Where It Went Wrong, A Red Queen Fanfiction: Completed

Chapter 39

The shadow prince's breakdown was what scared me. Not the fact that he almost killed his brother, although that was another factor. It was the fact that he lost control so easily, and almost didn't notice until I tried to intervene. Something dawned in his eyes as he realized what he was truly doing, and that made him lose control in a different way. He's still recovering, Mare.

A fortnight before his idea of becoming King and then being elected in, Cal was at ease with his decision. Now, a night before, he's having second thoughts. Atessa whispers ideas into his ears, and he seems relax. 

An image of a parallel universe where I am doing the talking passes through my mind, but I dismiss it. During his coronation, Cal will be officially announcing his engagement to the whole country of Norta. The whole world. Surely the adoring girls of his country with hopeless fantasies will be disappointed with their Calore Prince for marrying himself off to a previously banished Silver girl.

Since he lost control, Maven has been more methodical and thoughtful about everything. Slow to anger. I tell him that it's alright, but he promised me that he would never lose control like that again. Something made me feel better when he confirmed that.

Marcus Lerolan, to Evangeline's dismay, has been arrested for false information given to royalty. The penalty sentence is only the duration of a year, yet Lady Samos complains that the period is too long. Too long for me to survive with all these starchy nobles. I said nothing, although treasonous Silver nobles would've been executed for their activities during the reign of Cal and Maven's father. Especially when the late Queen Elara was in power, behind the wheel.

Maven and I are both seated beside each other in the seats for the new King's coronation, waiting for Cal to show himself. "Are you handing over the crown?"

The Prince shrugs nonchalantly, pulling off his public appearance. Sometimes I have qualms about him acting like this, but I can't help but wonder whether this is his true identity. Scowling, I turn away and talk to Xena. I feel nudge from Maven's side in order to remind me that he does not truly mean it. I still hate it, though. I shrug in response, not bothering to turn around. A light sigh sounds beside me, almost indiscernible had I not been listening.

Dainty music begins to play, a strange mix of Reds and Silvers playing together. I feel an urge to turn towards Cal, but none of the other Silvers have done so. Until the Prince seated beside me begins to clap and turns his head towards his brother. It is nothing like what is expected of the typical Silver coronation: a couple stoic guards manning the entrance, a stone faced crowd with hearts hidden behind their sleeves, a continually proud monarch expecting his flawless reception.

I fly out of my chair, eager to change the norm of the wonted event. The headlines on the news are to be expected, but this generation is going to change everything. Musicians spewing their music represent how the different colours of blood can unite to create something beautiful.

Xena, Darcy, Callista, Laila, Atessa, my family, the General Calore - all of our collective allies - follow suite. I feel free to turn, gauging Cal's expression. His eyes are slightly widened, staring at the front row ahead of him. A duo of Silver soldiers grasp onto the red robe, eyes trained onto the windows of the room. They are not perturbed, yet I can see that the eldest son of the Calore family is attempting to school his face into a normal expression before he lets go and grins.

Majority of the Silvers haven't stood up, but I hope someday that they will. The difference between the blood divisions is simply that, blood.