To the Coronation

The Carriage had all of the windows covered, no seals or crests upon it, it was one of five all departing the palace at the same time to take a different route to the main cathedral. A measure in place since the **** of Ryan’s great-grand-uncle by members of another house who were plotting to take the throne. The Carriages each arrived fifteen minutes apart at the covered and concealed port to the cathedral. Ryan arrived in one of the middle carriages and went into a holding room with his private secretary until all the carriages had come and gone to further protect him. A Guard appeared at the door and informed them that the Ambassadors were waiting.

“Ambassadors?” Ryan asked.

“A minor tradition,” the Secretary said, “They wait in a line to welcome you on behalf of their monarchs. Just quick introductions. Partly so you know who is here before you make any references to other nations in your coronation speech…”

“Very well, Ulric, lead the way,” Ryan said.

Ryan was led down a hallway to see seven foreigners lining one wall. There were four men and three ladies.

“My king,” Ulric the secretary said, “This is lord Diego from the Court of Castillo…”

The Iberian bowed.

“..Lord Alfonzo representing the crown of Leon…”

The second Iberian bowed as well.

“…Lord Jaques speaking on behalf of the Emperor of France…”

The man was clearly a Normal but he bowed.

“… Lord Linhart from Hamburg…”

The Aleman lord bowed.

“…Princess Artemis from the Court of Themyscira…”

The woman was over six feet tall and dressed like a man, but she was clearly a woman from the shape of her body.

“…Princess Ivanna from the Court of Kiev…”

The blonde woman bowed as she smiled at Ryan.

“… And Princess Magdolina, From the Court of Walachia,” Ulric finished.

The woman had black hair with hints of red and a pale pallor, but she curtsied with grace.

“Wonderful, do we have translators?” Ryan muttered to himself.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Lord Linhard spoke up in German, “But I was led to understand you spoke the Church Latin, Your Majesty. We all speak the Church Latin as well.”

“Ah,” Ryan started before switching to Church Latin, “For my last official act as prince of my lands, I would like to welcome you, as my guests, to my coronation. After the ceremony,y there will be a receiving line for official statements and presentations on behalf of your Kings or Queens. For those who wish to arrange for a private meeting for personal matters, please speak with Ulric, my private secretary, for an appointment. We will try to make that as soon as possible, given the state of the kingdom. For those wishing to open official talks and enter into pacts and treaties, I will be naming Lorencz as my Prime Minister, and he will be happy to schedule a time to meet with your delegation.”

Ryan smiled.

Princess Ivanna spoke up.

“Your Majesty, if I may speak out of turn?” She asked.

“Yes, Princess?” Ryan turned to the blonde woman from the east.

“I believe I speak for all of us in offering our condolences and prayers in these trying times,” the woman gave a courtly curtsy.

The men gave their own bows while Magdolina curtsied, and Artemis gave the strange gesture of showing her palms to Ryan. Ryan nodded.

“Thank you all, please excuse me, the priests must hear my sins before the start of my reign,” Ryan said.

*

The coronation was long and somewhat annoying. He was blessed and crowned after an hour of prayers and speeches from the bishop. When it was time for him to deliver his speech, Ryan made sure to include things for the masses, such as sadness for the loss of their father and King, thanking the Lord and Savior, and asking for his Blessing. When he tried to give heart to his people, he gestured to the ambassadors and told the crowds that ‘Representatives from as far away as the Black Sea to the Atlantic, the Mediterranean to the English Channal, and neighboring Germans all came to offer their prayers and friendship in this trying time,’ and he was sure to thank them and their masters for their gestures of good will. Ryan was not a warrior or a general, and had no interest in starting a war. Trade was fine, but wars were something he did not want, not right now and not without cause.

*

After the formal ceremony, a reception line was formed, the church, then the ambassadors, then the regional lords, then the local lords, and finally any commoner present came up to deliver their greetings. Most of the lords swore loyalty to the crown yet again. Ryan thought about what had to be done to create the trade to enrich the people and the royal coffers. All three of the princesses requested a private and official meeting with him.