When Edgar and Jade lowered the crown onto Althea's head, the room fell into a reverent hush—like even time itself had paused to bow.
Moments later, she was presented with the Crown Princess's Seal—an elegant signet that symbolized her authority over state affairs. It came nestled in a velvet-lined box, offered solemnly by the Chancellor himself.
Althea accepted it with grace, then handed the emblem to a waiting imperial knight. Turning to face the court, she stood not just as the crowned heir, but as the embodiment of regality.
Clyde's breath caught. For a heartbeat, he was no longer in that grand hall but back in that quiet garden—the day he first saw her. The same awe struck him now. She hadn't just grown into royalty—she looked like it was made for her.
