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Margaret sure does look different now.

She's more self confident than before. Her eyes shine in a way that they have never shone before. In fact, her whole being practically sparkles. Makai can't really tell if she suits in a red dress, it's hard for him to decide. She suited the best in her own family colors, the blue, and she does fit her signature color of a dusty or light pink. But now that his sister is dressed from head to toe in a glamorous, southern style red gown with matching shoes and jewelry, Makai isn't so sure about this marriage anymore.

Conversing with the eldest princess sitting next to him in the cathedral, while the music loudly played in the background, has rather confused him a bit. Alisiah is wonderful company, she has lots to say and all of it makes a lot of sense. Her words are well thought out and she brings up interesting points of view. She even knows how to use argumentation in a proper way, making even him- one of the greatest twisters of minds in today's world, be completely at her mercy during their exchange of words. It makes Makai wonder if perhaps his sister could've been just as great company as this Alisiah seems to be. He never really gave her a shot.

And that's weird, isn't it? He's Makai, the most powerful man on the continent, and Margaret is merely a pawn in his big game. He spreads fear wherever he goes, and thus far he has gained more than any other person. More land, more money, more power. Makai is very much aware of his status in this society, and when he heard of a sister, the first thing that popped up in his mind was that she would just be a threat to his throne. So he never bothered bringing her to the palace. Yet another troublesome family member? No thank you. He already has enough trouble with the twins and Takao breathing down his neck all the time, most likely scheming behind his back. Margret is without doubt capable of it too. But when the opportunity of marrying into the Red Lion family came up, Makai immediately decided that he would use his own sister. And it worked. It grew his wealth and his influence and even his land, in the many smaller wars that they easily fought and won against their tinier neighbors.

But as much as he would like to think that he is pure evil and nothing else, the truth is that he is still his mother's son. The late queen Margaret. The queen who, much like many other queens, was constantly terrified of losing her life, as her only purpose was to birth children and make sure that they were sons. And that's just it. Makai knows how hard he tries to be like his father, a cruel man, maybe even worse than him. Because that's the only way he can expand the kingdom's wealth and land, and secure his own position as king. He needs to distance himself from everybody and create an image of intimidation, so that nobody even dares to threaten his power. And yes, most of his cult of personality is based in truth. He is also still his father's son, capable of being very, very evil without even trying too hard. But his mother, he can't forget her, no matter how hard he tries. Even as the late king Micah tried his best to justify why the late queen had to be held to such unnatural standards as only giving birth to sons, he never quite succeeded in convincing Makai. And when his mother died, and he found out about Margret, the cracks in his identity as an evil king began to form.

It seems like, with every day that passes, Margaret begins to look more and more like their mother. Her hair color, her eyes, her nose, her facial shape. The way that she speaks and carries herself, the way she is willing to do whatever it takes to survive, but the want to do something else still lingers behind her expression. The way she marries someone labeled to be a monster without too much second thought, without resisting, simply because she knows that she doesn't have a choice. But even then she is able to make the most of it, able to suit her role perfectly, able to meet those unnatural standards set out for her and face the world with a face of beauty both inside and out. Everything about her, which Makai has tried so very hard to ignore, reminds him of the late queen. And perhaps there is a hint of guilt behind his newfound confusion over the matter. The guilt of a brother who realizes that he was willing to sell his own sister to the enemy, just for his own profit.

"All rise"

Around them, the cathedral is full. People from all four corners of the world have gathered to see the famous crown prince of Red Lion become king. Makai is perhaps the only one who is here to see his sister, and only his sister. As she walks up to the front with her husband, Makai tries his best to analyze her expression. And who knows, maybe he does get the wrong idea, when she looks quite angry and miserable up there. Not noticeably, nobody else would be able to understand her expression, but Makai is not just anybody. Not only is she his sister, but she is practically a doppelgänger of their mother, so her expressions are quite clear to the king of Blue Knight. As she stands there, in front of the priest, next to her husband, looking so miserable, Makai is reminded of the day she was wed. The day he walked her down the aisle. And the things they talked about the seconds before. How he told her to behave, how she told him that she would do whatever it takes to marry him, and the misery that back then also was on her face.

"Do you, crown prince Adelio, promise your heart and soul to the people of Red Lion?"

"yes"

Makai doesn't even look at his brother-in-law, he can only see Margaret, as he tries his best to figure out what she is feeling and thinking. Should he talk to her about this? About how Adelio is treating her? Because if it's bad, perhaps he could try to intimidate the king. Maybe if he threatened to start yet another war against Red Lion the tyrant Adelio would start treating Margaret better? It's not like he would actually start a war. He would just pretend to sound threatening. It's not like his sister is that important to him... right? She can't be. Maragret and him are practically strangers. And yet, the thought of her decapitated head upsets him. The thought of her being hurt makes guilt blossom in his chest. So perhaps it's less that he cares about her, and more about the guilt that is suddenly, and very unexpectedly, eating at him, as he sits next to Adelio's sister at the front row of the coronation. The priest continues talking, babbling, and most of it goes unheard to Makai's ears. It is only towards the end when he snaps back to focus, already having gone through everything he pathetically and very suddenly has decided that he needs to ask his sister.

"With respect to the Red Knight of the southern kingdoms, who built this cathedral and this country, who began the lineage of our great red kings and who waits for all of us in heaven, I hereby declare you- the closest descendant of the mighty knight- to rule as King until the day of your death"

Makai watches Adelio as he is crowned, in a ceremony that reminds him a lot of his own. Here they swear them in through the red knight, in his home they swear them in through the blue knight. Makai was to kneel, a sword was pointed at his heart, and he had to promise to serve his people with his heart and soul. According to the legend, the ghost of the blue knight would push the sword through his heart if he denied.

But two things are important to note: one, Makai is pretty sure that whoever gets a sword pushed through their chest is actually just schemed against by their younger brothers and the priest, and that is why he had to create such a hard image of himself even before becoming king to make sure that nobody would even dare to try. And two: He would like to think that he has served his people well, bringing about a new economic era of gold ever since Margaret was married off. So while he feels guilty, he also has to acknowledge that it wasn't just for his own personal gain that he did it. Margaret's marriage to Red Lion forced the country to trade more with Blue Knight, and open up sea trade routes, which helped the economy out of the recession that the late king Micah had recklessly put them in. That of course doesn't really excuse it. Not anymore. It has come very suddenly, but Makai really wants to stop the feeling of guilt that is suddenly weighing him down, before it spirals out of control and he becomes just as bad of a leader as his father was.

"Princess Margaret of Blue Knight, do you promise your heart and soul to the people of Red Lion?"

"Yes"

With no hesitation, no pause, Margaret easily answers the question. That must be a good sign, right? Perhaps she is really enjoying her time here in Red Lion, since she is so very confident in promising her entire being to this unfamiliar kingdom. But Makai isn't entirely convinced. Even his mother swore her heart and soul to the people of Blue knight, once, when she too was being abused by king Micah. The people and the king you have married are unrelated. At least when it comes to pure hearts and souls like Margaret and the late queen. Not to mention, his sister is just as much of a scheming princess as he is a scheming king, they are related after all. Her quick answer could also be a tool, helpful in convincing anybody who might still not like her that she is on their side. Makai has definitely used this trick of confidence in the past. So no matter her answer, he still feels guilt. And the longer this ceremony goes on for, the more unbearable it becomes. The priest points the sword at Margaret's chest, as she kneels there next to the newly crowned king. Makai holds his breath, fearing that they might kill her in that moment simply because she is a princess of the enemy kingdom.

"With respect to the Red Knight of the southern kingdoms, who built this cathedral and this country, who began the lineage of our great red kings and who waits for all of us in heaven, I hereby declare you- who is married to the closest descendant of the mighty knight- to rule as Queen until the day of your death"

And as the sword is removed, Makai can finally breathe again.

As the two royals are crowned, each crown is placed on their heads. Maragret gets a smaller, golden crown with several rubies attached to it like rain falling the wrong way. Adelio's crown is larger, a more traditional golden crown with huge diamonds and rubies on it. It fits on both of their heads perfectly, and together with their matching clothes and crowns they look like a very powerful couple. Makai looks to his side when Alisiah suddenly bows, and only then does he notice that everybody does the same. So to not stick out too much, he also bows down, although not too deeply to still keep his dignity as the king of their long enemy kingdom. Now that Margaret is facing the crowd, Makai can see her eyes searching every single guest on the front row, looking for someone. Makai already knows who she is looking for, recognising the hidden panicked and troubled look on her face. And indeed, when her eyes meet his, Makai watches the horror settle on her face. Thankfully her expressions are subtle enough for nobody else to notice.

He doesn't smile smugly like he usually would, instead he simply nods to her in a greeting. It's a subtle way of saying that he is here to be on her side, not against her, but it doesn't necessarily have to mean that he has anything good in mind. Still, Margaret seems to calm down, even if it's just a little bit. She doesn't nod back but her eyes hold his gaze long enough for Makai to understand that she is greeting him too. Maybe it's to make sure that she doesn't upset him, or maybe it's because she is thankful that he doesn't seem to be here to ruin her life again. Makai doesn't really care. They are still strangers, only having known each other for a few months of their lives. What he does care about is whether or not his sister is suffering right now, because if she is then he probably won't be able to let it go. No matter how evil he is, Makai has realized that Margaret is still family, and he won't let the same thing happen to her that happened to his mother. And it's strange, for he has never felt this way about her before.

Makai turns to Alisiah. She is staring with sparkling eyes at her brother being crowned. There is a genuine smile on her face. And Makai starts to understand. From the time Adelio sarcastically told him that he too would worry, if his sister was being married, back when they discussed it at the palace of Blue Knight, to this moment where he can see Adelio's sister stare at him with such love and appreciation. Maybe it makes Makai realize what he could've been, hadn't his cruel father and his demanding job pushed him to be such a tyrant to his own family. This is something that has been nagging at him ever since Adelio married his sister, and now Alisiah is making it painfully clear. Now that he has all the money, power and land he could ask for, maybe it is time that he looks inwards.

Makai shudders at how emotional he is. No, he can't get too sappy and into his thoughts. The baseline is still his role relying on his cold harshness. Nothing will change that. Makai snaps out of his train of thought when the next phase of the coronation begins.

A maid dressed in a beautiful golden gown walks up to the new queen, holding a precious bundle in her arms. Makai immediately understands what she is handing his sister, as the maid treats him with so much care. The new crown prince, so helpless and small, and yet dressed in such fancy clothes. He is almost completely hidden in wrapped golden fabric, with patterns of exotic birds on it. Margaret looks down at him with so much love, and although he doesn't care about either of them that much, Makai finds himself being happy over their happiness. Both Adelio and Maragret walk up to the priest with the baby in Margaret's hands. And they hold him out for the priest to baptize, the baby not making a sound, the entire cathedral being quiet. The priest pours a small amount of water over his head.

"Son of the Red Knight lineage, crown prince of Red Lion, you shall grow under God to one day rule mighty after your great father. Your name is and shall remain, with respect to the Red Knight, Crown prince Alaric Adelio Makai of Red Knight and Blue Knight"

Makai feels it hit him right in the gut. Alaric, the name of a true ruler, it's a good choice that fits after his father. Adelio, understandable since he is the son of the king and should therefore have his name, in accordance with the Red Lion name traditions. But Makai? Granted, he is currently the heir to the Blue Knight throne, but it still softens the king's heart to the point where his eyes actually widen with surprise. Alisiah glances at him, and she too is surprised to see his reaction. It's her first time seeing Makai be so caught off guard, the first time where his dark expression is exchanged with something new.

Whatever thoughts were in his mind before have all turned into dust.

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