When the Crown left her, she could feel her body feeling lighter. All her normal senses returned. Everything and everybody appeared normal. She looked at Dmitri on her left side. Dmitri was stunned when he looked at Adrianna after the crown was removed from her. Even though the crown wasn't there on her head, her eyes' color was still golden yellow. Did her eye color changed to a golden yellow permanently? Dmitri stared at her.
"What is it Dmitri?" asked a worried Adrianna. The expressions on his face were confusing to her for a moment. Then she realized that he was staring deep into her eyes. "My eye color?..."
Dmitri brought his hand to her cheeks and stroked them tenderly with the back of hands. "You look much more beautiful darling."
Adrianna smiled and the next instant he asked, "Do I look golden to you?"
Adrianna pursed her lips. Her husband left no place to make joke on her. "No, you are looking like a piece of charcoal," she replied.
"Ah! Can't be! I am just too charismatic darling!"
As soon as she looked at him, he smiled and without her realizing it she glowed. The King and the Queen held each other's hands and walked down the throne. Almost everyone in the court watched her walk out, mesmerized by the color of her eyes.
"My dear Queen, you have to take a bath in the gifts that would be showered upon you by the people of the kingdom tonight," said Fleur as she led her to change.
Adrianna looked at Fleur. She wondered what all changes would take place in the ministry now. She wanted Fleur to become the new military general but then there were other candidates. One of the things that she had learnt over the past few months was as to who were trustworthy people she had to be surrounded with. There were too many players in the field who were into nefarious activities. She had to clamp them all.
Fleur guided the queen to the Royal Palace and said, "I will come to pick you up in an hour. Until then, kindly be ready for the ceremonies, which may last for the entire night."
"What? What kind of ceremonies?" asked Adrianna who was now so tired both physically and mentally that she wanted to crash on her bed – queen or no queen!
"Lots of them my Queen. Just- Just be ready Adrianna!" replied an exasperated Fleur. She had an hour to meet Liam and Adrianna's questions were eating her time. As soon as Adrianna read her mind, she smiled and said, "I was wondering if I should give you a permanent position in my cabinet…"
Adrianna left and Fleur kept looking at her walking away, teased to the core. Suddenly Adrianna snapped her fingers and Fleur found herself in the arms of Liam. She was shocked. No portal was needed. Adrianna just snapped her fingers! Was that a new power she had acquired after becoming the queen? A shocked Liam who was reading a book saw his treasure in his arms. He stared at her new capability. "Where is the portal? Can you appear and disappear into thin air just like that?"
"I don't know!" squeaked Fleur.
Meanwhile Cora and Ed, who were not allowed to enter the noble court, were waiting anxiously for Adrianna. When she arrived at the Royal Palace, Ed ran to his granddaughter and embraced her tightly.
"Grandfather," whispered Adrianna as she hugged him back.
"My Child… Finally the wait is over. You are the queen! I have fulfilled the wishes of your mother and the moon goddess. I so wish that Kuro was also here…"
Adrianna cringed when she heard her father's name and looked at Dmitri. Dmitri stared back at her without averting his gaze. Adrianna stroked her Grandfather's back and then removed herself. "Do you know that Reinjie and Kayla are still alive?"
Ed's eyes were wide with surprise. At his age all he wanted was his grandchildren to prosper. He wanted so many of them and at the moment only one was there for him to cherish.
"If you like, you can meet them…" she added.
"I will, when the time comes Adri…" replied Ed and then smiled again. "Queen of the Wizard Kingdom – how does that sound?" He said as he removed himself. Then suddenly he looked into her eyes. "You eyes?"
Adrianna nodded, "Their color changed…"
"You look prettier!" He held her hand and walked with her.
Cora had come to her side by then. She hugged her tightly. It was time for her to apologize. "Adrianna, child, many congratulations. I cannot go back in time and undo what all I did to you, but in the present all I can promise is that I am going to stay by your side like a mother whenever you need me."
Adrianna was overwhelmed. She hugged her back and nodded with a smile. She could feel that Cora was very genuine in what she said.
"But that doesn't mean that I won't nag you like a mother-in-law!" added Cora. "I want to see my grandkids!"
Adrianna gritted her teeth. After all she was Dmitri's mother. How could she not leave a chance to joke?
Dmitri's face split into two with an ear-to-ear grin. "Soon mother! Even I am thinking the same."
Adrianna shook her head. She had just been crowned as the queen and all that the mother and son could think of were babies.
Suddenly, Ed joined in, "Yes, I think we will do with three babies at the moment."
Adrianna raised her eyebrows, "Three babies at the moment? What do you mean?"
"We can have several more darling," replied Dmitri as he curled his arms around her shoulders and took her to the bedroom.
Adrianna smacked his hand, "Don't touch me! No babies!" Was she a baby churning machine?
Dmitri laughed all the way to the bedroom feeling excited about his next mission. But when he got there, he found a battery of servants waiting for Adrianna to change her clothes. Dmitri felt as though a cold bucket of water was thrown on him.
They all bowed to the queen and rushed to her side. The head servant said, "My Queen, you have to change for the next ceremony."
Adrianna chuckled and nodded.
Something ethereal awaited her. Something strange awaited her. Something that couldn't be explained in words, awaited her…