"Make something better to wear at my coronation."
That was what Neo was told by Quilliene. She didn't appreciate his drab, informal clothes - she would rather he look appropriate for the day she would be crowned queen in front of everyone. Yes, she was already queen, but she had to make it official with a gathering of nobles and such. She didn't seem too happy about it - then again, she never seemed all that happy.
So, Neo made something. The coronation was in a week. That was enough time to throw together a nice outfit. Of course, there was the official clothing a bodyguard was supposed to wear - a red jacket with gold outlines and tassels, a helmet, and black pants. Well, he wasn't about to wear something so ridiculously hard to fight in if something happened, so he made something else.
It was a black suit. Black pants, black button up, black jacket, black tie. He made it loose so he could move around easily, but hardly in the way - easy to fight in. Neo was skilled with a sewing machine, which the castle was able to provide, so he made it rather well and quickly. However, he was out of touch and struggling to get the buttons on without stabbing his finger, but he managed to get them on in the end.
Neo exited his room the morning of the coronation, having decided to sleep that night. He was dressed in the suit, but he was uncomfortable in it - never before had he worn one except… once. Maids and butlers were waiting by Quilliene's bedroom, waiting for those inside to finish dressing her. He almost felt as anxious as all of them, but he didn't know why. Probably just because he was hoping she would approve of his suit.
When she exited her domain, the entire group seemed to be in awe, but Neo couldn't quite see past them - despite being one-eighty five centimetres tall, all the demons were either equal or higher in height. So he watched from afar, waiting until they cleared, which they did after about five minutes of furiously complimenting her majesty. When they dispersed, he quickly saw why.
Quilliene was wearing an iridescent purple gown with an embroidered sweetheart neckline that was decorated with multiple silver beads and shimmering rhinestones. The skirt had many pinned pickups and a sequin applique on each side, a built in petticoat making it fluff out the skirt just a bit. She had gems on her eyelids and silver-black makeup winging out with her eyeliner, along with matte dark violet lipstick.
Honestly, she was…
Her eyes darted to him. She scanned him up and down, her gaze as cold and dead as ever. Hands pinching her skirt, she daintily walked towards him. Looking over his suit, she seemed pleased, but still held a vacancy on her face. He was slouching back, hands in his pockets with his jacket flared back a little.
"Well?" He mused.
"Could be better," Quilliene simply dismissed.
"Could be worse, too," Neo gave a crooked grin.
She snapped her gaze sharply to his face, glowering before moving away. "Hardly," She said simply.
He smirked before moving to follow. "So where do I stand during this coronation?"
"By the door," Quilliene said. "The only entrance to the room. You may take the left or the right. Do not come to my side until I leave, and if you detect danger, tell the guard captain before taking action. They will direct you."
"Makes sense," Neo answered.
"And for gods' sake, stand up straight," She hissed through her teeth.
Neo chuckled, a small smile appearing on his face as they reached the stairs. He remained a few steps behind as guards came to escort Quilliene to the throne room. Neo, when they reached it, remained by the door where the guard captain stood. She was a pale woman, with bright blue eyes and long black hair tied into a ponytail.
Quilliene walked up the dozens of steps that led to the thrones. Only a queen's and a prince's throne remained. A man and woman stood there - some kind of priest was the man, and maybe the woman was a ceremonially trained individual. As Quilliene approached, the priest held out a red velvet pillow with two items on it. One was a sceptre with a diamond in the centre, the other was a golden orb with a cross on top.
The man bowed deeply as she took up each, turning to face the crowd of nobles and important figures below. He retreated, the woman coming forward with the queen's crown in her hands as she announced some boring speech that Neo didn't pay attention to - something about upholding her status, and Quilliene kept saying I swear to each one. Soon enough, the crown was placed upon her head, and everyone in the room either bowed or saluted if they were guards. She stood still as they all chanted together.
"Gods save the queen!"
They said it together about seven times before they all fell silent, Neo having not taken part in the ordeal at all. He simply watched as Quilliene turned and placed the sceptre and orb back on the pillow, to which the man bowed again to her and stepped away. She looked back at those below her, scanning them. Then, she sat in the queen's seat, the prince's chair remaining ever so vacant.
It was official.
She was the Queen of England.