The Advancement Ceremony…
I blinked as I couldn’t believe who was in front of me right now. I couldn’t believe they invited Storm and Casey! They just arrived from the fancy coach of our pack. They wore fancy clothes that almost looked like one of the noble families.
“Rachelle!” Luna Casey almost screamed when she hugged me. “I couldn’t believe it! You’ll become a General today!” She giggled.
“Luna… Alpha…” I bowed and thanked her. “You two are a bit early. The ceremony will start after an hour.”
“We have to visit the Grand Alpha King right now. He will be busy once his son arrives,” Storm said and winked at me after he gave me a meaningful smile.
“You mean the Alpha King?” I arched my eyebrow. Why did he sound that he was saying a mystery?
“Yes.” He nodded. His playful expression turned earnest. “After your advancement ceremony, I would like to discuss something with you.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “Any news?” Hope suddenly sparkled inside me.
“We will see that sooner or later. I’ll just need to take Casey to the palace. We’ll see you later.”
I watched them going away as they made an entry to the antechamber which surprise me. I even caught the palace guards getting anxious and bowed at the arrival of the Alpha and Luna of my pack. Even the expression of Casey changed from being bubbly to a somewhat unfriendly reaction.
That confused me. Since when did they have a high authority to enter the main chamber? Is it because Storm is an Alpha?
“General Rachelle!”
I flinched when someone hugged my arm in a cheerful voice. I turned my head to see Colette who had a big smile plastered on her lips. I chuckled at her reaction. Of all the captains in my fleet, Colette was one of the people I was closed with.
“I am still not a General, Colette.” I tapped her head. “So, where’s Benedict?” I teased.
She frowned and huffed. “Preparing for the ceremony,” she said with a whisper, looking away.
I smiled as I was glad that she already accepted him as her mate. Colette may not admit it to me but I could see that she and Benedict were getting along already. I am so happy for them.
“To what do I owe you a pleasure then?” I asked softly.
Her face brightened. “I just want to say congratulations. I couldn’t believe you are a General now.” She sniffed.
Chuckling, I tapped her head. “Catch up with me and be a Commander as well. Alright?”
“Hmm!” She nodded enthusiastically. Then she leaned on me after a moment. “I heard rumors…”
I gave her a look and arched my eyebrow. “What rumors?” Although I wasn’t curious, I pretended that I am interested. Maybe, Colette wants to chitchat for a while so she could entertain me a little while waiting for the ceremony to start.
“The two princesses, sisters of our Alpha King are here to announce their presence in the ceremony.” She looked like she was panicking… Wait… She looked like she was excited?
“The two crowned princess?” I asked. I shouldn’t be surprised if they were here. Like they should be because their older brother is coming to make an appearance in front of the people of Waevalon Kingdom. I am, too anticipated to see the son and daughters of the Grand Alpha King. They hadn’t shown them to the public and they have remained a secret.
“Tsk. Tsk.” She shook her head. “Only one crown princess, General. The first daughter has the title of it.” She nodded like she was agreeing to herself.
“I see.” I nodded as well and agreed. I really thought there were two crown princesses. “It’s not surprising that they will attend though. But it will be a joyous celebration that they will make an appearance for the people of Waevalon Kingdom.”
“Indeed, General. Indeed.” She clung to my arm and leaned her head. I chuckled because she looked like a sister to me that always clings to me whenever she got a chance. “I’m excited to see them. But Benedict said earlier that he saw the crown princess here earlier.”
I blinked and roamed around my eyes to see if there was a lady in prim and proper clothes. “Isn’t he imagining things? I don’t see any women wearing very fancy clothes.” I don’t see yet because the nobles haven’t arrived yet.
“I am not sure either. I don’t know if he is fooling around or not.” She frowned.
Chuckling, I nudged her. “Maybe he already met her that is why he said that. We’ll just have to wait for ourselves to see them.”
Colette stayed with me until the front palace was filled with nobles, commoners, military higher-ups, and soldiers. All nobles and the distant family of the royal family were positioned in front. Next in line were the military soldiers and the high-ranking officials. Last in a row were the commoners. While those who have their ranks to be leveled up, we were kneeling on one knee before the stairs of the front palace.
All chitchats could be heard along the aisle of the front of the palace.
A royal soldier blew the trombone made the surrounding silent. I got excited about it. It meant that the advancement ceremony would about to start. I felt like I was thrown back when we graduated and I was being rewarded as the eleventh commander in the military.
“Grand Alpha King Claudian Alexander III has arrived!” announced the royal soldier.
We turned our heads on the aisle as a golden palanquin with the royal seal embarked on it brought by ten royal soldiers. I lowered my head as the palanquin passed by us and went straight to the man-made stage that was in the middle of the stairs.
“Long live the Grand Alpha King!” People cheered as soon as the Grand Alpha King appeared from the palanquin.
A heartwarming smile was plastered on his lips as people cheered for him. “People of Waevalon Kingdom,” he called. The crowds shushed down. “Today is the day that my children will unveil themselves in front of us. The long-awaited appearance of my son, the newly crowned Alpha King will reveal himself here along with my two daughters, the Crown Princess Cassandra and Princess Cherish.”
I chuckled mentally when I heard the name of Crown Princess Cassandra. She has the same name as our Luna Casey of Dark Soul Pack.
“Behold! Princess of Oakplain, Cherish Ylea!”
A loud gasp roared in the row of military personnel. My eyes widened upon the second daughter and Princess of Oakplain passed by me. On my peripheral vision, she was wearing a military uniform. When I looked up and saw who she was, I couldn’t help but have the same expression in the military row.
“Iris Ylea?” The private under Commander Bricks? She is a princess? What? Is this some kind of fooling around?
Loud applause echoed as soon as Princess Cherish was beside her father after she curtsied in front of him. I immediately roamed my eyes around and caught Inkstone who had an unexplainable reaction upon learning that his comrade was a princess in disguise.
“Greetings, people of Waevalon Kingdom! I am Cherish Ylea, Princess of Oakplain and 34th Captain in the military ranks. I am here to serve our people and maintain peace in our kingdom!”
Everyone cheered for her. For her voice reached the heart of the people of our kingdom.
“And now, the most awaited royalties, Alpha King Claudian Alexander IV and Crown Princess Cassandra Victoria.”
All of our heads turned at the aisle.
A man and a woman were walking down to the aisle wearing hanfu clothing with a face black veil mask. The Crown Princess was wearing a hat ornament with a black veil surrounded in the hat that concealed her face and body As they walked towards the stairs, I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of pain surging in my heart just by looking at him… our Alpha King of Waevalon Kingdom.
That confused me as to why I was feeling my heartache right now. I looked away and kept my head bowed down as they passed by us. I silently hissed as I couldn’t help feeling the pricking of my heart right now for no reason. The last time I felt this was when I rejected Claude and I was coping up from the pain after he was gone.
But why was I feeling it right now?
“Greetings to my people of Waevalon Kingdom!” I furrowed my eyebrows, feeling shivered as a familiar baritone tone of voice was echoed. I slowly raised my head and saw how they unveiled their veil mask. I gasped as two familiar people stood in the platform with a brave smile on their faces. “I am Claudian Alexander IV of Waevalon Kingdom, the newly crowned Alpha King!” he said then lowered his gaze to give me a hostility stare before he looked away.
“I am the Crown Princess of Sealbridge, Cassandra Victoria, first daughter of the former Alpha King, Claudian Alexander III and the late Luna Queen, Beatrice Capell.” She curtsied.
All of the people were clapping while I was remained stunned from this surprising revelation. My eyes widened upon knowing the Crown Princess and the Alpha King that rocked my whole being.
All this time… Claude, my former mate, and my brother’s wife, Casey are royalties after all…
He is the Alpha King! And she is the Crown Princess!