"Tatiana Loriel, Firstborn Daughter of the Late Queen and King Loriel, Crown Princess of Aragon!"
The princess stood hand-in-hand with the king and walked out to the balcony of the palace's event hall. The nobles clapped their hands and shouted their cheers. The function hall was filled with nobles from different parts of the kingdom and delegates from other kingdoms as well.
One of the knights muttered under his breath unconsciously, "She's stunning."
Another elbowed him and tilted his head in the other direction. The knight immediately gasped and covered his mouth out of shock.
Bjorn and Morgan were standing beside them. Their eyes were fixated on the princess above the balcony. Nobody would blame them. The princess truly shone tonight and was the most beautiful that she has ever been during other parties.
Her fiery vermillion hair flowed freely behind her, with pearls and gems attached to it. The gown exposed her neckline and a transparent and laced sleeve hung low on her shoulders, emphasizing her shoulder blades. The golden yellow color of her gown contrasted against her pale white skin and shimmered against the light.
After they presented themselves to the people, they slowly walked down the stair hall. Even as they walked, people watched them in awe. It is known to the people that the king was charismatic even when he was still young. But the princess was a different kind of beauty. People whispered that she looked exactly like her mother, except for the emerald green eyes that she inherited from her father.
"Captain," one of the knights nudged at him. "Captain!"
Bjorn broke from the trance. He looked around to see what was going on when the knight nodded his head in the princess's direction.
"It's time to escort the princess," he reminded him.
"Oh, right." Bjorn nodded and walked towards the king and princess and waited for them at the foot of the stairs.
"I don't think the Captain hates her anymore," the knight whispered, his eyes fixated on their captain.
Another whispered back, "What do you mean, hate? Do you mean whipped? The captain is head over heels for the princess and he doesn't even realize it."
Tatiana held her breath. Something about crowds made her dizzy and nervous. Her stomach churned and she wanted to run away as soon as possible but all of their gazes were fixated on her. She was scared that the people would throw their rocks at her.
"You look like you're walking on the execution stage to get your head beheaded off," Bjorn whispered to her as soon as she arrived down the stairs. He offered his arm to which she immediately held on. She feels like fainting at any moment.
"Make sure you shield me when they throe their rocks," Tatiana quavered and looked around nervously.
Bjorn was slightly surprised. Being thrown a rock at her forehead might have scared her more than he thought.
"Don't worry, no one will throw their rocks at you here. They will immediately be executed." He tried to calm her down.
"Oh, that works too."
They marched towards a small center stage where the Queen and prince Elliot were already sitting on their throne seats. Tatiana's face lit up when she saw Elliot and waved her hand. Elliot waved back but the queen glared at him which made him drop his hand.
Tatiana's smile turned to a scowl and Bjorn felt her grip around his arm tighten.
"Princess, your face." He reminded her.
"We gather here today for my daughter's sixteenth birthday and to celebrate her debut in society! Today, we will celebrate and fill up our stomachs during the feast and move our bodies in the music!" the king announced.
Everybody cheered. The king proceeded to the back to sit on his throne while Tatiana remained at the center. The king's spokesperson walked up the small stage carrying a scroll and Emma, along with Miguel.
Tatiana kneeled on the podium, facing her father, the king. Emma and Miguel attached a red cape with the kingdom's crest embroidered at the center on her back. The spokesperson opened the scroll and started reading it while she stayed down. After that, William walked toward the king and presented him with a crown that was placed on a red cushion.
"With the power vested in me and along with the blessing of the Sun god, Helios, I crown my daughter, Tatiana Loriel, as the crown princess of Aragon." He placed the heavy jeweled crown on her head.
"Rise, my daughter," the king announced. For a moment, Tatiana couldn't stand up. She received worried looks from William and Emma but she stared back at them as if to say 'this thing is heavy on my head!'
Her head slightly toppled from side to side before being able to stand up properly. The queen scoffed and rolled her eyes and the king let out a nervous laugh. Emma, William, and Miguel wanted to facepalm and cover their faces with their hands.
The spokesperson cleared his throat and the king went back to his throne.
"Now we will appoint the crown princess's knight," he announced, and he looked over the knights' group that stood in a line along the wall.
The room was filled with whispers as soon as Morgan stepped up to the podium. People voiced their disappointment and talked about the princess's poor choices in picking a knight. There were a lot of more capable knights and yet she chose a knight that came from a fallen family.
Tatiana smiled when Morgan kneeled in front of her. And despite the whispered and judging stares of the people, she smiled down at him like she was proud.
"Lift your chin, Morgan. You are more than capable of being my knight," she said, then proceeded to louden her voice, "Those who speak ill of you without even knowing what you're capable of may live in shame of their lips that speak nothing but lies, though I am very sure that these people cannot even do a quarter of the things that you are capable of doing."
The crowd turned silent and the king started to grow restless in his seat. The queen massaged her temples in distress.
"Though, I'm pretty sure that our dear guests do not partake in such shameful acts, do they?" she faced the crowd and smiled while nodding her head, "people here are educated and sophisticated."
Nobles nodded and agreed with her reluctantly. She turned her attention back to Morgan who was wearing his formal uniform as a knight.
"My knight is a very kind and capable one," she whispered that only he could hear.
"I think that day by day, the princess is slowly stealing my heart," one of the knights whispered in awe.
"She is so cool."
William offered the princess the sword that she easily lifted in her palms and blessed Morgan on each of his shoulders.
"Morgan Sullivan, a knight from the Sullivan family. You are chosen by me, the crown princess and along with the blessing of the Sun god, Helios, you are to be appointed as my most trusted knight."
"I swear on my name, and my family's honor, that I will perform my duties and responsibilities as your highness's most trusted knight."
Tatiana smiled at him and gave the sword back to William. The appointment was done but Morgan stayed kneeling in front of her. People watched them with curious gazes.
"Morgan?" Tatiana called him, "it's done now."
Morgan took the princess's hand and looked up at her. His eyes glistened with tears as he carefully spoke the following promises.
"I, Morgan Sulliv, of the Sullivan family promise to keep you safe and protect you for the rest of my life as a knight. I take my oath to serve you more than the scope of my knightly duties. I shall be your slave, your protector, and even your companion. My life is for you to use, your highness."
"Morgan," Tatiana muttered under her breath. Morgan then lifted her hand and placed it under his lips.
People gasped and women swooned. This is the first time that a knight openly professed his loyalty and love for royalty.
Tatiana's face heated up and her eyes slowly widened. She feels troubled and felt like she was just proposed to.
The king stood up and raised his hands and shouted, "A loyal knight, all for the honor of the kingdom of Aragon!"
"For Aragon!" the people cheered.
That was when Tatiana realized. Morgan may know something about the original Tatiana that nobody else knew about. And even if she was a villainess in the story, she was a hero to him. The current Tatiana doesn't know what that is but looking at his face, she knows that she can trust him with her life.
This is the only person she can trust that won't harm or leave her. Morgan Sulliv, princess Tatiana's knight just made it to the start of the story.
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END