Chapter 15 - Whispers of the Royal Decree
That evening, the great dining hall of the Inner Citadel was filled with the soft glow of hundreds of golden chandeliers and the lively chatter of nobles, common magistrates, and foreign ambassadors who had traveled to witness the miraculous rebirth of the empire.
At the head of the long mahogany table sat King Evander, dressed in sleek midnight-blue velvet embroidered with silver thread rather than his heavy wartime armor. Seated directly beside him was Mira, wearing a simple yet elegant gown of sea-green silk, with the fully grown silver storm dragon curled peacefully around the base of her high-backed chair.
As the royal chamberlain struck his staff against the stone floor to signal silence, Evander stood up, raising his silver goblet.
"My friends, honored guests, and citizens of the realm," Evander’s voice rang out clearly across the magnificent hall, carrying a warmth that had never been heard during the reign of his predecessors. "For generations, this throne has been guarded by fear, isolated by curses, and maintained through division. We were taught that survival required a heavy hand and a closed heart."
He turned his gaze toward Mira, taking her hand in his. The skin-to-skin contact produced no flame, only a soft, luminous shimmer of silver light that reflected off their joined fingers.
"Six months ago, a woman from the outer rings was driven into the Glass Desert with nothing more than a half-empty flask of water," Evander continued, his voice steady and resonant. "She did not curse the kingdom that cast her out. Instead, she shared her last drop of water with a dying creature, and in doing so, she saved us all."
Murmurs of agreement and warm applause rippled through the hall.
"Today, I announce before this assembly that the crown is no longer a solitary institution," Evander declared, his dark eyes shining with conviction. "Mira Halden is no longer merely a healer of the outer rings. By decree of the sovereign and the consensus of the council, she is henceforth named Queen Protector of the Realm, co-ruler of the empire, and keeper of the elemental nexus."
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The entire hall erupted into deafening cheers and applause. Nobles and common delegates alike rose to their feet, raising their goblets in universal acclaim.
Mira looked up at Evander, her eyes swimming with tears of pure joy. She stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and kissed him gently as the thunderous applause echoed off the vaulted marble walls.
