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Dark Moon Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 359. Royal Wave I
🕑 Added 2024-12-26 17:06:45 +0000 UTCThird Arc (Fallen Heart) - 359. Royal Wave I
The doors opened, and the noise hit them like a wave. The square below was packed with people, their cheers deafening as Angel and Rose stepped out onto the balcony. Rose’s heart raced, but she kept her head high, forcing her steps to remain steady as they approached the railing.
Angel raised a hand, and the crowd erupted even louder. His presence was commanding, his every move exuding a natural authority that Rose couldn’t help but admire. She stood beside him, her hands gripping the railing tightly as she scanned the sea of faces below.
Beside her, Angel’s gaze flickered, he scanned the crowd for anything out of place. His calm demeanor didn’t waver, but Rose could feel the tension radiating off him. He was on high alert, every muscle in his body ready to react at the slightest hint of danger.
“The people love you already,” he murmured out of the corner of his mouth, his lips barely moving.
“They’re here for you,” she whispered back, her smile never faltering.
“They’re here for us,” he corrected, his voice firm. “You’re their queen now, Rose. Own it.”
The chancellor’s voice boomed behind them, addressing the crowd and officially introducing Rose as their new queen. The cheers reached a fever pitch, and for a moment, Rose let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.
Then Angel tensed beside her.
“Stay still,” he said softly, his voice dropping into a tone that made her blood run cold.
“What is it?” she asked, her smile fixed in place as she followed his gaze.
“Just a precaution,” he said, his voice tight. “Don’t move. Trust me.”
Her heart pounded, but she nodded subtly, her eyes scanning the crowd even though she knew she wouldn’t see what he saw. Angel’s hand brushed against hers briefly.
A moment later, his shoulders relaxed, and the tension in the air eased.
“All clear,” he murmured, his voice returning to its usual calm. “For now.”
Rose let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, her grip on the railing loosening slightly. She turned her head just enough to glance at him, her eyes searching his face.
“Does it always feel like this?” she asked softly.
“Only when it matters,” he replied, his gaze never leaving the crowd. Then he smiled faintly, his tone lightening. “You’re doing great, by the way.”
Her lips twitched into a small smile. “Thanks. So are you.”
Angel smirked, leaning just slightly closer so only she could hear. “Always am. Just wait until they start chanting your name.”
As if on cue, the crowd erupted into a deafening roar. The sound was overwhelming, almost physical in its intensity. Rose’s heart thudded in her chest, and she gripped the railing tighter to steady herself. She could hear individual voices rising above the sea of noise, their shouts piercing through the collective wave of cheers.
“All hail Queen Rose!”
“Long live the Queen!”
“You’re beautiful, Your Majesty!”
The chants blended together into a rhythmic pulse. Rose tried to focus on her breathing, but the sheer magnitude of the moment pressed down on her. Her cheeks flushed as her name echoed across the square, and a tight knot of nerves curled in her stomach.
“They’re saying your name,” Angel said softly, his voice almost teasing but laced with reassurance. “Told you.”
She shot him a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a faint smile despite the overwhelming surge of emotions coursing through her. “Yeah, I noticed.”
Angel chuckled, the sound low and comforting. “You okay?”
Rose hesitated, her gaze sweeping across the crowd below. Thousands of faces stared back at her—some beaming with pride, others wide-eyed with awe, and a few simply observing, their expressions unreadable. “It’s a lot,” she admitted finally, her voice barely audible over the noise. “I didn’t expect… this.”
“This is what it means to be queen,” Angel said, his tone steady. “They’re not just cheering for you. They’re cheering for what you represent—hope, strength, stability. You’re their symbol now.”
Rose’s chest tightened, his words settling over her like the crown on her head. She’d known this day would be monumental, but she hadn’t anticipated how personal it would feel. These weren’t just faceless people in a crowd; they were her people now. And they were looking at her with hope in their eyes.
“I don’t want to let them down,” she murmured, her voice cracking slightly.
