"Lady Rochelle, Lady Diane," Vy greeted them both with a simple nod, "How are you enjoying the party?"
"Very much, especially with all the gossip and unique happenings that are going on," Roxine replied with a grin.
Lady Diane looked over to the nobles. Their horror stricken faces were a sight to behold. They seed to have fully believed they were hexed.
"Miss Blackfire most certainly knows how to lighten the mood," Diane added with a tease.
Vy wrapped her arm around Dygo, "I’m afraid I can’t take all the credit this ti."
Dygo smiled, "It’s a team effort. That is all."
As they continued to converse with one another, they wondered when Sierra would return. But there was sothing that had them collectively perplexed. Where was Alistair?
"It is most unfortunate that he was not able to make it for the coronation," Roxine sighed, "Knowing him, he’s going to be more disappointed than Sierra could be upset at him."
"It is most unlike him, is it not, my love?" Diane pointed out as she wrapped her arm around Roxine’s waist, pulling her in close.
Roxine knew Diane was right. A coronation was such an important event. She was certain Alistair would have factored in potential delays and set off early. As various possibilities flooded her mind, Roxine had a bad gut feeling of what might have happened.
But it was a joyous occasion. She did not want to dampen the high spirits. Atleast, not without proper evidence or proof.
"Sierra had soldiers stationed at various points, waiting for his impending arrival. She even set them hours away from the capital. If they saw him on the road, they would have sent a ssenger bird back to inform her," Vy added, "But still, nothing."
"What did you say?" Roxine voiced as she furrowed her eyebrows.
She glanced over at Diane. She too shared the sa expression as Roxine.
How could it be that none of them saw Alistair. In any case, Alistair would have either travelled with an entourage, or had one moving a little later than he did. Either should have been spotted by now.
"It doesn’t make any sense," Roxine voiced as she looked over at everyone.
At this point, Princess Taita and Princess Myra joined in the conversation. Upon hearing the discussion they voiced their opinions too.
"It is odd indeed. Perhaps Sierra had received word but we simply do not know?" Myra theorized.
Vy glanced around the ballroom. Sierra was still on her tour around the capital, greeting her subjects as their new Queen. But there was one other person who might have the answer.
"Miss Ida!" Vy called out the Queen’s maid, who was standing in the corner of the ballroom, watching over everything.
As soon as Ida heard her na being called, she quickly scurried over.
"Is everything alright?" Ida asked them ekly, after greeting them with a deep bow.
"We wanted to check with you. Has there been any news of King Alistair’s arrival? Any news at all?" Vy asked, not wasting a mont.
Ida sighed as she shook her head.
"Her Majesty had asked to keep tabs on the situation. I have ssengers coming to every hour to give an update. But so far, there hasn’t been anything worth noting."
Everyone glanced at one another. Things definitely seed to be more troubling than they had expected.
"I rember her Majesty ntioned she had soldiers stationed on the travel roads, right?" Vy asked.
Ida nodded, "Yes, that’s right."
"What’s the furthest she had the soldiers stationed at?"
The maid paused in thought for a mont before replying.
"I believe it’s about a day’s journey from the castle."
"That can’t be right...," Roxine muttered as she folded her arms, "Even if he had to delay his departure, he should have arrived by now. Could sothing have happened?"
Before their conversation could continue, the lodious chorus of trumpets sounded throughout the ballroom. Everyone turned their attention to the entrance. As soon as the doors were opened, Sierra waltzed in.
She looked regal with her new circlet and royal garnts. Her unique choices, choosing to wear pieces of armor along with her outfit, earned her much gossip. But Sierra paid them no mind.
Many nobles and foreign dignitaries ca forward with wine glasses in their hands. They congratulated her on her ascension to the throne. Sierra graciously accepted all of their ssages swiftly.
All the formalities exhausted her. She would much rather be in the company of friends, family, and familiar faces.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. The coronation was beautiful," Vy gave her congratulations as she toasted to Sierra’s achievent.
"You’re too kind, Vy. Too kind," Sierra replied as her cheeks blushed red.
Princess Myra, Taita, Lady Rochelle, and Diana, all ca forward to offer their congratulatory ssages. General Leon appeared too, to give his blessings to his daughter.
But it was clear to those who were close to Sierra that she seed a little distracted. As soon as she had a mont to spare, she turned to Ida and asked if there was any news on Alistair’s arrival.
"I’m afraid not, Your Majesty," Ida replied as she bowed her head low.
"No news? None at all?" General Leon asked as he clenched his fist.
The rising anger in his voice was evident to all.
"I can give him a pass on the count of travel delays for the coronation. But he can’t possibly be planning to miss his own marriage union, can he?"
Sierra pursed her lips as she walked over and interlocked her arm with her father’s.
"Perhaps there was more trouble on the road than expected," her voice was tense.
"Or perhaps he does not like the fact that you’re becoming equals," Lord Finnian scoffed as he folded his arms.
Lady Tessi threw her younger brother a glance as unfurled a lace fan.
Other nobles and dignitaries soon caught wind of the conversation. So wondered if Sierra might be stood up at the altar.
"He would never do that to ," Sierra whispered to herself.
Before anyone could say anything else, Sierra plastered a smile on her face and pushed her worries to the back of her mind. It was her coronation party after all. Whether Alistair was there with her or not, she intended on enjoying it to the fullest.
But no matter how hard she tried, no matter how hard her friends tried to keep her smiling and laughing, the gut feeling never subsided.
Sierra stole a glance at the wall clock from ti to ti, watching as it got closer and closer to her wedding. Looking over the balcony of the ballroom and into the Royal garden, everything had been set up for the occasion.
"Sierra," Vy whispered to her as she ca up beside her.
"Hmm?"
"I’ll go check the roads for you. Aether, Dygo, and I can travel quickly. We’ll bring him to you if he’s on the road," Vy suggested.
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