Chương 162: Chapter 152 -

Amber It was coronation day. Amber desperately wished she could talk. More importantly, she wished there were someone around who would understand her references. She was surprised it had taken this long for the ceremony to happen. Chelsea had explained that it had something to do with waking up the cathedral, but once again, she had skipped over what sounded like several major pieces of lore.

"Today, we do have to wear holy colors," Fiona announced. She lifted Amber's arm and carefully washed beneath it. They were both sitting in the bathtub as usual, though today her mother had broken out the fancy soap. The one that smelled strongly of flowers instead of whatever plain stuff she normally used.

"Do you want to wear the same one we wore the last time we visited?" Amber blinked a few times to indicate maybe.

"All right," Fiona replied with a mischievous grin. She began washing her own hair.

"Don't know if you've noticed or not, but you haven't been propped against me for almost this whole bath." Amber froze in shock. She hadn't!? Her attention immediately shifted toward staying upright. Like switching to manual breathing. That was a mistake. She overcorrected and toppled backward into her mother's stomach. Fiona let out what Amber had come to think of as the Fiona laugh. It was deep and warm, and Amber had associated it with feeling safe. She really did love this woman.

"Now I know you've been faking it. You just don't want to have to read those books, huh?" Fiona prodded. Amber let out a frustrated sigh as her mother picked her up and pressed her against her chest.

"You'll get it. But until then, I'm going to enjoy you being helpless and needing me." Amber settled against her. She was trapped in a primitive world and hadn't yet gotten to experience any of the interesting parts. She couldn't use magic, not really. She could do some tricks with mana but nothing that interesting. She couldn't even turn the pages of the books Chelsea had given her. Those were not the thoughts at the forefront of her mind though. She was loved.

"Let's dry off and pick out that dress. You get to see something today few have ever seen. Your charming mother in a dress." Amber was immediately excited by the prospect. The idea of Fiona wearing anything resembling formal clothing was also genuinely funny. Amber let out a giggle.

"Really? It's not that funny." Fiona leaned down and blew a raspberry against Amber's stomach. Her skin was far more sensitive than it had been in her previous life, and the vibration immediately sent her into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. By the time Fiona stopped, Amber was kicking both legs and struggling to breathe through the laughter. Later that afternoon, they arrived at the massive gemstone structure.

"Welcome to the Crystal Cathedral. Your invitation? And, uh…" The guard at the entrance looked from Fiona to Dewey.

"Mister and Miss, weapons are prohibited from entering."

"They're a part of our religion," Fiona explained nervously and a bit too fast.

"The Holy Empress said our invitation should say something about it." She handed over the folded card. The guard opened it and read through the contents.

"So it does," he replied.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wixx, welcome. If you follow the guiding carpet, it'll lead you to the elevator. The operator will take you to the floor with the throne room. There will be further directions up there. Have a wonderful evening." Fiona, wearing a dress that looked completely unnatural on her, attempted a curtsy. It didn't go well. She shifted her weight incorrectly and nearly lost her grip on Amber.

"Sorry. Sorry," she said to the baby in her arms. Amber stared up at her. That had been terrifying. They followed the red carpet through the cathedral until they reached the elevator. Amber recognized the operator immediately.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wixx. It's a pleasure to see you again. And Miss Amber, you as well." The man didn't know Amber was reincarnated, so he was apparently just being polite to the baby. They stepped into the elevator and began their ascent. The higher they climbed, the more excited Amber became. This was an actual coronation. Chelsea's coronation. The same Chelsea who had complained about Mr. Chessig, their political science high school teacher, being too lenient on his grading.

As the elevator began slowing, Amber couldn't contain herself anymore. A loud squeak escaped her, and she began squirming uncontrollably in Fiona's arms.

"Wow, you really are excited about this," her mother said with a laugh. Amber absolutely was. The elevator came to a stop and they stepped out and were immediately met by another guard, who directed them toward the carpet extending down the corridor. According to him, they only needed to follow it until they reached the man in the white-and-gold suit. He would announce their arrival and guide them to their seats. They followed the instructions. A line had formed outside the throne room.

Amber spent the next several minutes listening to names and titles being announced through the oval doorway. Someone from House Something or another. A duke from somewhere she had never heard of. Then a princess from a kingdom whose name sounded exactly like something made up specifically to build a fantasy kingdom-land. Finally, their turn arrived. Fiona handed over the invitation. The servant examined it carefully.

"Pronounced Dewey?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," Dewey replied. The man continued reading. Then his eyes snapped toward Amber.

"Surely this is a joke."

"No, sir. The Holy Empress wrote it herself," Fiona replied. Amber couldn't see her mother's face, but she could hear the smile in her voice. The servant looked at the invitation again. He sighed.

"Very well. Follow me. I'll guide you to your seats." He approached the nearly opaque oval doorway and gave a small nod. The door opened on its own. Amber knew the material only worked one way. Someone on the opposite side must have been watching and opened it for them. The servant stepped just inside the throne room. The conversations beyond quieted. He drew himself upright and raised his voice.

"Introducing the Holy Empress's aunt and uncle, Fiona and Dewey Wixx, accompanied by…" He hesitated. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Their daughter, the very, very bestest friend in the whole universe to the Holy Empress, Amber Wixx." Amber giggled. Of course Chelsea had written something like that on the invitation. Even as the ruler of an empire and the mouthpiece for literal gods, she was still Chelsea. They were guided down the center aisle toward the front of the throne room. As they passed between rows of guests, Amber caught pieces of conversation from both sides.

"Why would people like that be allowed to have weapons?"

"A baby is her best friend?"

"These people are making a mockery of the Church." Amber wanted to turn and stare at every person speaking, but Fiona adjusted her against her chest before she could make the attempt.

"Don't pay them any mind," her mother said quietly.

"They fear what they don't understand. A tall woman with a big stone hammer holding a baby who was announced as Chelsea's best friend, while walking next to…" Fiona glanced toward Dewey. Amber followed her gaze. Her father was enormous, even compared to most of the people filling the throne room. The axe carried across his back was larger than some of the guests standing near the aisle. Amber sometimes forgot how physically imposing her parents were.

Her current perspective made nearly every adult seem gigantic, which made it easy to lose track of the difference. From where Fiona held her against her chest, however, Amber could see over the heads of quite a few people nearby.

"Why are they being led to the front row?" a woman whispered from somewhere behind them. Amber quickly realized it wasn't merely the front row. They were being taken to seats directly beside the Holy Empress's fiancée. Freya was impossible to miss. Her orange glow stood out even among the white-and-gold clothing surrounding her. Amber immediately threw both hands toward her sister, opening and closing them as she leaned away from Fiona.

"Fiona and Dewey, it's great to see you again. Amber, what are you wanting, a hug or something?" Freya asked. Amber opened and closed her hands several more times while staring directly at her.

"Fine, fine," Freya said with feigned exasperation. She reached out and took Amber from Fiona, lifting her easily before settling her into one enormous arm.

"Hey there, little sis. Not long until you should be able to talk again." Freya leaned closer.

"This isn't public knowledge yet," she whispered.

"Chelsea figured out how to turn the twins, Belle and Aurora, into Blessed Demons." Amber's eyes widened. She did? Chelsea could change someone's race? That was incredible. From what everyone had told her, your race couldn't be changed by someone else. Amber immediately began considering what that could mean for her. If becoming a Blessed Demon came with Chelsea's wings, then flight alone would be enough to make it worthwhile. There were probably racial abilities involved as well. Freya continued quietly.

"I'm not saying she's offering it, but just know, we're all in your corner. If you asked, I bet she would do it." Amber patted her sister warmly in thanks. That information was going directly into the growing pile of things she desperately needed to discuss once her stupid baby mouth finally decided to cooperate. They continued their greetings for several minutes while the remaining guests found their places. Eventually, a Holy Knight climbed onto the raised platform at the front of the throne room.

"Please," he said into a small object Amber couldn't quite make out. His voice carried through the entire chamber. He was using some sort of sound amplifier.

"Be seated. We will be starting the coronation momentarily, followed by the meet and greet afterward, which will take place in the dining hall." Fancy. Amber hadn't seen the dining hall yet. Everyone began settling into their seats. Amber remained with Freya and ended up sitting comfortably in her lap. She leaned her head back and looked up. Freya looked down at her with a smile. If Fiona and Dewey were enormous, Freya was on another level entirely.

Amber wondered how anyone seated behind them was supposed to see the ceremony. Music began playing. The conversations throughout the throne room faded. A woman appeared at the back of the center aisle wearing the most elaborate priestly robes Amber had seen since arriving in this world. Gold embroidery covered the white fabric, and layers of ceremonial cloth followed behind her as she walked. She carried a pillow before her. A crown and sword rested upon it.

Amber shifted in Freya's lap, trying to see around the people seated ahead. The music grew louder. Light suddenly filled the room. Everyone immediately knew where it was coming from. Chelsea! She floated down the center aisle with her wings spread wide. Amber forgot everything else around her. Chelsea looked like an actual fucking angel. Her wings were far larger than Amber had realized. Fully extended, they filled much of the open space around her as she moved slowly above the floor.

The white feathers caught her glow and spread the light across the surrounding guests. Her face had been covered by a thick ceremonial veil extending from beneath her chin over the top of her head. Even her horns were hidden beneath it. Amber wondered if covering the horns had been the point. Two women followed behind Chelsea, both dressed in ceremonial robes nearly as elaborate as those worn by the woman carrying the crown and sword. As Chelsea approached the front row, Amber felt the veiled face turn toward her.

Even without seeing her eyes, Amber knew Chelsea had noticed her. It was easy to say that Chelsea was the Empress. The words were simple enough. Amber had heard it enough times that the words had lost a bit of their luster. Here, though, she wasn't simply Chelsea wearing a title. She was the fucking Empress. The room was filled with nothing but important people, who had gathered to watch Chelsea take control of one of the most powerful positions on the continent. She knew Chelsea. She had grown up with her.

That somehow made sitting among kings and princes feel as though Amber had wandered into a place reserved for people far more important than her family. Then she understood why everyone had been surprised to see them brought to the front. They weren't sitting there because they were important to the Empire. They were sitting there because they were important to Chelsea. Chelsea stopped floating just beneath the stage. The two women following her separated and walked around either side before climbing the steps.

The woman carrying the crown and sword moved into the center. Amber noticed a small sound-amplifying device worked directly into the front of her ceremonial clothing. The woman raised her head and began to speak.

"Good morning. Thank you all for joining us on this blessed Fifth Day for such a momentous occasion. Today, the Holy Church officially recognizes a new head." Amber listened for the first few moments before her attention began drifting around the throne room. From her place in the front row, she could see nearly everyone gathered for the ceremony. Nobles sat stiffly in formal clothing while members of the clergy watched the stage with open reverence.

Foreign dignitaries and royalty filled many of the remaining seats, all of them here for Chelsea. Another of the women stepped forward and began speaking. This one seemed unhinged. Was she reciting poetry or something? Oh! This is one of those saints Chelsea was talking about. Amber had to hold back a baby giggle.

"In the tapestry of fate, a thread unfurls, as the crown adorns the head of pearls. With wisdom's touch and courage bold, her reign begins a story untold. In her eyes, the stars align, a celestial dance, a divine design. With every step she will lead our way, to a brighter dawn and a new day. So let the bells of destiny chime, as she ascends her throne sublime. For in her rule, the empire shall find, the harmony of heart, and the unity of mind." Amber stared at her.

The woman had delivered the entire speech in rhyme without stumbling once. Sublime seemed like a strange word choice. It was like she needed some word that sounded like it worked better than it did though, that's not really what she was worried about. It was captivating, so Amber had to give her credit for that. Still, there was no way she had come up with all of it on the spot. It had to be something practiced beforehand. The third woman finally stepped forward.

"May the winds whisper secrets of old, and the rivers weave tales yet untold. May the sun weave its radiant light, and the moon guide her through the darkest of night." She stopped speaking, and both of the strange poetry women raised their hands toward the ceiling. The woman holding the pillow with the sword and crown spoke next.

"The saints have spoken of approval. Now Chelsea Wixx of the Forgotten Children, demonstrate your power. Let all bear witness to the three blessings bestowed and summon those who granted them." Chelsea went rigid. Freya nudged Fiona beside her, and Amber was quickly handed back to her mother. On the stage, Chelsea turned toward the two saints and appeared to argue with them in hushed voices.

Amber couldn't make out a word from where she sat, but Chelsea's posture made it obvious that this part of the ceremony had caught her by surprise. The saints quietly answered her. Chelsea eventually sighed and shrugged. She turned back toward the crowd and spoke into the small sound amplifier attached to her ceremonial clothing.

"Freya." The orange glow beside Amber vanished. A moment later, Freya appeared in front of Chelsea. The room reacted immediately. Several people leaned forward, and more than a few members of the clergy lowered their heads in reverence. Chelsea continued.

"Sophiana." A second figure appeared beside Freya. Amber had never seen this goddess before. She was a fairy woman surrounded by a bright red glow, and her sudden appearance drew another wave of reactions from the audience. Chelsea looked back toward the saints and whispered something. One of the women nodded. Chelsea took a deep breath.

"Bodarex." Green light flooded the throne room. Amber immediately felt something wrong with it. Freya's orange glow had never bothered her. The red surrounding Sophiana felt strange but harmless. The green light was different. It carried something foul that made Amber uncomfortable before she had even fully focused on its source. A demon man stood between Freya and Sophiana. He was shorter than both of them. His green aura spread around him while he looked over the throne room. Then the demon guy began laughing.

"The mortal realm." His voice was far deeper than should have been possible from a man his size.

"Little demon girl. You've made a grave error in unleashing me here." He laughed again. Chelsea simply shrugged.

"Bodarex?" The green glowing demon vanished. His light disappeared with him, and the unpleasant feeling filling the throne room vanished almost immediately. For a moment, the entire chamber was silent. Then Sophiana began laughing hysterically. Amber couldn't make out what the Goddess of Love was saying through her laughter, but whatever Chelsea had just done had clearly delighted her.