Maid For You 4

Chapter 49

The next day, I found myself in front of a colossal, gothic cathedral full of ornate carvings and details. The cathedral loomed over me, and I felt my stomach churning in anticipation for the event that was about to take place.

"Are you alright?" Coleman asked me.

I turned to look at him, tall and dressed in his formal attire. He stood on my right with Calista on his right holding his arm.

"There's no need to fret," Calista piped in.

"It will be a simple, boring ceremony," Coleman assured me, smiling slightly. He held out his left elbow for me, and I gingerly took it as we headed in. Inside the cathedral, an organ played music that echoed throughout the chapel, and a glittering procession of nobility were seated—Coleman, Calista, and I would mark three of the deviations from the sea of blondes. The cathedral was upheld by dozens of tall arches made of white stone; imbedded in the walls were windows of brightly colored stained glass. The focal point of the cathedral was a red stand with a short gold railing, with red velvet steps leading up to the front of the stage.

Coleman, Calista, and I were seated fairly close to the stage—we were still a couple dozen rows back, but we weren't up in the balconies like other people were. I looked at the red carpet leading up to the stage, and tried to imagine Nikolas walking down it.

"The coronation will be in Russian," Coleman informed me. "But they will instruct us to sit or stand. I should be simple enough to follow everyone's lead."

"Okay," I said. My stomach felt like it was preforming somersaults as I sat there—for some reason, this coronation had me very anxious. Everything about this trip was worrying me. Even last night, my conversation with Nikolas had left me feeling unsettled and unsatisfied. Nothing about us had been clarified, and I'd felt Nikolas's own trepidation throughout the short time we'd spent together. He was clearly anxious about the upcoming coronation, and that seemed to have transferred over to me.

"You seem nervous." Coleman's voice pierced my thoughts.

"I'm fine," I told him.

"Do you remember the phrase?" he asked.

"Yes, I remember," I said. "Da zdrávstvovat' koról'."

"Da zdrávstvovat' koról'," he repeated, emphasizing the pronunciation.

"Zdrávstvovat'," I tried again.

"It's better." He shrugged. "No one will be able to hear you anyways."

"Oh thanks," I drawled.

"It's alright, Cassie," Calista piped in. "Coleman's Russian isn't perfect either. His accent is just..." she rubbed her thumb and index finger together and twisted her hand. "A little off."

He rolled his eyes. "My Russian is very good."

"Moglo byt' i luchshe," she retorted.

"Well congratulations on your Russian. Fortunately I'm not the one destined to become the queen of Nikoto, am I?" he sneered.

"Oh please, don't bring that up," Calista sighed. She looked past Coleman to look at me. "This is my first time in Nikoto without Mama breathing down my neck. And I was hoping..." she glared at Coleman. "To not have to hear all about that for once."

"Well I won't bring it up," I said. I was more than happy to not discuss Queen Klara's plans for her daughter that coincidentally were completely contrary to my plans for happiness.

"That's why she's my lady-in-waiting," Calista told Coleman.

"Good thing I have no interest in such a position," Coleman said. "Being your brother is enough."

"Oh poor you," she drawled.

"I hope you're paying attention, Cali," Coleman's voice was quiet.

"What do you mean?"

"This could be you," he gestured to the spectacle before us.

"Shut up," she hissed. "If anything, it will be you one day."

"Not in this cathedral."

"You know, you are quite obnoxious," she said. "And could we not talk about this here? Someone might overhear us!"

"It's loud, Calista. No one is overhearing us—"

The organ music suddenly came to a halt, and the chattering of the crowd began to dissipate. Coleman looked at me a shrugged, smiling.

A man wearing the formal blue suit of Nikoto, dressed up in extra baubles, stood up and announced something, causing everyone to begin to stand from their seats.

I stood up and turned my head, along with just about everyone else, to look towards the front of the chapel. The choir in the rafters began to sing, and the doors opened to reveal Prince Nikolas, looking straight ahead and absolutely regal. He stepped forward and began walking down the aisle, wearing a long, long velvet cloak that trailed behind him. His cloak was navy blue, but it had heavy, intricate gold trimming. It was topped with white fur with a few black dots and had long golden chords hanging from it. Underneath, his suit was white with gold. I couldn't take my eyes off Nikolas as he strode down the aisle slowly and deliberately, his gaze fixed ahead and his regal cloak trailing behind him. As the choir sang, there was a feeling of awe and reverence within the chapel.

Nikolas walked past me, towards the front, and ascended the stairs before kneeling down before the Archbishop, at which point we all sat back down. The choir silenced their singing, and their music was replaced by the words of the Archbishop carrying through the cathedral. I then watched as a man on the stand stepped forward with a velvet pillow holding a gorgeous, intricate crown. The Archbishop lifted the crown and set it down upon Nikolas's head, at which point Nikolas stood. The Archbishop then gave Nikolas a scepter and an orb, and Nikolas turned around to face the audience.

Coleman nudged me, and we all stood up. I chanted along with everyone else the words that Coleman had taught me: "Da zdrávstvovat' koról'! Da zdrávstvovat' koról'! Da zdrávstvovat' koról'!"

Long live the king.

I scanned Nikolas's face the best I could from where I sat, so serious and determined. No, he wasn't just my Nikolas, not at all.

"King Nikolas," I whispered to myself.

And although he was only a couple dozen yards from me, he suddenly felt very very far away.