maya had eyes only for Luka, though, who was looking at his sister with a light of hope in his eyes, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.
It was as Luka had said. With the Elves offering an alternate—and more lucrative trade route than the one that the Demidov family controlled, the Crown Princess had no reason to pressure Luka into his engagement.
“The Elves have also agreed to share their traditional knowledge with us, so that we may all grow as one.” Tsarina Annika cleared her throat. “The Four Kingdoms have more in common with each other than we do with others, and it would be in our best interests if we were to growtogether.”
The Tsarina raised her voice, and the murmurs died down again.
“This is also the reason why I have asked Prince Kamenev to be the representative from the Drakazov Kingdom on a new Council of the Four Kingdoms that we shall be setting up in Kamenev.” There was more frenzied murmuring at that, and Maya stared at Luka, who looked off into the middle distance as if he could hear nothing.
He’d spoken about leaving the War Council and how he didn’t want to become Commander of the Imperial Army. His father had agreed to it, then. Her heart leapt in happiness for him. He’d hated the idea of being pulled back into war and fighting, and it looked like he had found a way to make it happen.
“Well said, Tsarina,” Lord Erlan said, stepping forward. “It is my hope that this will be the first step to fixing what my ancestors have done. Their actions have sundered the Four Kingdoms, and the Elves must make reparations. It is the only way forward.”
His companion, Prince Ryu, narrowed his eyes as if to disagree, but he said nothing.
“I am pleased to stay on as the representative of the Twilight Throne to the Council of the Four Kingdoms. I am sure we will see many a bright day ahead in our future.”
As a polite applause followed the Elf lord’s speech, Maya pushed her way through the crowd, hoping to talk to Luka. If what the Crown Princess—that is, the Tsarina had said was true, then she had to speak to Luka—she had to tell him—
Maya pushed her way to the front of the room, just in time to see the new Tsarina turn her head to look at her siblings, who flanked her. The Tsarina’s gaze moved from her younger sister, who stood there calm and serene but without a smile on her face, to her younger brother, who stood at her other side, tall and straight, but with a brittle expression on his face.
Maya was just close enough to hear the new Tsarina as she spoke to her siblings.
“It has been brought to my attention I may have been repeating the mistakes of the past, treating my family as so many chess pieces instead of as beloved relatives. Apologies. I would like to make it clear that as my siblings, you are free to pledge your hand towhomeveryou wish. I trust your judgement.”
As Ludmilla flashed her sister a wide, disbelieving smile, the new Tsarina laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Leave the burdens of statecraft to me. My shoulders can take it.” Tsarina Annika smiled. “Find your own happiness.” Her gaze moved to include Luka. “Both of you.”
As Luka blinked at his sister, the Tsarina Annika glanced at Maya, then turned to Luka, a small smile on her face. “I think you have someone who is waiting to talk to you.”
Luka spun on the dais, and locked eyes with her. For the first time, Maya let all her heart show in her gaze, and she knew when Luka saw it, because he rushed off the stage, nearly flying off the steps as he came to her.
He caught her hand in his, and drew her outside, to the balcony. Heavy curtains shielded them from the noise and the hubbub, and soon, they were enclosed in a little cocoon of silence.
“Maya—”
“I was wrong.”
“What?”
