The Grand Duke Gave the Hostage Prince the Only Key novel · Chapter 22 of 24

Chapter 22: Coronation Night

Every bell in Aurelle rang for the coronation, and they had not stopped since dawn.

The cathedral was packed to its high blue ceiling.

Elior knelt on a cushion before the altar in a white robe, with two boys holding the train.

The archbishop's old hands lowered the crown onto his head.

It was heavier than he had expected.

It pressed on his forehead, just above the black ribbon he had refused to take out of his hair.

"Rise, Elior, by God's grace King of Savenne," the archbishop said.

He rose, and the whole cathedral rose with him.

A roar went up that shook the dust from the rafters.

He looked down the nave.

At the front, among the northern riders in their black dress coats, one tall figure stood without kneeling or cheering.

Teodric stood with his hands clasped behind him and his pale eyes on Elior's face.

He did not bow.

Elior had told him not to.

He only looked, steadily.

Elior felt the look settle in him.

The feast went on until midnight.

Elior ate a quarter of a roast bird and drank half a cup of wine.

He was introduced to two hundred people, and he forgot every name.

The old lord of his father's council wept openly.

The captain of the left wing got drunk and sang.

At last the doors of the royal bedchamber closed behind him.

The sound of the bells went on faintly through the stone.

It was a vast room with a vast bed hung in blue.

← Chapter 21 · All chapters · Chapter 23 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend