Chapter 4 The Coronation Announcement

The moment they stepped beyond the palace gates, Selene seemed to gain even more energy. Lilly  didn’t know how that was possible. For the last two hours, her best friend had dragged her through what felt like half of Moonspire.

One dressmaker.Then another.A jeweler.A perfumer.A fabric merchant.Then somehow another dressmaker.

Lilly  was beginning to suspect this was some elaborate form of punishment. “Selene.”

“No.”Selene firmly said as she walked ahead of Lilly.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” Lilly breathed.

“You’re going to complain again”Selene said without looking back.

“I was.” Lilly sighed.

“Then my answer is still no.” Selene said, making Lilly sighed dramatically. Beside her, Rue Selene’s maid quietly hid a smile. The young omega had accompanied them all afternoon carrying parcels and carefully wrapped boxes.

At only sixteen years old, Rue was one of Selene’s personal maids. She was also one of the quietest people Lilly  had ever met. The girl rarely spoke unless directly addressed. Yet somehow she always seemed to be listening to everything.

“Rue,” Lilly  said. The teenager immediately looked up.

“Yes, Miss Lilly ?”she answered.

“How much longer do you think I can survive this?” Lilly asked and  Rue glanced toward Selene who walked ahead of them. Then toward the mountain of packages in her arms. Then back at Lilly .

“Not long.” She replied,making Lilly laugh.

Even Selene looked offended. “You’ve both betrayed me.” She stopped and looked at them, Rue immediately looked horrified. “I-I didn’t mean….”

“I’m joking.” Selene said. The young omega visibly relaxed. Selene huffed. “I bring you into the city. I buy you lunch. I save you from unstable lustful stable boys.”

“One lustful stable boy.” Lilly corrected.

“And this is how you repay me?” Selene said pouting and putting on a hurt expression. Lilly  linked her arm through Selene’s.

“I appreciate you.” Lilly said and kissed her cheek.

“As you should.” Selene rolled her eyes.

“You are very generous.” Lilly faked a bow.

“I know.” Selene waved her off.

“You are very kind.” Lilly said again.

“I know.” Selene flipped her hair dramatically.

“You are incredibly humble.” Lilly said again, Selene snorted. Rue covered her mouth to hide another smile. The afternoon sun bathed Moonspire in golden light as they continued through the bustling streets. The capital seemed more alive than usual.

Every market stall overflowed with customers. Children ran through the crowded roads. Merchants shouted offers from every direction. Colorful banners already hung from buildings in preparation for the upcoming coronation. Excitement lingered in the air. Everyone knew it was coming. Nobody knew exactly when.

At least not yet.

As they passed through the central market square, Lilly  found herself smiling.

Moonspire wasn’t simply the capital of the Ashborne Kingdom. It was the heart of it. The place where every road eventually led. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever grow tired of it. Then she would spend a day walking through the streets and immediately realize the answer was no, probably never.

A sudden distant horn shattered the afternoon chatter.The sound echoed across the city. Long,Loud,Powerful.

Making everyone stop what they were doing. A second horn followed. Then a third. The entire marketplace seemed to freeze. Merchants abandoned conversations.

Shoppers paused mid-step. Children stopped running. Even the horses pulling nearby carts grew restless.

Lilly  frowned. “What is that?”

Selene’s eyes widened. “Oh.” Another horn sounded. Then another. People began turning toward the main avenue leading from the palace. Excitement spread like wildfire.

“It’s happening,” someone whispered.

“What?” Someone asked.

“The announcement!” Another answered excitedly.

More voices joined in. “The coronation! “The coronation date!” The crowd surged toward the avenue.

Curiosity immediately pulled Lilly  forward. She followed alongside Selene and Rue until they reached the edge of the gathering crowd. Then she saw them.

Royal messengers. Six riders thundered down the avenue atop powerful steeds bearing the royal crest of House Ashborne. Each carried a silver horn.

Behind them rode palace guards dressed in ceremonial armor. The sight alone was enough to command attention. The riders reached the center of the square and brought their horses to a halt. The lead messenger stood in his stirrups.

Another horn blast echoed through the city. And the silence followed. Thousands of people waited. Watching and eagerly listening.

The messenger unfurled a scroll marked with the royal seal. Then he began to speak. His voice carried across the entire square.

“By decree of His Majesty Alpha King Aldric Ashborne and the Royal Council of Moonspire…” The crowd leaned forward.

“The coronation of Alpha Prince Kael Ashborne shall take place on the first full moon of next month.” For one heartbeat there was silence. Then the city exploded. Cheers erupted from every direction. People shouted, laughed and clapped.

Several merchants immediately began celebrating. Children jumped excitedly. The atmosphere transformed in seconds. Months of anticipation had finally ended.The date was official.

The future king would be crowned in less than four weeks. More announcements followed. Details about festivals. Public celebrations.Ceremonies. Markets. Parades.

Yet Lilly  barely heard any of it. Her pulse hammered inside her chest. Four weeks. Only four weeks.The realization made her dizzy.Everything was suddenly real.

All the waiting,the secrecy,the stolen meetings beneath moonlit gardens. It was almost over, just four weeks.Then Kael would become king.

And afterward…A smile slowly appeared on her face.No more secrets.The memory of his words returned.After the coronation, everything changes,every time doubt crept in, she remembered the way Kael looked at her when nobody else was watching.

The way he spoke when they were alone.The promises he had made.The future they had imagined together.The mate bond between them pulsed warmly.

A constant reminder.

The Moon Goddess herself had chosen them.Surely that had to mean something.Surely it mattered.“You’re smiling.”

Selene’s voice pulled her back to the present. Lilly  blinked “What?”

“You look happy.”Selene said.

She quickly composed herself. “Everyone looks happy.”

“Not like that.”For a moment Lilly  worried her friend had somehow guessed the truth. Then Selene grinned.

“You’ve always liked Prince Kael.”Heat immediately rushed into Lilly ’s cheeks. “Oh, stop.” Lilly waved her off.

“What?” Selene said.

“Every girl in the kingdom likes Prince Kael.” Lilly said matter of factly.

“Exactly.” Selene laughed.

“So there’s no shame in admitting it.” Lilly  forced herself to laugh as well. If only Selene knew. The thought almost made her smile.If only anyone knew.A month from now they would.The entire kingdom would.She imagined standing beside Kael.Not hidden in the shadows.

Not pretending to be strangers but standing openly,proudly together.

The thought filled her chest with warmth.

Nearby, Rue quietly adjusted the stack of parcels she carried. Her gaze remained fixed on the celebrating crowd.

“Everyone really loves the prince,” the young omega said softly. It was one of the longest sentences Lilly  had ever heard her speak.

Selene smiled. “They do.”

“He’ll make a good king.” Lilly said.

“I think so too.” Selene said.

Lilly ’s gaze drifted toward the distant palace rising above the city. The sunlight reflected from its towers. Beautiful and Majestic.

Soon Kael would rule from there. Soon he would sit upon the Alpha Throne.And perhaps,Just perhapsShe would stand beside him. The thought was terrifying and wonderful at the same time. Impossible all at once.

The crowd continued celebrating around them. Musicians appeared seemingly from nowhere. People began dancing.

Vendors shouted special discounts.

Children ran through the square waving small Ashborne banners. The city had become one giant festival. And somehow it felt like the beginning of something.

A new chapter,A new future,A new life. Lilly  looked toward the palace one last time.

Somewhere beyond those distant walls, Kael was likely hearing the same announcement.Perhaps he was thinking about her.Perhaps he was counting the days as eagerly as she was.Perhaps he was already planning how he would reveal their bond.

The thought made her heart flutter.

Four weeks.Only four more weeks. Then everything would change.She had no way of knowing that fate had already begun moving beneath the surface.

That the future she dreamed about would never come to pass.That the countdown had begun not only to a coronationBut to the destruction of everything she thought she knew.

For now, however, Lilly  smiled and joined the celebration.Because her happiest days were ahead of her.