Chapter 70: The Crown Ceremony

November 20, 2237, New Buckingham Palace, London

Because of a court coup a century ago, the present Buckingham Palace bears little resemblance to its twenty-first century predecessor; it has become a thoroughly British neo-classical palace. Two hours before the ceremony, three people had already arrived: Hugo de Ray, commander of the Welsh Party; Edinborough Torre, the Scottish governor representing the Kwe Party; and Greenwich Wilson, the English governor. They came to ensure the safety of Buckingham Palace, for with the palace open to the public, they could not guarantee that the security staff had properly cleared away any potentially dangerous items.

"Hey, Commander Hugo, I’m genuinely curious—why is a Welsh Party member like you one of the officials responsible for the Crown Ceremony? Surely this has nothing to do with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince," Edinborough asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Oh? It’s like this. To ensure the safety of both princes, and for the future coronation of the Crown Prince, I requested to participate—consider it an internship, if you will. It was also His Highness’s idea; he doesn’t want either of his younger brothers exposed to any risk," Hugo replied without hesitation. Of course, these reasons were probably suggested to him by His Highness Trecy.

"Alright, Commander Hugo, I still don’t understand—how does His Highness the Crown Prince communicate with you?" Greenwich asked, equally curious why Trecy only contacted Hugo and no one else. "His Highness has his own ways of reaching me; even I can’t predict how he’ll send his next message," Hugo admitted. Trecy’s methods were always unpredictable—sometimes a note would fly through the car window while Hugo was driving, the writing only appearing after it was soaked; sometimes he would find such things tucked among his work documents.

"Sigh! At last, the time has come—the Crown Ceremony for Their Highnesses the Princes..." Indeed, only upon reaching the age of twenty-two could one become a prince regent; thus, this birthday was akin to a coming-of-age ceremony. But this time, both princes would don their princely crowns, formally becoming the Prince of England and the Prince of Scotland. Their status would be equivalent to that of the crown prince, and if Trecy left no heirs, they might become the next crown prince, or perhaps a dual regency—something never before seen in the Mystra Dynasty.

This time, however, there would be no papal coronation. The Mystra Dynasty's Crown Ceremony was known as "The Sword of Royal Selection."

In the fifth and sixth centuries, there was a young prince named Asso Pendragon. Some claimed he was the illegitimate son of the supreme king, Uther Pendragon, and had no right to inherit the throne. Yet when Uther died without an heir, the kingdom fell into chaos. Chosen by the great magician Merlin, Asso succeeded in drawing the legendary Sword of Royal Selection—Calibur!

Later, after an unjust duel shattered Calibur, Merlin brought Asso a new sword—Excalibur!

But now, the swords drawn by Prince Charlie and Prince Kweville were mere replicas called Calibur. To preserve England’s tradition, the Mystra Dynasty had crafted two nearly identical swords, both sharpened and half-embedded in a pedestal of electromagnetically forged silver stone, waiting for the ceremony when the princes would draw them free.

God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King!
...

An hour later, a song began to play—the English national anthem, "God Save the King." The palace was packed with people, and clearly, the two opposing parties stood on either side of the silver stone pedestals. Members of the Welsh Party and the Princess’s faction gathered mostly in the gallery on the second floor. It was almost like a battlefield...

In the main hall, the focus remained on Prince Kweville and Prince Charlie.

The moment for the Crown Ceremony had arrived. His Majesty the King, holding his scepter, strode from the palace, the Queen at his side. The two most noble figures entered, matching their movements to the rhythm of "God Save the King," and seated themselves beside the throne at the center of the court. "The Crown Ceremony begins!" the King declared, striking the floor with his scepter—a gesture of authority that only the King could perform.

The two princes appeared at the palace doors, one at the left and one at the right, slowly entering the main hall. Behind them followed attendants carrying the sword scabbards, princely robes, and crowns. They proceeded until the princes stood before the silver stone pedestals. One prince had hair of silver, the other of bronze; otherwise, they looked identical.

"The Royal Sword—draw!" a powerful voice commanded. The princes stepped onto the pedestals, facing each other, their backs to the ministers. It was as if two warriors were meeting on an ancient battlefield. Only then did the ministers realize the prince before them belonged to the opposing faction. Both reached out their right hands, grasping the sword hilts—identical except for the gemstones set into them. Prince Kweville held the blue sapphire, symbolizing England; Prince Charlie held the opal, representing Scotland. After drawing their swords, the attendants with the scabbards knelt beside them. The princes sheathed their swords and secured them at their waists. Then the robe attendants stepped forward.

The princes took the robes, but instead of donning them immediately, they approached each other. The two robes floated in midair, and to the astonishment of the courtiers, each prince draped his own robe across the other's shoulders. An exchange of robes—the garments symbolizing authority and territorial privilege now rested on the other prince. One robe, with sapphire buttons, originally belonged to Prince Charlie, but now clothed Prince Kweville; the opal robe of Prince Kweville was worn by Prince Charlie.

It did not end there. When the attendants brought the crowns, the princes again refrained from crowning themselves. Prince Kweville raised his arms high, while Prince Charlie threaded his arms through Kweville’s, holding the crowns aloft over each other's heads.

A dual coronation!

Never before had this happened—they crowned each other. Then, drawing their swords from the scabbards, they pointed them at one another. The ministers wondered if something dramatic was about to occur, when a clear metallic clang rang out. Were they fighting?

No—they tapped their swords together left and right, then laid the blades across each other's shoulders.

"I swear, to fulfill the duties of a prince, to assist our father and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in governing, to be each other's overseer as kings, until death! God Save the King!"

A dual regency!

In the absence of the Crown Prince’s participation, the princes would govern, their power equal to that of the king...

The King, seated on the throne, looked on his sons with satisfaction. Now all three of his sons were grown; though the Crown Prince remained unseen, he managed affairs admirably, and now there were two more princes...

Sigh! Perhaps it was time to abdicate and enjoy his twilight years, the King mused...

"The Crown Ceremony is ended!" "Escort the King and Queen back to the palace!"

—Endnote—

This draft was finished just hours before the holiday—perhaps a bit... Well, there’s more to come!